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With the liberalization of Telecoms sector…NFMU’s plans will address need for additional spectrum – Hughes
Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes is convinced that the plans in place for the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) will without a doubt place the entity in a better position to serve the public and facilitate the
Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes
Government’s and Private Sector’s roll-out of ICT networks and services.
Expounding more on this front, Hughes said that with the liberalization of the Telecoms/ICT sector, more operators will enter the marketplace. She said that this will lead to the demand for additional spectrum.
In this regard, the Minister said that the NFMU has developed a Mobile Broadband Plan that can address the need for additional spectrum. She said that spectrum for more backhaul links have also been identified.
Hughes noted that the services that the spectrum will facilitate include commercial as well as health, education and other government services etc.
Additionally, the Minister pointed out that the roadmap for the transition from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial TV has been developed. Hughes expressed that the NFMU is ready to move forward with this. She said that this transition will result in more spectrum efficiency and vastly improved TV signals.
With regard to the NFMU’s Girls in ICT Activities, the Minister said that she will continue to raise the awareness of the benefits/opportunities for females in the ICT sector. In this regard, she said that at least 500 girls are targeted.
Kaieteur News understands that the 2017 Budget also sees new projects in the pipeline such as a new building, new vehicles, monitoring equipment, office furniture etc. for the NFMU. She said that these are geared at improving the efficiency and services that the NFMU provides to all spectrum users.
Hughes said that at the end of the day, one of the major objectives of the NFMU is to support/facilitate Government and the Private Sector’s plans at expanding and developing the Telecom/ICT sector.
She said that this new liberalized technological environment creates an expanded role of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
With respect to telecommunications, Hughes said that rates are to be determined by supply and demand in an open competitive market and the Commission will have oversight to ensure that the rates set are fair and reasonable.
Hughes said that the role of the Commission has been widened to include advising the Minister and the Telecoms Agency when required, on areas such as pricing, fair competition, and competition protection.
The Minister noted, too, that the Commission will be in charge of monitoring and ensuring compliance with Licence conditions issued to the telecommunications agency.
She asserted that the Commission will also ensure that quality of service indicators are monitored against set standards. She said that the PUC will establish the reporting requirements for same, and enforce compliance.
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