For the fifth straight year, regional telecommunications leader Liberty Caribbean has locked in its role as headline sponsor for the 41st CANTO Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition, extending a long-running partnership that supports digital and economic progress across the Caribbean.
Slated to run from August 9 to 12, 2026, the landmark industry gathering will be hosted at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, located in the Dominican Republic, bringing together a diverse cross-section of key stakeholders from across the region and beyond. Centered on the forward-looking theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’, the 2026 conference will convene cabinet-level government leaders, top regulatory officials, senior policymakers, pioneering technology innovators, and leading telecommunications providers. The collective goal of attendees is to examine actionable strategies that will help the Caribbean region speed up its digital transformation, build up its global competitive edge, and unlock inclusive, long-term sustainable economic growth.
In comments on the renewed sponsorship, Liberty Caribbean Chief Executive Officer Inge Smidts emphasized the transformative potential of emerging technology for the region. ‘The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is redefining how economies compete, businesses grow, and societies connect. For the Caribbean, this presents an unprecedented opportunity to leap forward,’ Smidts noted.
Over the course of the four-day event, Liberty Caribbean will lead and contribute to high-priority discussions focused on four core pillars: expanding affordable, reliable connectivity across underserved communities, advancing meaningful digital inclusion to close the regional digital divide, shaping forward-thinking policy and regulatory frameworks that support innovation, and deepening cross-regional collaboration to accelerate the development of the Caribbean’s digital ecosystem.
Industry analysts note that Liberty Caribbean’s repeated commitment to headline sponsorship of the CANTO conference is far more than a branding move: it underscores the company’s long-standing dedication to partnering with public and private sector stakeholders across the region to build a more connected, economically resilient, and globally competitive Caribbean digital economy. As the event’s principal sponsor, Liberty Caribbean will hold direct engagements with regional government ministers, top ICT regulators, leading industry executives, and private sector delegates to help guide the trajectory of Caribbean digital development for years to come. Beyond policy discussions, the conference also serves as a critical platform for strengthening strategic cross-sector partnerships, advancing collaborative solutions to shared regional challenges, and cementing Liberty Caribbean’s reputation as a trusted leader in driving digital transformation and sustainable growth across the Caribbean.