Telecommunications in the Caribbean essays

Telecommunications in the Caribbean essays The world has undergone a dramatic change in the last 30 years. Each day, the revolutionary changes in technology bring us closer and closer together. Surprisingly, access to information brought along by technology is replacing the importance of access to natural resources as the main determinants of the socio-economic position of nations. While studying the effect that technology is having on the world, it is good to focus on a particular region. The Caribbean has proven to be a microcosm of this world-wide phenomenon. The Caribbean is comprised of mostly small island nations with small populations that were colonized by the European powers in the late 1500s. The native people of the region are now long gone, due to the genocide that happened to accompany the colonization process. Since then, many ethnic groups have made their way to the Caribbean. Groups such as Africans, Chinese, East Indians, and Javanese occupy the islands. In addition to this, English, French, Dutch, and Spanish are the official languages in various countries throughout the region. Such an assortment of ethnic groups and languages creates a region rich in customs and traditions, a factor that can often hinder development. Although the Caribbean is not a rich or heavily populated region, it is still a major Telecommunications Market. Contrary to popular belief, many countries in the Caribbean have Telecommunication infrastructures that are as advanced as those in the rest of the world. Much of this is due to the proximity to North America. However, the most important reason for the Caribbean being a major telecom market is the importance of the tourism industry to the economies of the Caribbean countries. In contrast to this, the poor throughout the Caribbean do not have access to telephones, let alone their own lines. Thus, the major challenge has been to balance the demands of the business sector with those of ordinary citizens in desperate need of...