The need for an open market for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to allow consumers a wider choice and availability in the face of network congestion has been mooted.

This was one of the issues advanced when ISPs and representatives of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) met recently with officials of the Consumer Affairs Division within the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

At the meeting organised by the department a number of concerns by consumers were raised, including the length of time taken to log on and the level of rates, according to a release from the ministry.

About rates, the release noted, ISPs said their primary cost was the monthly rental fee per line they provide and the employment cost for staff over a 24-hour period.

According to ISPs, consumers were not aware that each ISP has a ratio of customers, or number of persons per line, therefore disenabling them from immediate connection when all lines are in use.

Not all customers, the ISPs claimed, were computer literate and although they are usually given briefings and a booklet when they sign up, many had the tendency to forget passwords, insert incorrect telephone numbers or change settings on their PCs.

Other problems highlighted in the discussions included customers not logging off from the net when they have completed a task, while others spend hours browsing, and many opt to use their computers after 6:00 pm when rates are lower, causing congestion of the network.

In addition, ISPs admitted that there were long waiting lists for the service.

Regarding the telephone company, the Trade Ministry's consumer affairs department expressed concern about the pre-paid system of the cellular service dealing with cost, response time and failure to connect overseas calls.

Responding for GT&T, Deputy General Manager, Public Communications, Terry Holder conceded that the service was a little more expensive owing to the recovery of costs incurred for internal billing and monitoring, whilst failure to connect overseas calls may derive from incorrect dialling, the release said. Holder pointed out that callers from overseas had to dial the 592 code, then the seven- digit cell number and no other numbers were required.

In terms of response time, Holder was said to have put that down to congestion in the system resulting from circuits being busy through the large demand for the pre-paid system.

The senior GT&T manager also observed that the company is continually upgrading and improving its facilities while advising that some disruptions were to be expected during these ongoing exercises.