GT&T monopoly may come to an end – Dr. Roger Lunceon

   Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the crafting of new laws, regulations and licenses are nearly finished and they would form part of a cabinet consultation before the public consultations. This would be hallmark, comprehensive reform at the end of which it is anticipated that the telecommunications sector in Guyana, like the other sectors in Caricom and the rest of the world, would be enjoying greater coherence and more parallels. The monopoly would be ended and all of the facets of an open competitive environment would be legislatively enshrined the Government spokesman said. Although Guyana and Telegraph Company (GT&T) holds fast to its position that legally has a monopoly on international voice and data, several other Internet providers have been established with direct access via satellite. It is because of that monopoly that Digicel could not have legally offered international calls without an interconnection agreement with GT&T. Luncheon said Government intends to publish the draft documents on government websites ahead of the public consultations scheduled for October and then table the new laws in the 65-seat National Assembly before year-end. The Guyana government expects that a fully liberalized telecommunications sector would see increased competition and benefits to consumers. Authorities expect that the legislation would mainstream the current, technical, regulatory practices on the landline and mobile services, spectrum management, pricing and inter-connection.