The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday defended the integrity of the government’s request for proposals process to operate the second cellular mobile network in the country.

Mr Davis maintained that the government had made no decision on the matter, and that there was no inside track, following concerns over the recent construction of several towers by Cable Bahamas.

He confirmed that his ministry was alerted to the tower construction, and the matter was investigated to ensure that the company was not expanding operations prematurely.

“Their (Cable Bahamas) claim is that the towers are not being built as cell towers,” he said, “but rather for Wi-Fi to assist their Wi-Fi customers.

“That’s I guess the technicality or loophole they have been able to effectively construct those towers.”

He added: “We have given no indication, as you would have heard this morning the request for proposal process (RFP) was issued and today is the deadline. We’ve laid that on the table to see what the criteria and mandate is.”

Cable Bahamas submitted its RFP response to the Cellular Liberalisation Task Force yesterday.

David Burrows, CB vice-president of Marketing, said while the company does not have an inside track on the bid process, it was the most prepared and experienced to take on the second mobile cellular license.

Mr Burrows said: “We’re campaigning very heavily to show we’re extremely interested, we’re ready, we have the expertise. We are the most ready because we have the infrastructure in place.”