Caribbean region looking to adopt Jamaica"s telecoms model — Paulwell

Friday, January 24, 2014 | 4:07 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell, says countries in CARICOM are looking to adopt Jamaica’s successful telecoms model, including the financing of the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Speaking at the official opening of the Michael Black Business Resource Centre in Rose Town, St Andrew on Wednesday Paulwell said that at a meeting of CARICOM Technology Ministers in Grenada last week, an examination of the model developed by Jamaican was discussed.

He said that “major” talks are expected to take place at the CARICOM Inter-Sessional meeting slated for February 24 and 25 in St Vincent, as the countries move forward in adopting Jamaica’s model.

“For the first time… at the meeting in February, ICT (Information Communication Technology) will be a major item for the CARICOM Heads of Government to deal with. Throughout the discussion last week, people were commenting on the Jamaican model, not only how we were able to liberalise and open up the sector, but also how we were able to creatively fund the Universal Service (Fund). It is going to become a model for the rest of the Caribbean,” said Paulwell.

He added that the Technology Ministers forum “tried to create a space for the Caribbean, because, apart from being the great enabler for everything, including healthcare and education, ICT is an industry in itself to create jobs, and this is one area where you can make money.”

The USF, an initiative of the Jamaican government, collect funds from incoming telephone calls, to be used for developing the nation’s broadband services islandwide and enable more Jamaicans to access ICT, through the establishment of community access points (CAPS) at schools, libraries, post offices and other facilities.

Approximately J$10 billion have come into the fund’s coffers to date and 163 CAPS have been set up, Paulwell said.

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Caribbean region looking to adopt Jamaica"s telecoms model — Paulwell

Digicel loses out to Norwegian, Quatari telecoms in Myanmar bid

A consortium led by Digicel Group has failed in its bid to secure one of two telecommunication licences on offer in Myanmar, Southeast Asia.

The group lost out to Norway’s Telenor Group and Ooredoo of Qatar, formerly known as Qatar Telecom.Digicel in a statement yesterday said it was dissapointed to have not been selected, but said it would look at other opportunities in Myanmar and other territorities as it seeks to expand its international footprint.“Digicel remains committed to exploring commercial opportunities in Myanmar and will be evaluating these on an ongoing basis,” the company said.“In the meantime, Digicel’s focus will be on growing market share and revenues in its existing markets whilst continuing to look for other expansion paths, including new markets like the Bahamas.”Denis O’Brien, Chairman and founder of Digicel Group, speaking on behalf of the consortium — YSH Finance Limited (a joint venture between First Myanmar Investment Co and Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd ‘FMI/Yoma’), Quantum Strategic Partners Ltd and Digicel Group Limited — thanked the Union Government of Myanmar for the opportunity to be involved in the bidding process.He also congratulated the successful applicants and wished them well as they prepare to enter the Myanmar market.Telenor and Ooredoo will set up the country’s first foreign-owned mobile phone networks.Telenor is one of the world’s major mobile operators with 148 million mobile subscriptions. It has mobile operations in 11 countries across Europe and Asia, according to the company’s website. Total revenues in 2012 were NOK 101.7 billion or US$16.8 billion.Ooredoo reportedly haa a customer base of 93 million and revenues of US$9.3 billion in 2012. It has businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia, according to the company’s website.Currently less than six million of the country’s 60 million people have mobile phones, one of the lowest connectivity rates in the world. Hoping to spur economic growth, the government is trying to push penetration rates to 80 per cent by 2016.The licences were awarded despite an eleventh hour push by lawmakers to delay a decision until a new telecommunications law is passed.Of the more than 90 companies that submitted bids, 11 were shortlisted.Myanmar, located in the heart of one of the fastest growing regions in the world, became one of the most isolated and poorest nations during its half-century of iron-clad military rule.After taking control of a quasi-civilian government in 2011, former general Thein Sein started implementing promised political and economic reforms.The communications industry, long-neglected by the country’s military rulers, is in need of a complete overhaul. That’s in part because the original network was intended for only a tiny number of subscribers, mostly the rich. Up until a few years ago, the cost of SIM cards could reach US$2,000.Digicel announced in February that it had officially submitted its expression of interest in acquiring a licence to operate a telecommunication network in Myanmar. O’Brien had already said he was prepared to invest up to US$1 billion into developing the system.O’BRIEN… said he was prepared to invest up to US$1 billion into developing a telecommunication network in Myanmar.

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Digicel loses out to Norwegian, Quatari telecoms in Myanmar bid