Minister asks B.T.L. to lower rates

While all those predictions of a new world of advanced communication technology at rock bottom prices have still not come true for most Belizeans, hope springs eternal…and there was no shortage of that today as Belize’s main provider observed World Telecommunications Day. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Hundreds of primary school students filled the S.J.C. Gymnasium to see the latest telecommunication services available to B.T.L. customers. The display was designed in a way that gave the children a good idea of how the technology has developed since Belize Telecommunications Limited was established in 1988.

Suzette Tillett, Manager, B.T.L. Public Relations Dept.

“The services that B.T.L. offers in line of wireless, data, Internet services, regular telephone. We have new technologies that we are offering, for instance, the high speed Internet, where we will have a display for D.S.L. and cable Internet. We also have things like the web cam that shows people what’s happening and you can see it on the web and manoeuvre it. And it’s also a time to showcase what the company has already offered, where the company has come from and what we have grown to today.”

The display was held to commemorate World Telecommunications Day and was officially opened by Minister of Communications Vildo Marin. Marin said just as it is important for B.T.L. to make available to Belizeans the latest in telecommunications technology, the company should also take the necessary steps to make the services affordable to all.

Vildo Marin, Minister of Communications

“We no longer see this almost magical mode of communication as a luxury, it’s a fact that it is a necessity. Through this medium, we exchange ideas, our thoughts, our information from far away distances. We are fortunate in this little jewel of ours to have the ability to enjoy this type of cutting-edge technology.”

“While I understand that it is your business to keep the edge in the industry, I appeal to you to look for more ways in which to provide these services at a more reasonable rate to the Belizean consumers of every walk of life.”

The exhibition was held under the theme, “Helping all of the World’s People to Communicate”. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.

B.T.L. says they are working with cable provider, Channel Broadcasting Company to provide high speed Internet to customers.