{"id":2871,"date":"2012-01-25T06:53:30","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T11:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=2871"},"modified":"2012-02-22T09:10:32","modified_gmt":"2012-02-22T14:10:32","slug":"will-the-proposed-amendments-to-jamaicas-telecoms-act-improve-limes-competitiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2012\/01\/will-the-proposed-amendments-to-jamaicas-telecoms-act-improve-limes-competitiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"Will the proposed amendments to Jamaica\u2019s Telecoms Act improve LIME\u2019s competitiveness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past several months, LIME has regularly expressed concern that the regulatory framework for the Jamaican telecoms sector was out-dated and unduly oppressed the company. Amendments to the current Telecoms Act have been tabled in Parliament, but will LIME benefit from the proposed changes?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/2\/2d\/LIME_Logo.gif\"<\/a>Last week, the Jamaican media was gripped by reports that the incumbent telecoms operator, LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless) planned to shut down its operations in Jamaica, following approval of the merger of mobile companies, Claro and Digicel. It was widely known that in recent years, the company had been operating at a loss in Jamaica, due primarily to the challenges it faces in the mobile\/cellular market.<\/p>\n

Although the merger would most likely weaken LIME’s position further, its officials have categorically stated that reports of it abandoning Jamaica are not true, granted it is struggling in the mobile market. However, just prior to the national elections held in late December, a Bill was tabled in Parliament to amend the Telecoms Act 2000. The Telecoms (Amendments) Bill<\/a> is currently been debated, and policy makers are hoping that it will effect urgently needed changes in the sector. This post will highlight select amendments and consider some of the implications to LIME and to telecoms competition in Jamaica.<\/p>\n

Why amend the Telecoms Act?<\/h3>\n

As it currently stands, the Telecoms Act is in dire need of updating. It was enacted over 11 years ago, when Cable & Wireless operated as a monopoly and there was no competition in any market. Since then, the sector has undergone extensive transformation, but the overarching legislation has not kept up with the developments. Although policy makers have long recognised that the current Act should be repealed and replaced with a more relevant framework, the lengthy legislative process has been a deterrent from undertaking such an exercise. Hence, this Bill has been envisaged as a stopgap that addresses select deficiencies. \u00a0In summary, it aims to, among other things:<\/p>\n