Basseterre, St. Kitts — A significant step toward digital sovereignty and infrastructure resilience was taken on Tuesday 13th May as The Cable, City Wi-Fi, and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise their partnership as the founding members of the National Internet Exchange Point (IX).
The signing ceremony marked the official commitment of the nation’s leading telecommunications providers and the Government to the long-term development and operation of the IX. Present at the signing ceremony were Ms. Patricia Walters, CEO of The Cable; Mr. Zacharias Newman, CEO of City Wi-Fi; and Mrs. Cheryleann Pemberton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and Posts.
Mrs. Pemberton reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a strong digital economy, emphasising that the IX is a critical national asset and a cornerstone of the Federation’s digital future. Mrs. Pemberton went on to ask those present to “remember that this is not just a signing ceremony; it is a commitment to work
together towards a shared vision of a digitally empowered nation, contributing to our National growth and our Sustainable Island State Agenda.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Mr. Bevil Wooding, Director of Caribbean Affairs at the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) and co-founder of CaribNOG, who commended the parties for taking this decisive step. He highlighted that St. Kitts and Nevis now possesses one of the “more technically sound IXPs in the Caribbean” and emphasised that it is a legacy that should be protected and built upon. He also encouraged the ISPs to collaborate for the greater good of the nation. Mr. Wooding went on to express that the value of an IX is measured by the strength of its community and the willingness of the leadership to collaborate.
Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of ICT, praised the dedication and work of Mr. Brent McIntosh, Mr. Stephen Lee, the ISPs, and the Department of Technology’s leadership and technical team. He emphasised that this agreement and the act of peering reflect true leadership in action, paving the way for a stronger national infrastructure.
“I look forward to seeing the first live peering sessions today without further delay,” Minister Maynard stated. He expressed “that he is looking forward to all partners being a part of this milestone.”
As a direct outcome of the MoU, the first test peering between The Cable and City Wi-Fi took place on Wednesday, 14th May. This marks the beginning of localised internet traffic exchange, bringing faster service, improved data privacy, and reduced reliance on international routes.
Customers of these ISPs can take pride in knowing their providers are prioritising data sovereignty and ensuring their data remains within the borders of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Looking ahead, the first meeting of the IX Committee will be convened shortly to define the governance framework, a vital step toward registering the IX as a legal entity and further advancing the Federation’s digital development goals.