Digicel, Laqtel ready to serve TT

Meanwhile, TATT is hopeful that Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith will soon approve a new concession for TSTT to provide mobile and fixed phone services under the new Telecommunications Act 2001.

Speaking at TATT’s San Juan headquarters yesterday, executive director Dr John Prince announced that although concession documents for Digicel and Laqtel were ready for signing, both companies have decided against signing because their respective lawyers have yet to thoroughly peruse the documents.

Prince said Digicel had informed Saith last week that they were ready to launch yesterday and asked Saith "to use his good offices" to expedite their concession (which was approved by Cabinet in October, along with Laqtel’s). Prince said Saith "prevailed" on Attorney General John Jeremie on Tuesday, and the final concession documents were prepared on the same day and delivered to TATT, Digicel and Laqtel.

Although the concessions are yet to be signed, Prince said the long-awaited telecommunications liberalisation process has not been delayed again. On the contrary, Prince said there was a misconception that Digicel (and by extension Laqtel) could not provide mobile phone services if they did not interconnect with TSTT.

He said that once both companies become concessionaires as outlined by the Telecom Act, "they could have been providing service to the public as of today." This means Digicel customers can call each other, but not TSTT or Laqtel customers until interconnection is achieved. Prince said once TSTT, Digicel and Laqtel become concessionaires, TATT "would be in a better position to indicate to you precisely when they expect interconnection to take place." He said TATT was satisfied with the way the concessions were approved and was not getting involved in commercial wrangling between TSTT and Digicel.

Prince said any concerns which Digicel had regarding the concessions was a matter between the company and Saith.

Prince said TATT has recommended to Saith that TSTT receive a new concession to provide mobile and fixed mobile phone services under the Telecom Act as its current concession under the archaic Wireless Telegraph Ordinance expires on December 31.