(Roseau, Dominica – November 17th, 2022):  The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) is among a robust network of local businesses and organizations that provides strong support to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (GoCD). This was particularly evident during the GoCD’s efforts to manage the impact of COVID-19 on the population of Dominica. 

During the pandemic, the NTRC committed more than EC$2,027,000 to various projects that enhanced the lives of the most vulnerable. Among the initiatives was the recommissioning of fibre on the East Coast and Bagatelle to provide Broadband through Fibre to the Premises/Home (FTTP) which benefitted approximately 2,500 households, including the Kalinago Territory, home to the island’s indigenous population, and delivering of Wi-Fi connectivity to the rural community of Grand Fond. 

Additionally, when teaching moved online, the organization stepped in to provide a thousand (1,000) laptops to the GoCD for distribution to students and to provision Broadband service for the Petite Soufriere Resource Center, in order to facilitate learning among students without devices or Internet access. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was also donated to the Ministry of Health and the NTRC’s signature Net4All initiative was introduced. 

Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Kurt Savarin, was proud of the contributions made to communities during this unprecedented period. 

“The NTRC’s response to COVID-19 in Dominica was possible through the Universal Service Fund, which is a Fund administered by the NTRC and guided by the principle that all persons should have access to telecommunications services. We, therefore, moved swiftly in 2020 to restore telecommunications services to the East Coast of Dominica, which had been without service since the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and to activate the other projects. The majority of initiatives were geared towards ensuring that no child was at a disadvantage. In advancing the interests of the children of Dominica, the NTRC also advanced the policies of the GoCD, that no child is left behind,” said Savarin. 

Net4All, the $10 for 10Mbps Internet package, is ongoing and is aimed at increasing access to Broadband services to the underserved. For more information on how to obtain this service, call 275-0627 or visit www.ntrc.dm.