And while Sunrise is trying to usher in the dawn of a new Belizean owned era at BTL, the telecom horizon has broadened considerably tonight because, finally, interconnection is a reality. Today, Speednet had the soft launch of its Smart phone service, a wireless cellular network that is fully interconnected with BTL. We were the first to test it out.
Jaime Briceno, Speednet Chairman
"As of today I am pleased to announce that Belizeans now have a choice as to who will be their provider for telecommunication services. Under the brand name of Smart, Speednet is now able to provide to the people of Belize a real alternative to BTL."
A real, working alternative and we tested to make sure it is working and its not just some Intelco type hype. This is my Digicell phone and that's a Smart phone, the new service form Speednet. Two different systems, two different technologies interconnected for the first time in Belize. I called Speednet's Jimmy Johnson
[Jules Vasquez successfully making a call from his Digicell to Jimmy Johnson's Smart phone.]
That little piece of history cost me 55 cents. How much will it cost under Speednet's smart system?
Jaime Briceno,
"It certainly will be cheaper. Janelle we have to be cheaper in order to compete with BTL. I am not in a position to give you actual numbers right now; we're still working on that, finalizing that, before we send it off to the PUC. But I can assure that you all will be pleasantly surprised."
It'll take a lot to pleasantly surprise the average Belizean phone user long abused by high rates and false hope of competition. But Speednet's executives say this is the real deal and the difference is.
Edwardo Santiago, Speednet Executive Director
"You can call BTL from our phones and vice versa; you couldn't do that with Intelco."
Jules Vasquez,
To I, as I am a BTL user, what would you say to convince me of the merits of switching to the Smart system because immediately I would say that BTL has a proven stable network, it has a large national footprint in terms of the coverage. Why would I want to switch to the Smart system?
Edwardo Santiago,
"We will have a better coverage, that's guaranteed, we will have very competitive rates, and overall better value propositions than you get right now with BTL.
And those who do make the switch from BTL would also have to get a new phone because while BTL uses GSM technology these phones use what is known as CDMA. Santiago says it doesn't matter; people just want a phone that works.
Edwardo Santiago,
"At the end of the day the consumer, as I understand it, just want to be able to use their phones and get a good value. If we want to look into the technology, BTL has chosen to go into GSM and we have chosen to go with CDMA. The benefits of CDMA is that, from a technological standpoint, it provides much better coverage area for the amount of sites or antennas that you can place in a geographical location; that's the main benefit."
Jules Vasquez,
You will not argue that GSM has emerged as the global standard for wireless telecommunications.
Edwardo Santiago,
"GSM is the global standard, if there is such a thing."
Jules Vasquez,
However at this point there are no interchangeability of instruments. In terms of the telephone instruments, what works on the GSM network will not work on the CDMA network.
Edwardo Santiago,
"That's correct. To have access to our services you need to purchase and acquire a CDMA phone."
And while those phones will soon be on the market, Speednet says it will not limit itself to mobile service.
Jules Vasquez,
The Prime Minister in a letter to Jeff Prosser indicated that he would strip you all of any ability to do fixed services. He gave that undertaking, he has not done that and that is one of the matters being argued in a Miami courtroom right now, that the government has failed to live up to those conditions. Are you all foreseeing that you will enter the fixed market?
Edwardo Santiago,
"Yes its our intention to go into the fixed market."
Jules Vasquez,
So if you all are limited to only wireless services, you would consider it an injustice?
Edwardo Santiago,
"Of course not just an injustice, a breach our license."
A breach that Jeffrey Prosser is in a Miami court still arguing that government must enforce.
Speednet bosses promise to have a full commercial launch at the end of this month, which is when subscribers will be able to sign up to use the system. The rates will also be announced at month's end. Presently it is on a test involving 200 volunteer subscribers. Right now, Speednet's Smart phones can call or be called from BTL cellular phones or fixed lines.
