– Discuss improved Internet access, new telecoms legislation

AMBASSADOR Jernej Videtic, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Guyana, met this week with Minister Catherine Hughes, who has responsibility for tourism and public telecommunications, at the minister’s office, and among the topics discussed was the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company’s (GTT) impending introduction of Fourth Generation (4G) wireless service across Guyana, which is expected to be some ten (10) times faster than the existing 2G bandwidth speeds.

Ambassador Videtic spoke about the benefits of Fifth Generation (5G) technology, which is already working in some of the most developed countries in Europe.

Minister Hughes and her team, which included Lance Hinds, former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Brainstreet Group, provided the EU diplomats with a synopsis of the new Telecommunications Liberalization Bill which is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly shortly.

The Minister’s Office has stated that the bill has been perused by several key stakeholders, including the two main players in the telecommunications sector, GTT and Digicel Guyana; the Private Sector Commission and related non-governmental organizations that were invited to make recommendations.

Minister Hughes said it is very important that all stakeholders are comfortable with the contents and structure of the legislation.

“The new Telecommunications Bill was crafted to create an open, competitive sector that will be attractive to new investors while enabling current operators to expand their services into unserved and under-served areas, and offer lower prices to customers,” the minister’s office has said.