Cellular licences to be awarded today

John Prince, executive director at the Telecom Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), yesterday confirmed that the online auction will take place today.

When asked if the results would be known today, he said, "definitely, we will know today."

Prince said everything was in place for the long-awaited auction. The auction was originally scheduled for May 20 but was rescheduled at the request of some of the bidders.

The race for a cellular licence is between Laqtel, the only local company in the mix, regional operator Telcom Caribe and NatTel, Digicel and US company Cingular.

In a related development, Digicel yesterday agreed to buy Cingular’s Caribbean operations in a multi-million dollar deal that significantly increases the size of Digicel’s Caribbean network.

Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications and Bell South, is one of the companies taking part in the bid for a cellular licence.

Asked about Digicel’s acquisition, Prince said this had nothing to do with the auction and does not change anything.

According to a press statement, the parties have also entered into a roaming agreement that provides favourable roaming rates in each other’s markets. This purchase will expand Digicel’s network to Bermuda, Anguilla, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica in addition to its existing nine markets of operation which include the most recent addition of Haiti. Digicel’s Caribbean investments currently total more than US$600 million.

The acquisition will also strengthen Digicel’s market share in The Cayman Islands, Grenada, St Lucia, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines, where Cingular’s customer base will transition to Digicel. This transition, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in four to six months, the company said.