Politics in TRC blocked my telecoms improvement efforts as minister
Former Minister for Communications under the previous NDP administration, Mark Vanterpool said the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) was riddled with politics and this prevented him from carrying forward his agenda while he held the portfolio.
The TRC is a government statutory body responsible for regulating the local telecoms sector and protecting the interests of users of telecoms services.
“The TRC had more politics in it than in the government,” Vanterpool said. “I stayed there for four years trying to figure out the politics of it and I [didn’t get anything done].”
We should have less telecoms providers
Vanterpool, who is now an Opposition legislator, bemoaned the fact that despite the presence of three operational internet providers in the territory – Flow, Digicel, and CCT – the territory’s telecommunications remained in a woeful state.
He suggested that there was no need for three carriers to operate in the territory and argued that two carriers should suffice and still create an atmosphere of competition.
Vanterpool said the roll-out of fibre optic networks in the territory would improve the internet challenges faced by local businesses such as his own.
I had to get a loan to pay for my internet
Fibre optic technology effectively uses a newer network of high-speed fibre cables that are better able to deliver high-speed internet across greater distances. However, Vanterpool suggested that the cost associated with this technology was too prohibitive.
“The amount of money it costs to get the [increased] speed that I want, I gotta go to the bank,” the former Communications Minister said. “You all think I’m kidding?”
“The cost of getting proper fibre in this territory now, to be able to get better internet speeds for your business, you got to go to the bank to borrow the money,” he insisted.
Vanterpool, who is also the owner of OneMart supermarket and Pussers, said he recently tried to increase the speed for his business after being told that his previous coverage was insufficient for the needs of all his staff. He said he was forced to approach the bank for a loan immediately after hearing the cost.
He questioned whether network providers were trying to recoup their monies for fibre optic cable services within a day.
Meanwhile, Vanterpool commended Premier Andrew Fahie for his promise to deliver proper telecommunication services within the territory.
Offering to assist where possible, Vanterpool said he would hold the Premier to the promise these services — a promise he (Vanterpool) has made for several years as telecoms minister.
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Incompetence or failure?
Is an absolute waste of space..BVI has the highest internet rates in the world
When will ANY government seriously fix this crucial infrastructure issue? I am fed up of the ridiculous charges for subpar services!! The way things are going I’m
hoping Musk and his Starlink network covers us soon and I can have a different option.
Mark has been an utter failure and only has energy when he’s in the opposition! Very government promises to fix it like we are fools to believe them!! This circus government is no different sadly. The entire TRC management need replacing ASAP; especially GM.
Change is needed NOW – not another promise for 4 years and nada to show.
tell me what other than rum cheap in bvi.
Is there a difference between paying a hefty sum for a “piece” and end up with claps, and the internet providers of the BVI? Nope!
Different medium same sickening, raunchy, stinky service.
And, all is responsible, both government and the regulatory bodies. Because if the BVI had governments doing governmeents work the public would not be catching the internet claps, period
The TRC is only now asking the public for input to a Strategic Plan. So, if this is their first Strategic plan, what have they been doing for years? Or, if there was a previous plan, how was their performance measured against that plan? The people need to know.
The TRC has lost $millions in revenue by not charging the telecoms companies what they should have done. On top of that, the BVI has the highest communication rates in the whole Caribbean and almost the most expensive in the world. On top of that, we have bad service.
The whole management of the TRC needs to go immediately, after detailed investigation by the COI of just exactly what the people of the Virgin Islands have been paying for these past years. Total incompetence and corruption.
Island hired. You were rescued but still ungrateful.
What do your comments mean? You don’t make sense. Why should anyone be grateful for paying huge telecoms fees for bad service?
Their days are numbered anyway. Satellite internet is the future. Elon Musk, Amazon and even the British government are putting up satellite systems at an enormous rate. Starlink will be coming to BVI soon.150 mbps for $80 per month. $300 for the antenna. Don’t let the government try to ban it.
If they do try it will confirm what has been long suspected about how the current providers have gotten away with ripping us off for so long.
We know this has been a long-standing issue, so why the noise now? Please Mark address the other issues at hand like the missing pier park original plan and the money. WOW! Anyways you can step down from politics, but, not before you put back the money. Sir
needs to be sacked asap
is ripping off the people with their so called service that keeps sticking and pausing all the time ,to put it simple they are GREEDY and some of those who works in dealing with customers are ( PIGS) they love to show off on us and the manager (if they have one ) needs to double check on them personally
So Mark’s brother owners a tel company, wonder if that politics is what he means?
All these excuses…U have no problem firing workers..No one can get in your way..I dont believe you…