Digital Divide Country Profile · North America

Bahamas

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Bahamas in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure, Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding, Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure, 5G, LEO Satellite. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure6
Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding4
Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure4
Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure2
Satellite Infrastructure2

Specific technologies

5G6
LEO Satellite2
AI1
Artificial Intelligence1
cybersecurity1

Intervention classification

Infrastructure and Specific Technology10
Infrastructure only8
Neither explicitly identified6
Specific Technology only2
Digital public infrastructure / bilateral capacity building1

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

7 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 4 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

27 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

5G universal coverage mechanism

5G Coverage and Rollout Obligations

Consultation 2026 · Nationwide including Family Islands

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Status / periodConsultation 2026LocationNationwide including Family IslandsPopulationResidents outside dense commercial marketsOrganizationsURCA

Uses licence conditions to require geographic rollout and coverage performance.

Activities and approach: 5G licence rollout obligations

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

5G readiness/demand analysis

5G Demand and Use-Case Assessment

2023 consultation phase · Nationwide

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Status / period2023 consultation phaseLocationNationwidePopulationConsumers, businesses and public-safety sectorsOrganizationsURCA

Assesses demand for enhanced connectivity and identifies priority 5G use cases before deployment.

Activities and approach: 5G demand analysis

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

5G rural/island expansion

5G Family Islands Investment and Universal-Service Support Framework

Roadmap consultation 2024–2025 · Family Islands

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Status / periodRoadmap consultation 2024–2025LocationFamily IslandsPopulationResidents and businesses outside New ProvidenceOrganizationsURCA; Government; mobile operators

Addresses weak commercial economics for 5G on smaller islands through incentives and potential universal-service support.

Activities and approach: 5G; investment incentives; USF

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

5G spectrum implementation

5G Initial Spectrum Release Framework

Consultation 2026 · Nationwide

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Status / periodConsultation 2026LocationNationwidePopulationMobile consumers and businessesOrganizationsURCA

Defines spectrum bands, assignment and pricing for the first 5G release.

Activities and approach: 5G spectrum assignment

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

Network resilience

5G Network Resilience and Backup-Power Requirements

Consultation 2026 · Nationwide / hurricane-exposed islands

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Status / periodConsultation 2026LocationNationwide / hurricane-exposed islandsPopulationResidents, emergency services and businessesOrganizationsURCA

Improves continuity of mobile broadband during outages and severe weather.

Activities and approach: Backup power; resilience requirements

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructurePower / Resilience Infrastructure5G

5G regulatory framework

5G Regulatory Roadmap – Supply-Side Phase

2024–2025 · Nationwide

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Status / period2024–2025LocationNationwidePopulationConsumers and mobile usersOrganizationsURCA; Government; operators

Addresses supply-side and policy barriers needed to enable market-driven 5G deployment.

Activities and approach: Spectrum/policy/market design

Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure5G

Digital Government; Policy Cooperation; Capacity Building; Digital Infrastructure

Bahamas–Estonia Digital Government and Innovation Cooperation MOU

Signed / August 2026 · The Bahamas and Estonia; signed during CANTO regional conference

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Status / periodSigned / August 2026LocationThe Bahamas and Estonia; signed during CANTO regional conferencePopulationBahamian citizens; government institutions; businesses; entrepreneurs; youth and technology workforceOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; Ministry of Innovation and National Development; Government of Estonia; Estonian Ministry of Justice and Digital AffairsFundingLong-term bilateral cooperation framework; funding not stated

Uses Estonia’s e-government experience to accelerate accessible digital public services and national digital capability in The Bahamas.

Activities and approach: Knowledge exchange; technical expertise; study visits; workshops; digital identity; interoperability; AI; cybersecurity; digital infrastructure; citizen-centered digital services.

Digital government platformsdigital identityinteroperability infrastructureDigital identity

Broadband investment incentive

Communications Licence Fee Reduction Scheme for Underserved Coverage

Active policy mechanism · Unserved/underserved areas, especially Family Islands

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Status / periodActive policy mechanismLocationUnserved/underserved areas, especially Family IslandsPopulationResidents and businesses in uneconomic locationsOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; URCA; licensees

Reduces licence fees for qualifying operator investments that extend network coverage into underserved areas.

