Dear Editor,

I read with interest a letter dealing with Internet Services by Mr Leon Jameson Suseran, who is advocating that the internet services should be zero rated with respect to the recently introduced VAT.

I heard His Excellency the President speaking time and again about Broadband and that it should be made available to all and sundry at a reasonable price.

As I understand it, the ISPs – Internet Service Providers – have to purchase lines from GT&T which has the monopoly for such services, and the ISPs in turn sell to customers at varying costs.

I think that the ISPs should approach the PUC for it to consider whether they are paying too much to GT&T for the lines.

My further information is that the PUC has steadfastly refused to authorise or permit GT&T to charge or collect a fee or rate for the use of the internet from consumers despite many applications by GT&T. In effect the use of the internet is free except that the consumer pays the ISPs for the connection or service they get from them.

Yours faithfully,

Safdar Hussein

Editor’s note

We sent a copy of this letter to GT&T for any comments they may wish to make. They have indicated that they do not wish to respond.