ATN chief says modernising telecoms infrastructure a sound investment for Guyana

Plans to expand and modernise Guyana’s telecommunications industry represent a sound investment in the Information and Communications Technology sector. President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atlantic Tele Network (ATN) Michael Prior, believes that this is a step in the right direction for a country forging ahead in the information age.

Prior, accompanied by ATN’s President of International Operations Paul Bowersock and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Yog Mahadeo met Guyana’s President, Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President on Wednesday.

Prior told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the company always looks forward to collaboration with the Guyana Government in the modernization of the telecommunications infrastructure.

“GT&T has been a main partner in that and ATN, as a shareholder, supports it… we have invested a lot in Guyana and we will continue to be a major part of the growth of the economy,” Prior told GINA.

The ATN CEO who witnessed the launch of GT&T’s “Emagine broadband” two years ago, described it as a necessary investment for the company and shareholders and hinted that more plans are underway.

“You have to start with infrastructure… it takes time to build… You have seen from the new store and the new blackberry series that we are continuing to invest and modernize. We are going to continue to improve customer care and service,” Prior said.

In July 2010 the telephone company officially launched its Suriname Guyana Submarine Cable System (SG-SCS) that connects Guyana and Suriname to Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world.

Guyana’s government also plans to lay a fibre optic cable along the transmission main from Crabwood Creek in Region Six to Leonora in Region Three through partnership with Hauwei Technologies, China’s largest networking and telecommunications equipment supplier.