Vulnerable Households to Access EC$20 Internet Plan Under New DRIVE Project

From left to right: Benjamin Exeter, Shadeja Gordon, Applianna Smith, Andrea Liverpool, Kurt Preston, Duane Samuel.

By S.Browne. Updated 6:35 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Vulnerable households across St Vincent and the Grenadines will be able to access a subsidised EC$20 monthly internet plan as part of a new national digital inclusion initiative launched under the Digital, Resilience, Inclusion, Virtual Access and Empowerment (DRIVE) Project.

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) and telecommunications provider FLOW formally signed the contract for the DRIVE Project under the Universal Service Fund (USF) on May 27, 2026.

The project is designed to expand digital access, strengthen national resilience, and improve connectivity for underserved communities, including schools, households, non-governmental organisations, and institutions serving elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

A key component of the initiative is the EC$20 per month internet package targeted at vulnerable households. The package will also include a laptop and access to a professional development course aimed at strengthening digital literacy and improving employment readiness.

Beyond affordability, the DRIVE Project also seeks to improve disaster preparedness through the provision of emergency power systems and communications equipment for critical institutions. It further aims to strengthen national connectivity infrastructure through upgraded broadband services, computers, and audiovisual technology.

The five-year programme, valued at EC$1,632,352.81, will be financed through the Universal Service Fund, which operates under the Telecommunications Act and is administered by the NTRC.

FLOW has been awarded the contract to deliver and implement the project over its duration, which is expected to run from December 2025 to December 2030.

Speaking at the signing ceremony were NTRC Chairman Benjamin Exeter, USF Administrator Shadeja Gordon, FLOW Country Manager Andrea Liverpool, SME Account Executive of Liberty Business Limited Applianna Smith, Senior Director, Regional Projects Technology Operations for Liberty Business, Kurt Preston, and Senior Manager, Technology Operations for FLOW, Duane Samuel, alongside members of the media.

The DRIVE Project forms part of national efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure wider access to technology-driven opportunities across St Vincent and the Grenadines.

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