Consumers, mainly businessmen from far-flung areas, yesterday slammed the phone company over their pricey and now out-of-date analog systems.

And Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd (GT&T) Consultant responsible for matters in relation to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Godfrey Statia, assured that problems associated with the local cellular network were being addressed through the purchase of new equipment, which was likely to be added to the system by the end of May or early June.

This assurance was given at yesterday's public hearing called by the PUC to address matters, which included the operations and standards of the cellular service, security deposits and the operations and standards of the fixed wireless services.

This was the second day in succession the PUC was holding a public hearing after receiving numerous complaints from consumers in relation to the services provided by utilities. On Tuesday the Guyana Power and Light Company Inc (GPL) took a pounding from several angry consumers at the same venue, before the PUC.

In relation to the conversion from the analog to the digital systems for the fixed cellular service, Statia stated that several persons who had approached GT&T and who had acquired this (analog) service at a cost of US$2,500 had been advised that it would only be functional for a year.

According to Statia, these persons unlike those with regular cellular instruments, who had to pay huge charges, were either accommodated at landline rates or in some cases paid nothing at all.

He said that with the changes in technology the company who had stopped selling the equipment some four years ago and had acquired the digital network since it allowed greater utilisation of lines. Statia said that persons using the analog system had been written to and advised of the need to change their sets to digital. This would cost them $88,000, one-sixth of the price they had previously paid.

At the same time, he said, the phone company was examining the possibility of locating line plants, which were accessible to some of these persons, from which they may be able to access service.

Several consumers, including businessmen from the West Coast Demerara and the Essequibo island of Wakenaam who turned up for the hearing pointed to problems in the fixed cellular system including changes from the analog to digital.

According to one of the businessmen from Cornelia Ida, who had acquired the analog system at a cost of approximately $500,000, he had given consideration to the 20-year lifespan of the instrument in deciding to acquire it.

He was now having difficulties with it including having to dial multiple times before making contact with the party with whom he needed to get in touch. It was his feeling that the phone company was making him pay for its upgrading, since just three years after his acquisition of the system, it had decided to change to the digital system.

His sentiments were shared by a businessman from Wakenaam, who had changed to the digital system, but continued to encounter problems. And another businessman from La Jalousie spoke of problems with his system even after having changed to the digital system.

Statia although not promising anything, stated that there was a need to look at the person's files to see what had been communicated to them prior to making a determination.

This prompted PUC Chairman, Prem Persaud to question how long the digital system was likely to last. Statia was unable to state a specific time, merely stating that technology changed overnight. In the coming years everything might just be wireless, he said.

This prompted consumer advocate Patrick Dial to state that the attitude of the utility could best be described as callous since a contract had been made with the persons affected and GT&T was now casually stating that this had been overtaken by technology, in order to negate it.

Technology, he quipped, might just be about to itself take over GT&T's contract in the form of the internet and i-Net.

Yesterday, Statia also admitted that GT&T's problems were associated with congestion on the cellular network. He said the company was aware of and currently addressing the situation.

According to Statia, the congestion was especially prevalent in certain areas like the city and New Amsterdam. He said it was being monitored to see what measures could be adopted to bring relief, including the possible realignment of some switches. However, he added, this did not mean that the present service was not up to international standards and functioning in keeping with these principles.

He said that orders had been placed to acquire equipment to facilitate continued system upgrades, which were a norm in the telecommunication industry where customer demands continued to grow.

Persaud noted the commission's concerns with these developments, adding that the PUC would be closely monitoring the situation.

Also speaking at the hearing was GT&T's Director of Rate Making, Gene Evelyn, who clarified the issue of the security deposit and when it is applied in the cellular system.

The sitting was adjourned shortly before 5:00 pm.