TSTT Questions Arbiters over Digicel Interconnection Dispute

Trinidad & Tobago's incumbent telephone company TSTT has filed a judicial review of an arbitration panel set up by telecoms regulator TATT last week to determine interconnection rates between TSTT and incoming mobile operator Digicel, The Trinidad Guardian reported.

The regulator appointed the panel to resolve a dispute after Digicel complained in January about the proposed rates for traffic exchange between the two firms' networks.

The panel declared on March 31 that an interim rate of "sender gets all" would be in effect until April 18, when a second review would take place and the final rates, including a call termination fee, determined in June.

The "sender gets all" model means that the operator from whose network the call is sent keeps revenue generated by calls.

However, TSTT's judicial review application - filed by its legal affairs, carrier and regulatory services VP Lisa Agard - essentially questions the panel's jurisdiction to make or set interim rates.

Given the application for a judicial review of the arbitration panel, Trinidad & Tobago's High Court moved the date of the second review to April 20.

BNamericas.com"

Posted to the site on 20th April 2006