Former Mayor of Atlanta, Ambassador Andrew Young (left), in discussion with Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Commerce and Technology (right) and Craig McBurnett (centre) at a press launch for the expansion Digital providers of MiPhone Cellular Service in western Jamaica held at the Wyndham Rose Hall Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James on Monday night.
-Patrick Campbell photo
Erica James-King, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHILE TECHNOLOGY Minister Phillip Paulwell is pleased with the rapid expansion in the telecommunications sector which, he said, has attracted nearly $4 billion in investments over the past couple of years, there are still areas he is concerned about.
"We would like to see for example, more emphasis on the provision of data services, with a corresponding increase in high-speed Internet access and broad band services," declared Minister Paulwell on Monday night. The Minister was addressing the launch of Miphone cellular services in western Jamaica, by Oceanic Digital Jamaica Limited at the Wyndham Rosehall Hotel in Montego Bay.
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
BALANCED GROWTH
The Minister said that even though 300 telecommunications licences have been issued in the sector and there are four major players in the area of mobile services, 'some areas (of the ICT sector) remain virtually untapped'. He is, however, optimistic that the sector will see much more balanced growth in the near future, noting that 'the industry continues to show tremendous potential'.
"We will continue to ensure that there is a legal and regulatory environment that is responsive, accountable and socially sensitive to the needs of the public, to emerging technologies and to you our investors," assured Minister Paulwell.
In the meantime, cellular provider, Oceanic Digital Jamaica Limited, is seeking to nearly double its MiPhone subscriber base of 75,000 by year-end. In an interview with The Gleaner, Craig McBurnett, chief executive officer of Oceanic Digital Jamaica explained, "We anticipate that more than half of the expected growth will take place in western Jamaica."
He said that calls can be placed to MiPhone cellular service throughout most of the island, with the exceptions being Negril, Savanna-la-Mar and Port Antonio.
"We intend to have Negril and Savanna-la-Mar covered by August and by the end of the year, Portland and some interior areas of the island should come on stream," the Oceanic CEO outlined. "That means Miphone should have nationwide service by December."
LOAN TO ASSIST COMPANY
The expansion is being facilitated by a recent loan signed between Oceanic Digital Jamaica Limited and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), to the tune of US$30 million.
And while boasting that Miphone has the lowest phone rates on the island, Mr. McBurnett said that the recently acquired loan will assist the company greatly in ensuring high quality voice signals, high-speed Internet access and data services throughout the island.
