Pioneer Consulting (www.pioneerconsulting.com) has released a new report that provides a comprehensive view of recent developments, trends, and growth opportunities in the Caribbean submarine market from 2007�2017.
At the bottom of the industry cycle in 2003, only 3% of Caribbean Internet users had broadband access in 2003, but by 2007, this figure had risen to 50%, say Pioneer analysts.
The firm�s forecasts shows that:
- Between 2007 and 2017, peak hour cumulative Caribbean demand for submarine connectivity to North America is anticipated to increase by 31%, and intra-regional demand is expected to grow at an average compound annual rate of 35%.
- As forecasted in 2003, Puerto Rico is expected to remain the key driver of demand for both North American and intra-regional connectivity, followed by the Dominican Republic. Nearly a quarter of all existing and planned cables in the Caribbean land in Puerto Rico.
- Considerable growth in demand is expected for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica is ranked third in growth, followed by Haiti, where a large population draws a fairly large amount of bandwidth despite the low Internet penetration, according to the report.
- The report suggests that the period of heightened activity that began around 2005 is almost over. Significantly more investment in capacity improvements occurred between 2004 and 2007 compared with the period from 2000 to 2003.
Pioneer�s 2007 �Caribbean Submarine Fiber Optics� report provides profiles of all existing and planned submarine cable systems that serve the Caribbean region and profiles of each nation, with particular focus on submarine fiber-optic connectivity and the potential for growth.
To conclude the report, the firm surveys the Caribbean market as a whole and its prospects for the next 10 years.