| CTU
TO PUSH FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TELECOM STANDARDS |
BASSETERRE,
ST. KITTS,
JULY 15TH 2005 (CUOPM) |
The
Caribbean Telecoms Union (CTU) said it will be pressing
regional governments to develop common standards for
telecom operators, encourage greater transparency and
local participation in the telecoms sector.
CTU Secretary General, Bernadette Lewis said that having
uniform standards and policies for telecom development
will put the regional governments in a stronger position
to negotiate with telecom providers and it will facilitate
better control over technology development in the region.
“Having common standards also allow easier integration
of the various providers and can lead to lower rates
and easier roaming for subscribers,” she added.
Speaking to Caribbean technology ministers including
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of State for Finance,
Sustainable Development, Information and Technology,
Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty and regulators at a briefing
seminar hosted by Nortel in Ottawa, Canada, Lewis said
the inter-regional organization has been working on
strengthening its organisational capacity and exposing
regulators to the latest trends and technology available
in telecommunications so the region could be more informed
when planning its technology needs.
“We will also be better positioned to take advantage
of opportunities to develop and use technology to enhance
our economies,” she added.
Lewis said the organisation was working on developing
common policies for regulators as well as policies to
expand local ownership in the sector. The agency is
also developing policy documents to encourage more transparency
in the operations of the regional telecoms, including
regulation for sale, competition and management of the
sector.
“As local economies continue to transform, the
growing importance of telecoms will require governments
and regulators to keep informed about technology, changes
and opportunities offered by telecommunications.”
She said the CTU will play a greater role in educating
regulators and governments as well as conducting research
and creating policy documents that can be widely applied
in the future.
The conference, which ran from July 11th to 13th, in
Ottawa, Canada, was also sponsored by the Canadian High
Commissions in Bridgetown, Barbados; Kingston, Jamaica
and Port of Spain, Trinidad, with telecommunications
equipment maker, Nortel, Tremor Technologies and the
Trinidad-based mobile phone service provider, Laqtel
Limited.
The annual conference provided an opportunity for senior
level government officials to consider the impact of
new and emerging telecommunications technologies. The
latest technological innovations in the telecommunications
industry were also presented and discussed by participants.
The understanding of the evolving technologies is essential
for policy development, legislation formulation and
regulation of the sector.
The Seminar was designed with the expressed purpose
of equipping the participants to make informed decisions
for the development of the telecommunication sector
in their respective countries.
Government officials and regulators had the opportunity
to gain insight into the implications of these technologies
in a competitive environment.
Lewis added that the CTU has been working on building
awareness and capacity among its various stakeholders,
in particular the policy makers for the regional telecommunications
market and next week’s conference is part of this
strategy.
Six Caribbean Government Ministers with responsibility
for telecommunications attended the seminar, among them,
President of the CTU and Minister Telecommunication,
Science, Technology and Industry of St. Vincent &
The Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Jerrol Thompson; Dr. the
Hon. Edmond Mansoor of Antigua & Barbuda; the Hon.
Arden McLean of the Cayman Islands; the Hon. Gregory
Bowen of Grenada and the Hon. Felix Finisterre of St.
Lucia.
The full delegation included 33 Caribbean telecommunications
government ministers, regulators, service providers
and senior Canadian telecommunications officials. With
16 of the 17 CTU member-states represented, the Seminar
promises to be a tremendous success, she added.
Nortel Networks supported the CTU initiative and hosted
the distinguished delegation at their Carling Technology
Campus in Ottawa. |
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