By Lance HindsIn 1990,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) was granted an exclusive licence toLance Hindsprovide: 1) public, radio, and pay station telephone, national and international voice and international data transmission, 2) sale of advertising in any directories of telephone numbers, and 3) switched or non-switched private line service supported by facilities constructed over public right of way.This licence was for twenty years in the first instance with an option for automatic renewal for another twenty years.In 2007, when the monopoly once again attracted a lot of attention and comment, GT&T, in an article called “GT&T Operating Licence: Putting Monopoly Service Provision into Perspective”, observed the following:“When the Government of Guyana in 1990 moved to privatize the then state-owned monopoly Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC), given the abysmal state of the telecommunications infrastructure in Guyana, as well as the small population size and low per-capita income levels, it was rational, indeed necessary, to agree to grant the new company, Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GT&T), a monopoly licence.”Given the limited interest shown in the privatization at the time, it is clear that investors would have deemed the investment opportunity unattractive had the Government sought to split company along geographic and/or service lines, or otherwise acted to limit reasonable investment returns by implementing an open-entry policy on a “flash-cut” basis.”GT&T’s operating licence did not provide exclusivity for the entire range of telecommunication services. One exception was cellular networks,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, hence the arrival of telecommunication giant Digicel and others, albeit temporarily, into the local market.Another exception was the establishment of private data networks, although this would require permission from the relevant authority. A prime example of this is the Guyana Sugar Corporation, which uses a private data network with their own equipment, to make their information systems available to all their estates. Individuals were also allowed to import Satellite dishes once it was only for individual use and not for the sale and distribution of communication and data-related services.Over the years GT&T has defended its monopoly by reminding us constantly about the state of the communications structure it inherited in 1990, the growth of fixed access lines,Authentic Jerseys Cheap, the over US$200 million it invested to improve same, the amount of cellular subscribers currently and the digitalization of the national network with full international and broadband connectivity.GT&T,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, of course, never addresses the revenue received based on its magnificent investment. Some of us remember in trade journals where GT&T was described as the ‘flagship’ company of its owners, Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN). Let us however, move on.No one is arguing about the contribution that GT&T has made to the national telecommunication infrastructure. But this at the end of the day was a business venture that was expected to generate and still continues to generate revenue.It is however an undisputable fact that over the last 10-15 years, while our sister Caricom countries were liberalising their telecommunication sectors and beginning to benefit from competitive pricing, we in Guyana have been stuck in an uncompetitive, stifling environment.This monopoly has hindered Information Technology from making the kinds of contributions to Guyana’s economy that has been made in other economies.? This environment has resulted in Guyana having one the most expensive rates in the Caribbean with the slowest access speeds.Again there is no difficulty here with GT&T. It is responsible primarily to its Board of Directors. If it cannot, or will not provide the highest levels of services within the current dispensation, that ultimately is its prerogative.? The liberalisation process must involve all stakeholders but is the primary responsibility of Government.To this end, Guyana certainly appeared to recognize the importance of ICT and need for telecommunications liberalisation. In 2002, the then president joined fellow Caricom Heads in launching the Caricom Agenda and Platform for Action. In the executive summary it states clearly that the heads:“Recognised the potential of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for enhancing and integrating our societies in areas such as education, health, poverty reduction, delivery of public information and governance – all objectives well articulated in the Caricom Charter of Civil Society”The agenda goes on to stress the need to establish a modern nati