Key Telecoms Agency established as liberalization hits critical phase

Oct 07, 2017 News

A key state agency that will pave the way for new phone companies to enter the local market has been green-lighted for operations.
Yesterday, during the post-Cabinet press briefings at the Ministry of the Presidency,

Government has established the critical Telecoms Agency which will ready Guyana for new phone companies to enter the market.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that Cabinet on Tuesday approved the establishment of the Telecommunications Agency.
The establishment of the agency will coincide with the commencement of the Telecommunication Act 2016.
Among other things, the agency will be moving before the year is out for a number of essential administrative and organisational activities which will include staffing, finalisation of licensing procedures in preparation for liberalisation, and issuance of new licenses to telecommunication entities.
According to Harmon, the establishment of the agency is the first of two phases in the implementation of the Telecommunications Act 2016. The law change paved the way for the ending of the 25-plus years landline and international calls monopoly of US-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).
However, Government, despite the law change, just cannot do away with GTT. It has been negotiating with the telephone company, with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) involved.
Currently, the two licensed mobile operators are GTT and Digicel.
Many housing schemes are still without landlines and despite landing a submarine fiber optic cable from Suriname a few years ago, GTT is facing flak for the quality of broadband it is offering.
According to Minister Harmon yesterday, the execution of phase one commenced from October 1 and will run until December 31, and involves the formation of the agency as a body corporate in accordance with the Act.
Harmon disclosed that at the end of this phase, the agency is expected to be in a position to absorb the functions of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and have the capacity to deal with the additional regulatory functions mandated by the Act.
A number of companies, both local and international have all expressed interest in what is considered one of the most lucrative businesses in the world.