By Ariana Gordon

NEW and exciting things are in store for customers of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd told a gathering of media professionals on Thursday night at the Marriott Hotel.Nedd said the company intends to “bring broadband to the homes” of all Guyanese. “Look out for that in 2016!” he exclaimed, though he was quick to add that the company is also looking forward to the Government granting it an increase in spectrum so that 3G service can be provided to customers.

He said the company remains optimistic that it will receive the spectrum required to advance its plans. “We remain optimistic, as we always have,” he said, adding: “It has been several years…a new administration is in for about a year, and we are still waiting for spectrum.

“I am really optimistic that this year is the year that you could look at videos on your phones,” Nedd declared.

Noting that GTT is committed to Guyana, Mr Nedd said: “We have been here for a long time, and we have no intention of going anywhere.”

And by way of proving it’s no fly-by-night company that is just out to reap profits and leave, Mr Nedd said: “We are here to stay! We are Guyanese!”

ENDING THE MONOPOLY
Last Friday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his presentation of the National Budget for this year, said the Government is working to conclude negotiations with Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN) and GTT, with the aim of ending GTT’s “claim to a monopoly over international voice and data transmissions and domestic wireline service.”

“Draft legislation (bills, regulations, and model licences) have already been developed that will inform and govern a liberalised telecommunications regime,” Minister Jordan said.

“The Government is committed to having these bills tabled and passed this year,” said the Finance Minister.

According to the company’s new CEO, GTT is committed to introducing “new things” to the people of Guyana. “We’ve got several surprises for you; not too many details on what we will do for you, but it will be a fantastic year,” he said.

‘WE BLAZED THE TRAIL!’
GTT Public Relations Officer (PRO) Allison Parker said that, 25 years ago, GTT joined hands with ATN and “dared to tread where other investors feared to come”.

Mrs Parker emphasised that it is because of GTT’s boldness over the years that telecoms’ access and facilities that are available today were made possible. “We blazed the trail!” Mrs Parker said, adding: “Do the research! All others now walk in our footprints; they follow us!”

The phone company rebranded last September and moved away from its traditional colours of blue and white to blue and orange, and now sports a new logo: “Do more”.