DIGICEL Guyana said that it welcomes the Government’s plans to imminently bring an end to what it called the outdated monopoly regime for international calls in Guyana, with the tabling and debating of the Telecommunications Bill and the related Public Utilities Commission Amendment Bill. Both of these Bills were sent to a Special Select Committee after their second reading on Thursday.
“As one of the last Caribbean countries without competition in the international calling market, the people of Guyana are forced to suffer sky-high prices for international calls and no choice,” Digicel said in the release.

“In fact, Guyana has one of the highest international calling rates in the Caribbean. Digicel Guyana is therefore calling on the Government of Guyana to ensure that this outdated monopoly on international calls is removed without further delay, as part of the package of telecoms reforms currently before Parliament for early passage into law,” it said.

Digicel said it strongly supports this initiative, “which is undoubtedly in the best interest of the people of Guyana, and the economy as a whole.” It added that the sooner this process is completed, the better.

“Digicel has been pressing strongly for an end to this monopoly on international calling since it’s launch in Guyana in 2007. Digicel has committed to offering significantly reduced international calling rates, continued roll out of services to unserved areas, and further investments in new products and services to Guyanese consumers as soon as this archaic monopoly is removed,” Digicel said.

According to Digicel, with full liberalisation proven without fail to bring huge benefits to consumers and to the economy at large, the company’s interest in removing the international monopoly is all about bringing Guyana into a new era of modern, liberalised telecommunications, where Guyanese consumers are the real winners.

Gregory Dean, CEO of Digicel Guyana, said, “Digicel must be able to offer real choice, competitive services and products to the people of Guyana, and be allowed to compete on a level playing field. Our intention, once competition is introduced, is to offer rates that are significantly lower than what they are today, renewed focus on remote communities, and also provision of newer technologies and services. The focus of the Government’s reform agenda must be the prompt removal of the international monopoly and this must happen without much further delay.”

He said the people of Guyana have been poorly served for too long with a complete lack of choice and high prices on international calls, as a result of the current international monopoly.
“As the champion of consumers and best value across the Caribbean, Digicel has been pressing relentlessly to ensure that Guyana is not left behind and that consumers benefit from choice and better prices,” Digicel said.