Digicel fibre network to help create 'smart cities' in Jamaica...."We're looking to redevelop downtown Kingston, and having this fibre network will definitely play a key role in making this work."

Wednesday, December 03, 2014    

DIGICEL yesterday said that its underground fibre network will help create 'smart cities' in Jamaica.

According to the telecommunications company, its recently installed advanced fibre-optic technology boosts Jamaica's ability to handle large quantities of data at high speeds.

General manager of Digicel Business Jason Corrigan points
out key areas of the Digicel fibre network route in Kingston to
 (from second left) Town Clerk Robert Hill; chairman of the
ARC Group of Companies Norman Horne; Mayor of Kingston
Senator Angela Brown-Burke; and CEO of Digicel Jamaica
Barry O’Brien, during a briefing at the Kingston and St Andrew
Corporation earlier this year.

"Smart cities generate insights from big data to improve efficiency of physical infrastructure use and enhances decision-making as it engages e-participation with its citizens," Digicel said, adding that these cities are regarded as major growth drivers, as close to 50 per cent of the global GDP comes from urban centres.

Earlier this year, Senator Angela Brown-Burke, who is also the mayor of Kingston, noted the importance of the fibre network.

"This investment in fibre by Digicel Business will certainly help us to achieve some of the broader objectives of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, as well as some of our ICT development plans," she said. "We're looking to redevelop downtown Kingston, and having this fibre network will definitely play a key role in making this work."

The Government has already started implementing smart city projects, such as the Tablets in Schools initiative. "Kids are going to go home with their tablets," said Brown-Burke. "So once they're in a Wi-Fi area, they can pick up and continue their work." more