Jamaica

ETC Activities

The Emergency Telecommunication Cluster (ETC) is currently not activated in Jamaica. 

Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean islands, and the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean Sea. Situated 145 kilometres south of Cuba, 960 kilometres south of Florida, USA, and 160 kilometres south-west of Haiti, Jamaica is approximately 235 kilometres long, 80 kilometres wide, and has an area of 10,991 square kilometres.

Jamaica has a population of 2.827 million people and known for its strong sense of self identity expressed through its music, food and rich cultural mix. Jamaica's influence extends far beyond its shores. She got her independence from Britain in 1962 and is politically stable though facing both social and economic challenges. 

On 03 July, Hurricane Beryl―the strongest hurricane in the history of the Atlantic in the month of June― lashed across Jamaica, as Category-5 storm, with devastating winds, life-threatening storm surges, more than 12 hours of heavy rain which caused seven fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage, power outages, and disruption to water supplies and telecommunications. Officials and residents are assessing the damage after an island-wide curfew was lifted early on 04 July. Jamaican energy provider JPS said that 65% - or about 400,000 of its customers - were without power on the morning of 04 July.

ICT Profile

Country background
Country name
Jamaica
Capital city
Kingston
Name of national disaster management agency

Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)

Name of telecommunications ministry

Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport

Name of telecommunications regulator

Spectrum Management Authority (SMA)

Population

2.827 million (World Bank 2022)

Country narrative

Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean islands, and the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean Sea. Situated 145 kilometres south of Cuba, 960 kilometres south of Florida, USA, and 160 kilometres south-west of Haiti, Jamaica is approximately 235 kilometres long, 80 kilometres wide, and has an area of 10,991 square kilometres.

Jamaica has a population of 2.827 million people and known for its strong sense of self identity expressed through its music, food and rich cultural mix. Jamaica's influence extends far beyond its shores. She got her independence from Britain in 1962 and is politically stable though facing both social and economic challenges. 

On 03 July, Hurricane Beryl―the strongest hurricane in the history of the Atlantic in the month of June― lashed across Jamaica, as Category-5 storm, with devastating winds, life-threatening storm surges, more than 12 hours of heavy rain which caused seven fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage, power outages, and disruption to water supplies and telecommunications. Officials and residents are assessing the damage after an island-wide curfew was lifted early on Thursday.

Currency

Jamaican Dollar

Key ICT statistics
Fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16

Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106

Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15.02

Mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106.2

GSMA mobile connectivity index score

55.4

3G coverage % of population

64.4%

Regulations and rules
Regolations/Rules
Type of regulation
Disaster management
Policy name

The Disaster Risk Management Act 2015

Description

This Act establishes the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), as a corporate body, which shall: (a) advance disaster preparedness and emergency management measures in Jamaica by facilitating and coordinating the development and implementation of integrated disaster management systems; and (b) institute measures as may be necessary for mitigating disasters.

Type of regulation
Telecommunications
Policy name

The Telecommunications Act (2000)

Description

The Telecommunications Act (2000) created the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA). Part IV, Sections 20-26 details the regulation of the spectrum by the Minister and the role of the Authority in advising the Minister on matters related to spectrum management. In summary, the fundamental role and responsibility of the Authority under the Telecommunications Act is to ensure the efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum.  This includes advising the Minister on the allocation of the spectrum for various services (frequency allocation chart); methods for assigning the spectrum to users; issuing of licences authorizing the use of specified portions of the spectrum; and establishment of procedures for ensuring the compliance by licensees with respect to the use of the spectrum.

Type of regulation
UAV
Policy name

Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) Unmanned Aircraft (UA) Guidelines

Description

In order to ensure the safe operation of Unmanned Aircrafts (UAs) within the Jamaican air space, operators must observe the guidelines established by the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA).The guidelines are outlined on the JCAA official website and apply to two categories of operators.

1.  Recreational UA operators or Hobbyists – Persons who operate model aircraft or UAs for recreational purposes.

2. Professional (commercial & non-commercial) operators –  persons or companies which operate UAs for non-recreational purposes, including business-related activities such as, but not limited to, aerial photography, surveillance, geometric surveys, power line inspections, crop observations and research and development.

Communications service providers
Mobile network operator (MNO)
Company name
Digicel Jamaica
GSMA HCC signatory
No
Parent company name (majority holding)
Digicel
Service description
Digicel Jamaica offers mobile phone voice, and 4G internet connectivity as well as wireless internet services in Barbados. It has a well-developed network of wireless towers, which allows it to provide high-speed internet.
Coverage map (provide URL)
https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#313
Mobile money service available
No
Fibre optic network
No
Voice and SMS services
Yes
3G/4G data services
Yes
Mobile network operator (MNO)
Company name
Flow
GSMA HCC signatory
No
Parent company name (majority holding)
Cable & Wireless Communications
Service description
Flow is a telecoms providers in the Caribbean and Latin America, with services underpinned by over 50,000 kilometres of the most modern sub-sea and terrestrial optical fibre networks. Flow offers mobile voice call, SMS and 4G connectivity.
Coverage map (provide URL)
-https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#63
Mobile money service available
No
Fibre optic network
Yes
Voice and SMS services
Yes
3G/4G data services
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Digicel Jamaica
Service description
Digicel Jamaica is a major ISP that offers high-speed internet services to residential and business customers. They offer various packages, including fibre-optic and LTE internet.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Flow
Service description
Flow Jamaica offers broadband internet services to both residential and commercial customers. They offer various internet packages, including fibre-optic internet, which provides faster speeds than traditional broadband connections.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Website
www.discoverflow.co/jamaica
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Cable & Wireless Jamaica
Fibre optic network
No
Website
Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited operates as an integrated telecommunications service provider. The company offers mobile, fixed line and optical fibre internet services to residential and business customers.
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
SpaceX
Service description
Starlink primarily provides high-speed internet access to underserved and remote areas around the world through a satellite-based internet constellation designed and operated by SpaceX.
Fibre optic network
No
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
TS2 Space - Global Satellite Services
Service description
TS2 Space - Global Satellite Services provides satellite-based internet service in South America and Caribbean Sea.
Fibre optic network
No
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
BESSNET Company Limited
Service description
BESSNET Company Limited is a high-speed optical-fibre internet ISP operating in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Eutelsat OneWeb
Service description
Eutelsat OneWeb is a leading provider of space-based data connectivity.
Fibre optic network
No
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
BusinessCom
Service description
BusinessCom provides satellite-based internet connectivity and private network services.
Fibre optic network
No