KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – An application is now before Cabinet for the granting of a new cellular licence for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Jamaica.

This was disclosed by Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell, at the opening of the Energy Services Company (ESCO) Jamaica Conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday.

He informed that the application has already been approved by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and the Spectrum Management Authority and “is with the Cabinet now for another cellular company to be established in Jamaica. I feel good about that.”

The minister said the granting of the new licence will broaden competition in the country’s telecommunications industry.

Currently, there are two major telecommunications players within the country.

In the meantime, Minister Paulwell said other developments within the sector include the introduction of number portability and “cool location so that a new provider of telecommunications services will now be able to share facilities.”

The ESCO Jamaica Conference, held under the theme: Energy Management, Our Future Depends on it, targeted business owners, contractors, masterbuilders, financiers, policymakers, regulators, providers of energy efficiency and energy renewable services.

It focused on the establishment of an ESCO industry in Jamaica, new opportunities available in the sector, the importance of an ESCO services contract and the requirements for getting ESCOs up and running.