ICTP 331: The internet we should want in 2024 and beyond, with Rodney Taylor of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

Rodney Taylor reveals why the Caribbean's internet future hinges on resilience, not just speed.

The episode is an interview with Rodney Taylor, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, hosted by Michelle Marius. It serves as the final installment of a 2024 series on 'the internet we want.' Taylor begins by describing internet evolution in the Caribbean, noting a shift from fixed to mobile access, increased AI-powered searches, and cloud computing growth. He highlights significant cyber threats, with breaches targeting civil registries, healthcare, and digital identities, stressing the need for legal frameworks and international cooperation. The conversation turns to regional initiatives, where Taylor defends the CARICOM single ICT space as increasingly relevant for digital transformation and attracting investment through a unified market. He critiques the region's digital economy, pointing out it remains a consumer of global platforms like Amazon rather than a producer of digital goods, hindered by payment barriers and bank de-risking. Taylor mentions innovations like CarbDollar for regional trade settlements. On technology readiness, he acknowledges the Caribbean lags in IoT and autonomous vehicles but cites smart grid and disaster management applications. Data protection and privacy laws are discussed as incomplete but critical for trust, requiring harmonization across borders. Social media's role is analyzed for both entertainment and business, with challenges in monetization and mental health impacts. Taylor concludes by outlining steps toward a desired internet: building resilient infrastructure with multiple subsea routes, promoting internet exchange points to keep traffic local, adopting IPv6 and DNSSEC, and ensuring autonomy for critical services. The host emphasizes the need for intentional use of the internet as a development tool.

As heard by us

A measured conversation about how the Caribbean can shape its internet future.

Michelle Marius closes her 2024 internet series with Rodney Taylor, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, in a conversation that keeps its focus on what the Caribbean wants from the internet as it evolves.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a calmer map of where the Caribbean internet is headed, start here.

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