Ramroop provides telecoms services to Govt. without licence

May 08, 2015 News

Seven weeks after Government handed control of its multi-billion-dollar Information and

George Melville, CEO of iNet Communications

Communications Technologies (ICT) network to a local contractor for next to nothing, there is evidence that close friends of the administration are rapidly tightening their stranglehold of the industry.
Yesterday, iNet Communications, a company with close links to Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, said that it has deployed broadband satellite internet connections capable of speeds of up to 10 megabytes per second (Mbps).
The company is also claiming that it is a licenced telecommunications provider in Guyana.
But the only two licenced telecoms providers currently allowed to operate are Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).
iNet said that it has already deployed the Internet Protocol (IP) Easy Satellite solution for several key users, including Government and army, mining, small businesses and residential consumers.
In addition to the army, iNet is already boasting big clients including the Guyana Forestry Commission, Ministry of Education, Bank of Guyana, Guyana Sugar Corporation, Guyana National Industrial Company, National Insurance Scheme, Ministry of Finance and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Ramroop is the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, has shares in, and is a director

Bharrat Jagdeo

of iNet which is controlled by Global Technology.
The latter says that it has been rapidly expanding its internet reach to especially the remote areas and Government agencies.
According to a press statement from iNet, it entered a deal to supply services across Guyana, connecting remote Amerindian communities, mining communities, remote schools and military bases.
Army link
“The service is ideal for customers with offices in multiple locations where satellite connectivity is the only option to provide connectivity. The Guyana Defence Force has confirmed its order for this satellite solution to be installed at four of their major remote locations in the Amazon jungle.
“The first installation was successfully completed at the New River Triangle base, with the remaining installations due to be completed soon.”
George Melville, CEO of iNet Communications, said, “The dishes have to be transported from Georgetown to remote locations in the Amazon via light aircraft, where the small size of the antennas facilitates easy transportation.”
He said that his company is proud to be able to offer all Guyanese an affordable 10Mbps connection over satellite for the first time.
“We are now the only telecommunications provider with this capability, and we are growing the

iNet’s Director/Shareholder, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop

network with several installations per day. Having an affordable satellite network that is simple to install, versatile and robust, is a milestone for Guyana.”
The Global Technology Group describes itself as a privately held technology solutions provider that is the combination of three companies: iNet Communications (acquired in 2013), Global Technology Inc. and Global Services Inc.
iNet Communications says it is a licenced telecommunications provider in Guyana, specializing in designing, installing and actively managing large data networking solutions for Government agencies.
“iNet recently started to offer similar networking solutions to corporations.”
Maintains Govt. networks
Global Services says it maintains all of the government and corporate networks that the group is responsible for.
iNet is one of four companies named by Jagdeo in draft telecoms liberalization legislations to receive telecoms licences when new liberalization laws are pass. It will allow Ramroop to compete with the current two licensed providers, Digicel and GT&T.
The other companies, which Ramroop and Jagdeo have links to, and which are set to also be licenced include E-Networks and Quark Communications.
The Opposition has been questioning Government about lucrative concessions and the promised licences which all spoke of a massive scheme by Jagdeo and close friends of the administration to gain control of the very lucrative telecoms sector which not only offers internet connectivity, but the possibilities of radios, cable television, mobile and other telephone services.
The telecoms (ICT) industry is one of the most lucrative in the world with most countries placing a premium price on it. Some countries like Jamaica and even India are auctioning their airwaves.
Officials have been sacked for mismanagement and manipulating contracts in favor of particular companies.
Two weeks ago, Government announced that it signed a deal with Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed of Dax Contracting Services to repair the Brazil fibre optic cable which was supposed to bring internet to link state agencies and provide internet access for 90,000 families that were part of a programme to receive laptops.
Dax Contracting, according to the agreement that has been made public, now has control of the US$100M-plus network that runs Lethem to Georgetown and stretches from Anna Regina to Moleson Creek.
It is believed that the Dax deal is really to allow Ramroop and few others control over Telecoms sector, a scam that was unearthed and made public by Kaieteur News two years ago.