C&W Issued New Deadline By ICTA

Hon Julianna O'Connor-
Connolly

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Cable & Wireless has until 30 March to file its response to the ICTA's (Information and Communications Technology Authority) concerns regarding their new mobile phone rates.

C&W had already supplied data as requested to the Authority on 10 March following the ICTA's concerns about their rates being below cost. 
However the information supplied by C&W was deemed insufficient by the ICTA and, as a result, the Authority asked C&W a series of questions.

In a statement released on Monday, the ICTA said: "The Authority is and will remain vigilant in ensuring that all ICT Licensees do not engage in anti-competitive behaviour, as such actions are contrary to the development of effective and sustainable competition in the ICT market. The Authority will be issuing its determinations with respect to C&W's mobile rate changes as soon as it reasonably can, taking into account all the information before it, including the information received from Cable & Wireless, AT&T Wireless and Digicel."

Also anxious to reach a conclusion as soon as possible, Minister of Communications, Julianna O'Connor-Connolly said: "Government is mindful that it is desirable to minimise the period of uncertainty for Licensees and consumers alike. Government wishes to assure consumers that the Authority will be issuing a reasoned determination at the earliest possible date."

C&W rates came under scrutiny by the Authority earlier this month as possibly being anti-competitive, following price reductions of up to 67 percent. 

The ICTA recommended that C&W delay their price reductions until it had been established that they were acting competitively. C&W opted to hold firm and introduced the reductions, saying they were confident that they would stand up to the ICTA's scrutiny. 

Last week the ICTA issued a statement suggesting that consumers may wish to take the C&W situation into account when making their purchasing decisions because, depending on the outcome of the review, the rates may change.

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