LIME begins project to enable e-learning across Caribbean

“Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment” (LIME), the Caribbean business of Cable and Wireless Communications, has begun a project to improve education across the Caribbean, creating a new network to connect universities and colleges regionally and internationally.

The broadband network, called C@ribNET, will be the region’s first research network, effectively an academic internet. C@ribNET will initially connect 15 higher and further education institutions (including universities and colleges) across the Caribbean. It will also interconnect with similar networks covering the US (Internet 2), Latin America (Red Clara) and Europe (GEANT).

Students will have better distance learning opportunities, with the ability to access courses and educational resources remotely. The C@ribNET network will allow lecturers and researchers to collaborate and share work securely between institutions and countries, creating online academic communities which will work together on new ideas and initiatives to tackle regional issues.

David Shaw, CEO of LIME, commented: “The motivation for C@ribNET is to develop the Caribbean region by creating greater access to education, leading in turn to higher levels of attainment. This is an example of LIME using our extensive network to provide a social telecoms solution which should greatly benefit the region over the years to come.” C@ribNET was commissioned by the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN), a division of the Caribbean Community and Common Market. Funding for the project was provided by the European Union. LIME has signed a US$6.5 million two-year contract with the CKLN to design and provide connectivity for the network, and then to train and support technical staff.

C@ribNET is expected to be operational by the end of 2011. The CKLN has commissioned pilot projects which will utilize C@ribNET: Remote access, TA Marryshow Community College in Grenada is running a pilot project to provide courses via videoconference, linking its campus in the capital, St. George’s to the island’s northernmost Parish, St. Patrick and its sister island of Carricou; and Greater resources, The Library and Information Society of Jamaica, Caribbean Disaster Information Network, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Society for Crime and Security and the University of the West Indies Open Campus have all shown strong interest in sharing their resources using C@ribNET.