A new timeline has been announced for the complete liberalisation of the public telecommunications sector, a task that must be completed by the end of 2018.
This was revealed by Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, who informed the media that this extra delay is as a result of other issues surrounding the final document having to be reviewed.
Nevertheless, the minister has assured that she would be in a position to deliver the liberalisation by the new timeline that was scheduled.
Citizens were, for many months, exasperated with the many delays that occurred in the past, but the minister noted that there are many other issues which surround the liberalization, and she further refuted the reports of it being completed until 2020.
Presently, there are two telephone companies which provide mobile phone services to the Guyanese public. The liberalisation of the sector is heavily dependent on the settlement of a US$44 million tax claim against Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).
Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes
However, the company continues to enjoy the monopoly in international voice and data services until 2030.
In January of 2018, it was reported that negotiations with the GTT and the Ministry to address the lifting of the monopoly were effective. These negotiations began in 2016 where the intention of ending the 26-year-old monopoly on the fixed line market.
The liberalization, once in place, would ensure there is fair competition and regulation among all enterprises in the business sector.
