Expanding Cellular Capacity:

Four new cellular sites, aimed at boosting signal strength and improving quality of service particularly on the new GSM network were officially launched on Wednesday January 25, as part of the activities to mark GT&T’S fifteenth year of operations.

The new sites at Vryheid’s Lust, Houston, Sophia and Tucville, constructed at a combined cost of some US$1.5M, are in keeping with the Company’s pledge to continually roll out and improve its service on its expanding cellular and landline network.

The ceremonial launching, held at the Tucville facility, amid a steady downpour, saw GT&T’S Chief Executive Officer, Major General (retd) Joseph Singh, outlining the challenges the Company faces, which are likely to put a high demand on technology and facilities.

He noted that, with the impending hosting of cricket matches in the 2007 World Cup and the more immediate activity of the forthcoming General Elections, the Company needs to be capable of meeting and managing expected demand capacities.

The Company, in keeping with the pace of evolving technology, is continuing to invest in the continual upgrade of the GSM network launched in November 2004 and which currently has some 107,000 subscribers, Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh also used the opportunity to pay tribute to the partnership between GT&T and Northern Telecom (Nortel) who have been and continue to be the Company’s main supplier of equipment and technology.

The CEO further emphasized that Tucville, like other facilities, is not confined to cellular but can also be used to accommodate fixed wire while insisting that the infrastructure is far from sterile but part of the landscape.

The structures he said should be seen as more than just a Company facility, but rather it should be viewed as part and parcel of the country’s developmental strategy.

Mr. Singh lauded the technical personnel including contractors who had worked tirelessly to bring the sites to completion and acknowledged the roles played by employees of other sectors including other utilities.

Present at the launching were the Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel Hinds, Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green, PUC Chairman, Justice Prem Persaud, former GT&T CEO Ms. Sonita Jagan, Nortel Vice President Mr. Bert Milan and other top GT&T executives and special invitees.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Hinds in his address commended GT&T for its considerable contribution to the modernization of the local telecommunication industry and highlighted government’s commitment to the creation of a competitive environment.

The PM further alluded to government’s 20% stake in the utility while pondering whether some people might feel that this would inhibit their ability to work towards breaking the monopoly on fix line service.

Director, General Services, Mr. Berkley Wickham, giving a background to the project, outlined some of the tasks involved in securing completion of the sites for installment of equipment.

He noted the role played by several other players, including the Mayor and City Council and other utilities in facilitating shared use of their sites for the cellular build out and appreciation for the cooperation given by other departments within the company.

Nortel’s VP Mr. Milan recognized the relationship between his company and GT&T, adding that it represented a lot of technological inputs into the country.

He viewed the Tucville site as a world class facility, which would contribute significantly to the growth of the local society.

Mr. Royston Peters expressed thanks on behalf of the residents of the community for the establishment of the facility and for the plans announced to improve the area adjacent to the cell site.