GOVERNMENT commenced testing its pilot phase of the E-Governance project yesterday with bandwidth now being provided from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) network, according to advisor on E-Governance Floyd Levi.Levi said GT&T has given the government a favourable price for the purchase of bulk bandwidth as plans are afoot to roll out services throughout all government agencies. Acknowledging that there are ways to monitor its use and protect the service being offered, Levi said the E-Governance Unit will be putting measures in place to protect its network.
“We have an agreement with GT&T for the provision of internet services and that started today (1st October, 2015). What we intend to do is conduct various tests on the network with the internet provided by GT&T. When these tests are complete, it’s our intention to distribute internet services and other network services to all ministries and government agents,” Levi stated.
He said further that there are 4G LTE sites that were built and not utilised. “We are in the process operationalising that network and building it up to the stage of ‘full operational’ so we will also distribute the E -Governance network with the internet we are receiving from GT&T.”
CONNECTED SOCIETY
Long Term Evolution, commonly marketed as 4G LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. Levi said the eventual vision is to provide a monitored, open network for all who visit government buildings and agencies, which will promote a connected society.
Under the previous administration, the E-Governance project headed by Alexei Ramotar, son of former President Donald Ramotar, suffered many failures.
GT&T in 2010 spent US$30M to bring the Suriname/Guyana Submarine Cable System. The cable has tremendous potential for bandwidth delivery in Guyana in keeping with the APNU+AFC government’s national ICT objectives.
GT&T had also submitted a request to the previous administration for spectrum allocation to facilitate a phased 3G/4G rollout. This submission included field-test data, economic analysis and a macro project plan, inclusive of geographic phases for the planned roll out. The 3G/4G would allow for faster internet speeds to smartphones and tablets since there are incessant complaints now that the current service to smartphones offered by both GT&T and Digicel, leaves much to be desired.
ECONOMIC GAINS
The economic possibility of the ICT sector in an enabling environment, in terms of new businesses and innovation, are endless. This is especially critical when one takes into account the challenges being faced by the other productive sectors.
Meanwhile, last year the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) focused on unveiling the Single Information Communication Technology ICT Space as the digital layer of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The Community’s efforts to boost development through the use of ICT would be undertaken in tandem with the reform process for the years 2014-2019. The roadmap includes elements such as spectrum management, bringing technology to the people and transforming them to digital citizens, diaspora re-engagement, cyber security and public-private partnerships.
Developing a single CARICOM ICT space to enhance the environment for investment and production was identified as one of the key areas that the Community should undertake in the short-term to become competitive.
As envisioned by its framers, the single ICT space will encompass the management of regional information, human resources, legislation and infrastructure in the sector to elicit maximum benefit for the Region’s populace.
The single ICT space and the Region’s digital agenda 2025 will be constructed on the foundation of the Regional Digital Development Strategy (RDDS) which was approved in 2013 and will also have inputs from the Commission on the Economy and the Post-2015 Agenda.

By Rabindra Rooplall