Dickson Igwe. Photo: VINO/File

Now a story in British Virgin Islands News of February 10, 2015 was titled “HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.” In the news piece Mr. O’Neal exhorted government to call the telecoms providers to the table and give them minimum benchmarks that must be met in order to provide an acceptable telecommunications service.

The Savvy Entrepreneur went as far as to state that if these telecoms businesses failed to meet minimum standards set, that the country should bring in a new business that could meet the needs of the Virgin Islands consumer.

Days later, on February 13, a Virgin Islands Senator, the Youthful Marlon A. Penn weighed in on the issue. According to BVI News, the Senator stated that the cost of internet bandwidth in the country was several times higher than in some neighbouring islands. The Senator lamented the poor quality of service, and urged the Regulator to probe the industry,
On the same news stream, the tough, savvy Senator, Julian Fraser RA, Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party stated: “one of the things I want to see happen here is that when a customer loses service that they are credited for each day they have lost their service.” Now that is something that should have been happening for years.

This Old Boy would add that the credits should go back at least 10 years. Government should introduce retroactive legislation and charge the “OUTFIT” a few million dollars in fines, and then reimburse Jack the Consumer for the pain and suffering for decades of poor telecoms services. Term the payment monies owing for lack of service. Then use some type of algorithm or mathematical formula to determine compensation.

Now, the introduction of a third player in the Virgin Islands telecoms industry many moons back, was an attempt to end the rendition to monopolistic telecom services that had this country in chains for decades. However, despite that new business addition to the telecoms infrastructure, not much has changed. Much more needs to be done, yes.

But had that not happened- the entry of a third player- Jack Consumer would still be in shackles today, paying more than a dollar a minute for incoming calls. He would be spending ten Dollars a minute when overseas on a roaming plan.

Jack would also still be waiting for the telecom technician to show up after 4 weeks of calling and requesting. And then Tom Technician showing up like he and his outfit are doing Jack a favour reconnecting an overpriced service.

Have the services improved: with cell phone services, maybe, but not until recently. Have prices come down? Certainly! Only because these outfits were forced to compete. Do not be deceived. If these business could revert back to the monopoly of yesteryear, when they had Jack the Longsuffering Customer in shackles, there would be celebration in their corporate head offices. Champagne corks popping, with fizz and bubble soaking the thick carpeting, wide and sarcastic grins to match.

So what is it about the present internet service? Is it better or worse than years gone by? Well, and looking at things relatively, or placing them in a space that is 2015, and then compare that space with the space they operated, early 2000, certainly not.

Things have actually gotten worse for Joe Consumer. The sponsorships and clever marketing gimmicks look good. But one thinks sometimes that these are simply a cover up for the DASTARDLY SERVICE that is a clear feature of at least two out of three of these so called TITANS of TELECOMMUNIATIONS. The third company is still under the MICROSCOPE. It is early days for that outfit.

And one wonders why after all these years, one television business with its clear cable network and digital infrastructure has not gotten into the internet and telephone business? That would probably increase competition in the sector, and dramatically improve the service for LONGSUFFERING JACK. That could only be good for Jack, so advise them to do so Mr. Regulator Sir, backed by Mr. Powerful Senator.

Or let one of the three businesses make a bid for the TV Company; take it over so to speak, and then leverage the business to a competitive telecoms model.

These days, on a scientifically driven planet, a good internet service is a matter for national security, and social and educational development. Efficient internet is also a synonym for an economy that meets the global technological criteria. No one should be allowed to hold a country hostage in 2015, with an internet service that moves at snail’s pace.

For the potential third telecoms company, all that is needed is an internet box attached to the home cable network. That is what this Observer has been told, for that business to break into the telecom market. Add a fiber optic link to Charlotte Amalie.

Yes, the cable company could probably link up with a US Internet Service Provider- ISP- such as AT &T or SPRINT. Then watch internet prices drop like a stone and the service improve. And apparently these cable networks of the TV company could facilitate a second landline network, so why the delay?

So is a third company needed to really bring these guys to their senses and stop at least two of these companies taking JACK the CUSTOMER for JACK the ASS? It certainly appears so.

Do not be deceived by the silly MARKETING GIMMICKS: the phony sales shenanigans. Look behind the rhetoric, and flashy displays. Ask the simple question: “am I getting value for money.” The answer this July 2014 is certainly not. Jack customer is looked at by these outfits like a silly brat in a candy store, to be sold a “pile of crap.” Virgin Islands customers are probably subsidizing other islands with the high cost of the telecoms service here.

Yes Mr. Politician, create a third viable operator: it can be done. And MR REGULATOR SIR, forget about MR BIG SHOT who owns the telecom infrastructure, and start thinking about Jack and Jill the Customer for a change: the longsuffering consumer.

They are the folk paying through the nose for this DUBIOUS SERVICE, after all.

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