EU strengthens digital connectivity in the Caribbean

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Front Left – Right: Pedro Duque, President of HISPASAT and Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General of the CTU. [Back Left – Right] Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados.

SWITZERLAND / THE CARIBBEAN – The European Union (EU) is reinforcing its commitment to digital cooperation with the Caribbean through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hispasat, a leading European satellite provider. This agreement aims to enhance broadband access and digital sovereignty across the region by leveraging EU space services.

The MoU was signed with the Caribbean Telecomunication Union during the CARICOM Summit in Barbados. This initiative aligns with the EU-LAC Digital Alliance and seeks to provide regional alternatives to external digital investments. Hispasat’s offer includes participation in its CONDOSAT satellite program, which is being extended to other Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.

As part of this initiative, the EU and Spain are investing €10 million to enhance sovereignty and last-mile connectivity, ensuring that even remote areas gain access to reliable broadband services. This financial package is part of a broader Team Europe approach, which includes support from Spain, the European Commission, and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) through grants, export credits, loans, and technical assistance.

This partnership reflects the EU’s strategic vision of fostering resilient digital infrastructure and aligning the Caribbean’s digital transformation with European standards, reinforcing regional sovereignty in an increasingly competitive geopolitical landscape.

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