Adriaens doesn't understand UTS

August 05, 2008 12:33 PM

Telecom-minister Maurice Adriaens (FOL) doesn’t understand why UTS is speaking about unfair competition, if international cable company Columbus Networks Curacao receives a licence for international telephony and internet. He wants to discuss the matter with management and Board of Directors (RvC) of UTS soon.

According to Adriaens, Columbus Networks establishing on the island has nothing to do with unfair competition. With this statement he contradicts UTS-director Paul de Geus, who says that it is unfair competition, because UTS will have to compete against the company, from whom she buys capacity to get access to the international cable. Columbus owns this cable. De Geus says that other local providers that are now buying capacity via UTS, will now start approaching Columbus themselves, which has consequences for UTS’ market value. Adriaens denies this though. “If Columbus becomes active on the island, it can offer a wholesale price to all local providers. Thus Columbus Curacao will have to pay the same wholesale tariff that UTS and also other providers have to pay. I don’t understand why UTS considers this as unfair competition. The only change would be that UTS won’t be making profit on the reselling of capacity to the other providers on the island.”
He said that he will discuss the matter with management as well as RvC of UTS soon.

The union of UTS-personnel has meanwhile requested a meeting with the council of ministers. Sitkom-chairman Emilio Brunken indicated this morning that he still hasn’t received and answer on his request. “We have no intention to wait very long; our patience is also wearing thin." The union is worried about the consequences of a licence to Columbus. The minister council is expected to decide on this late August. The minister emphasized yesterday the importance of lower internet tariffs and higher internet speeds on the island. While many countries in the region are already on 5 mb, Curacao is still on 2 mb, said the minister. This forms a stand-in-the-way for many international companies to establish in Curacao.

(Source: National Newspaper Amigoe)

July 31, 2008