North Rupununi residents now have access to cellular services

Jun 17, 2013 News

– Says it was a “dream come true”

GT&T’s CEO along with representatives from the Region

The communication gap between residents in Aranaputa, North Rupununi and the rest of the world has been narrowed with the launch of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)’s mobile cellular service in that community Saturday last.
The 350ft tower with GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) antennas mounted all the way to the top, sending signals to several villages in the North Rupununi, was a “dream come through” for residents in Aranaputa, Region Nine, who were earlier forced to line up to make calls from a GT&T phone booth.
Regional Chairman, Wilson Lorentino thanked the telephone company for investing millions of dollars in their region. “This is a dream come through for us. We can now stay connected with the rest of the world. Region Nine has been made richer with the installation of this service,” he declared.
Lorentino told the gathering that the cost of transportation can now be lowered with the commissioning of the tower. “We can now do businesses within our community with the uses of our phones. We don’t have to use transportation to go anywhere.”
“Access to the internet will change the way our children do their research. GT&T was the first to bring self services to Lethem and with the completion of this tower, there will be greater communication from the Georgetown to Lethem trail,” the Regional Chairman said.
Michael Williams, Chairman of the North Rupununi Development Board (NRDDB) described Saturday’s opening as a “symbolic day” for the residents.
“I was always asking when would reality come and my question has been answered now. Thanks to GT&T, our dreams have come true.” According to GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha Krishna Sharma, efficient and effective services are required to overcome high unit transaction cost and to access capital, markets and technical input.

GT&T tower at Aranaputa

“Set against this background of rural transformation, it is hoped that the advent of the mobile phone will stimulate a revolution in rural connectivity for small farmers and other small scale producers,” Sharma noted.
He explained that the Aranaputa Cell Site, which serves Annai and its environs, was deployed since it was recognised that the North Rupununi was insufficiently served by the rural radio booths.
“This demographic area serves as a hub for North Rupununi in areas such as Business, Educational and Health matters and as such needed wider access to the national communication network,” the CEO said.
Apart from the commissioning of the tower, the telephone company presented a cheque for $200,000 to the Bina Hill Institute and gifts to three students who earned a position in the top 100 students in the National Grade Six Assessment Examination.
Public Response
Jillian Joseph, a resident in Aranaputa told Kaieteur News that she is very excited with the services now being offered in her community. “I was born and grow up here and never know about phones until I travel to Georgetown.”
The woman said she has a blackberry phone but only uses it when she is in the city. “Now I don’t have to wait that long, I can make calls now,” she said with a giggle.
Another resident, Moris Peters explained that it was always frustrating to use the phone booths. “Sometimes you have to line up long, long and when it is finally your turn, you make a lot of mistakes entering the card numbers.”
Savitre Daniels said her daughter is studying in Cuba and it was very difficult for her to make contact with her but things will be easier now.