Government to Implement Co-Location Policy

The Government will shortly implement a co-location policy, aimed at facilitating increased participation by new entrants in Jamaica’s wireless telecommunications industry.

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says the policy will enable new investors to access existing infrastructure, primarily cell towers, owned by existing service providers, at a cost, in establishing their operations, thereby minimizing “entry barriers to the industry.”

Speaking with JIS News recently, Mr. Paulwell said the regulations, slated to come on stream in early 2016, are being developed within the context of the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, which was amended in 2012.

He explained that the Act “provides for the Minister, in association with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), to make these regulations, which will mandate and provide the framework for new players to have full access to existing infrastructure.”

“So, the existing players will be required to do the accommodation, and of course, it is going to be supervised by the Office of Utilities Regulation,” the Minister added.

Mr. Paulwell said the move is also intended to ensure that “new players (do) not have to expend resources putting up their own infrastructure.”

This, he noted, is expected to “cut the cost of a new investor getting involved in the business,” while curtailing the “proliferation” of cell towers islandwide.

“We want to see more investors, because more competition means lower price, better quality of service, and more access to broadband (internet service),” Mr. Paulwell pointed out.