The announcement comes on the back of the ICT Fest which took place last month and is part of a US$13.5 million investment by Digicel which includes the roll-out of two 4G networks (LTE and HSPA+), the purchase of tablets for students across the twin island state, an ICT Cadet Programme and a Multi-purpose ICT Training Facility and Special Needs Resource Centre.

 

Digicel with the Antiguan Government have announced that they have chosen the world leader in smartphone sales, Samsung Electronics to provide the first tranche of devices. Samsung will be providing their latest LTE tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 which operates on the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

 

With numerous studies demonstrating the importance of, and benefits to, children learning through technology, this latest announcement is good news for students across Antigua and Barbuda who are set to benefit enormously.

 

Digicel Antigua and Barbuda CEO, Victor Corcoran, said; “Few would argue that the workplace is far different now than it was 20 years ago. Technology has infiltrated almost every sector of the economy – and with that, work force requirements have changed. Today, employers are looking for technologically equipped, dynamic people. And the time to begin preparing our children for the realities of the new workplace is now.

 

“As such, we are very proud and excited to be partnering with the Government in the GATE project. We are investing tens of millions of Eastern Caribbean Dollars bringing World Class technology to the islands and also supporting the Government and its ambitions of giving young students access to this technology.”

 

In addition to Digicel’s US$13.5 million investment, the GATE project also sees Digicel creating a number of new jobs and firmly positioning Antigua and Barbuda the ICT centre for the region.