The Blind Side: Telemedia pulls Int’l plug, but SMART still connected

On Thursday of last week Justice Oswell Legall ruled that Belize Telemedia was protecting its economic interest when it pulled the plug on Speednet’s international services. The justice also ruled that Speednet Communications and Belize Telemedia Limited were to resolve mutually the use of infrastructure within a month. The decision comes almost a year and a half after Speednet filed for an injunction following its disconnection from Telemedia’s international grid in November 2009.  Speednet accused B.T.L. of using its dominant power to eliminate or substantially damage competition in the local market.  Justice Legall ordered that both companies arrive at new agreements by May seventh. If they are unable to do so by the agreed deadline the Public Utilities Commission has been authorized to intervene and prescribe its terms and conditions regarding interconnection and infrastructure agreements as well as rates and charges.  Telemedia has since proceeded to remove Speednet from its unfiltered circuits; however, according to C.E.O. Ernesto Torres, Smart’s services will not be disrupted.

Ernesto Torres, C.E.O., Speednet Communications

Ernesto Torres

“Following the decision of the court the judgment that was handed down found that the agreements that were signed in 2004 were legally unenforceable.  As a result of that the injunction that had been put in effect was lifted.  Once that injunction was lifted then B.T.L. proceeded to remove the unfiltered circuits that were being used by Speednet for its international circuits and also a radio antennae that is mounted, was mounted I should say, on the roof of one of their buildings on St. Thomas Street that we used for monitoring our switch.”

Isani Cayetano

“What does this mean at this current point in time to Smart users?”

Ernesto Torres

“Okay, the traffic that we used to pass through these unfiltered circuits are now being passed through the interconnection circuits we have with B.T.L. so there has not been a disruption of service.  What it does result [in] from time to time during peak hours is a congestion that people may find some difficulty making and receiving calls that are international or calls to a B.T.L. number.  Smart to Smart calls are not affected.”

Isani Cayetano

“Does this also speak to text messaging for instance?”

Ernesto Torres

“Text messaging would not be affected; simply the voice calls but let me add that this situation is a temporary one because Speednet is at the tail end of the rollout of its new 3G network.  This network will be ready by the end of April [or] early May.”

In Justice Legall’s judgment he stated that Telemedia did not in fact abuse its market position but only acted in its own best interest.