ICT Access and e-Services for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities (HPRC) — Guyana's LEO-Satellite Connectivity and Digital Skills Rollout

Guyana's hinterland and Indigenous communities have historically had little or no internet access because of remoteness and the absence of terrestrial telecom infrastructure. The Office of the Prime Minister, through the National Data Management Authority, runs the ICT Access and e-Services for Hinterland, Poor and Remote Communities project (HPRC), financed through Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy and the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF).
The programme builds solar-powered ICT hubs equipped with computers and internet access — originally via cellular towers, more recently upgraded to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite links — alongside basic ICT and digital-skills training for residents, hub managers and technicians across hinterland regions.
According to the latest public reporting, 153 ICT hubs have been established (126 fully operational with solar power); 225 of the 253 targeted hinterland communities (89%) have been connected via LEO satellite internet, extending high-speed access to more than 128,000 residents; and 1,156+ residents, including hub managers and technicians, have completed ICT training. Sequential project reports published via the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (2018, 2022) document a phased scale-up and a shift away from earlier cellular-tower plans toward LEO satellite technology after earlier connectivity gaps persisted.
Independent local reporting has cautioned that infrastructure gains do not automatically translate into use: coverage by Kaieteur News highlighted that poor and inconsistent connectivity in some hinterland areas continues to limit residents' ability to benefit from digital-school and other online services, even where hubs or connections exist.

Read the full analysis: https://lcds.gov.gy/timeline/ict-access-and-e-services-for-hinterland-poor-and-remote-communities/