Activities and approach: Investment incentive / fee reduction

Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure

Broadband investment incentive

Communications Licence-Fee Investment Incentive for Uneconomic Islands

2024–2027 policy · Uneconomic geographic locations, especially Family Islands

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Status / period2024–2027 policyLocationUneconomic geographic locations, especially Family IslandsPopulationResidents and businesses in high-cost islandsOrganizationsGovernment; URCA; licensees

Reduces communications licence fees when operators invest in underserved geographic areas.

Activities and approach: Fee-reduction investment incentive

Digital literacy and workforce skills

DigiLearn Digital Skills Programme

Ongoing · Nationwide

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Status / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationAdults and learners needing basic digital skillsOrganizationsGovernment; BTVI; University of The Bahamas

Provides basic computing, Microsoft Office and e-commerce training to improve meaningful digital participation.

Activities and approach: Digital-skills courses

EducationCollege / universityWorkforce

Digital inclusion enabling infrastructure

Digital Transformation Execution Support – Identification and Data Policies

2023–implementation · Nationwide

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Status / period2023–implementationLocationNationwidePopulationResidents using digital public servicesOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; IDB

Strengthens identification and data-policy foundations needed for inclusive and secure use of national digital services.

Activities and approach: Digital identity; data governance; implementation capacity

Digital Identity / e-ID

Island broadband expansion

Family Islands Connectivity Expansion

Ongoing · Family Islands

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Status / periodOngoingLocationFamily IslandsPopulationResidents and businesses outside New ProvidenceOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; telecom providers

Extends connectivity across the Family Islands to reduce inter-island geographic access disparities.

Activities and approach: Broadband network expansion; island connectivity

Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure

Digital infrastructure planning

Family-Island Digital Readiness Assessment for Health

2026–2030 strategy · Family Islands

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Status / period2026–2030 strategyLocationFamily IslandsPopulationPatients, clinicians and health administratorsOrganizationsMinistry of Health

Identifies connectivity, equipment and capacity gaps before health-system digital investments.

Activities and approach: Connectivity/equipment readiness assessment

Telecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding

Health-facility broadband

Family-Island Health Facility Internet Upgrade

2026–2030 strategy · Public health facilities, especially Family Islands

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Status / period2026–2030 strategyLocationPublic health facilities, especially Family IslandsPopulationPatients and health workersOrganizationsMinistry of Health

Upgrades connectivity where health facilities face island-specific digital infrastructure gaps.

Activities and approach: Broadband upgrades

Institutional / School Connectivity InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureInfrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding

Workforce

Public-institution connectivity

Free Internet for Specified Public Institutions under USO

Statutory/ongoing · Schools, community centres and specified institutions

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Status / periodStatutory/ongoingLocationSchools, community centres and specified institutionsPopulationStudents and residents using shared institutionsOrganizationsURCA; designated providers

Requires Internet service free of charge to designated institutions, creating community anchor access.

Activities and approach: Institutional Internet

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure

EducationK–12

Public/community Internet access

Free Public Wi-Fi Parks and Community Centres Rollout

Ongoing; 85+ sites by 2026 · Public parks and community centres

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Status / periodOngoing; 85+ sites by 2026LocationPublic parks and community centresPopulationResidents lacking reliable private connectivityOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas

Provides free public Internet access at community locations, directly addressing affordability and access gaps.

Activities and approach: Public Wi-Fi hotspots

Public Wi-Fi / Community Network InfrastructureWi-Fi

Digital access / e-government infrastructure

Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness

2019–implementation · Nationwide

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Status / period2019–implementationLocationNationwidePopulationResidents and businessesOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; IDB

Expands access to public services by moving government procedures online and increasing public-sector ICT capability.

Activities and approach: Digital services; ICT modernization; identity and data systems

Device and broadband affordability

JUMP Connectivity and Laptop Programme with BTC

Ongoing · Nationwide

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Status / periodOngoingLocationNationwidePopulationFamilies facing device/connectivity barriersOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; BTC

Combines connectivity and laptops to reduce simultaneous service and device barriers.

Activities and approach: Broadband service; laptops

Laptop

Satellite broadband enabling framework

LEO Satellite Regulatory Framework

2024–2027 policy development · Nationwide / remote islands

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Status / period2024–2027 policy developmentLocationNationwide / remote islandsPopulationRemote and underserved island communitiesOrganizationsURCA; Government of The Bahamas

Creates a regulatory path for LEO broadband that can serve locations with weak terrestrial economics.

