Above: The yellow line in this Surfshark graph notes TT’s placing.
Cybersecurity company Surfshark released its 2021 evaluation of Digital Quality of Life (DQL) and Trinidad and Tobago dropped eight places since 2020.
This is the third DQL study, and it finds Trinidad and Tobago ranked 77th among 110 countries.
Surfshark evaluates countries on five digital wellbeing pillars. Trinidad and Tobago showed its best results in internet quality (65th), but ranks slightly lower in internet affordability (75th), e-infrastructure (75th), e-security (74th), and e-government (80th).
The company does its rankings based on open-source information provided by the United Nations, the World Bank, Freedom House, the International Communications Union, and other sources.
According to a release from Surfshark, “Trinidad and Tobago’s internet affordability index decreased by 54%.”
“The country now ranks 75th in the pillar, which is 60% worse than the global average.”
“People in Trinidad and Tobago have to work almost 6 hours to afford the cheapest internet package, which is 1 hour more than in 2020.”
“Trinidad and Tobago’s internet quality is relatively good and comes 65th globally, but the country struggles with mobile internet – its stability and speed growth rank only 99th and 86th, respectively.”
The United States ranks highest in the Americas, but Denmark took the top spot in the 2021 listing for the second year running.
“The index sets the basis for meaningful discussions about how digital advancement impacts a country’s prosperity and where improvements can be made,” explained Vytautas Kaziukonis, CEO of Surfshark.
“Broadband is globally less affordable this year,” the press release noted.
“Comparing countries included in both DQL20 and DQL21, people have to work 11% more (25 min more) to afford broadband internet in 2021. However, people have to work 29% less (28 min less) to afford mobile internet this year.”
“The world’s worst internet is the least affordable. People in some countries, such as Nigeria, Côte D’Ivoire and Mali require approximately a week’s worth of work to afford the internet.”
“Investing in electronic infrastructure and electronic government contributes to people’s digital wellbeing the most.”
The final 2021 Digital Quality of Life report
