Public Wi-Fi Now Available Across Jamaica’s Major Towns

Jamaica has expanded its digital infrastructure with the rollout of public Wi-Fi across all major towns, as part of the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Connect-Jamaica Public Wi-Fi Programme.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, new Wi-Fi hotspots were installed in key urban locations, including Half-Way Tree and Papine – University Square in St. Andrew, Mandeville in Manchester, the Kingston Waterfront, and Cross Roads in St. Andrew.

The announcement was made by Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport, Daryl Vaz, during his presentation in the 2025/26 Sectoral Debate in Parliament.

Vaz highlighted that the expansion of the Community Wi-Fi Programme, launched in 2020, continues to make strides. To date, 315 community Wi-Fi hotspots have been established islandwide, representing an investment of $1.2 billion and currently serving more than 235,000 active users.

“In the last fiscal year, we installed the fifth community Wi-Fi site in each of the 63 constituencies. This means that no matter where you are in Jamaica, you’re within reach of public internet access. It’s a clear signal that the digital divide is narrowing,” Vaz noted. He added that the Government remains committed to the development of national broadband infrastructure, with $1 billion allocated annually to the initiative.

Alongside internet access, the USF has also ramped up its focus on technology education and digital literacy. Through its $210 million Technology Advancement Programme, launched in partnership with the Amber Group and HEART/NSTA Trust, 236 young adults aged 18–35 graduated from Cohort III with certified ICT skills during the 2023/24 cycle.

Further emphasizing youth engagement, the USF has partnered with schools to establish 30 ICT clubs and recently hosted its second ICT Club Conference. A four-week “Crack the Code” competition also took place during Youth and Technology Month, giving participants aged 12 to 21 hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, and Visual Studio Code.

To support tertiary-level education in tech, the USF awarded 12 full ICT scholarships valued at $13 million for the 2024/2025 academic year. Recipients are pursuing degrees at the University of the West Indies, University of Technology Jamaica, and the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean.

“These targeted investments are all part of our broader push toward digital inclusion and innovation. Through the USF, we are building a smarter, more connected Jamaica,” said Vaz.