Friday 7 August, 2026
Mobile internet connectivity has expanded significantly across the Caribbean islands, with the number of people covered by 3G or higher networks nearly doubling from 9 million in 2015 to more than 17 million in 2023. However, almost half of the region’s population remains unconnected.
The usage gap is the main challenge: more than 15 million people lived within 3G or 4G coverage in 2023 but did not use mobile internet. Closing this gap will be critical to advancing digital inclusion and unlocking the socioeconomic benefits of connectivity.
Meanwhile, 5G deployment is still at an early stage, accounting for just 1% of mobile connections at the end of 2023. Its expansion offers a major opportunity to accelerate digital transformation, but will require sustained investment in network capacity and coverage.
Rapid growth in mobile data traffic is increasing pressure on networks, while the resulting costs are not matched by additional operator revenues. This report assesses the investment needed to close mobile coverage and usage gaps by 2030, highlighting the need for investment-friendly policies and a fairer balance between mobile operators and large traffic generators.
