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Digicel calls for fair, open & transparent spectrum process

Digicel today confirmed that it is eagerly awaiting the confirmation by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (“TRC”) of the process to be adopted in the Virgin Islands (VI) for the allocation of spectrum to be used to roll out of Long Term Evolution (LTE) Services. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Digicel today confirmed that it is eagerly awaiting the confirmation by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (“TRC”) of the process to be adopted in the Virgin Islands (VI) for the allocation of spectrum to be used to roll out of Long Term Evolution (LTE) Services.

Digicel has confirmed its desire to provide LTE services in the BVI since as early as January 2012 and has been assured by the TRC that a fair, open and transparent process for the awarding of LTE spectrum will be conducted under the guidance of an international consultancy firm appointed by the TRC so that a level playing field will be provided to all operators.  

The communication giant said that they are aware that certain operators have stated publicly that they will be proceeding in early course to roll out LTE services. However, given that the use of any radio frequency spectrum absent a formal authorisation is plainly illegal under the Telecoms Act, Digicel is confident that the TRC will remain true to its commitment and legal mandate and will not tolerate or condone such illegal and irresponsible activity.

Digicel Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Declan Cassidy, said, “As the leading provider of LTE services in the Caribbean region, Digicel is ideally placed to provide effective and affordable LTE services to the people of the BVI. However, Digicel acknowledges that the provision of much sought after LTE spectrum must, as a matter of law, be subject to a fair open and transparent spectrum allocation process. As the customer champion in every country in which it operates, Digicel supports the TRC in its efforts in this regard and remains willing to engage in a proper process as soon as the details of this process are published by the TRC to all of the operators in the BVI.”  

Digicel is the region’s leading provider of LTE services and has successfully launched networks in Antigua and Barbuda, the Turks and Caicos Islands and in the Cayman Islands. 

Mr. Cassidy further stated, “As ever, all Digicel has ever sought in the BVI is fairness and a level playing field. We are confident that in this instance the TRC will apply the law and ensure fairness to all concerned for the good of consumers.”

26 Responses to “Digicel calls for fair, open & transparent spectrum process”

  • politricks (13/03/2014, 16:32) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    ha ha fair not with the ndp backing one comonay over the other
  • Fair playing field (13/03/2014, 16:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    All we the customers want and desire, is a fair and level playing field for all competitors in the BVI, not just in the area of telecommunications, but EVERYTHING. GIVE LIME ,DIGICEL AND CCT 4GLTE, let the customers decide who they want as their service provider. the key will be VALUE FOR MONEY.
  • yes it is (13/03/2014, 18:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This ting become political
  • Hmm (13/03/2014, 18:39) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply

