Turks & Caicos Telecommunications Market Liberalized

The Turks and Caicos Islands telecommunications market is now ready and open to receive new entrants as Cable and Wireless signed the agreement Wednesday that relinquishes the six remaining years of monopoly of the telecommunications sector in the islands.

Drexwell Seymour, Chief Executive Officer for Cable and Wireless in his remarks congratulated the Minister of Communications and his team for making the conclusion of the liberalization process a reality. It was a long process he noted, but one that was worth the wait.

Mr. Seymour, who is the first indigenous Turks and Caicos Islander to hold the post of CEO of C&W, pledged that his company will continue to offer great service to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and welcomed the new competitors to the market.

Governor Richard Tauwhare highlighted the significance of the day terming it, “a great day for the Turks and Caicos Islands and for Turks and Caicos Islanders.”

He noted that the signing of the license agreement marks a radical change in the telecommunications sector of the country. He went on to thank C&W for their contribution to the country and for what they will continue to do as no doubt a prominent but no longer the sole provider of telecommunication services in the islands.

In the same breath he welcomed the new providers of telecommunication services in the islands as they seek to establish a presence in what he terms an increasingly competitive market.

Minister responsible for Communications, McAllister Hanchell, was quick to highlight the determination of his government in seeing the liberalisation of the telecommunications market become a reality.

“Today history is being made because of the determination of an elected government that believes only the best is good enough for its citizens, thus ending over 100 years of monopoly with six additional years to go,” he remarked.

Also on hand to bring brief remarks was Jeffrey Hall, Acting Chief Minister, who noted that more changes are yet to come as the Minister of Communications plans to bring to the Legislative Council, similar legislation that will govern the operations of Television and Broadcasting in the islands.