Editing Jamaica (section)

==Infrastructure==
===Transport===
{{further|Transport in Jamaica}}
[[File:Halfway Tree Transport Center, Kingston, Jamaica.jpg|thumb|Halfway Tree Transport Centre, Kingston]]
The [[transportation|transport]] infrastructure in Jamaica consists of [[roadway]]s, [[railway]]s and air transport, with roadways forming the backbone of the island's internal transport system.<ref name="EBJ"/>

====Roadways====
{{main|Roads in Jamaica}}

The Jamaican road network consists of almost {{convert|21000|km|mi}} of roads, of which over {{convert|15000|km|mi}} is paved.<ref name=WorldFactbook>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jamaica/ The CIA World Factbook – Jamaica] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124190707/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jamaica/ |date=24 January 2021 }}. Retrieved 2015-09-16.</ref> The [[Government of Jamaica|Jamaican Government]] has, since the late 1990s and in cooperation with private investors, embarked on a campaign of infrastructural improvement projects, one of which includes the creation of a system of [[freeway]]s, the first such access-controlled roadways of their kind on the island, connecting the main population centres of the island. This project has so far seen the completion of {{convert|33|km|mi}} of freeway.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

====Railways====
{{main|Railways of Jamaica}}

Railways in Jamaica no longer enjoy the prominent position they once did, having been largely replaced by roadways as the primary means of transport. Of the {{convert|272|km|mi}} of railway found in Jamaica, only {{convert|57|km|mi}} remain in operation, currently used to transport bauxite.<ref name=WorldFactbook/> On 13 April 2011, a limited passenger service was resumed between May Pen, Spanish Town and Linstead.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-13 |title=Train coaches roll into Old Capital for test run |url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110413/lead/lead3.html |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=jamaica-gleaner.com |language=en |archive-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202205325/https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110413/lead/lead3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Air transport====
[[File:Montego Bay plane Photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|right|A [[US Airways]] aircraft landing at Montego Bay (2013)]]
[[File:Norman Manley International Airport.jpg|thumb|Norman Manley International Airport]]
There are three international airports in Jamaica with modern [[airport terminal|terminals]], long [[runway]]s, and the navigational equipment required to accommodate the large [[jet aircraft]] used in modern and [[air travel]]: [[Norman Manley International Airport]] in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]]; [[Ian Fleming International Airport]] in [[Boscobel, Jamaica|Boscobel]], [[Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica|Saint Mary Parish]]; and the island's largest and busiest airport, [[Sir Donald Sangster International Airport]] in the [[resort]] city of [[Montego Bay]]. Manley and Sangster International airports are home to the country's national airline, [[Caribbean Airlines]]. In addition there are local commuter airports at [[Tinson Pen Aerodrome|Tinson Pen (Kingston)]], [[Port Antonio]], and [[Negril]], which cater to internal flights only. Many other small, rural centres are served by private airstrips on sugar estates or bauxite mines.<ref name="EBJ"/>

====Ports, shipping and lighthouses====
{{see also|Lighthouses in Jamaica}}

Owing to its location in the Caribbean Sea in the [[sea lane|shipping lane]] to the [[Panama Canal]] and relative proximity to large markets in North America and [[emerging market]]s in Latin America, Jamaica receives much traffic of [[Containerization|shipping containers]]. The [[container terminal]] at the Port of Kingston has undergone large expansion in capacity in recent years to handle growth both already realised as well as that which is projected in coming years.<ref name=nameJamaicaObserver>[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20051117T220000-0500_92733_OBS_PORT_AUTHORITY__MAERSK_IN_MAJOR_DEAL.asp The Jamaica Observer] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926232147/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20051117T220000-0500_92733_OBS_PORT_AUTHORITY__MAERSK_IN_MAJOR_DEAL.asp |date=26 September 2007}}. Retrieved 27 June 2007.</ref> Montego Freeport in [[Montego Bay]] also handles a variety of cargo like (though more limited than) the Port of Kingston, mainly agricultural products.

There are several other ports positioned around the island, including Port Esquivel in [[Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica|St. Catherine]] ([[WINDALCO]]), Rocky Point in [[Clarendon Parish, Jamaica|Clarendon]], Port Kaiser in [[Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica|St. Elizabeth]], Port Rhoades in Discovery Bay, Reynolds Pier in [[Ocho Rios]], and Boundbrook Port in [[Port Antonio]].

