Internet for cars, boats and other personal devices an emergent service in Jamaica
Published:Friday | September 27, 2024 | 12:08 AMSteven Jackson - Senior Business Reporter
Satellite internet providers are now offering data for cars, boats and other personal devices as the internet of things – IoT – takes hold in Jamaica.
At least two service providers will allow customers to use their devices outside the home, while on the go.
“Imagine the range up to 500 kilometres in the sea for a fisherman hitting the panic button for assistance,” said Dushyant Savadia, the founder and CEO of tech company Amber Group, in an interview with the Financial Gleaner.
These services are powered by mini-satellites orbiting the Earth.
“We will start deploying next year to support the internet-of-things data network,” Savadia said, noting the tech company will offer the service through subsidiary Amber Innovations Limited.
“Jamaica is now joining the global network and will open a new avenue of data transfers for devices,” he said.
The internet of things generally describes everyday devices, such as cars and home appliances, that are embedded with software and have connectivity to a network.
Amber will use satellite technology powered by the Sigfox OG network. It will allow for heavy data use for “supply chain, logistics, smart cities and smart buildings”, Savadia said. For consumers, their devices would easily allow for connectivity of cars, but also facilitate network access during remote mountain hikes, allowing for the streaming of movies or blogging, for example.
Elon Musk’s Starlink
Amber Group isn’t alone in offering these services. Starlink Services Jamaica initially provided internet access via satellite to homes on its market entry, but has now expanded to offer internet on “boats” and while “roaming” around Jamaica, checks on its local website show. Starlink Jamaica, which is part of Elon Musk’s global Starlink network, did not respond to requests for comment.
Starlink Jamaica’s two-year licence to provide internet services is set to expire on September 28. Telecommunications regulator the Office of Utilities Regulation, OUR, only issues two-year licences to internet service providers, which they can renew.
The OUR referred the Financial Gleaner to Starlink when asked about plans for renewal of the licence.
Starlink also holds a carrier licence from the OUR, which allows it to sell access to its technology to others. The carrier licence expires in 2032.
Amber Innovation renewed its licence this year, following its expiration in March, said Savadia. Another satellite-based service provider, ReadyNet, owned by investor Christopher Dehring, is in the process of renewing its service provider licence which expired in 2022. ReadyNet also holds a satellite carrier licence which expires in 2030.
ReadyNet is unlikely to offer roaming satellite services. Rather, it will resume offering fixed service in urban and remote areas, according to Dehring.
“Technologies like Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G are more cost-efficient in the Jamaican context for the internet of things,” he said.
ReadyNet was a forerunner in the provision of internet access via satellite in Jamaica.
“Of course, since we first introduced it, other satellite operators have come into the market, which is great for Jamaica,” Dehring said. “We expect satellite capacity will be utilised as part of the national broadband plan, when that is finalised, as it is still the most cost-efficient and reliable to serve deep rural areas.”
He added that ReadyNet was looking at other applications for the technology.
The services of large telecoms Digicel Jamaica and Flow Jamaica run on wired fibre-optic backbones, but they also use traditional wireless mobile technology.
There were 146 telecoms licences in issue up to January 2024.