(Trinidad Guardian) The Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) will soon issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a third mobile telephone provider. The RFP is expected to be issued, possibly within a month. The announcement was made yesterday at the authority’s launch of its public education campaign themed Be Alert! Be Aware! Be Attentive! in observance of the 2013 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
Minister of Science and Technology Dr Rupert Griffith delivered the feature address during which he made the announcement. Griffith said along with the RFP for a third provider, the authority will introduce number portability. This will allow mobile phone users to retain their phone numbers when changing from one network operator to another. Asked by the T&T Guardian how soon the RFP will be issued, Griffith said possibly within a month.
The authority’s chairman, Selby Wilson, who delivered welcome remarks, told the T&T Guardian, “We are certainly going out to the market with an RFP to invite other suppliers to participate in a bid. Whether we get a positive response or not is left up to the commercial decision of those who will participate in the bid. We believe that the market can accommodate another provider.
“One of the things we are doing to encourage participation in this RFP, we will be offering the 700 megahertz spectrum (4G) which is the 4G, and offering to the third operator a spectrum in the 800 band to provide voice services. So, they would have an opportunity to participate in both voice and data services.
