-20,000 persons dropped the service within three years

PERSONS from across the country have been giving up their landline services as technology continues to contribute to the advent of new and innovative ways of communicating.
The sole local provider of landline services, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), has recorded a massive reduction in the use of the service over the past few years.
“In three years, we saw a reduction in the use of landlines… there was a 20,000 reduction in landline services,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT, Justin Nedd, during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Nedd said persons have been giving up their landline services not just in Guyana, but in other countries. The company has been reviewing similar trends in other countries and adopting ways to minimise the effects of the reduction.
The CEO said the reduction in landline services is a reality which the company will have to accept.

“It is not surprising, but the advantage we have in Guyana is that we are not the first to see something like this,” said Nedd, adding that the company is still in a good position.
The company intends on continuing to roll out its internet services and meet the needs of the thousands of customers across the country.
GTT has been extending its services and now even offers fibre optic services in parts of Guyana. According to Nedd, the company has been extending its footprint in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica). There are also plans to widen the reach in the coming months.

“We have 80,000 homes and businesses connected to the internet…around 2012 we celebrated 10,000 so there has been a 700 per cent increase over the years,” said Nedd.
The company has not just been providing internet, but quality services which could go up to 50 megabits per second.

“We are doing more to speed-up the internet and customers can surely see a difference in the speed,” he said, adding that just nine years ago Guyanese used dial-up and now they can enjoy faster internet.

Not just faster internet, GTT has also implemented online systems which expedite the payment process and improve persons’ ability to report faults, among other things.
“Everything is now online, you do not have to complete a paper form and come back and check…they complete a form online and get updates on where they are with that process,” said Nedd.

He said the company is in a good position overall and will continue to improve the quality of service offered to Guyanese.