Action Item: To enhance access to Broadband and facilitate the use of ICT and e-Government applications by communities, the USF will facilitate an additional 8,000 household broadband connections to exceed 50% penetration by 2015 and subsidised computers / laptops. Students will receive a special price for broadband connections. This is critical to supporting the proposed national ICT initiatives to be implemented across the country. Cable TV is available through a single cable TV Figure 5: Laptops entering SVG 2000 -2009 Source: NTRC Universal Service Fund Annual Report 2009 operation. AM broadcasting infrastructure has been put in place and will be re-activated in the coming months. TV broadcasting covers about 70% of the island. There is no local manufacture or assembly of ICT equipment in SVG, and local dealers / agents import ICT products - mainly from the USA. Most of the software used by the public and private sectors is imported. The use of open source Figure 6: Desktops entering SVG 2000 – 2009 Source: NTRC Universal Service Fund Annual Report 2009 operator whose distribution network currently connects about 13,789 households or about 64.2% of all households. The cable TV operator now offers digital TV alongside the analogue version. Another provider is also poised to offer IP TV. FM broadcasting facilities are widely available with about 13 stations in current products is limited but growing. The Government is committed to increasing its broadband penetration and usage and has conducted extensive research on the provision of laptop computer devices to students of primary and secondary school age. In the exploration of St. Vincent & the Grenadines National ICT Strategy and Action Plan P a g e | 24 several avenues, an offer has been made by Portugal to supply students in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with laptops. A rationale has been developed which shows that this is a viable project which is consistent with the growing trends towards laptop usage and greater mobility for continued learning. Figure 5 indicates a significant increase in the number of laptops entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines during 2009. Figure 6 shows the amount of desktops and clearly shows a shift from desktops to laptops even though the desktop market is still larger than laptops. Several factors may have contributed to this emerging trend as laptops are more affordable and there is an increase of wireless Internet access at both domestic and public areas. The ICT sector’s contribution to GDP has been relatively stable, moving from 10.6% in 2004 to 10.7% in 2009, with a low of 10.2% in 2005. Investment in the sector varied from EC$ 33.8M in 2004 to EC$ 25.7M in 2009, with a low of EC$ 19.6M in 2005. The sector grew in direct employment from 147 in 2004 to 162 in 2009, despite the current challenges in the global economy. The ICT sector therefore remains an important contributor to the economy.