Impact of mobile technology (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

1) Digital base: what is in 2024-2025

Internet coverage: at the beginning of 2024, ~ 77.7% of the population (≈80,6 thousand users) had access to the Internet. This sets a solid foundation for mobile services and content.

Mobile penetration: the communications regulator (NTRC) notes ~ 94% of mobile penetration, of which 82% are smartphones; at the same time, 90% of subscribers are prepaid, which affects data consumption patterns. At the same time, the problem of connection instability is indicated.

Network and coverages: Digicel and Flow (C&W) operators dominate; 4G/LTE is ubiquitous, as seen in independent coverage maps and operator/roaming plans. There are already restrictions for old 2G/3G devices abroad - modern LTE devices are recommended for users.

2) Finance: mobile banking and payments

Mobile banking has become the norm: Bank of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines is developing iBANK Online on iOS/Android (balance sheets, transfers, branch search), simplifying daily transactions and reducing customer service costs from remote communities.

New players and neo-banks are also available to residents, expanding the range of mobile payment solutions and cross-border transfers.

Effect: increased financial inclusion, reduced transaction costs for households, microbusiness and tourists; accelerating onboarding in lending and insurance services through mobile identification.

3) Gaming and entertainment services

The National Lottery (NLA) promotes a mobile channel: official resources and a lottery application for checking results and interacting with products (Lotto, Super 6, 3D, Play 4). This is an example of how a public operator translates offline practices into a mobile environment.

Effect: convenience for ticket buyers, increased transparency (online verification, push notifications about draws), as well as broader demand analytics.

4) Tourism and guest services

Official/partner guides in the application format ("Discover SVG") help plan a trip, book housing and find locations, supporting SMEs in the hospitality sector. 2024 updates emphasize the course on mobile first-content for tourists.

eSIM and prepaid data packages for the country are available from international providers, which facilitates connection "upon arrival" and stimulates mobile spending of tourists.

Effect: mobile channels increase the average tourist's check (online booking of activities, transport, restaurants) and distribute flows more evenly across the islands.

5) Communications and infrastructure: where it hurts

Connection instability and a prepaid model (90% prepaid) lead to "ragged" data consumption: subscribers often dose packets, which limits the use of "heavy" services (edtech video, telemedicine, live streaming). The regulator directly indicates a consistent connectivity problem.

The need for LTE devices for stable roaming and modern applications is becoming critical, given the global folding of 2G/3G and the orientation of operators towards LTE/VoLTE.

The geography of the islands creates pockets of weak coverage: independent maps help plan tower/micro-cell placement and optimize traffic routing.

6) Impact on SMEs and employment

Micro-enterprises and self-employed (excursions, dive centers, catering, taxi boats) through mobile messengers and social networks receive a direct sales and feedback channel; mobile POS/link-to-pay reduces the need for cash.

Agritourism and artisans use geotags/maps and marketplaces in applications, increasing visibility beyond Kingstown.

Training and upskilling (short mobile courses) are more affordable where there is stable LTE.

7) Public services, emergency preparedness and open data

Through a high level of smartphones, government communications (alerts, schedules, contact centers) become mobile "by default."

Open data: SVG has the potential to increase mobile civic services (road maps, repairs, ferry schedules). The Open Data Index (ODIN-2024) captures the room for improvement - mobile applications can become a showcase for such data sets.

8) Practical conclusions for business and the regulator

• Design offline-first and data-light application modes (cache, compression, adaptive video).
• Support variable payments (banks, neo-banks, vouchers), given the high share of prepaid.
• Integrate network quality analytics (SDK/passive metrics) to identify coverage bottlenecks.

• Stimulate LTE stability (micro-cells in "white spots," infrastructure sharing), promote VoLTE and a modern terminal base.
• Continue the course on digital state communications and mobile services (tourism, transport, housing and communal services), using open data as raw materials for applications.
• In education and health care - to support preferential access to "social" traffic (edu-platforms, state portals) and point grants for devices for vulnerable groups.

9) What to expect by 2026-2028

Communication quality: gradual smoothing of "consistent connectivity" problems as networks are modernized and the fleet of devices on LTE/VoLTE is updated.

Fintech: expanding mobile payments and international neo-banking services; an increase in the share of non-cash payments from SMEs.

Tourism: strengthening the role of conductor applications and eSIM solutions - above ARPU tourists, more SME sales in "distant" locations.

State services: an increase in the number of mobile notification channels and "one window" services with the development of open data.

Sources

Datareportal: SVG Internet penetration, January 2024 (77.7%; ~ 80.6 thousand users).

NTRC SVG (Annual Report 2024): 94% mobile penetration, 82% smartphones, 90% prepaid; connection stability problem.

nPerf/network mapping: visualization of 3G/4G/5G coverage in SVG.

Digicel (roaming): emphasis on 2G/3G care and the need for modern LTE devices.

Telegeography (global context of 2G/3G shutdowns, 2025): the trend of folding "old" networks.

BOSVG iBANK Online (iOS/Android): mobile banking functionality; bank website.

NLA SVG (website and mobile app announcements): lottery products and mobile channel.

Discover SVG (iOS/Android): Travel App, Updates 2024.

eSIM for SVG (Nomad): availability of prepaid data packets.

Open Data Inventory 2024 (SVG position): the potential of mobile civic services.