Digicel workers dismantling a cellular tower in Palestina on Tuesday

The order had been imposed to stop the proliferation of cellular towers following numerous complaints by residents.

During the time of the stop order, several meetings were held between the Ministry for Communications and Works; the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC); the Town and Country Planning Department; and three License Holders for the provision of Cellular Telephone Service - CCT Global Communications; Cable & Wireless (BVI) Ltd.; and Digicel (BVI) Ltd., on the issue of sharing telephone towers.

The last such meeting was held on September 26 at the Long Bay Beach resort.

“At the Meeting we examined in detail a total of 20 Cellular Telephone Tower Sites and were able to reach common ground on all, with clear directive and understanding on the road ahead,” Minister Frazer told the media at a press conference on Monday.

Minister Fraser said the Town and Country Planning Department pointed out the location of towers in the Territory and highlighted the controversial areas, namely Palestina, Zion Hill, Frenchman’s Cay, Windy Hill, Long Trench and Chalwell.

Minister Frazer added that the TRC has been instructed to draft legislation which he has in his possession.

“The review is not been completed but as soon as those reviews are completed the process will begin to have them to be a part of our legislation,” Minister Frazer alluded.

New entrant into the VI market, Digicel saw its efforts to roll out its product by year end, stymied by the ban.

Immediately following the Minister’s press conference, Digicel’s CEO, Alan Bates said the process has been very worthwhile and effective.

“I would like to compliment them (providers) on their willingness to co-share and work together, but this process is not completed today. This is only where it starts, but with Digicel we have the best network it’s now being built and its coming very soon,” Bates stated.

Pressed about a launch date for Digicel, Bates said that Digicel BVI is one of three markets which the Digicel Group plans to launch this Christmas.

Having been granted a license to operate a GSM service here in December last year, Digicel immediately set about correcting its network infrastructure following the Minister’s announcement on Monday.

In a press statement, Bates said that Digicel will backfill and make good the foundation it started to prepare in Long Trench and relocate to an alternative site, remove its foundation in Chalwell and build a new site as Cable & Wireless has agreed to allow Digicel to relocate on its compound.

Bates said that the company will also dismantle its tower in Windy Hill.  Cable & Wireless in a statement said that it endorses the tower sharing and co-location initiative and has previously advocated this initiative amongst operators.

“While Cable & Wireless supports further development, and increased competition, it firmly believes that such development must be sustainable and include the implementation and maintenance of proper standards and guidelines for the erection of cellular towers; together with consultation with the public where the Government considers appropriate,” Cable and Wireless stated.

The regional company urged all the relevant authourities to implement the recently developed draft planning guidelines so that proper and effective standards are in place. “To date, there has been no confirmation that the guidelines have been formally adopted by the appropriate ministry.

“There is also no telecommunications code in place. This is unfortunate as the absence of this code and guidelines hinder the further planning and development of the telecommunications’ industry,” Cable & Wireless stressed.

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