Satellite Internet in the Grenada

Satellite Internet Access Service

The Caribbean island of Grenada is located in the southeast of the region and comprises six other, smaller islands. Grenada lies northwest of Trinidad and Tobago and northeast of Venezuela and has a population of just over 107,000 people. The island is known as the ‘Island of Spice’ and for good reason as it is a major producer of nutmeg and mace – that’s 20% of the world’s nutmeg supply. It also produces a variety of other spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger and allspice. Tourism is critical to the Grenadian economy and continues to grow. The island attracts visitors from around the world due to its varied geography of mountains, lakes, springs, rainforests and unspoilt beaches as well as eco-tourists. However, the region has suffered at the hands of extreme weather events. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan hit the island causing the destruction of around 90 percent of Grenada’s homes. Then, in 2005, Hurricane Emily struck and caused around $110 million worth of damage.

Like other islands in the Caribbean, the use of the Internet and mobile broadband is gradually increasing. However, on the island of Grenada, there is a need to improve infrastructure in order to extend the reach of cellular networks and Internet access across the island. In 2016, Internet penetration stood at 38.8%. Though an increasing amount of people are having the Internet installed in their homes, there is still work to do in terms of pushing the percentage of users up. LTE services are gradually being rolled out across the island, as is happening across the Caribbean, and a lot of Grenadians do access the Internet on their mobile phones. Use of mobile phones is increasing, as it is across the region, but it is important that the infrastructure is in place to enable it to be used.

VSAT Services in Grenada

Satellite connectivity can play a significant role in the development of communications across Grenada. Firstly, it can provide a cost-effective and highly reliable form of connectivity that remains unaffected even during adverse weather events such as hurricanes. Satellite terminals operate independently of any ground infrastructure meaning that they can provide connectivity even when other forms of communications are lost. For an island such as Grenada that is prone to such events, this is indispensable.

Using VSAT networks, satellite-based technology can also provide broadband access to Grenadians that are as yet unconnected, opening up the wealth of information and resources that the Internet brings, giving people access to cost effective VoIP and also financial and governmental resources to improve their standard of living. Satellite also provides valuable cellular backhaul links for mobile operators who would otherwise struggle to reach more remote parts of the island and can increase their subscriber bases with a fraction of the cost in comparison with the construction of towers in hard-to-reach places. Satellite provides links for enterprises that are based away from urban centres, helping them to tap into all the benefits that broadband brings including helpful tools such as videoconferencing and the global marketplace.

BusinessCom Networks has a wealth of experience in the delivery of satellite-based solutions for rural and underdeveloped areas. Our knowledgeable team can deliver a solution tailored to the specific requirements of the customer and can offer tools that will help them to make the very best of their network. Our in-country technicians are on hand to install and assist customers and we provide round the clock assistance and advice. We will even manage and run the network for you, giving you peace of mind that you have the very best solution to meet your exact needs.