To aid the navigation of shipping, Jamaica operates nine lighthouses.<ref name="ATSR">[http://www.mtw.gov.jm/general_information/reports/TransportStatisticsReport2003_2004.pdf Annual Transport Statistics Report: Jamaica in Figures 2003-2004] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315174612/http://www.mtw.gov.jm/general_information/reports/TransportStatisticsReport2003_2004.pdf |date=2013-03-15}}, Ministry of Transport and Works, July 2005.</ref> They are maintained by the <Port Authority of Jamaica,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.portjam.com/ |title=Port Authority of Jamaica |access-date=11 October 2010 |archive-date=19 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019134844/http://www.portjam.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> an agency of the Ministry of Transport and Works.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtw.gov.jm/ |title=Ministry of Transport and Works |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722070810/http://www.mtw.gov.jm/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ATSR"/>

===Energy===
{{see also|Solar power in Jamaica}}
[[File:Jamaica electricity production.svg|thumb|Jamaica electricity production by source]]
[[File:Jamaica renewable electricity production.svg|thumb|Jamaica renewable electricity production by source]]

Jamaica depends on petroleum imports to satisfy its national energy needs.<ref name=WorldFactbook/> Many test sites have been explored for oil, but no commercially viable quantities have been found.<ref name="pcj.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.pcj.com/industry_stat.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20010203232100/http://www.pcj.com/industry_stat.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2001 |title=Petroleum Corp of Jamaica, Petroleum Industry Statistics |access-date=21 July 2007}}</ref> The most convenient sources of imported oil and motor fuels (diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel) are from [[Mexico]] and [[Venezuela]].

Jamaica's electrical power is produced by diesel ([[Bunker fuel|bunker oil]]) generators located in [[Old Harbour, Jamaica|Old Harbour]]. This facility has been further equipped with liquid natural gas capability and storage. Other smaller power stations (most owned by the Jamaica Public Service Company,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.myjpsco.com/ |title=Jamaica Public Service Company |access-date=1 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107125651/http://www.myjpsco.com/ |archive-date=7 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the island's electricity provider) support the island's electrical grid including the Hunts Bay Power Station, the Bogue Power Station [[Saint James Parish, Jamaica|Saint James]], the Rockfort Power Station [[Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica|Saint Andrew]] and small hydroelectric plants on the White River, Rio Bueno, Morant River, Black River (Maggotty) and Roaring River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myjpsco.com/about_us/power_plants.php |title=JPS – JPS' Power Plants |access-date=1 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202075147/http://www.myjpsco.com/about_us/power_plants.php |archive-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> A wind farm, owned by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, was established at Wigton, [[Manchester Parish|Manchester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwfja.com |title=Wigton Wind Farm Company |access-date=25 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417201155/http://www.wwfja.com/ |archive-date=17 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jamaica has successfully operated a [[SLOWPOKE reactor|SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear reactor]] of 20&nbsp;kW capacity since the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/radioisotopes-research/research-reactors |title=Research Reactors |date=21 May 2024 | website=world-nuclear.org |access-date=21 October 2024}}</ref>
In 2024, the Government committed to adding [[small modular reactors]] (SMR) to the country's energy mix, signing a [[memorandum of understanding]] (MOU) with [[Atomic Energy of Canada Limited]] (AECL) and [[Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Research Facilities|Canadian Nuclear Laboratories]] to promote the adoption of nuclear power in Jamaica.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jis.gov.jm/govt-signs-mou-to-advance-nuclear-technologies-adoption-in-jamaica/ |title=Gov't Signs MOU to Advance Nuclear Technologies Adoption in Jamaica |date=23 October 2024 | publisher=[[Jamaica Information Service|The Jamaica Information Service]] |access-date=26 October 2024}}</ref>

Jamaica imports approximately {{convert|80000|oilbbl}} of oil energy products per day,<ref name="pcj.com"/> including asphalt and lubrication products. Just 20% of imported fuels are used for road transportation, the rest being used by the bauxite industry, electricity generation, and aviation. 30,000 barrels/day of crude imports are processed into various motor fuels and asphalt by the Petrojam Refinery in Kingston.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.petrojam.com/about-us/corporate-fact-sheet |title=Corporate Fact Sheet &#124; Petrojam Limited |publisher=Petrojam.com |access-date=2017-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415220606/http://www.petrojam.com/about-us/corporate-fact-sheet |archive-date=15 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jamaica produces enormous quantities of [[hydrous ethanol|drinking alcohol]] (at least 5% water content), most of which appears to be consumed as beverages, and none used as motor fuel. Facilities exist to refine hydrous ethanol feedstock into [[Absolute ethanol|anhydrous ethanol]] (0% water content), but as of 2007, the process appeared to be uneconomic and the production plant was idle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcj.com/petrojam/associate_text.htm |title=Petroleum Corp of Jamaica, Petrojam Ethanol |access-date=21 July 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070717000252/http://www.pcj.com/petrojam/associate_text.htm |archive-date=17 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The facility has since been purchased by West Indies Petroleum Ltd. and repurposed for petroleum distillates.

===Communication===
{{main|Telecommunications in Jamaica}}

Jamaica has a fully [[Digital telephony|digital telephone communication system]] with a mobile penetration of over 95%.<ref name="EIU">[http://globaltechforum.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=JM&country=Jamaica&title=Doing+eBusiness+in+Jamaica&channelid=6 Doing eBusiness in Jamaica] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928173029/http://globaltechforum.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=newdebi&country_id=JM&country=Jamaica&title=Doing+eBusiness+in+Jamaica&channelid=6 |date=28 September 2011 }}, The Economist Intelligence Unit.</ref>

