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Who is LIME trying to fool?
Published: Tuesday | January 17, 2012 Comments 0
THE EDITOR, Sir:
LIME has been making so many complaints of late that Jamaicans might be tempted to forget our recent telecommunications history. The company's latest beef relates to Digicel's takeover of Claro, claiming that it has created a monopoly situation.
LIME should get real! In its former incarnation as the Jamaica Telephone Company, it enjoyed the status of being one of the most oppressive monopolies to have tormented the Jamaican people. We remember waiting literally years for a telephone to be installed.
I remember starting my small consultancy business with no phone at all in the early 1980s - driving to my parents' home to make and receive calls. And I lived in Kingston. God bless the distress of my poor friends and relatives living in rural areas, some of whom waited decades for landlines.
It was only when Digicel came to Jamaica that telephone services actually became reasonably accessible to Jamaicans. I thought that LIME would have responded to the introduction of competition by improving its products and services. Instead, the company has continued to lag behind other service providers.
Now LIME Jamaica is seeking to blame the regulatory regime for its dire business performance when, in reality, it has been the master of its own downfall.
It is interesting to note that LIME's management and the board of its parent company, Cable & Wireless, have lobbied hard to improve its regulatory position. In truth, its regulatory problems are the result of its stunning loss of market share. The company is running an inefficient business and has failed to reduce its cost base effectively.
In the Jamaica Observer on January 6, 2012, LIME Jamaica Managing Director Garry Sinclair said, "Lower rates are in the interest of all Jamaicans." I wonder why he did not note that Digicel has lowered off-net rates following the Claro deal, helping to reduce costs for customers.
Who are you trying to fool, LIME? Not us critically thinking Jamaicans!
NANCY SMITH nancy2fancy@yahoo.com
Published: Tuesday | January 17, 2012 Comments 0
THE EDITOR, Sir:
LIME has been making so many complaints of late that Jamaicans might be tempted to forget our recent telecommunications history. The company's latest beef relates to Digicel's takeover of Claro, claiming that it has created a monopoly situation.
LIME should get real! In its former incarnation as the Jamaica Telephone Company, it enjoyed the status of being one of the most oppressive monopolies to have tormented the Jamaican people. We remember waiting literally years for a telephone to be installed.
I remember starting my small consultancy business with no phone at all in the early 1980s - driving to my parents' home to make and receive calls. And I lived in Kingston. God bless the distress of my poor friends and relatives living in rural areas, some of whom waited decades for landlines.
It was only when Digicel came to Jamaica that telephone services actually became reasonably accessible to Jamaicans. I thought that LIME would have responded to the introduction of competition by improving its products and services. Instead, the company has continued to lag behind other service providers.
Now LIME Jamaica is seeking to blame the regulatory regime for its dire business performance when, in reality, it has been the master of its own downfall.
It is interesting to note that LIME's management and the board of its parent company, Cable & Wireless, have lobbied hard to improve its regulatory position. In truth, its regulatory problems are the result of its stunning loss of market share. The company is running an inefficient business and has failed to reduce its cost base effectively.
In the Jamaica Observer on January 6, 2012, LIME Jamaica Managing Director Garry Sinclair said, "Lower rates are in the interest of all Jamaicans." I wonder why he did not note that Digicel has lowered off-net rates following the Claro deal, helping to reduce costs for customers.
Who are you trying to fool, LIME? Not us critically thinking Jamaicans!
NANCY SMITH nancy2fancy@yahoo.com
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