Paulwell aiming to end LIME-Digicel beef in two weeks

Debbie-Ann Wright, Assistant News Editor

The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre



Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, says he’s aiming to resolve the conflict between telecommunications companies, Digicel and LIME, within two weeks.



He says his ministry is in communication with both companies as the government seeks to address the issue of competition in the telecoms market.



Digicel and LIME have been in a verbal tussle since last week’s revelations that former Prime Minister Andrew Holness reversed a precondition of the Digicel-Claro merger.



That decision cleared the way for Digicel to shut down the Claro network.



LIME has taken issue with the decision saying it gives an even greater advantage to Digicel, while his company has been making losses because of an unfair regulatory climate.



At a press conference today, Paulwell said the government is treating the matter of regulatory reform as a matter of urgency.



Paulwell says the previous government had already drafted legislation for the reform of Jamaica’s telecoms regulations.



He says the issue of interconnection rates and number portability will be high on the agenda of items he wants to address.



debbie-ann.wright@gleanerjm.com