A 2019 update of fixed Internet broadband speeds and pricing across the Caribbean.
As the Internet becomes more integral and more fully integrated into virtually all aspects of our lives, we are continuing our efforts to track the changes that have occurred with respect to fixed Internet broadband speeds and pricing across the Caribbean region. In the paragraphs that follow, we summarise our findings – some of which are unexpected – and briefly share a few of the observations we have made.
Methodology
The methodology employed has remained unchanged. Data was collected from the websites of widely used Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the countries covered. To the extent possible, at least two ISPs were examined in each country (Table 1), and the exercise focussed on fixed (non-dialup) Internet services, and on service plans for domestic/residential customers. For this exercise 19 Caribbean countries were examined.
Table 1: ISPs surveyed for 2019 review exercise
The offerings from the ISPs continue to vary drastically in respect of transmission speeds, hence the exercise was limited to identifying (per country):
- the lowest advertised download speed and the corresponding lowest monthly rate
- the highest advertised download speed and the corresponding lowest monthly rate
- the highest download speed plan that can be purchased for no more than USD 60.00 per month.
Finally, it is emphasised that the review focused on the monthly rates payable for the specified Internet plans only. The exercise excluded initial subscription and activation fees, as well as any additional monthly charges that might be applicable. The rates were converted to United States Dollars (USD) for ease of comparison.
2019 broadband Internet speed and prices
Table 2 shows the minimum and maximum advertised download speeds available in the 19 countries examined, along with the corresponding best rates offered for those download speeds.
Table 2: Lowest and highest advertised download speeds and the corresponding best rates in select Caribbean countries as at June 2019 (Source: ISP websites)
In only four of the 18 countries examined – Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica and Montserrat – was the lowest download speed offered under 2 Mbps. In Just over half of the countries examined, the ISPs are offering customers Internet plans with advertised download speeds of at least 100 Mbps, with ISPs in Barbados offering residential customers plans with an advertised download speed of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps).
In order to get a sense of the cost-effectiveness of the plans available across the region, we sought to determine what might be fastest Internet broadband plan a customer could purchase for less than USD 60.00 per month. The results are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Figure 1: Fastest Internet plan by advertised download speed for less than USD 60.00 in select Caribbean countries as of June 2019 (Source: ISP websites)
Figure 2: Fastest Internet plan by advertised download speed for less than USD 60.00 and the corresponding monthly rate in select Caribbean countries as of June 2019 (Source: ISP websites)
The fastest plan was found in Barbados, where for USD 55.00 per month a plan with an advertised download speed of up to 120 Mbps could be secured. The next fastest plans, 100 Mbps, were found in the Aruba and Trinidad and Tobago, at approximately USD 58.66 and USD 59.94, respectively.
On other hand, the slowest Internet plan, 512 kbps, was recorded in the Cayman Islands, and would cost approximately USD 48.78. The next slowest plans, at 10 Mbps, were recorded in Anguilla and Belize, with a monthly rate of approximately USD 47.48 and USD 49.21, respectively.
How do this year’s results compare with those from 2018?
Generally, fixed broadband Internet speeds continue to increase across the Caribbean region. Countries, such as Belize, where up to last year the fastest and slowest plans on the incumbent ISP’s website had an advertised download speeds of 512 kbps and 16 Mbps, respectively, have significantly upgraded its offering. Now, the slowest and fastest plans are10 Mbps and 50 Mbps, respectively
Secondly, it appears that in some countries, most notably Aruba, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, the fastest plans that are being advertised have since been downgraded. For example,
- in Aruba, the fastest broadband Internet plan listed had a download speed of up to 200 Mbps in May 2018; now, the fastest plan appears is 150 Mbps
- in Grenada, the fastest broadband Internet plan listed had a download speed of up to 100 Mbps in May 2018; now, the fastest plan listed is 50 Mbps
- in Trinidad and Tobago, the fastest broadband Internet plan listed had a download speed of up to 1 Gbps in May 2018; now, the fastest plan listed is 600 Mbps.
These downgrades could be due insufficient take-up of the faster plans by consumers to justify the ongoing cost to the ISPs.
Finally, although it might not be readily evident, generally, the rates ISPs are charging for fixed broadband Internet service are increasing. In many instances, the increase in relatively minor, a few dollars, for the same advertised download speed, and could possibly be attributed to inflation or exchange rate adjustments. In other instances, the rate increase is accompanied by an increase in download speeds, and so might appear more justifiable.
Image credit: Timo Newton-Syms (flickr)
