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**Spartacus R** » 2012-07-16 14:16

I read the article you asked of me but i failed in my earlier post to mention the introduction of LTE in the islands is a recent development. I notice you haven't discounted the more developed countries i mentioned that have LTE. By the way, whats all this hype about LTE,,,,LTE,,,,L TE. Its 4G technology like HSPDA+ or even WIMAX which is already in Antigua provided by ACT and LIME. These are all high speed internet connections and it does not matter the technology, high speed connections to tansfer files is whats important here.
If you dont want to discuss politics, that's your problem. I am only stating what i think is in the best interest of my country.

**Watching the ocean** » 2012-07-15 12:14

To one and all - tenman, che, et al, please note that LIME B'dos utilises 3G for its customers. The best was is to visit B'dos and you will see that your phone changes over to LIME there and registers its 3G on your system.

**Che** » 2012-07-14 21:05

Please follow this link and let me know where on this planet LIME has deployed any LTE networks?
http://www.time4lime.com/4G/bb/about-4g/faq.html

I am not trying to mislead anyone, I am merely stating the facts.

I will even go further and say that neither LIME nor Digicel will truly have a 4G network since according to 3GPP the body which sets the technical requirements for the classification of these networks clearly states that a required download speed of 1Gbps is needed and none of these current technologies can achieve this. http://www.3gpp.org/About-3GPP

I am not asking you. I am telling you

I am not discussing any politics just the technology................

-patria o muerte -

**Spartacus R** » 2012-07-14 16:44

Che, both LTE and HSPDA+ are 4G technology and you are either unaware or deliberately trying to mislead people by stating that ANU is the first "3rd world nation" and thirteenth in the world to introduce LTE. LIME has already introduced LTE in Barbados, Cayman Islands, BVI and is about to do the same in Turks and Caicos Islands. I believe eventually they will do the same in all the islands. Also i have personally used LTE in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and it is also available in other Middle Eastern countries, in Switzerland, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and in some Western European nations.
I agree with Tenman in that Mansoor and UPP must stop doing PR work for Digicel and do the work they were elected to do i.e. manage our country properly. Every opportunity they get, they have raised the profile of that Irish based company to the detriment of our own APUA. This is wrong and it has to STOP.

**Che** » 2012-07-14 09:15

While researching please research the technology LTE before posting, and let me know what you find. I clearly said LTE in my earlier post and not 4G, the technology used in these islands is HSPDA+. http://www.androidauthority.com/hspa-vs-lte-which-one-is-better-78120/

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 21:45

che here is a list of islands with 4G in place:
Trinidad 4g.digiceltt.com/
Jamaica - www.digicel4gbroadband.com/en/coverage
Barbados: www.time4lime.com/4G/bb/get-4g/plans.jsp
Also avaialble from Digicel in Barbados www.digicelbarbados.com/en/help_faqs/digicel-4g-faq
Cayman: www.digicelcayman.com/en/services/voice/digicel-4g-mobile-service
..

**John French II** » 2012-07-13 20:04

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Who or What Benefits? FollowThe Money.
March 2014 approaching the implementation of these Actions whether they have been adequately analyzed and founded on solid ground will play well with the "Bewildered & Bemused" Electorate who have been Fiscally Adjusted and Structurally Reformed Living In The IMF's NEST on this SIDS.
GoAB is effecting its Strategic Imperatives. Throne Speech 2012. http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/news/latest/99065-throne-speech-2012.html Revisit Minister Lovell Presents $754 M Budget and Attached Budget Documents http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/news/economy/99111-minister-lovell-presents-754-m-budget-.html
It would be prudent to analyze the 4 Objectives using Dr. Issac Newton's Innovative Good: From Against DooM For Innovation to The Right People.http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/opinions/opinion-pieces/dr-isaac-newton/100905-the-innovative-good.html
Che "Pay Attention! Trust but Verify!" Tenman, Objectivity & Joker: Election Constituencies; Conflict of Interest. A&B must Develop & Implement A Public Utilities Board for regulation. Respect.

