K.A. Juman-Yassin
November 8 ,2021
Following an announcement by the Prime Minister’s Office that telecoms sector entrant Green Gibraltar has not been granted a licence to operate or for spectrum use, the company yesterday said there was a possible “misunderstanding” when it last week announced it had been granted one.
“While government desires to maximize competition and welcomes investment of new entrants to the sector, and has indeed done considerable work on processing the application of Green Gibraltar Inc., we nevertheless note that there is a statutory process to be followed which is not yet complete,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister informed.
In agreement with the Prime Minister’s Office, the company acknowledged that only after the requisite legal processes are followed that a licence can be granted
“It does seem that there is a misunderstanding,” Green Gibraltar representative K Juman Yassin told the Stabroek News yesterday when contacted.
“The position of Green Gibraltar is that no licence has yet been granted and this can only happen after all the required processes have been completed. When this is done then and if there are no valid objections and if the Licensing Authority is satisfied that the Company has fulfilled all its obligations and queries, then it is expected that a license will be issued,” he added.
Last week, the company announced that the government had approved its application.
“Green Gibraltar Incorporated, a 100% Guyanese owned company established in 2019, is proud to announce that the Government of Guyana has approved its application for the provision of cellular services in Guyana,” the company said in a statement.
“The Company would like to thank the Telecom Department as well as the Honorable Prime Minister Mark Phillips for their diligent scrutiny in the licensing process which will allow us to bring next level telecom to the citizens of Guyana,” it added.
It had said that “With the approval of the license, efforts will now focus on the steps necessary to commence operations.
The Stabroek News had reported that Green Gibraltar was seeking approval to install and operate a 5G telecommunications network in seven of the country’s ten regions.
In a notice published on the October 29 edition of this newspaper, the Tele-communications Agency informed that the company has applied for the granting of an individual licence to operate a public telecommunications network and offer a public mobile telecommunications service in regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten. It has also applied for frequency authorisation to use spectrum and to install and operate radio communication equipment in the operating of the network and service. The Telecommunications Agency has advised that any person who may have an interest in or be affected by the application for a frequency authorisation to make written submissions.
The company had stated that in 2019, two companies, MHM Holdings GY Inc, and Green Gibraltar Inc, led by Guyanese entrepreneurs, resolved to improve the limited and poor-quality cellular service in the country.
“A formal application was submitted in January of 2021 in response to the Telecom Liberalization act. After two years of hard work and sound investments, the companies have now assembled an industry leading team of financial and technical partners. The granting of the license is the first step on the journey of realizing this vision. Green Gibraltar Inc., MHM Holdings GY, Inc., and their partners understand the desire of Guyana’s citizens and businesses to have an option to connect with the world in a professional and cost-effective manner.”
Days after the statement, the Prime Minister’s office issued a statement informing that it had noted two consecutive reports in the media which proclaimed that government has approved the granting of a licence and frequency authorisation to Green Gibraltar Inc. It stressed that this was not the case as the legal processes had to be followed.
“The Telecommunications Act 2016 and the Telecommunications (Licensing and Frequency Authorisation) Regulations 2020 require among other things that notice be given of the said application in the Official Gazette and requires us to give a minimum of forty days during which period interested parties may submit comments thereon to the Tele-communications Agency,” the Prime Minister’s was quoted as saying.
“At the end of the period the Agency is required to advise the Minister and the Minister is required to take into account any representations made during the statutory comment period in making a determination. We are currently within the statutory period for receiving comments, thus the process is unquestionably incomplete. Consequently, no approval may be granted at this time,” it added.