Belize’s regionally high internet price
Joy Grant
Belize is one of the least competitive economies; that was confirmed today by the Minister with responsibility for Technology, Joy Grant, at the launch of the national energy policy. As to technology, the percentage of Belizeans with access to internet Belize is at the bottom of the list, compared to other countries in the region. In fact, Belize is only better off than Haiti.
Senator Joy Grant, Minister, Ministry of ESCT&PU
“The Global Competitiveness Index report of 2012 ranks Belize as one of the least competitive economies in the world. We are ranked one hundred and twenty-three out of one hundred and forty-two countries. In the region, only Haiti has a lower rank. On further analysis, we note that on technological readiness indices, Belize is ranked one hundred and one for internet users per every hundred people in the population and ranks one hundred and thirty-two of one hundred and forty-two countries for the foreign direct investment and technology transfer. With regard to communication and information technology in the region, Barbados has a seventy percent ICT penetration for internet. Costa Rica, which is closer to Belize in size and topography, has thirty percent penetration. Belize has ten percent penetration; Belize City being the highest and Punta Gorda being the lowest. We have been actively considering initiatives to provide Belizeans with internet at an affordable price. It has been documented that there is a direct correlation between internet connectivity and economic growth. A ten percent increase in connectivity, results in zero point six to one point two percent GDP growth. An increase in growth will mean more employment and more persons emerging from poverty and hopelessness. This will have an impact on our educational system, our investment strategies, and our development priority.”
All Belizean consumers — that is, ALL OF US — pay more for every monopoly handed out. Allow another internet provider, and competition will force prices down to a genuine level established by the immutable law of supply and demand.
MONOPOLIES SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. Their main effect is to make us pay more, because we cannot choose a lower price and vote with our dollars. It’s a kind of slavery, because we have no freedom in the matter, none at all.
The internet is essential to business in this digital age. GOB has let us become near the top of the world in murders, and near the bottom in internet communication. WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS! Let’s talk about that, GOB.
I’m yet to hear what steps will be taken so Belizeans can have more Internet access at lower prices. Part of the reason is that the gullible phone companies that dominate BElize care less all they want is to increase their profits.
This just another part of this useless corrupt gov.
until when are they talking about it publicly, we are really behind all the central American countries with internet price so high that small amount of people use it when it should be a technology that should be flourishing in this 21st century.
thanks minister, with a population of 350000 ( a small city everywhere else) and a goverment to run ( all the gob employee are not productive) what kind of economy do you want to have?
I have been commenting about this for a couple of years. I agree that in capitalism there should be a limit to in interference of government in private enterprise but as a young economy and given the way of the world there should be a cieling granted to these companies that offer Internet. One way to do it is to expand the BTL activities and provide cable/internet at a cheaper rate. That will force down the price in the Internet industry. These rates that are charged currently are outrageous and one wonders if it is not a deliberate plan to keep the majority of the Belizeans ignorant! We are being fleeced! And it is not as if we are being provided with efficient service!
Blaming one political party over the other does not solve or help solve the situation. It shows how imature and shallow some of you are in doing that as this has been taking place during the tenure of both parties. What should happen is that there is organization to foster this change. We have some unions in Belize, church bodies and other NGOs that should get up and say something. The longer we stay with a significant part of the population not exposed to this new technology, the further behind we wil be as a society! The energy spent on political slinging should be diverted to a more worthy cause, such as this, for the prosperity of the country!
Exactly the reason why i havent ever been able to afford to have internet in my home. (sadly, its is so needed for our children to do most of their HW and research for for projects. & we dont want our kids on the street alone. so we take them & wait for them to finish at night even. would be so much easier if we had it home & could block certain websites and still keep our eyes on what our children watch & do.
I am still amazed of how backward we are in some of a the littlest things….I mean internet should be made available at ta cheaper rate…and don’t mention skype… . How long will this situation last- we need to find a way of addressing this situation asap; we are depriving our country from real development at every level.
these Ministers talk like they still in opposition, she is the government, they passed an SI and took over BTL in one day. th next day they can lower the cost of internet. with the stroke of a pen. they have refused in 5 LONG YEARS to free up VOIP, MS Miranda said on national television that the Belizean public does not want faster internet. this crowd is still confused after all this time in govermnet
@Storm, the GOB is a monopoly, they got, BTL, BE Land now going for the water in the stann creel districts. GOB is the monopoly.. duh?
I applaud Senator Joy Grant’s statement, “We have been actively considering initiatives to provide Belizeans with internet at an affordable price. It has been documented that there is a direct correlation between internet connectivity and economic growth. A ten percent increase in connectivity, results in zero point six to one point two percent GDP growth. An increase in growth will mean more employment and more persons emerging from poverty and hopelessness. This will have an impact on our educational system, our investment strategies, and our development priority.”
This is the realization we have endeavored to bring about on https://www.facebook.com/groups/betterservicefrombtl/, please join us on Facebook!