Minister: Telecom liberalization was 'revolutionary' for Jamaica

The liberalization of the telecom industry was a milestone in Jamaica's development, said Julian Robinson, science, technology, energy and mining minister.

Robinson said the opening of the market was a "revolutionary" move that impacted greatly on the country's economy, according to a report by Jamaica Information Service.

"When the administration took the decision in the late nineties to proactively negotiate with what was then Cable & Wireless, to end their monopoly on telecommunication services, it was a significant milestone in our nation's history," the minister said.

Jamaica opened its telecom market in 1999. Prior to that, the market was dominated by Cable & Wireless Jamaica (CWC), which now works under the brand LIME.

In 2001, operators Digicel and Oceanic Digital were granted licenses, and the market was fully opened in March 2003. Robinson pointed out that since then, cell phone users have increased to almost 3mn, from about 60,000 before 1999.

Robinson added that it is the government's plan to ensure that rates remain competitive, and that telecom services are available to all Jamaicans.

"We are committed to ensuring that people have not only access, but we are also committed to ensuring that they can afford the cost. The telecommunications industry has spurred the growth of a number of other industries and has triggered growth in the economy," he said.