Cel*Star is gearing for a start-up "this summer" and is chomping at the bit as it waits for all the legal obstacles to be cleared so that it can begin to offer its cellular service to the Guyanese public. Its motto is "Choice = Freedom."
In a recent interview with Current Affairs, Cel*Star's chief executive officer, Pierre Strasser said that the company has already erected its masts but for one which should be up shortly, and it has on hand the various antennae and cables and other equipment is being received on a weekly basis. "So we are gearing up for this summer, whatever happens. We will be ready," he asserted.
When the company announced plans to start up its service last fall it said that quality service, customer care and affordable prices are what it will be offering its customers when its cellular service starts up. It said too that its system would have a start up capacity to accommodate 40,000 customers.
However with GT&T planning to introduce some of the same services Cel*Star plans to offer, the longer the delay in the Cel*Star start-up, the greater the disadvantage it is likely to have in the competition for market share.
Strasser explained that the company was ensuring that it has an adequate stock of equipment since it seems that once its service was up and running its expansion would be faster than first anticipated as he said "we don't want to be constrained by size, capacity and space."
Strasser also said that he expects that his company's application for a declaration that its interconnection agreement with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) is valid should come up for hearing soon. The application was filed in December.
A favourable ruling could clear the way for Cel*Star to begin its operations.
However, there is still another legal hurdle. Cel*Star Caribbean has sued Wesley Kirton and TWT Guyana, Cel*Star's parent company, contesting the ownership of the Cel*Star stock. It did so after a similar action it filed against Kirton in a Miami, Florida court was dismissed.
About the latter case Strasser said "the legal matters will in no way affect Cel*Star's launch plans, we are here to provide a quality, affordable telecom service to the Guyanese people and that is exactly what we are going to do." Cel*Star's legal troubles apart, Strasser said that the company was pushing ahead with its operations. It has already identified and equipped its retail outlet in Georgetown and outfitting the outlets in Linden and New Amsterdam should be completed shortly.
Strasser said that there was an overwhelming response to its advertisement for staff and interviews are still being held. He said that though a number of persons have been identified for recruitment already there are still openings to be filled, explaining that because the company's training is ongoing experience is not a major criterion but the company is looking for staff with good human values, among which loyalty and trustworthiness would be essential.
The company already has a 30 plus staff complement who are undergoing the necessary training to provide the services Cel*Star will be offering.
The training is being conducted locally and in the United States by Cel*Star consultants. Strasser said that the company's staff should be around 60 - 70, when fully operational.
He explained that the training of the technical staff is fairly advanced and that some of the customer-care staff will be sent overseas for further training. TWT Guyana plans to invest some US$20-25 million to set up its cellular network and Strasser says that it has already spent near the US$10 million it had planned to commit during its first year of operations, pointing out that it was an indication that his company was in for the long haul.
Despite the problems with GT&T over the implementation of the interconnection agreement, Strasser said that he foresees the two companies having a very cordial relationship even though they would be competing in the same market. He explained that he believes that GT&T has seen that his company intends to play fair and that he expects that GT&T will do the same as it is in the interest of the country that both companies work together.
He asserted that Cel*Star intends to be both competitor and partner in that they will be competing in the same market and will be sharing international signals as well as suppliers and customers as Cel*Star will be providing GT&T with access to its network and GT&T will reciprocate.