New telecoms sector entrant Green Gibraltar is seeking approval to install and operate a 5G telecommunications network in seven of the country’s regions.
In a notice published in last Wednesday’s edition of the Stabroek News, the Telecommunications 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. Towards this end, 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.
As a result, the Tele-communications Agency has advised that any person who may have an interest in or be affected by the application for a frequency authorization to make written submissions.
Sources have told this newspaper that Green Gibraltar is the firm alluded to when Prime Minister Mark Phillips earlier this month disclosed that government was close to awarding another telecoms licence for a 5G carrier.
While sources close to the deal said government had approved the company’s investment plan and was expected to gazette the licence award, that process has to await the Telecommunications Agency’s review of submissions on the application and a decision on the frequency to be used.
According to records for Green Gibraltar that were seen by Sunday Stabroek, the company was incorporated here on June 26, 2019.
Jai Narine Singh Jr, better known as Don Singh, of 133 Church Street, Georgetown, is Company Secretary. He and Rawlston Gangaram, of the same address, are listed as the company’s two directors
Both Singh and Gangaram held 50% interest each in the company, with one million one dollar ordinary shares. However, on September 25, 2020, Gangaram transferred his shares to MHM Holdings Inc., of Lot B North Road, Lacytown. (When this newspaper contacted Singh, he would only say that he is the Company Secretary and that he prefers to speak after negotiations are complete.)
At a meeting of the Board of Green Gibraltar Inc., which was held on May 20th of this year, David Mahmaji, of Lot B North Road Lacytown, was authorized “to execute and or sign any document and or make any application or submission on behalf of the company, Green Gibraltar.”
On its website, MHM Holdings, which says that with its partners it acquired 51% of Green Gibraltar, Inc, has announced that the company is awaiting approval of a licence and spectrum for the venture.
“A technical partner, Mobilise, out of London, was engaged to design and assist in the telecom plan,” it adds, while noting that investment partners have been lined up.
“Green Gibraltar is ready to bring this next generation of cellular and data to Guyana and its citizens. We have a deeply experienced technical team, we have sourced superior equipment that is verified non-Chinese, and we have engaged in communications with funding sources to execute on our plan,” it further states.
Mahmalji, according to the website, is the MHM Holdings Managing Director and has a four-decade career in oil and gas, having previously worked with Hunt Oil Company (HOC) in various capacities. In addition to his career at HOC, the site says he served Hillwood Energy (Ross Perot) as country manager in Kurdistan, Iraq before becoming Managing Director at MHM Holdings. He is also said to have long-term working relations with ExxonMobil, TOTAL and other in-country oil and services companies.
The move to bring in another carrier, sources say, was to open the telecoms market for competition and offer Guyanese the “benefits of a liberalized sector”.
Sources have said that depending on the spectrum availability, the new company has committed to starting up within 16 to 20 months of being granted the licence.
It is unclear the financing mechanism of the project as it is not clear who the investors are or what commitments have been given and to what sums.
Green Gibraltar’s planned licence granting is part of government’s plans to advance the sector, as the Prime Minister had also stated that a new submarine cable to be landed by U-Mobile (Cellular) Inc. trading as Digicel, is expected to lead to more competition for international data and international long distance service and lower prices, especially for high-speed internet.