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 19:04

Che are you suggesting that Barbados, Jamaica, Turks and caicos and Trinidad do not have 4g? Let me suggest you do some research and then respond.

..

**WakeUPP** » 2012-07-13 17:10

Why all this new this and new that when the basics still remain undone. The cost we pay for broadband Internet is ridiculous for the bandwidth that we are offered. This looks like collusion on these ISPs. For all the talk of lowering the cost of internet access nothing has changed. Everyone is coming about lower rates on international telephone calls, whilst that may be great the cost of internet access is crippling our nation. One cannot actively get e-learning without BUFFERING in this day and age. JOKERS ALL :-*

**Che** » 2012-07-13 16:52

Did Digicel say they were going to dismantle their current network ? In reality LTE is a completely new technology and can co-exist along side their current EDGE network, so don't worry your Blackberry will still work. All politics aside Antigua will be the first "3rd world nation" and the 13th country in the world to have this technology. The others are Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Norway, Poland, Sweden, USA, and Uzbekistan. So I would say that it is a big deal.

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 16:17

Quote:

Director of government’s Information Technology Centre, Luxmore Edwards said there is only one more piece of legislation to be put in place to bring Antigua & Barbuda on par with the regional effort to fight cyber crime and strengthen cyber security. He said the Computer Misuse Bill remains outstanding because when it was tabled in Parliament some time ago, there was an issue and it had to go back to the different committees. “That Bill is something that the ministry and the legal professions are very interested in having passed,” Edwards told The Daily OBSERVER. By Roseann Pile - Friday, December 17th, 2010.

Strangely, the Computer Misuse Bill, is not in place yet here is the minister busy playing PR for Digicel and wanting to implement e-government when a needed law is not in place. What the minister is doing is akin to suggesting persons engage in an act without needed protection. This again is another example of how we do not have the basics in place

..

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 16:06

Quote:

Additionally, Dr Mansoor said, “I am pleased to tell the prime minister that the new International airport will also be fully 4G LTE enabled, enabling businessmen to conduct business while they go though our airport.” Observer article today

The joker, adding to your point, doesn't the airport already allow persons free wifi? I know I used it a few days ago while traveling via VC Bird Intl? If one were to try to utilize the 10% electricity discount, one will see how manual things really are. Even getting your bill from the cashier is an act which requires joining the customer service line. I will continue to say that new technology will not work, if the basics (infrastructure ) are not working.

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**the joker** » 2012-07-13 15:09

people need to open their eyes. I find it shameful that this is even considered a step. IT IS JUST INTERNET ACCESS. All the big fancy words like 4G LTE, it is just a wireless network that is everywhere. It's like Wi-Fi, like ADSL, like any internet connection that we already have in Antigua. the only difference is that you can get it on your phone and wherever you go (assuming proper coverage). lIME already has the GPRS connections, which is IDENTICAL to 4G, except it is hundreds of times slower. So while you could watch youtube on 4G whereas you couldn't before, it is not that revolutionary. people shouldn't make a big deal out of this, it is just access to the internet, not more and not less.

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 14:36

Dr. Mansoor has been a failure. Antigua's position, where ICT is concerned has worsened during his tenure. His early promises about competitive costs and better quality bandwidth are unfulfilled. He instead prefers to offer the citizens eye candy to help them not to see their bills. Here is what US AID, in a Jan 2006 report had to say of Antigua & Barbuda:
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA:STRENGT HS AND WEAKNESSES ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMPETITIVENESS , 2006
Quote:

Telecommunications. Telecommunications prices are relatively high in Antigua compared to several of the neighboring islands, and relative to international costs. The cost of internet connections is also quite high. Antigua and Barbuda trails behind the Bahamas and Jamaica in terms of its high monthly costs for faster internet service. ... These relatively high costs reduce Antigua’s competitive position in ICT, trade generally, and, to some extent, in tourism.

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**Objectivity** » 2012-07-13 14:29

I agree with you 100%. The regulators here cannot be trusted to do right by the people of Antigua and Barbuda. I am also rather bemused about the major plans for LTE yet there isn't the infrastructure nor is there the available smart phones which operate at a specific frequency. What is going to happen to all those BBs that Digicel has flooded the market with? Is there going to be a period of handset amnesty? There are more questions than answers and the people of this nation will suffer because decisions are made at the high level without consideration of how they will impact the m** in the long run.

