Guyana’s Ministry of Public Telecommunications, has refused to give E-Networks a licence to lay and land a subsea cable in the country.
The news comes after the publication of a Notice to Mariners Number 15 (2018) by the Maritime Administration Department which said that maritime surveys would be carried out by two vessels "on behalf of E-Networks Inc. as preparatory works for subsea cable laying … within the Guyana Maritime Zone".
According to a statement released by the Ministry, "while the interest of investors in the sector, in general, is welcome, no licence for the laying and landing of a subsea cable system has been granted to E-Networks Inc."
The Ministry went on to say that any applications for licences to lay and land subsea cable systems or any other major telecommunications activities by any company that does not hold a telecommunications licence, will be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2016.
E-Networks is a Guyanese cable TV company and 'leading triple play provider’. The company also has its own internet service called WiMAX and in 2013 it launched its own domestic fibre-optic network to support its high-speed internet service called OnFiber, and its high-def television service called DreamTV. In addition, E-Networks, through a partnership with O3b high speed satellite service, acquired the internet connection to its existing services. It is also premier partner of Net2phone and IDT, and offers VoIP services to its customers.
