TSTT Forum: Kirk Gordon - Viewing Profile

I have a question concerning this bmobile launching. Would we have to purchase new phones to be part of this bmobile network? Or is it the same as the GSM network?

TSTT: Inter-connection by month-end not possible
By Clint Chan Tack

IRISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS company Digicel has called on Government to use its 51 percent shareholding in TSTT to ensure that inter-connection agreements between the two are completed by November 30 to enable Digicel to begin offering mobile phone services to the people of Trinidad and Tobago by Christmas.

However, in a release from its communications manager Lisa Agard yesterday, TSTT confirmed that it could not facilitate Digicel’s inter-connection arrangements by November 30 because it was not yet technically possible. The release stated that TSTT does not manufacture the technical items required, and a purchase order must be given 75 days before delivery.

TSTT said that any attempt to proceed with inter-connection at this stage would seriously impact on its more than 800,000 customers, and that it would resist any attempt of installation of an unsound inter-connection service.

Speaking with journalists at its Furness Building office in Port-of-Spain on Thursday night, Digicel (TT) CEO Stephen Brewer said Government is being proactive in liberalising the local telecommunications sector, and Digicel hopes to have at least one million local customers during the first three to four years of its operations in TT.

At the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall earlier in the day, Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith said he was not going to intervene in any inter-connection matter involving TSTT, Digicel and local telecom outfit LaqTel, at this time. Digicel and LaqTel received their cellular licences from the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) in June and cellular concessions from Cabinet earlier this month.

Brewer said conversations with several Government ministers have convinced him that Government wants "an expedient inter-connection agreement made between the two parties." Stating that Government has been making every effort to liberalise the local telecommunications sector, Brewer said Government has not compromised its itself on this score by virtue of its shares in TSTT. He said Digicel’s network was ready to launch and questioned reports that TSTT was not in a position to inter-connect. Brewer added that the necessary equipment was standard issue worldwide.

Digicel (Caribbean) inter-connection manager Kevin Barrins said while Digicel experienced some problems establishing its mobile phone network in other Caribbean nations, those problems were resolved in less than a year’s time with Government intervention. Barrins agreed with Brewer that both Government and the TATT had been very helpful thus far.

He added that Digicel’s network in TT could be set-up within six to seven weeks once the inter-connection agreement is signed.

Brewer reiterated Digicel’s commitment to be very competitive in its provision of service to the people of TT. Sources dismissed media reports that Digicel would not be able to begin serving the public before March 2006. TATT chairman Khalid Hassanali said the Telecommunications Act 2001 empowered the authority to ensure that inter-connection agreements are completed in a timely manner, and it is determined to ensure that all parties meet the November 30 deadline to complete the inter-connection agreements.

Yesterday I tried calling my cell from the home phone. I got the response, "Your call is being transferred to TSTT Voice Mail" I hanged up before the person's voice greting started. Today I checked TSTT e -service to see if the call was logged. It was nowhere to be seen. Like a good scientist as I am I repeated the test several times yesterday. Nothing showed up! TSTT does NOT charge you for calls being transferred to TSTT Voice Mail. Try it please and get back to me. Ah gone..........[FONT=Arial][SIZE=7][COLOR=blue]