Airport

Barbados is serviced by one major airport accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN body which establishes the standards for international air navigation. The Grantley Adams International Airport is the major gateway for residents, visitors to the island, and a growing volume of freight traffic.  The ability of the airport to facilitate intercontinental jet traffic provides an important impetus for growth of the tourism and international business and the economy as a whole.

The airport has a single airstrip 11,000 feet in length, with over 43,738 aircraft movements and approximately 2.0 million passengers passing through.  To ensure the safe operation of aircraft and movement of passengers, the Airport is committed to standards and practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.  Hence it can facilitate the most demanding requirements with respect to determination of runway length, pavement strength and other physical characteristics.  Little wonder therefore that Barbados is one of only a few countries to which British Airways had a regularly scheduled Concorde service.

Seaport

The Deep Water Harbour plays an important role in Barbados' economy, both from the standpoint of trade in manufactured goods and raw materials, and the important role played by cruise ship passengers in the tourist industry.

The Harbour facilitates four berths each approximately 183 (m) or 600ft long and having a draught of 9.75 (m) or 32 ft.  Container yard space is quite adequate and there is a range of ancillary services inclusive of gantry and mobile cranes, and refrigerated storage facilities. 

Telecommunications

 

Barbados boasts a modern telecommunications infrastructure with the latest in digital and fibre optics technologies providing international direct dialing, facsimile service and satellite communications allowing for the efficient transmission of electronic data, internet and email services. Express mail and courier delivery are also available.

Cable and Wireless (B’dos) Ltd., a subsidiary of Cable and Wireless PLC of United Kingdom, is currently the sole provider of local fixed line. Digicel, Sunbeach and Telebarbados are permitted to carry International Traffic into and out of Barbados.

The company provides International Direct Distance Dialing Service (IDDD) utilizing international satellite, fibre optics terrestrial networks, and microwave links. This highly digital service is available from any point in Barbados.

The company also provides customers with international 800 toll-free services, calling card, and communications solutions by way of electronic mail, video conferencing and credit card validation at the point-of-sale terminal.

The main ‘Gateway’ to the regional internet access is located in Barbados and is facilitated by dedicated and shared access, utilising the following:

Dial-up connections at speeds of 28.8 to 56 kbps as well as broadband ADSL services.

-           Dedicated dial-up connections using point-to-point Protocol at speeds of 64 kb/s to 2.048 mbs (or E1)

-           Leased circuit connections at speeds of 56kbps through T3 bandwidth

International leased circuits are also available across this backbone specifically for companies whose demand for voice and data links can be had through dedicated and exclusive circuits. There is also the availability of International Database Access Service (IDAS). Some time in 2006 Antilles Crossing will be landing a Fibre optic cable providing a digital fiber-optic system with a minimum design capacity of 10 Gbps per fiber pair on two fiber pairs. Wholesale and retail pricing will be available.

 

Postal Services

The Post Office provides speedy and reliable domestic and international mail services, and local delivery to all areas of  the island. Express post is available to certain countries though the Post Office and there are a number of private couriers including Federal Express, DHL and UPS, which deliver packages to most areas of the world.

Newspapers

There are two English language daily newspapers as well as two Sunday newspapers. International editions of major foreign newspapers (from North America and the UK) are also available on a daily basis.