"Fibre to Home Project, Infrastructure Fund and EIB Investments also discussed"
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Hon. Ted Richardson during his working visit to the Netherlands also discussed several issues related to the St. Maarten Telephone Company (TELEM) including the spectrum interference issue.
The other issues discussed was seeking possible support for TELEM's Fibre to the Homes Project, a Communication Infrastructure Fund and funding procedures with respect to the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Sint Maarten Bureau of Telecommunications & Post has attempted on several occasions to resolve the issue of spectrum interference which is originating from French St. Martin, Anguilla and St. Kitts & Nevis. Minister Richardson foresees this matter only being resolved on a political level via the Kingdom.
Minister Hon. Ted Richardson discussed the spectrum interference matter at great length with the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM) and the Dutch Telecommunications Authority, General Chief Inspector Peter Spijkerman.
The roaming and spectrum interference issues are resulting in polluted spectrums resulting in call drops leading to very poor service for consumers. The aforementioned could also hamper telecommunications in the Caribbean Netherlands (Saba and St. Eustatius).
The Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary will follow-up on this where it is the intention to request the intervention of the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs meeting with his French counterpart.
Minister Richardson also looked into possible funding sources for TELEM's Fibre to Home Project which entails an investment of approximately US$20 million. The project adheres to the requirements of the European Development Fund (EDF), since it's an infrastructure project; and it's a telecommunications project with a social development aspect, initiated by a commercially run public sector enterprise.
The Dutch Ministry of Finance has shown interests in assisting Sint Maarten, and the country's Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague will follow-up.
Minister Hon. Ted Richardson also met with Rabo Bouwfonds Communication Infrastructure Fund (RB CIF) Joost Goderie, a Senior Managing Partner, who informed the delegation about a wide range of new, long-term infrastructure investment opportunities in the telecommunications field that are designed for a diversified investor client base.
These opportunities include pension funds, banks and institutional investors. RB CIF investments provide telecom providers and their users with state-of-the art infrastructure, offering maximum flexibility at low costs.
Goderie indicated to the Minister that the Fibre to the Home Project could be suitable for funding. TELEM's Chief Financial Officer, Helma Etnel, who was part of the delegation, promised to send information about the project.
The Minister's delegation comprised of Chef de Cabinet and Personal Advisor Ludwig Ouenniche and Jaap van Duinkerken from Ministry TEATT.
