Positive signs for telecoms industry

While mobile calls have been marked for a five per cent government tax next year, persons using fixed line phones will see more reductions in their telephone charges.

Months of open negotiations with the NTRC and Cable & Wireless, on the Price Regulatory Regime, folded with the completion of a new Price Cap Plan. {{more}}

Cable & Wireless fixed line customers will see a reduction in payments for services offered under a new form of Price Cap Rules.

Under this new agreement, call charges from fixed to mobile have been nipped by some .5 cents per minute. Daily rates from 8a.m. to 6 p.m. where calls were charged at 81 cents, are now down to 76 cents per minute; on evenings from 80 cents to 75 cents per minute and from 78 cents to 75 cents on weekends.

Additionally, domestic calls between fixed lines have been lowered from nine cents to seven cents per minute during the day, from eight cents to four cents in the evening and from six cents to four cents on weekends.

These new arrangements will come into effect from January next year.

According to the Minister of Telecommunications, Science and Technology: “We have a well established regulatory system that monitors all aspects of telecommunication in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

After this new liberalised initiative St. Vincent and the Grenadines would still have the lowest charges in the OECS where rental for regulated services is concerned.