The country's two mobile operators – [[Flow (brand)|FLOW Jamaica]] (formerly LIME, bMobile and Cable and Wireless Jamaica) and [[Digicel|Digicel Jamaica]] have spent millions in network upgrades and expansion. The newest operator, Digicel was granted a licence in 2001 to operate mobile services in the newly liberalised telecom market that had once been the sole domain of the incumbent FLOW (then Cable and Wireless Jamaica) monopoly. Digicel opted for the more widely used [[GSM]] wireless system, while a past operator, Oceanic (which became Claro Jamaica and later merged with Digicel Jamaica in 2011) opted for the [[CDMA]] standard. FLOW (formerly "LIME" – pre-[[Columbus Communications]] merger) which had begun with [[Digital AMPS|TDMA]] standard, subsequently upgraded to GSM in 2002, decommissioned TDMA in 2006 and only utilised that standard until 2009 when LIME launched its 3G network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwc.com/assets/uploads/files/Press%20Releases/3g%20launch%20in%20jamaica.pdf |title=LIME 3G launch in 2009 |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625182344/http://www.cwc.com/assets/uploads/files/Press%20Releases/3g%20launch%20in%20jamaica.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both operators currently provide islandwide coverage with HSPA+ (3G) technology. Currently, only [[Digicel]] offers LTE to its customers<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2016/06/13/digicel-jamaica-launches-lte/ |title=Digicel Jamaica launches LTE |last=TeleGeography |access-date=14 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806170506/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2016/06/13/digicel-jamaica-launches-lte/ |archive-date=6 August 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> whereas FLOW Jamaica has committed to launching LTE in the cities of Kingston and Montego Bay, places where Digicel's LTE network is currently only found in, in short order.

A new entrant to the Jamaican communications market, [[Columbus Communications|Flow Jamaica]], laid a new [[Submarine communications cable|submarine cable]] connecting Jamaica to the United States. This new cable increases the total number of submarine cables connecting Jamaica to the rest of the world to four. Cable and Wireless Communications (parent company of LIME) acquired the company in late 2014 and replaced their brand LIME with FLOW.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwc.com/live/news-and-media/press-releases/new-flow-brand-unveiled-in-jamaica.html |title=Cable & Wireless Communications – New Flow Brand Unveiled in Jamaica |website=www.cwc.com |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625152402/http://www.cwc.com/live/news-and-media/press-releases/new-flow-brand-unveiled-in-jamaica.html |archive-date=25 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Flow (brand)|FLOW Jamaica]] currently has the most broadband and cable subscribers on the island and also has 1 million mobile subscribers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Flow-celebrates-hitting-one-million-customers_61486 |title=Flow celebrates hitting one million customers |website=Jamaica Observer |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524044859/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Flow-celebrates-hitting-one-million-customers_61486 |archive-date=24 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> second to Digicel (which had, at its peak, over 2 million mobile subscriptions on its network).

Digicel entered the broadband market in 2010 by offering WiMAX broadband,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2010/08/23/digicel-launches-wimax-to-non-business-users/ |title=Digicel launches WiMAX to non-business users |last=TeleGeography |website=www.telegeography.com |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306013556/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2010/08/23/digicel-launches-wimax-to-non-business-users/ |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> capable of up to 6&nbsp;Mbit/s per subscriber. To further their broadband share post-LIME/FLOW merger in 2014, the company introduced a new broadband service called Digicel Play,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digicelgroup.com/jm/en/Play.html |title=Home |website=www.digicelgroup.com |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521133001/http://www.digicelgroup.com/jm/en/Play.html |archive-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is Jamaica's second [[FTTx|FTTH]] offering (after LIME's deployment in selected communities in 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2011/12/16/lime-jamaica-launches-100mbps-ftth-service/|title=Lime Jamaica launches 100Mbps FTTH service|last=TeleGeography|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624125845/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2011/12/16/lime-jamaica-launches-100mbps-ftth-service/|archive-date=24 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>). It is currently only available in the parishes of Kingston, Portmore and St. Andrew. It offers speeds of up to 200&nbsp;Mbit/s down, 100&nbsp;Mbit/s up via a pure fibre optic network. Digicel's competitor, [[Flow (brand)|FLOW Jamaica]], has a network consisting of [[ADSL]], Coaxial and Fibre to the Home (inherited from LIME) and only offers speeds up to 100&nbsp;Mbit/s. FLOW has committed to expanding its Fibre offering to more areas in order to combat Digicel's entrance into the market.

It was announced that the Office and Utilities Regulations (OUR), Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) and the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) have given approval for another mobile operator licence in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2016/05/05/jamaican-government-approves-third-mobile-player/|title=Jamaican government approves third mobile player|last=TeleGeography|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624135952/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2016/05/05/jamaican-government-approves-third-mobile-player/|archive-date=24 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The identity of this entrant was ascertained on 20 May 2016, when the Jamaican Government named the new carrier as Symbiote Investments Limited operating under the name [[Caricel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Caricel---first-Jamaican-company-to-get-mobile-spectrum-licence_61594|title=Caricel – first Jamaican company to get mobile spectrum licence|website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523110812/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Caricel---first-Jamaican-company-to-get-mobile-spectrum-licence_61594|archive-date=23 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The company will focus on 4G LTE data offerings and will first go live in the Kingston Metropolitan Area and will expand to the rest of Jamaica thereafter.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}