St. Vincent and the Grenadines

ICT Profile

Country background
Country name
St. Vincent & the Grenadines - ICT Country Profile
Capital city
Kingstown
Name of national disaster management agency

National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)

Name of telecommunications ministry

Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology

Name of telecommunications regulator

National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC)

Population

112,000

Country narrative

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, island country lying within the Lesser Antilles, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It consists of the island of Saint Vincent and the northern Grenadine Islands, which stretch southward toward Grenada. The island of Saint Vincent lies about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Saint Lucia and 100 miles (160 km) west of Barbados. It is 18 miles (30 km) long and has a maximum width of 11 miles (18 km). The larger islands of the Grenadines associated with Saint Vincent are Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Mustique, Prune (Palm) Island, Petit Saint Vincent Island, and Union Island. The Tobago Cays, just to the east of Mayreau, have been designated a wildlife reserve.

The name Saint Vincent originally applied to the mainland and the group of smaller islands associated with it. After the attainment of independence in 1979 the multi-island state was renamed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The capital and major port is Kingstown, on Saint Vincent. The country is a member of the Commonwealth.

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$)

Key ICT statistics
Fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11

Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100

Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28.47

Mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

58.2

GSMA mobile connectivity index score

59.4

3G coverage % of population

94%

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Emergency and Disaster Management Act, 2006

Description

-The Act provides for prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery in relation to hazards, disasters and emergencies, to provide for the establishment of the National Emergency Management Organisation, to provide for the appointment of a Director of the National Emergency Management Organisation, to establish a National Emergency Council, to provide for the development of a National Disaster Management Plan, to regulate emergency operation centres and shelters, to coordinate activities of persons involved in disaster management, to designate specially vulnerable areas and for related matters.

Type of regulation
Telecommunications
Policy name

Telecommunications Act (CAP 418) of the Revised Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines of 2009.

Description

-According to the Telecommunications Act (Cap 418) and the Telecommunications (Licensing and Authorization) Regulations 2007 No 1 of 2007, anyone who wants to establish or operate a telecommunications network or provide telecommunications services must obtain a license. Organizations must apply for a licence and register the relevant frequencies before importing equipment such as VSAT, HF, VHF, or similar devices. The licensing fee varies depending on the type of equipment. Customs requires proof of NTRC clearance (i.e., the necessary licenses and frequency registrations) at the entry point.

Description

-

Communications service providers
Mobile network operator (MNO)
Company name
Digicel St. Vincent and the Grenadines
GSMA HCC signatory
Yes
Parent company name (majority holding)
Digicel
Service description
offers network coverage with 2G, 3G, and 4G services.  The network coverage is 100% , with 92% LTE coverage providing voice, text, and data services to residents and businesses across the islands.
Coverage map (provide URL)
-https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#143
Mobile money service available
No
Mobile money service info
N/a
Fibre optic network
Yes
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 and Wireless Communications Ltd
Service description
offers network coverage with 2G, 3G, and 4G services.  The network coverage is 100% , with 92% LTE coverage providing voice, text, and data services to residents and businesses across the islands.
Coverage map (provide URL)
-https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#58
Mobile money service available
No
Mobile money service info
N/a
Fibre optic network
Yes
Voice and SMS services
Yes
3G/4G data services
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Digicel
Service description
offers broadband internet using fibre-optic, DSL, and wireless to cater to residential and commercial needs. Services include landline telephony, essential for businesses and government, and cable TV services.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
FLOW
Service description
offers broadband internet using fibre-optic, DSL, and wireless to cater to residential and commercial needs. Services include landline telephony, essential for businesses and government, and cable TV services.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Spectra SVG Inc.
Service description
offers broadband internet using fibre-optic, DSL, and wireless to cater to residential and commercial needs. Services include landline telephony, essential for businesses and government, and cable TV services.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
Karib Cable
Service description
Offers broadband internet using fibre-optic, DSL, and wireless to cater to residential and commercial needs. Services include landline telephony, essential for businesses and government, and cable TV services.
Fibre optic network
Yes
Internet service provider (ISP)
Company name
SilverCast
Service description
offers broadband internet using fibre-optic, DSL, and wireless to cater to residential and commercial needs. Services include landline telephony, essential for businesses and government, and cable TV services.
Fibre optic network
Yes