Third Mobile Operator in Trinidad and Tobago

Loaded cell tower 
Photo credit : Hassan Voyeau 

So recently we would have seen several companies articulate the position that a third mobile operator in T&T is not feasible in a market where mobile penetration as at December 2014 was 149.1% and only two operators will get a 4G license in the 750Mhz spectrum. We have seen residents object to mobile towers being built in their communities and in some cases they have gotten towers removed. The issue has always been the provision of mobile coverage vs customers concerns around radio frequency emissions from these sites. However, results from studies/test all indicate that local towers meet the compliance levels set by TATT and even the standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the USA.

Most mobile towers are already fully loaded as a result co-location (tower space is rented to other providers) and the number of services being provided via these towers such as Mobile, Wireless broadband etc.

One solution available to TATT if they want further competition in the mobile space is the introduction of a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). An MVNO is really a wholesale arrangement that allows the Mobile Network Operator (MNO - Digicel or TSTT) to sell excess capacity to an MVNO. Virgin Mobile and Red Pocket Mobile are perfect examples of MVNOs.

So what should happen next?