Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Reporter
Phillip Paulwell (right), Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce chats with Rodney Davis, president and CEO of Cable and Wireless Jamaica, during the Caribbean Telecommunication Union's and the World Telecommunication Day Symposium held yesterday at the Hilton Hotel, New Kingston. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
PHILLIP PAULWELL, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, yesterday announced that Jamaica's mobile subscription and Internet usage was up to 82 per cent of the population.
But at least one leading telecommunications executive believes the Government has not played a lead role in information communication technology (ICT).
Speaking yesterday at the second annual World Telecommuni-cations Day Symposium, Mr. Paulwell said the 2005 World Telecommunication/Index ranks Jamaica as the top country in the Caribbean and North America in ICT.
Nevertheless, Mr. Paulwell conceded that home phone penetration rate in Jamaica was only about 45 per cent, and, out of 750,000 households, nearly 40 per cent are without home phones. He added that Internet penetration rates in Jamaica have also remained behind those found in more dynamic markets, especially Asia. This, he said, presents a serious obstacle to the realisation of the Government's objectives to develop a strong and effective ICT sector.
Speaking at the same symposium, Rodney Davis, president and chief executive officer at Cable & Wireless Jamaica, said the Government has not totally satisfied the critical role it should play in partnership with the private sector for ICT.
"ICT integration should benefit the public fully, instead of only creating government and state-to-state interaction and commerce," he said.
