Digicel Guyana CEO Gregory Dean is optimistic that the Telecommuni-cations Bill will be passed by July thereby ending the more than 20-year-old monopoly held by GT&T and allowing it to provide additional telecommunications services, as well as improve the services it currently offers.
Pursuant to this expectation, the company has launched a widespread advertising campaign through which it is seeking to remind the public, and perhaps the policymakers in whose hands the decision of passing the legislation lies, of the National Assembly’s commitment to have the legislation approved before the commencement of the parliamentary recess on August 10th.
During an interview with reporters yesterday, Dean said liberalisation of the telecommunications sector will set the stage for the company to become fully competitive with the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T). While the prospects are appealing, Dean said the company is mindful that it will be going up against a company which, for more than twenty years, has had the freedom to do the things it (Digicel) is now seeking permission to do. He also noted that liberalisation may attract other companies into the Guyana market, but asserted Digicel’s confidence in being able to compete with any new competitor.
This competition will benefit customers as prices will likely fall while the quality of services offered will improve.
With regard to whether or not the bill will be passed by July, he said “at the moment we don’t
