Community
Cable & Wireless expressesInternet caution
Cable & Wireless BET is not consideringjoining the rush to invest in the now emerging, but widely used,voice-over-the-Internet technologies.
That's the word from the company's CEO TrevorClarke, who said while the technology was worthwhile, untimelyinvestment could be economically disadvantageous.
Speaking to the Press during a Cable &Wireless Internet Seminar on World Telecommunications Day yesterday,Clarke said it was a matter of allowing for balanced economicsin a newly liberalised marketplace.
"Our only concern about too early adoptionof voice over the Internet is the disadvantage it presents tothe economy from the point of view of what we call rebalancing.
"The Government has made the sensibledecision to open the market and any time you open the market youneed to make sure that the economics of the marketplace are balancedand reasonable so that the correct market signals are sent tothe prospective investors," Clarke said.
The telecommunications spokesman said therewere both local and international considerations in any proposedinvestment, where an unbalanced approach could lead to lost dollars."You don't want people to invest in one side of the economyand lose money. So rebalancing provides an opportunity for pricesto be related to costs, both on the international side as wellas on the domestic side."
Clarke said Cable & Wireless was presentlyfocused on the challenge of connecting as many people to the Internetas quickly as possible. He noted that in keeping with the themefor World Telecommunications Day Challenges, Opportunities andProspects, his company was presenting reduced prices and hopingto take advantage of Barbados' excellent telephone distributionto make access available to anyone.
"It is important that we spread themessage so that people understand the power and the role of theInternet," he said.
The telecommunications executive, however, acknowledged that moreis needed to be done to get the Internet in the hands of personswith little financial resources, adding that Cable & Wirelesshad attempted to do so by offering a monthly hire- purchase packagefor an Internet computer.
"It's true it's a complex thing. Therewill always be people who are more able to afford something thanothers. The early adopters tend to be people who have the incomelevel to purchase a computer, who have the educational level touse the Internet."
The business community, Clarke noted, wasthe area most likely to be economically lucrative in terms ofInternet use, although more personal users would be advantageousin creating a network with greater utility.
"The Internet is becoming an extremelypowerful business tool. E-commerce is of greater importance tothe business community from a business to business point of view,but certainly from a business to consumer point of view, it makesa supplier accessible to the world.
And lots of Barbadians are beginning todevelop websites and to market their products and services internationally.That's the power of the Internet." he said.