GSM Operators Call for Dialogue With LTA

GSM Operators Call for Dialogue With LTA

The NEWS (Monrovia)
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008

Benjamin B. Sworh
Monrovia

Four GSM operators have made a passionate appeal to the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) for dialogue over the standardization of their licenses. The GSM operators said although recent decision taken by LTA requesting them to standardize their licenses was unfair, however, they have decided to dialogue with LTA in order to find an amicable solution.

Comium's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Monie Captan made the appeal Thursday when the Senate Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications invited the four GSM Companies to acquaint the lawmakers with the LTA standardization request. Mr. Captan informed the Senate Committee that they were granted legitimate licenses to operate in the country, but was surprised to be requested by the LTA to standardize their documents.

Captan, a former Foreign Minister of Liberia who spoke on behalf of the four GSM Operators, said LTA was demanding US$100,000 from each of the companies as processing fees. According to him, beside the US$100,000, LTA was requesting all GSM operators to pay US$5 million as their contribution toward the national budget.

He said the four GSM companies have already paid US$10 million as taxes for 2006/07; therefore, they see no reason why additional US$5 million should be paid by the GSM operators as their contribution toward the national budget. Following hours of deliberations, members of the Senate Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications requested the four GSM operators to submit documents detailing their concerns to the body.

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