Information Technology

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Cable & Wireless Jamaica has exclusive responsibility for the provision of all telephone services - domestic and international, throughout Jamaica - under a licence granted by the Jamaican Government. The company is privately owned - 79% by Cable and Wireless (W.I.) Limited, and 21% by members of the public. Cable & Wireless Jamaica is also a shareholder in Jamaica Digiport International Limited, a company which provides high speed data and other telecommunications services exclusively to freezone and offshore companies.
A fully automatic digital domestic network with over 180,000 telephones (main lines); direct dialling to most countries overseas is possible with this system. Other international services include cellular lines, PBX systems, pay telephones, credit authorization terminals, data services, toll free services, telegraph, facsimile, television, telex and card lease circuits. At the moment there are six electromechanical exchanges and 59 digital exchanges serving the island.1

Following a name change on February 5, 1998 Cable and Wireless Jamaica Limited replaced Telecommunications of Jamaica Limited as the sole provider of the island's domestic and international telephone services.TOJ was incorporated in May 1987 as the holding company for the Jamaica Telephone Company and Jamaica International Telecommunications Limited. 2

Over the last few years there has been a rapid increase in the number of main stations.

Transmission is through PCM or twisted pairs, analogue microwave radios, digital microwave radios, fibre optic systems, digital multiple access radio system for rural telephones, and digital automatic cross connect system.

The external plant consists of fixed count terminals, distribution cabinets, pressurized underground cable and unpressurized aerial cable. All new cables with capacities greater than 200 pairs are being placed in underground conduits.

Jamaica has 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSTAT earth stations; 2 AM and 7 FM stations, 2 TV stations and 3 coaxial submarine cables.3

Direct International Dialling: Calls to Jamaica can be dialed in the same manner as Long Distance calls within the US Mainland, i.e., simply dial area code 809 plus the local number. (As in some areas in the US, a local access digit "1" is required. Check local telephone directory for such information).4

Jamaica's Link to the Internet

With funds provided by the Organization of American States, the Jamaican Electronic Network (JAMNet) was completed in 1994, allowing Jamaica to be connected to Internet through a 64 Kbps satellite link between Kingston and the National Science Foundation Netwo rk (NSFNet) in Washington, D.C5 JAMNet interconnects the following institutions in the academic, research, scientific and technological sector: The University of the West Indies Mona (UWI); the College of Arts, Science, and Technology (CAST) and the Scientific Research Council (SRC)..

The JAMNet connection was set-up during September, 1994. It provides a distinct connection for each institution through the facilities of Telecommunications of Jamaica (TOJ), the local telecommunications provider.

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