**It Is Me** » 2012-07-13 12:50

This is the famous GATE project ... well atleast Mansoor got a nice shirt out of it!!!!

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 12:23

Objectivity, its time we sign up to The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunicati ons Authority (ECTEL) and allow this group to regulate telecoms. The present system is not benefiting the consumer in that we continue to get a low quality products, yet pay more.

Another strange thing about this press release is the government is yet to have the basic infrastructure in place, yet we talk about e-government via 4G. How do you enable 4G access to a system that's manual? The labor commissioner in December 2011, an article stated:Quote:

The labour commissioner noted that the department still lacks the machinery to accurately record the unemployment standings in Antigua & Barbuda, and therefore could not provide any information on the subject outside of guess Read more: http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/news/latest/99223-williams-clueless-on-source-of-unemployment-figures.html#ixzz20W7jVdvI

. The census completed over a year ago, the government claims it is still working on manually editing the figures (feb 3 2012 http://www.antiguabarbuda.gov.ag/article_details.php?id=2560&category=114)

..

**Smoke n Mirrors** » 2012-07-13 11:11

Thank you TENMAN. I'm glad you saw through the smoke screen.

**Objectivity** » 2012-07-13 10:28

I watched the unveiling of this initiative on television and asked myself the following questions. In a liberalized telecom market the Government is responsible for maintaining a neutral position. Therefore, why does it appear that the UPP is favoring Digicel only? Isn't this illegal? Why wasn't the scope of this initiative presented to all telecom providers for an RFP? Seeing that it appears that we are exchanging one monopoly for another why was Mansoor demanding an open market? Is Mansoor compromised and should there be an investigation into his all too apparent cozy relationship with Digicel? Why didn't the PM look as excited about the initiative? Is it Digicel the source of the UPP's next election campaign funding?

I asked myself many more questions and to all the response was the same. To repeat the words of the late Mr. B who must be 'turning in his grave' "ONLY IN ANTIGUA".

**tenman** » 2012-07-13 10:22

Quote:

The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money.Henry Thoreau

Here we have a ministry whose job is to regulate the telecom industry, yet its acting like a PR machine for Digicel. From promises of free internet in constituencies where there was an expected snap election to now this program. This is the same company who the current government accused of being involved in bribery by doing things like donating equipment to one of its former members school. The PM later stated the individual was not prosecuted because his wife comes from a good UPP family. As John French II recently reminded:Quote:

Facilities Management 101 & Managerial Finance 101: "If you don't pay for it on the Front End, You will Pay for it on the Back End".

Ask yourself why things like residential broadband costs over 40% more than they cost in the region (eg 85.00 St. Lucia vs 194 abst included ANU -Lime Maga plus). The "watch guards" are simply using your own money to xrixe you and probably getting more for themselves.

..

**dadlison** » 2012-07-13 10:08

Credit where credit is due, the GATE initiative is definitely a move in the right direction. As you say Skyewill, tech will give the little guy an edge, I am particularly interested in part 3 of the program. Will these e-government solutions be developed locally and regionally or will we offshore all the work? The development of these solutions would be an amazing opportunity to grow our local developer pool. Software development is a key component in transitioning ourselves from technology consumers to technology producers, and some thought must be given to nurturing this skill set.

**haitian man** » 2012-07-13 09:38

how dunce are you LOL

**Skyewill** » 2012-07-13 08:29

Some of this program sounds excellent. I believe that training in technology will be the wat to go when it comes to competing with the rest of the world. Technology can give the little guy an edge. I don't see an effort to promote who government communicate. A network connecting the entire government system. Give police the technology to communicate with customs, DCA with the PM office and other ministries, even the smallest office within the network. This I believe is infilstructure is the base. Digicel is a company competing in the market place with other large companies. They don't need pushing they will adapt to the best technology just to beat the competition and the competition will fight just as hard, that is capitalism.

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