Strengthening T&T’s AI Readiness in ICT
January 2nd, 2026 | Related To: AMPLIA Communications Limited
As global digital transformation accelerates, artificial intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising economic growth, enhanced public services, and a higher quality of life. For Trinidad and Tobago, a nation striving to leverage ICT for national development, assessing our AI readiness is timely and critical. According to McKinsey & Company, “Generative AI could add $2.6 to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy” (June 14, 2023). Is Trinidad and Tobago poised to seize this opportunity?
Readiness Requires More Than Access
As reported by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), fixed broadband penetration reached 97% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. Mobile connections exceed 126% of the population, positioning Trinidad and Tobago among the most connected nations in the Caribbean. This infrastructure provides a strong platform for AI integration, especially in delivering digital services on a large scale. However, connectivity alone is not synonymous with readiness. The Internet Society Trinidad and Tobago Chapter (ISOC TT) notes that only 29% of the country’s top-visited websites are hosted locally, and cybersecurity preparedness is moderate, which presents key vulnerabilities when scaling AI systems.
The Government’s National Digital Transformation Strategy (2025) commits to advancing digital skills, interoperability, and secure services. TATT’s Universal Service Fund is establishing ICT access centres across rural communities, while initiatives such as WeLearnTT and partnerships with Microsoft and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) improve access for underserved populations. Elected in April 2025, the new government underscored AI’s importance by creating a Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence.
However, AI-specific training remains limited. Developing local expertise in machine learning, data analytics, and AI governance will further enhance the Government’s plans for AI, its adaptability and progression. Dedicated AI legislation, ethics guidelines, and comprehensive data governance frameworks are absent or in their infancy. Without these guardrails, AI adoption risks being fragmented, with inconsistent standards and limited public trust.
Connected, Competitive, and Innovative
The UN-ECLAC’s 2025 Artificial Intelligence Readiness in the Caribbean report suggests that Trinidad and Tobago, while well-connected (i.e. high internet penetration, high mobile penetration and high-speed connectivity), trails regional peers like Barbados and Jamaica in coordinated AI strategies and education reform. For example, Jamaica’s integration of coding in schools and structured AI internships presents a more direct talent pipeline.
PwC’s 2024 Caribbean Digital Readiness Survey shows that 45% of regional businesses see AI as critical to strategy today, rising to 52% in three years. Still, only 25% believe their organisation strongly encourages digital innovation, a gap that applies in Trinidad and Tobago as well.
At Amplia, over 58% of households across the twin island republic have access to Amplia’s fibre to the home, reliable and fast connectivity, and the company plans to undertake further expansions, giving more Trinbagonians access to agile, indigenous, fast and trustworthy services. Our Smart Internet packages, launched in 2024, give consumers more control. Ambiance by Amplia debuted at the Tobago Tourism Forum 2025, enhancing guests’ in-room experiences, with over 200 hotel/guest house rooms enjoying this first-world solution.
Beyond Amplia, financial institutions, startups, and ICT service providers are beginning to explore AI for customer engagement, commercial strategy, risk management, and operational efficiency.
Charting an AI-Ready Future
To transition from a connected nation to an AI-ready leader, Trinidad and Tobago should:
- Develop a National AI Roadmap: Outline strategic priorities, ethics, data governance, and public-private innovation pathways.
- Expand AI-Specific Skills Training: Integrate AI literacy across learning institutions.
- Establish Governance and Ethical Frameworks: Create an AI Ethics Board and regulatory sandbox.
- Strengthen Cybersecurity and Local Hosting: Invest in Tier-IV data centres, promote local content hosting, and build resilience.
- Benchmark and Track Progress: Use global indices (UN-ECLAC, PwC, WIPO) to measure readiness and guide policy.
The foundations are in place: high connectivity, early policy signals, inclusion programmes, and growing private sector innovation. However, AI readiness demands more: a coordinated strategy, skilled talent, ethical governance, and resilient infrastructure.
If we act decisively now, Trinidad and Tobago can shift from being a digital follower to a regional AI leader. The choice before us is clear: harness today’s momentum to build a more thoughtful, inclusive, and prosperous nation or risk being left behind in the AI era.
