The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has published “Framework on Over-the-Top Services (OTTs) in Trinidad and Tobago” (PDF ; 459K) for comment until September 26 2022.

In the proposed framework, TATT defines Over the Top Services as
“Content, service or application, accessed by the public via the Internet, that may be a direct substitute for, and/or may compete with a public telecommunications and/or broadcasting service.” and that the scope of the proposed Framework is limited to OTT communications (voice and messaging) and OTT media services.

Some popular examples of OTT communications include

• WhatsApp (including WhatsApp video and audio calling)
• Skype
• iMessage
• Google Messages
• FaceTime

Some popular examples of OTT media services include

• Netflix
• Disney+
• YouTube
• HBO Max

According to TATT, “This Framework presents the Authority’s proposed strategies and recommendations to address OTT services accessed in Trinidad and Tobago.”

“The Framework is intended to:

1. present the definition of OTTs adopted by the Authority.
2. outline the policy considerations for OTTs, including challenges and opportunities
3. examine approaches adopted internationally and their relevance within the local context.
4. present the Authority’s short-term and long-term strategies for addressing OTTs within its legislative framework.
5. propose recommendations for the harmonisation of OTT-based policies and regulations at the regional level.
6. explore options for OTT providers’ investment within the industry, inclusive of infrastructure and local content development.”

Therefore this document sets out how Trinidad and Tobago users will be able to interact (or not) with OTT services in the future.

Interested persons are asked to submit comments on this document in accordance with the TATT’s Public Consultation Comment Submission Form on or before Monday 26th September 2022.

In a Ministry of Digital Transformation press release on July 29 2022, the Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT ; https://mdt.gov.tt/) announced the meeting of four technical working groups comprising “skilled nationals and members of our diaspora” on Wednesday 27th July 2022 to begin the preparatory work towards Trinidad and Tobago’s National Digital Transformation Strategy for 2023-2026.

According to a slide accompanying the press release, there will be several steps starting from July 2022 to January 2023 :

• Step 1 – Initiation (presumably the convening of the four technical working groups)
• Step 2 – Assessing the Digital Environment
• Step 3 – Creating a Compelling Vision for National DT
• Step 4 – Action Planning of Prioritised Projects
• Step 5 – Implementation ; Monitoring and Evaluation

Steps 4 and 5 has the note “October 2022 – Submission to Cabinet”

The text of the press release from MDT is as follows :

Work Commences Towards TT National Digital Transformation Strategy

Four (4) Technical Working Groups (TWGs) comprising skilled nationals and members of our diaspora met on Wednesday 27th July, 2022, to officially begin the preparatory work towards our new National Digital Transformation Strategy for the period 2023 – 2026.

Speaking at the virtual launch this morning, Minister of Digital Transformation, Senator the Honourable Hassel Bacchus emphasised that the strategy is not only about transformation but about ensuring that no one is left behind. “Everything that we are doing is for our customers – this means citizens, public officers, business-persons, the diaspora – all stakeholders. This is for Trinidad and Tobago.” He thanked the members of the Technical Working Groups who said “YES” to the call to contribute, “YES”, to the call to serve the country, and “YES” to the challenge to carve out a new way of creating a pathway for the future for T&T.

The new Digital Strategy will take into account the gains achieved by previous strategic documents which have guided national ICT strategy – fastforward (2003-2008), smarTT (2014- 2018), and the ICT Blueprint, which covered the period 2018 to the end of 2022. It will also seek to incorporate the principles of co-creation, collaboration and communication.

In the coming weeks, members of the public will be invited to contribute their ideas, comments and feedback through different public engagement channels. The Working Groups will utilise all of the ideas coming in to create the vision. They will also source strategic information, advice and guidance from various digital assessments and reports, including the Digital Readiness Assessment (DRA) conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) this year.

Initial findings of the UNDP DRA Assessment report, which were shared with the TWGs at the session on Wednesday, show that there is a strong foundation for digital transformation and several opportunities exist for enhancement of our digital landscape. The UNDP, IDB, along with other local, regional and international agencies and stakeholders have committed to partnering with TT in its ambitious vision to have the National DT Strategy ready for implementation by January 2023.

Mr. Devindra Ramnarine, Digital Transformation Advisor, in his brief remarks commented that the MDT and by extension T&T will achieve its digital ambitions by being agile and learning from its mistakes, by building on the natural creativity of our people and by taking “moko jumbie steps” that will propel us forward in the shortest time possible.

More information on the public engagement will be provided soon. In the meantime, persons are invited to engage with the Strategy team by sending ideas, comments or queries to transformtt@mdt.gov.tt, and visit the Ministry of Digital Transformation’s website mdt.gov.tt for more info.