Digicel Montserrat has joined the growing league of Internet Service Providers in the Caribbean that have affirmed their commitment towards a more open internet for citizens to do what they want, when they want to, while enjoying higher quality services.
On agreeing a Code of Practice for safeguarding the freedom of consumers and content providers to innovate and develop new, exciting things online, Janice Sutherland, CEO of Digicel Montserrat, hailed the move as a “historic moment in digital communication in the Caribbean”.
She continued, “A free and open internet represents the single greatest technology of our time. It puts citizens in control of how they use the internet, while service providers like Digicel continue to support their activities by continuously evolving and investing in our technology platforms.”
“We are delighted to sign the CANTO Code as it gives Caribbean consumers’ and regulators confidence that the Internet will remain open and free from blocking or throttling of content” she added.
Already, Digicel is fostering a commercially open internet in a “no blocking, no throttling” environment, by allowing customers to access government websites free of cost. Other zero-rated initiatives include complimentary Facebook Free Basics and Wikipedia, which are all helping to foster a better connected society.
Earlier this month, several other communications providers who are members of telecoms lobby group, CANTO, signed the voluntary Code of Practice at the organization’s 32nd Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Chairman of CANTO, Julian Wilkins, explained that the voluntary Code of Practice is an alternative way of doing things as it is industry-led regulation rather than governments introducing new rules that could impede the development of new services in the Caribbean such as the Internet of Things.
Mr. Wilkins noted that “Because the Internet is developing rapidly and changing every year it is very difficult for governments and regulators to impose rules because this risks restricting how the Internet will develop. The CANTO code will help ensure that the Internet remains open for Caribbean consumers as it continues to develop.”
This self-regulatory move has also been recognized throughout the telecommunications industry as a progressive way to expand adoption of internet services and ensure a commercially viable internet that benefits customers and communications providers alike.