Activities and approach: LEO satellite services

Satellite InfrastructureLEO SatelliteSatellite Broadband

Digital public-service access

MyGateway Centralized Online Government Services

Operational / expanding · Nationwide

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Status / periodOperational / expandingLocationNationwidePopulationCitizens and businessesOrganizationsDigital Transformation Unit; Government of The Bahamas

Provides a single portal for government services, reducing geographic barriers for residents across an archipelagic country.

Activities and approach: Online service portal; digital payments; identity integration

School broadband

Remote School High-Speed Internet Programme

Implemented/expanding 2025 · Remote Family Island schools

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Status / periodImplemented/expanding 2025LocationRemote Family Island schoolsPopulationStudents and teachers in remote schoolsOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; Ministry of Education

Brings reliable high-speed Internet to remote schools so pupils can access the same digital courses as urban peers.

Activities and approach: High-speed school Internet

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure

EducationK–12

Satellite school broadband

Starlink Terminals for Bahamian Schools

Collaboration announced/implemented 2024–2025 · Selected Bahamian schools

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Status / periodCollaboration announced/implemented 2024–2025LocationSelected Bahamian schoolsPopulationStudents and teachers in locations difficult to serve terrestriallyOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas; SpaceX

Uses LEO satellite terminals to improve high-speed connectivity at selected schools.

Activities and approach: Starlink LEO terminals; 100 Mbps+ service

Satellite InfrastructureInstitutional / School Connectivity InfrastructureLEO SatelliteStarlink

EducationK–12

Universal-service broadband

Universal Service Fund Framework for Family Islands

Framework development 2024–2027 · Family Islands and vulnerable-user areas

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Status / periodFramework development 2024–2027LocationFamily Islands and vulnerable-user areasPopulationVulnerable consumers, Family Island households, schools, libraries and health facilitiesOrganizationsURCA; Government of The Bahamas

Creates a dedicated funding framework for areas and institutions where market economics do not deliver adequate service.

Activities and approach: Universal-service funding

Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding

EducationK–12

Universal-service planning

Universal Service Obligations Review – Schools, Libraries and Health Facilities

Initiated 2023; ongoing · Family Islands and national public institutions

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Status / periodInitiated 2023; ongoingLocationFamily Islands and national public institutionsPopulationVulnerable households; public/church schools; libraries; health facilitiesOrganizationsURCA

Measures service gaps and redesigns universal-service obligations around broadband and essential institutions.

Activities and approach: Coverage assessment; USO design

Infrastructure Planning / Mapping / Funding

EducationK–12

Universal service

Universal-Service Affordable Voice and Internet to All Populated Areas

Statutory/ongoing framework · All populated islands

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Status / periodStatutory/ongoing frameworkLocationAll populated islandsPopulationAll residents regardless of geographyOrganizationsURCA; designated universal-service providers

Requires minimum communications services at affordable and uniform prices independent of location.

Activities and approach: Universal-service obligations

Digital skills inclusion

Upskill Bahamas – 8,000 Fully Funded Online Course Enrolments

Launched Nov 2025 · All islands

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Status / periodLaunched Nov 2025LocationAll islandsPopulationBahamians age 16+ regardless of income or islandOrganizationsGovernment of The Bahamas

Removes cost and geographic barriers to online professional and digital-skills training.

Activities and approach: Free online courses/certifications

EducationWorkforce

Global ICT policy coordination / digital inclusion / infrastructure policy

World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026 (WTPF-26)

Completed September 2-4, 2026 · Nassau, Bahamas; international participation

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Status / periodCompleted September 2-4, 2026LocationNassau, Bahamas; international participationPopulationGovernments; regulators; telecommunications and technology sector; civil society; international organizations; communities affected by digital exclusionOrganizationsInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU); ITU Member States; Sector Members; civil society and international stakeholders; Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST)FundingMore than 500 participants reported; funding scale not specified

WTPF-26 created a multistakeholder policy venue for developing shared international priorities on closing digital divides, strengthening infrastructure resilience, expanding space-based connectivity, supporting sustainable digital transformation, and fostering inclusive innovation.

Activities and approach: Three-day international policy forum; adoption of non-binding Opinions; policy dialogue on digital divides, infrastructure resilience, space connectivity, sustainability, and innovation

Infrastructure Policy / Planning / Global CoordinationNetwork ResilienceSpace Connectivity PolicyTelecommunications / ICT

Workforce

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Bahamas. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bahamas-the/
International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Bahamas. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=BS
World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Bahamas. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BS

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