Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Internet service in VI ‘is no good’- residents

- complained that internet service from all carriers have faults
Residents of the Virgin Islands have been voicing their dissatisfaction with internet service in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Plaza Homes
Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, second from left, and Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, third from left, during the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO) thirty-third annual conference and trade exhibition being held in the Dominican Republic. Photo: Facebook
Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, second from left, and Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, third from left, during the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO) thirty-third annual conference and trade exhibition being held in the Dominican Republic. Photo: Facebook
Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), left, with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Gaston A. Browne. Photo: Team of Reporters
Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), left, with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Gaston A. Browne. Photo: Team of Reporters
From left: Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados, Hon Darcy W. Boyce. Photo: Team of Reporters
From left: Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados, Hon Darcy W. Boyce. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Several residents in the Virgin Islands have expressed their dissatisfaction with the internet service in the Virgin Islands, saying that all carriers need to do better, especially for the ordinary man.

This comes on the heels of Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotions, Honourable Marlon A. Penn, (R8) stating that the Virgin Islands intends to move forward with the concept of ‘smart communities’, adding that there are many issues with high cost of internet services that do not function as they should.

Internet service is no good

In an interview with a resident, who wished to remain anonymous, she explained that she is dissatisfied with the internet services in the territory.

“I have tried all the internet service providers and I can honestly say that all of them come with their own faults. The last one I got, I just continued to use it because guess what, I need internet at my house and it is better to have one than none.”

In an invited comment, Andrea Lewis said, “My problem is with the one you carry around –MiFi they call it or something, it is no good. It is slow and I have to restart it to get it working. I can’t deal with it, it is slow and I don’t know what to do.”

Speaking with a resident who wished to remain anonymous, they pointed out that in order to get good service from the internet provider an expensive plan is required.

“I work from home and I need good internet service to get things done. I had to get the highest speed with my internet provider in order to get good service. That’s crazy, but I had no choice. They need to make it cheap for the poor people in the community and the government should make certain places have free Wi-Fi.”

Another resident, Dennis Miller disclosed that he does not understand why he is paying for a service every month and he is not able to get what he paid for.

“I just keep the internet because of my children. They use it mainly for school and a little entertainment but I wish it was better. I hear them talking about this LTE service that will make it faster, but will that live up to the name?”

‘Smart communities’

Speaking at the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO) thirty-third annual conference and trade exhibition held from July 16-19, 2017 in the Dominican Republic, Hon Penn said, “I think we are still some ways away from achieving smart communities. One of the challenges that we have is that we are paying a premium for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and broadband communications, but we are not getting the best service that we can based on the money that we are paying. Most times we don’t get what we pay for,” explained Hon Penn.

He further stated that the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TCR) should hold the providers accountable for the services that they are offering to their consumers, while suggesting that government should implement legislation to ensure that the consumers get quality service.

Smart communities, according to esri.com, apply a hub approach that connects people with the information and technology to drive improved quality of life, innovation, and better choices.

It said forward-thinking organizations institute policies and procedures that enable them to make data-driven decisions, maintain constant awareness of community activities, and stay connected with all of their constituents.

13 Responses to “Internet service in VI ‘is no good’- residents”

  • one eye (20/07/2017, 09:16) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    So marlone upstage mark in terms of the pr well sah
  • fact (20/07/2017, 09:25) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Internet service in VI ‘is no good’- residents
  • pat (20/07/2017, 09:27) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just more talk nothing will change NOTHING
  • spanish (20/07/2017, 10:06) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thanks hon penn mark love being in santo
  • Eagle Eye (20/07/2017, 11:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon. Penn looking like a statesman
  • SB (20/07/2017, 11:36) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    People its called COLLUSION....secret agreement or cooperation for an illegal or deceitful purpose.

    Basically forget the cheap package or $99.00 etc if you don't get the top package for everyone of those criminal organization then your service SUCKS FACTS

    Need to be slapped with some RICO charges every single one of them.
    • wize up (23/07/2017, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @SB: ref the 99.00 package there is no real difference between that any the upgrade; you must get get 4 megs on the upgrade package but still not what you dishing out for per month(white collar crime) you ensure that the consumer is getting what they actually need......
  • I disagree (20/07/2017, 13:23) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Internet service in the VI is excellent - for those who want to eavesdrop, intercept, interphere, or manipulate
    peoples' telecommunications. Banking on line is great for those who want to see who has what and the BBC
    on line site loves to see who is looking at what. Its great - for those who are up to no good!
  • ha (20/07/2017, 14:48) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is so expensive and ineffective. If it does not work, you are penalized if you decide to cancel, It may cause you up to $700.00
    When the contract expires, all your megabits are used up in a day so can invest in a more expensive plan Although you don't have a contract, you are being penalized for cancellation by having to over $50.00. you can pay $25.00 or $4.00 per day, if you go over the amount pf megabits. Poor us, the government is constantly raising their fees, businesses are constantly ripping us off. where do we go for help. The people who are elected to represent us don't care a damn about us, but we are to blind to see.
  • BOMBOMCETO (20/07/2017, 16:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    AYO ALLOWED ACTION MAN TO GO MINGO?
  • ctt, flow, digicel (20/07/2017, 20:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    These carriers lack ideas, vision and plans. They are a DISASTER!

  • open wide (22/07/2017, 23:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the process for disposing of government property, including crown land?
  • wize up (23/07/2017, 11:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I personally feel the telecoms guys in this Market should spend more time seeking to upgrade their product but somehow they focus more on sponsorships of events which is a good thing but those of us that uses these providers have very difficult days at the office as we sit and try conducting business via internet: the TRC should have a very serious conversation with the telecoms providers; just look at the amount of daily drop calls and the unstable internet that the consumer must pay for month after month for very poor service..


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.