The entry into the mobile telecoms sector by a new provider has been stirring excitement among consumers, especially since more competition usually leads to enhanced service from both the new and old providers.
ENet (formerly E-Networks) Guyana’s indigenous cellular service provider, is offering a different approach to voice, data and SMS plans and its rivals GTT and Digicel have expressed their enthusiasm for the competition, stating that it will bring significant benefits to consumers.
Early last week, ENet announced that it was testing its “unlimited talk, text and data” Orange Plans on its 4G/5G VoLTE (Voice over LTE) network. The company offered interested consumers the opportunity to “test drive” its offerings free of charge for this month. Since the announcement social media, specifically Facebook, has been abuzz with customers comparing existing plans offered by Digicel and GTT to the new plans from ENet.
After the test drive, the company will offer unlimited plans starting at $2,000 for 30 days with data only, $2,900 for 30 days with voice and data and $4,900 for 30 days extra.
“Unlimited talk, text, and data” means that ENet’s mobile subscribers can make and receive unlimited calls and SMS to other ENet customers for the duration of their plans, the company explained.
As the competition heats up, GTT took a jab at the company’s test driving offer in a social media post using colloquial language, which said, “When you deh good, stay good!” Urging customers to choose from its menu of plans, the GTT post added, “Don’t be anybody’s test case – stay true to the blue”.
Meanwhile, Digicel, in a post on Thursday shared its recent awards, which include Fastest Mobile Network, Best Mobile Network Coverage and Best Mobile Network. In subtle messaging on Digicel’s reach, the post asked customers to name the locations in the accompanying photos. Asked about ENet’s entry into the mobile sector, GTT CEO Damian Blackburn said, “Competition is good and we welcome all those new to the market. Competition makes everybody better to serve the needs of Guyanese.”
Blackburn noted that while ENet was working to roll out its plan, his company is moving steadfast in the delivery of better service and an upgraded LTE network.
“Our upgraded LTE mobile network and social plans are proving very popular and reliable for our many mobile customers. Since our launch of these in December last year our customers have experienced unlimited social media data that they use on all of their favourite apps like WhatsApp Chat, Facebook, Messenger, Tencent QQ, Snapchat, WeChat, BIP, Telegram, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn,” he explained.
He went on to say that his company is very focused on bringing GTT Fibre to homes in Guyana. By 2024, it aims to have the service in 75 percent of Guyanese homes. This, he said, will provide customers with the incredible opportunity to access super-fast internet with world-class speeds of over 100Mbps. He said GTT has already exceeded 60 percent and many areas in Berbice have experienced the “life changing service” for the first time in the last few months.
DIGICEL CEO Gregory Dean also echoed similar sentiments. In an invited comment, Dean emphasised, “Digicel’s belief when we entered the market, was that more competition would be beneficial to consumers in Guyana and we remain of that view. That influenced our fight for liberalisation and we look forward to playing our part in an open competitive environment.”
ENet, in a statement, said its network was built “to be a game-changer”, delivering a unique value proposition that enables a digital transformation.
“Cellphone users will no longer be constricted by expensive and limited data allocations. Communication will also improve as people gain access to affordable Orange Plans and never have to pay for on-network voice calls again,” the statement added.
For customers to experience the best quality of service on the network, ENet recommends that they use a VoLTE-compatible phone.
VoLTE is currently available on all Apple iPhones and select Android models; 5G is also available on select Android handsets, it said.
In its roll out, ENet is also allowing users with dual-sim devices to use ENet data while keeping their existing voice plan. ENet will support both eSIMs and physical SIMs.
The company said, too, that mobile data will be allocated in accordance with its Fair Use Policy to ensure that services are not abused or used for broadband purposes. This is aligned with international standards for personal-use plans.
Interested consumers can sign up at ENet locations on Camp Street, in Giftland Mall, in Amazonia Mall, at MovieTowne and at Cornelia Ida on the West Coast Demerara.
Some who have signed up and are part of the testing group said the service has been great and raved over the unlimited data and quality of internet they have experienced. But others have complained of not being able to utilise the voice and text aspect of the network. A customer service representative explained that there have been technical difficulties with signal connections and the technical team was working to address those issues.
In October last year, the company announced it has invested US$35 million to expand its services. At the time of the announcement, the company said they will offer “competitively” priced packages which will include increased data allocations and modern account management features will be released.
To achieve its vision, the company said, it collaborated with Mavenir – the world’s only end-to-end cloud-native network software provider to offer a Cloud-Native IMS and Business Support Systems (BSS) platform.
According to the press release, VoLTE, built by Mavenir, is expected to deliver the latest innovation in mobile telecommunications.
On its web page, Mavenir said it was building the future of networks and pioneering advanced technology, focusing on the vision of a single, software-based automated network that runs on any cloud.
