BARBADIANS CRYING OUT for more choice in the cellphone market should have an entirely new provider by early next year.

Since the merger of Digicel and Cingular's local operations, and the continued failure of Sunbeach to bring its cell service to the market, Barbadians' choices of cell service have been limited to two – Digicel and Cable & Wireless.

However, this has been at odds with Government's commitment to open competition n this market, said a top public officer.

Chief telecommunications officer Chelston Bourne told the BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY that Government had always intended, when liberalising the market, to have four mobile service providers operating – hence the new licence now on offer.

The Telecommunications Unit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development has been running advertisements in the local Press for over a week inviting applications for a licence to provide mobile cellular telecommunications services in Barbados.

Bourne said applicants had already come forward, but he could not disclose who or how many at this stage.

"In time that information will be given out, when we make the evaluation and pick somebody.

"It is a long process that has to be gone through, which would take up to about January, so we will then be in a position to award and issue the licence in February next year," he said.

According to the advertisement, neither the three existing license holders nor their affiliated companies can apply for the new license, which would be valid for 15 years.

Applications close September 29 at 4 p.m. (CH)