A united Industry effort to innovate and transform regional telecoms
WILLEMSTAD – Telecommunications leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the Caribbean convened in Curaçao for CANTO Connect 2025 and 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM). The highly anticipated three-day event kicked off on January 26th at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort and ran through January 28th, co-hosted by the Regulatory Authority of Curaçao (RAC). CANTO theme 2025: Towards a Unified and Sustainable Gigabit Society CANTO's 2025 events will explore the region's transition to a gigabit society. With declining infrastructure investment returns due to over-the-top (OTT) competition, industry leaders emphasized the urgent need for collaboration and policy harmonization to secure a sustainable future.
Mike Antonius, Former CANTO Chairman
Former Chairman, Mike Antonius, stressed that "a Caribbean Gigabit Society requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder collaboration among policymakers, private investors, and technology providers. Addressing funding shortfalls, regulatory inefficiencies, and market imbalances through fair-share infrastructure cost models and harmonized policies will be essential." He noted that these efforts will help bridge the digital divide, foster inclusive development, and position the Caribbean as a strong player in the global digital economy.
Dr. Delreo Newman, New CANTO Chairman
Dr. Delreo Newman, in his address, as the new Chairman of CANTO acknowledged his predecessor’s visionary leadership and emphasized his commitment to strengthening CANTO’s role in fostering digital transformation across the Caribbean. “We stand at a pivotal moment where technology intersects with possibility. We must seize this opportunity to steer our region toward a connected and resilient future and work with governments to achieve their vision of a gigabit society by 2030. Moreover, inclusive will be at the heart of our strategy - ensuring equitable access to telecom services across all demographics to drive social and economic progress” said Chairman Newman.
Damian Blackburn, President and CEO of ATN International
Industry-Wide Collaboration for a Digital Future Echoing this sentiment, Damian Blackburn, President and CEO of platinum sponsor ATN International Operators, highlighted the necessity of industry-wide cooperation. "We must collaborate in ways we never have before to realize a unified and sustainable One Gigabit Caribbean," he stated. ATNI is already leading by example via: Expanding its MMG digital payments platform to support top-ups for all three major network operators; Enhancing network resilience through shared fiber assets and independent wireless ISPs to extend internet reach; and Strengthening partnerships across the digital ecosystem to drive innovation and inclusion.