Project Name：National Broadband Plan (Belize)

Project status：Completed projects

Cooperating Country：Central America, Belize

Project Description：

The National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Strategy presented by the Government of Belize (GOB) in 2011 indicates the vision of accelerating development and improving quality of life for all Belizeans through universal access and widespread usage of ICT. This vision is also reflected in several strategic priorities set forth in the GOB’s National Development Framework-Horizon 2030, including universal access to education and building economic resilience through investments in key economic infrastructure.

To help realize an important national policy of deploying internet broadband fiber to the home (FTTH) service throughout Belize, the TaiwanICDF, as proposed by the GOB, provides a loan to the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to finance its National Broadband Plan for replacing its fixed internet infrastructure with fiber optic network, so as to increase the quality of and access to fixed internet service of BTL.

The overall Project comprises four major components:
Component 1: Design of fiber optic network.
Component 2: Construction of fiber optic feeder and distribution network.
Component 3: Establishment of connection to users.
Component 4: Project management.

Each of the above components was partially financed by the TaiwanICDF.

It has significantly increased the fixed broadband coverage, internet speeds and stability as well as lowered prices. Nearly 81% Belizean households have fixed broadband access at home. More than 30,000 homes/businesses in major cities, towns and villages across the country have enjoyed the high-speed internet.

Implementation Start Date：2018-06-28

Implementation End Date：2020-01-07

Project Objectives：The objective of the Project is to increase the quality of and access to fixed broadband service of BTL.

Executing Agency：Belize Telemedia Limited

Implementation Arrangement：The Project is implemented and managed internally by BTL through its Fixed Evolution Program Steering Committee (STEERCO) comprising representatives from different departments/boards.

Signing Date：2018-06-28