Telecom Mess continues

[Don1]

Paulwell needs to use this opportunity to end the ridiculous rate arbitrage...aka the interconnection issue. One flat & low rate to switch calls between networks NOW. If im nah deal wid dat im is one waste ah time.
People don't see it as ridiculous buying & lugging around multiple phones fi ketch one affordable rate??

Government to intervene in Digicel/Lime controversy

Minister with responsibility for the telecommunications sector, Phillip Paulwell, has intervened to quell growing tension between rival mobile phone providers Digicel and LIME.

Mr. Paulwell met on Tuesday with senior executives of LIME to discuss the company's concerns about recent developments in the sector.

The Minister is to hold talks next week with officials of Digicel.

Mr. Paulwell stepped in following charges and countercharges by the two companies in relation to the acquisition of Jamaica's third mobile phone company Claro and the implications for competition in the market. Speaking with RJR News following the meeting Mr. Paulwell said one of the major issues discussed was inter-connection rates.

He was however reluctant to give details on what will be the next move.

“Because the issues have been out there in the public I don’t want to go into too much detail. The primary thing has to do with the interconnection rate, I intend to address them with Digicel and then jointly with everybody so that at the endo f the day everybody will be clear as to what the government position is and that is to ensure that competition thrives” said Mr Paulwell.

[Time]

Paulwell needs to use this opportunity to end the ridiculous rate arbitrage...aka the interconnection issue. One flat & low rate to switch calls between networks NOW. If im nah deal wid dat im is one waste ah time.
People don't see it as ridiculous buying & lugging around multiple phones fi ketch one affordable rate??

Government to intervene in Digicel/Lime controversy

Minister with responsibility for the telecommunications sector, Phillip Paulwell, has intervened to quell growing tension between rival mobile phone providers Digicel and LIME.

Mr. Paulwell met on Tuesday with senior executives of LIME to discuss the company's concerns about recent developments in the sector.

The Minister is to hold talks next week with officials of Digicel.

Mr. Paulwell stepped in following charges and countercharges by the two companies in relation to the acquisition of Jamaica's third mobile phone company Claro and the implications for competition in the market. Speaking with RJR News following the meeting Mr. Paulwell said one of the major issues discussed was inter-connection rates.

He was however reluctant to give details on what will be the next move.

“Because the issues have been out there in the public I don’t want to go into too much detail. The primary thing has to do with the interconnection rate, I intend to address them with Digicel and then jointly with everybody so that at the endo f the day everybody will be clear as to what the government position is and that is to ensure that competition thrives” said Mr Paulwell.

What is the inter-connection rate? Please don't tele me that if a Digicel customer calls a Lime customer or vice versa then there is an inter-connection fee!

[Exile]

Yu better believe it...why yu think everyone in Ja had 3 phones...

[Lazie]

Yu better believe it...why yu think everyone in Ja had 3 phones...

.... more man have phone ....

[Skeng DX]

I HEARD THAT C&W OR LIME IS PLANNING TO LEAVE JAMAICA on nationwide radio

[Don1]

What is the inter-connection rate? Please don't tele me that if a Digicel customer calls a Lime customer or vice versa then there is an inter-connection fee!

Recall that most are on pre-paid plans where the "calling party pays". Receivers of calls don't pay...which is ok.

There are fees for both inter and intra-network calling. The problem arises to the consumer when there's a big difference between the rates for network to network calls and intra-network calls (giving rise to rate arbitrage).

Since Digicel has by far the largest customer base they're able to maintain a high interconnect rate with Lime ..to terminate Lime originated calls on their network... with the Claro acquisition this price setting power will only increase...except if the regulator intervenes

Because of the big differential between the in-network and out of network rates... many mobile customers feel forced to acquire both Digicel and Lime service...trying to keep all calling in-network. Obviously a forced purchase of additional phones is costly...but less costly over time than making out of network calls...capice?

A low, regulator mandated interconnect rate (switching fee) at the carrier level...to terminate out of network calls, would go a long way to address the problem. It costs very little to switch a call from network to network...mainly just the switch maintenance... probably around JA$1/minute/call... but the carriers play games with that fee to get a price advantage in the market.

This madness is seemingly accepted by the politicians, regulators and consumers without a whimper... quite pathetic... no..ignorant

[Don1]

Really??? That would be not good

[Don1]

Yu better believe it...why yu think everyone in Ja had 3 phones...

How is it in Trinidad with that issue?... interesting to know since the contenders are essentially the same as Jamaica

[Willi]

So isnt there a huge market for 2nd hand (recycled)phones?

That would make multiphone ownership not very expensive.

A local need only ask the American relative to send down all the old phones (of which there are many) and voila. I am suprised there is not a thriving bizniz in dumb phone sales...

[Bricktop]

What is pathetic is people actually making phone calls in this day and age...guess dem never hear bout BBM

[Bricktop]

Nokia flashlight phone dem cheap cheap man...couple thousand...

[Bricktop]

Which one C&W or LIME? ***chuckle*** Yuh heard wrong as usual

[Time]

Recall that most are on pre-paid plans where the "calling party pays". Receivers of calls don't pay...which is ok.

There are fees for both inter and intra-network calling. The problem arises to the consumer when there's a big difference between the rates for network to network calls and intra-network calls (giving rise to rate arbitrage).

Since Digicel has by far the largest customer base they're able to maintain a high interconnect rate with Lime ..to terminate Lime originated calls on their network... with the Claro acquisition this price setting power will only increase...except if the regulator intervenes

Because of the big differential between the in-network and out of network rates... many mobile customers feel forced to acquire both Digicel and Lime service...trying to keep all calling in-network. Obviously a forced purchase of additional phones is costly...but less costly over time than making out of network calls...capice?

A low, regulator mandated interconnect rate (switching fee) at the carrier level...to terminate out of network calls, would go a long way to address the problem. It costs very little to switch a call from network to network...mainly just the switch maintenance... probably around JA$1/minute/call... but the carriers play games with that fee to get a price advantage in the market.

This madness is seemingly accepted by the politicians, regulators and consumers without a whimper... quite pathetic... no..ignorant

So I guess its the caller who pays this connection fee. The way I see it that both the caller and receiver are paying their carrier for airtime and connecting an inter or intra call is part of doing business. If the carriers insist on connection fees then the government role is to set the same fee for all carriers for both inter or intra calls.

[Lazie]

I HEARD THAT C&W OR LIME IS PLANNING TO LEAVE JAMAICA on nationwide radio

Give the full story nuh? Why just stop there?

[Don1]

Jamaicans want nothing that's "old"...unless is one deportee

In 1999 we shipped to 189 Old Hope Rd 40 2 year old Dell computers donated by the Lawrenceville School...one tapanaris school in NJ dat did ah change dem out...all ah dem wuk proppa...certified by wi techie

Wen mi guh dung deh...Bayh screw face wi get bass... di man dem seh ....Wha kina alms house ting dat unnu ah sen dung yah? Krissas wi want!!

Go figure