The Editor, Sir:

We read with interest, an article in the Thursday, November 20, edition of your paper entitled 'Claro & Digicel bury the hatchet'.

The article speaks to the sharing of cell towers or co-location as we call it in the industry. Co-location refers to instances where two or more companies share existing towers and the benefits of this arrangement are far-reaching:

Benefits

Companies benefit - the cost benefits are obvious, less money spent on construction and usually that equates to faster build-out, cellular companies are able to provide better coverage faster and better value for each consumer

Communities benefit - from fewer cell towers across the island but there is also the benefit of true competition. When cellular coverage evens out across providers, they have to compete on price and the consumer is always the big winner. Ultimately, better prices, better service and better value.

That said, for the record, our response is:

There has been no agreement between Digicel and Claro. The dispute between both companies is before the Ministry of Telecommunications, for arbitration.

On the contrary, unlike Digicel, the other industry players, including Cable & Wireless/LIME, have understood the value of co-location not just to our respective companies but also to the country as a whole, and have already been very cooperative.

Outstanding issues

We are, as always, willing to meet with Digicel to resolve the outstanding issues, including the reduction of interconnection rates between our networks for the good of the country.

All issues can be amicably addressed with the cooperation and goodwill of both parties but, as it stands now, they have not been settled.

Claro is committed to providing value to Jamaica and we will build out our network to cover Jamaica with the help of those like-minded companies who are concerned about Jamaica.

Our goal is to restore true competition by providing consumers with a viable alternative, focusing on value and bringing first world technology to the country.

I am, etc.,

NOEL ESTY

Commercial director, Claro