ng Regenie Fräser Secretary General October 29, 2008 Connecting the Caribbean & Caribbean Internet Forum

2 CONTENTS CANTO & its Mission Overview of Connecting the Caribbean (CTC) CTC Projects & Expected Outcomes CTC Supporting the Goals of CIF

3 CANTO & its Mission CANTO was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit association of nine national telephone operating companies in the Caribbean. The focus then was to address a wide array of issues that were of mutual concern to the companies. From that beginning CANTO has grown into a major trade association in the telecommunication sector, not only in the region but also internationally. Membership stands at 128 and includes: 46 active members - Regional Operating Companies 82 affiliate members - Equipment suppliers & others 30 countries 4 continents – North America, South America, Europe & Asia

4 CANTO & its Mission To facilitate the provision of innovative information and communication for the region’s economic and cultural development, as well as for the benefit of our members – through the sharing of knowledge and expertise and through coordination of strategic standpoints and policymaking. To achieve this mission our key products are: Our Annual Conference Trade Exhibition Various technical & non-technical training programmes ( e.g. Mini MBA in Telecoms, Human Resource & Best Practises (TELECOM, DATACOM, NETWORKING & VOIP) Publications (Quarterly Cancion, Annual CANTO Directory ) Special projects - Connect the Caribbean

5 Overview of CTC Connecting the Caribbean is a CANTO sponsored initiative. Our goal is to work with other public and private sector stakeholders (inc. CTU, ITU, UWI, CARICOM Secretariat, CARICAD & CKLN) to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources to connect the unconnected in the region by United Nations Millennium Development Goals Goal 8 – Develop a global partnership for development Target 8f deals with making ICT available to all World Summit on the Information Society WSIS Connect the unconnected worldwide by 2015 Connecting the Caribbean Connect the people of the region by 2015

6 Overview of CTC Like Connect the World, Connect the Caribbean is built around the three pillars; Enabling & harmonised Legal & regulatory framework Infrastructure development Affordable services & relevant applications

7 Overview of CTC To date we have done the following: Developed framework which outlines the principles of CTC identified key enablers and a working approach Building awareness of and support for the project through stakeholder meetings and various other discussion fora - including a panel of regional government ministers with responsibility for ICT Developing partnerships with other regional agencies Facilitating a computer for schools programme through the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project - pilot projects have been launched in Suriname and Bahamas through partnerships the main telecommunications providers in the respective countries and NORTEL Developing plan of actions for the major programmes which CANTO will undertake as part of this initiative

8 CTC Programmes CANTO has identified five areas in which it will focus its activities in 2009 and 2010: Research document and disseminate information on ecommerce best practise guidelines Research document and disseminate information on egovernment best practise guidelines A regional cyber security awareness programme A regional ICT indicators project A regional ICT training facilitation programme

9 How CTC Can Support the Goals of Caribbean Internet Forum (CIF) CIF is a regional forum focussed on exploring strategies aimed at using ICTs to further the social and economic development of the region. The goals of CTC & CIF are similar. Common themes being addressed by both initiatives are: Infrastructure gaps Capacity limitations Service affordability ICT literacy Accessibility to information Low innovation capabilities Limited promotion of use of ICTs in all sectors While our specific focus is different we are working towards the same end.

10 CTC Supporting the Goals of CIF Ecommerce Egovernment Cyber/Security ICT Indicators Training CTC initiatives CIF Themes Infrastructure gaps Capacity imitations Service affordability ICT literacy Access to information Low innovation Limited use of ICTs in all sectors

11 CTC Supporting the Goals of CIF This year CIF is focussing on the use of the internet and specifically mobile technology as the platform to promote the development and use of ICTs. In addition to the technical issues associated issues will include legal, regulatory policy, capacity etc. As an association of telecommunications operating companies, service providers, equipment suppliers CANTO is well placed to support in these areas. With CTC there are areas of synergy where we can combine our efforts to find solutions.

12 Silver Anniversary 2009 Advancing the Caribbean Through Information & Communications In 2009 we celebrate our silver anniversary Our 25 th Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition is scheduled for July 13 – at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Trinidad & Tobago Be sure to join us then

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