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GT&T BlackBerry service will drive competition- Head of State

Georgetown, GINA, November 11, 2011
Source - GINA

President Bharrat Jagdeo delivering remarks at the launch of GT&T Blackberry Service at Brickdam.

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company, the country’s telecommunication giant today launched its much-talked about BlackBerry Service at its new Brickdam Office, which was also commissioned today.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, whose presence added to the excitement at the launch, said that the service will bring competition among similar service providers.

He noted that Government looks forward to working in partnership with the company to ensure that the sector is liberalized. To this end, he has engaged the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Yog Mahadeo and other members of the company in discussion on the way forward as he believes that, “a liberalized sector will best serve our people.”

He explained that this type of venture catapults Guyana into a modern age, something that is being robustly pursued at the national level, whereby technology is applied to improve the delivery of social and other Government services.

The Head of State made reference to the One Laptop Per Family (LOPF) Programme, which is another initiative that is driving ICT development in Guyana. However, this is just one part of the overall strategy as plans are in the pipeline to have every family connected to the internet and Government looks forward to working closely in partnership with GT&T to ensure this becomes a reality.

President Jagdeo said that the mere fact that Government is providing the instrument (computers) will generate significant demand for services from GT&T.

He expressed the hope that, “GT&T’s dominant position in the sector will help to pioneer new applications to run on the instruments that were launched such as those that would allow for access to banking services among others.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said that Government is particularly pleased that a large, reputable company such as RIM has seen it fit to partner with a Guyanese company.

This he said, can be translated as a very clear signal of RIM’s recognition of the remarkable potential of its own market in this part of the world, as well as its optimism as it relates to economic prospects on Guyana.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, Mayor Hamilton Green and GT&T Chief Executive Officer, Yog Mahadeo witnessing the ceremonial ribbon cutting at the commissioning of the company’s new Brickdam Office.

He disclosed that from many interactions with large international companies, the message has been consistent that Guyana is seen as a country that is on the verge of exciting and positive things.

The Minister said that the growth and confidence that exist in the economy is attributed to every Guyanese company, employer, and consumer.

“This Government will continue to work uninterruptedly as soon as new Parliament is convened to put in place a modern legislative and regulatory environment for the telecommunications sector…as a result of very careful policy choices, we have been able to achieve a degree of resilience in the Guyanese economy that is unprecedented in our country’s history,” the Finance Minister assured.

Mahadeo said that despite the odds, “our vision remains focused on investing in new technology for our country’s development because we do not see GT&T’s development outside and separate from Guyana’s development.”
Yes its here -- GT&T’s Blackberry Service

November 12, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News

Models pose with the Blackberry devices at the launch of GT&T’s Blackberry service yesterday.

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday launched its Blackberry service and introduced four smart phones, with a boast that even if it was not the first, it would be the best.

The company added excitement to its launch, complete with a flash mob around Georgetown, by announcing the imminent introduction service for Iphones, and a further reduction in the cost of international calls from December.

Persons would be able to call the United States for less than $20 per minute from their landline phones, while calls to other international destinations would also be significantly reduced. The new rates have come with the approval of the regulatory body, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Part of the flash mob for GT&T’s Blackberry launch yesterday.

GT&T has been investing US$20 million in the telecommunications sector each year for the last 20 years, Chief Executive Yog Mahadeo said that he was seeing no reason why that would not continue.

The launch of GT&T’s Blackberry service comes years after the product was introduced by the company’s mobile rival Digicel, and Mahadeo, while admitting the delay threw jabs at “the red guys.”

He said that the Blackberry devices would not be “locked,” affording customers choice. A SIM card from the competitor can be used in an instrument acquired from GT&T. This is not the same with instruments purchased from Digicel.

The plans offered by GT&T include Chat, Social, Connect, and Professional, with customers being able to choose a pre-paid plan for a daily rate of as low as $199.

The introduction of the Blackberry service allowed GT&T to “break the monopoly” on the same service offered by Digicel for the past four years.

GT&T has been picked on for controlling the telecommunications sector. Digicel recently accused the company of intimidating the government into stalling the passage of laws that would open up the sector. GT&T has denied that charge.

In an apparent plug as the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) campaigns for re-election this November 28, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said that in the new Parliament, legislation would be introduced for a fully competitive environment.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is on his way out of office, pushed the same line, saying the government would ensure the sector is liberalized.

He said that a liberalized telecommunications sector would best serve the interest of Guyana.

Mahadeo said that GT&T could have done much more, such as launching 4G (the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards) in every home, if certain things were in place.

He bragged that GT&T has blazed the trail of telecommunications in Guyana. The company has a staff of 700.

He said the company is not all about making profits, but about ensuring that the dreams of Guyanese become a reality.

Mahadeo said that the company now has 150,000 landline subscribers and 300,000 mobile subscribers.

Regarding the Blackberry service, he said that GT&T is offering a service that makes a difference. Persons can choose either a Basic, Standard, Gold or Platinum package.
FM

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