No agreement yet, says LIME

Telecommunications company, LIME, says there is no agreement yet among players in the telecoms industry.



Earlier today, the technology minister, Phillip Paulwell, released a statement saying after three weeks of dialogue among the three major telecoms providers to address matters brought into sharp focus by the Digicel-Claro merger, a deal had been reached.



“I am pleased to state that the result of our efforts is [an] agreement between the Ministry and the three largest carriers; LIME, Digicel, and Flow on a broad range of issues,” Paulwell said.



He continued: “The complete understanding of the parties is that the following matters will be addressed with expedition for the betterment of the industry and the nation as a whole:



1. The introduction of local number portability for both fixed and mobile networks

2. The establishment and resourcing of the single telecommunications regulator

3. The review of the Universal Service Obligation to include access to broadband services.”



Late this afternoon, LIME acknowledged that it has been meeting with the Government, but insisted that there has been no finalization among the parties.



However, LIME said it was encouraged by Paulwell’s comments that he is seeking to move quickly to reform Jamaica’s outdated telecoms legislation by immediately enacting emergency telecoms legislation and implementing the call rates recommended by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).



At the same time, LIME called for the Government to address what it calls the “unfair regulation” of the industry as a matter of urgency, to ensure that Jamaica’s telecom consumers receive a better deal in the competitive market.



“We believe that the OUR, which falls under the remit of the Office of the Prime Minister, is ideally placed to recommend any interim rates for the industry,” said a LIME spokesperson in the release.



Changes to the telecoms regulation were first proposed by Prime Minister Bruce Golding in August last year.



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