PM says telecommunication sector open for investment

-issues licences to GTT, Digicel and E-Networks
Georgetown, Guyana (October 6, 2020)-Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips
handed over operational licences and accompanying documents this afternoon to three
service providers within the telecommunications sector.
In his address, he stated that the sector was now liberalised and opened for investment.
The documents were issued during a simple ceremony in the boardroom of the Office of
the Prime Minister, to representatives of GTT, Digicel and E-Networks.
Agents of the Public Utilities Commission and the Telecommunications Agency also
received copies of the documents.
The distribution of licences took place less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister had
historically announced the ending of a 30-year monopoly on telecommunications in
Guyana.
In a statement on Monday evening, he had noted that the Government of Guyana had
issued commencement orders effectively liberalising the telecommunications sector by
operationalising the “Telecommunications Act 2016” and the “Public Utilities Act 2016”.
The Prime Minister added that: “It is anticipated that Guyanese will feel an immediate
positive impact from the implementation of these legislation, which create a modern
and competitive environment for telecommunications, and which will immediately
result in greater choices, a better quality of service and lower prices for consumers”.
Managing Director of E-Networks, Mr. Vishok Persaud was elated with the decision.
“I would just like to congratulate the Prime Minister on getting the job done so fast and
creating an atmosphere where we can see rapid development in ICT and
telecommunications… I think it’s going to be good for the consumer and there is going
to be a lot of benefits in terms of access to new technology, speed, cloud initiatives
etcetera.”
Echoing the sentiments of Mr. Persaud was Chief Executive Officer of Digicel, Mr.
Gregory Dean: “I would just like to congratulate him [the Prime Minister] for getting it
done as soon as possible, in fact it is probably even sooner than we expected, but I think
that’s good news for us and it gives us a good problem in terms of ensuring we back up
our promises on investment and improvement in services”.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT),
Mr. Justin Nedd added his approval and noted that GTT would use the opportunity to
develop further.
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“I want to congratulate the Prime Minister and team, and I just want to say to customers
that GTT will continue to innovate…we look forward to bringing new services like 5G as
we work with regulators and the Government.”
Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Ms. Dela Britton added that her
commission is ready to help take the sector to the next level.
“I would like to assure all the service providers present that we at Public Utilities are
open for business and we are willing and ready to engage you, and we are going to
adhere to the adage of regulation must not impede innovation because in truth and in
fact this is perhaps the first steps towards innovatory things that will be going on in
Guyana”.
The Telecommunications Bill was first introduced in the National Assembly during the
ninth Parliament by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government in 2011, and it
was then reintroduced during the tenth Parliament in 2012 after extensive consultations
with both public and private operators.
According to the Prime Minister, it is inexplicable as to why the former administration
denied Guyanese the full benefits of liberalisation by only enforcing small sections of the
Act in 2018 and 2019 respectively, although the Bill was enacted since 2016 with
bipartisan support.