Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Government will soon invite proposals for a 3rd mobile operator in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Prime Minister made the disclosure as she delivered the feature address at the opening of the 9th annual CTO Forum at the Hilton Hotel on Monday morning.

“In keeping with our policy to deepen the competitive environment, we will be inviting proposals for a 3rd mobile operator before the end of this year. TSTT, I am sorry and Digicel but competition is good and strong.”

That announcement was just a small part of plans by Government to improve and enhance competitiveness in the ICT arena.

The Prime Minister says the development of ICT is essential to the overall development of the country.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago also recognises the need to work collaboratively in order to improve the local ICT sector and so this is why I view the work of the CTO and its membership therein, as being very important to my country’s development. Trinidad and Tobago holds firmly onto the position that it is only through discussion at international level that ICT issues which affect developing countries regionally and internationally can be fully addressed.”

According to the Prime Minister, Government has been seeking to make ICTs more accessible to the population through the development of broadband infrastructure and services.

Mrs Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago has already made a head start and referred to examples of laptops for Form One students and integrating the use of ICT into all Government services.

“It is the present and indeed even more so, it will be the future. So we put this focus on the sector, from the position that a progressive and up to date ICT sector, I believe respectfully, is essential to the overall development of the country as it seeks to achieve developed country status.”

Sourc: http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=31638