    TRC is a joke they don't know what they doing over there anyway. Mark busy dealing with ships so ...
    Digicel just mad cause the local company stepping up on them when they thought they could buy them out.
    • Very True (14/03/2014, 12:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Hmmm, If I could like your comment 70 times....I would! Why all of a sudden they want to buy out the local company? DIGITHIEF, go take a nap! Aya done rob all us poor ppl for too long now man.
  • Lawyer (13/03/2014, 19:20) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is thing to talk and only the tip of the iceberg. I will like to know who gave CCT permission to used 4GLTE and what tendering process they went through . The UK recently went through this process and rake in over 30 million in tendering fees. Was there a secret document sign to give CCT the green light to proceed? Enquiring mine wants to know
    • @Lawyer (13/03/2014, 22:20) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Nobody said anything when LIME rolled out their so called 4G in CCT 850 Spectrum then the TRC turn around and told CCT they need to move out of spectrum that CCT had allocated to them. This is a case nobody has any spectrum and CCT already bought their equipment asked for the spectrum but because big bad Digicel don't want them to have its an issue. Also you people need to stop saying the NDP keeping CCT alive when CCT can't even get the government to move on giving them the spectrum they need.
      • Lawyer (14/03/2014, 19:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Well for your information all three carriers are using 850 spectrum so what is your point fair is fair there should be a tendering process for this 700 spectrum
    • On the Street (15/03/2014, 07:48) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      To Lawyer, you see people like you never have your own identity. Always want to do what someone else does. If the UK do this we have, if another island do this we have, if south africa do this we have to, Its people like you that come here and try to take away our identity. Thats why these lease leaders always getting in problems, its always trying to copy someone else. Why the TRC have to bid? Where in the constitution that says the TRC have to bid, where in the ten commandments the trc have to bid? The TRC is a local regulator and is setup to regulate the industry and protect the national interest of the BVI not of Jamaica or Ireland the UK. They have their own. CCT is a local company and is apart of the national interest of the BVI. How can you talk like that and not ask if Digicel is operating here in the BVI then why are all their phones roaming. Is the TRC collecting any roaming fees? IS this setup apart of their fees they pay? The bottom line is the TRC is afraid of the big bad red bull. They have no backbone to protect their own.
      • Lawyer (16/03/2014, 06:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        You are so silly, putting out the 700 spectrum will surely add a couple millions to the government coffers but I will forgive you because reading your comment clearly tells me you do not understand and you are dwelling in ignorance
  • trc (13/03/2014, 19:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Member of the good old boys club.
  • JVD (13/03/2014, 19:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    DIDI CELL AND LIME AND THE GOVERMENT NEEDS TO STOP ROBBING POOR PEOPLE TO GET RICH WHEREEVER THERES LIME IN THE CARRIBBEAN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE YOUR PHONES WITHOUT ROAMING LOOK AT CINGULAR ATNT THESE COMPANYS ARE RIPP OFF THEN SAY BOUT FAIR AND TRANSPARENT BULL
  • Me (13/03/2014, 21:08) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    i wid dey bigger better net work
  • Who is you Daddy (14/03/2014, 08:05) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Digicel say play fair. Was this the same thought in Antigua. Did you think of other players when you got everything there? The TRC is a local regulator and Digicel and LIME are not local companies. Seriously when you look at the bars on a Digicel phone it says roaming. This is what the TRC need to apply the law on. How can they regulate services that is based in another country. CCT is here. They can come knocking at anytime and not have to go to another country to find out what they doing in the BVI. Lime is the same thing They decide to outsource their network and lay off our people based on this why should they even play here. Now our TRC have to go to Finland to find out what LIME is doing in the BVI. So a local regulator dealing with a local company to get good services to the customers, not a bad formula. So Digicel you want to play fair, setup locally. Not half local, semi local or virtual local, THE REAL LOCAL LIKE CCT.
  • too courrupt (14/03/2014, 10:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hpow can any body else be treated right when the goverment has conflict of intrest?
  • Unbelievable (14/03/2014, 12:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    So they have to go pay hundreds of thousands to a consultancy firm to tell them whether to use LTE. LTE is the next step in phone service why you need a consultancy firm if it is your intention to upgrade and provide the people of the BVI with the best phone service possible. ..................Strupes
  • up town (14/03/2014, 13:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Keep the pressure on dem backside degicel
  • how quickly we forget (14/03/2014, 15:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    well i know that before digicel came to the bvi mobile service was too expensive! they even charged us for in coming calls. CCT been in the territory for how long and all they did was make the rich richer and the poor poorer. digicel may not be local but it has helped local people to move forward. i thank digicel for the fact that we can have value for our money when it comes to cell phones.
    • Remember Quickly (15/03/2014, 09:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thank Digicel? They came last. B-Mobile came second. CCT had to pay what Cable and Wireless was charging them. Look at the 1985 Cable and Wireless Act, CCT could not go out and connect to any other carrier except them. They charged for incoming and out going. CCT had to pass on the cost and pay bills as well. So do your research and then lets chat.
  • Fair Play? (14/03/2014, 18:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Read the history books on how the original 850 Spectrum was awarded, and who it was awarded to. The dime is very round.
  • DIGI (14/03/2014, 19:03) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Digicel all the way. CCT need to sit down.
    • Agree (15/03/2014, 07:51) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      We already sitting down. We home. We live here. Digicel have to stamp their passport.
  • big girls rules (15/03/2014, 13:51) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Declan is sexy and hot!!!


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