RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/GBT/W/1/Add.471
25July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3143)
Original: English Group onBasic Telecommunications
COMMUNICATION FROM SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Draft Offer onBasic Telecommunications
Thefollowing communication iscirculated attherequest ofSaint Vincent andtheGrenadines
tomembers oftheGroup onBasic Telecommunications.
_______________
Itisunfortunate thatourrequired procedures donotallow ustomake thisofferbytheFebruary
15thdeadline andwearetherefore requesting thatanextension begranted toallow ustocomplete
ouroffer.
Itisexpected thatourofferwillbesubmitted bytheendofMarch. TheGovernment ofSaint
Vincent andtheGrenadines, trusts thatourrequest forextension canbegranted.
Foryourinformation theofferthatwearemaking willbemade based ontheattached document.
Thishowever requires confirmation fromourCabinet andyouwillbeinformed assoonastheformal
approval isobtained.
1Thisdocument hasbeen previously circulated inanotedated 14February 1997.S/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page2SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES -DRAFT OFFER ONBASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Modes ofsupply: 1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orSub-sector Limitations onMarket Access Limitations onNational Treatment Additional Commitments
2. COMMUNICATION
SERVICESSeeattached additional
commitments onregulatory
disciplines.
C. Telecommunications
services
Allsub-sectors (1),(3)Subject toavailability offrequencies
(a) Voice telephone services
(7521)(1) Until 30April 2004, bypass ofexclusive
public operator notpermitted
(2) None
(3) Reserved toexclusive service supplier
until 30April 2004
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section
(b) Packet-switched data
transmission services
(7523**)
(c) Circuit-switched data
transmission services
(7523**)
(d) Telex services (7523**)
(e) Telegraph services (7522)
(f) Facsimile services
(7521**, 7529**)(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal sectionS/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page3Modes ofsupply: 1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orSub-sector Limitations onMarket Access Limitations onNational Treatment Additional Commitments
Domestic services
Forpublic use
(a) Voice telephone services
(7521)
(b) Packet-switched data
transmission services
(7523**)
(c) Circuit-switched data
transmission services
(7523**)
(d) Telex services (7523**)
(e) Telegraph services (7522)
(f) Facsimile services
(7521**, 7529**)(1) Until 30April 2004 bypass ofexclusive
public operator notpermitted
(2) None
(3) Reserved toexclusive service supplier
until 30April 2004
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section
Fornon-public use
(a) Voice telephone services
(7521)
(b) Packet-switched data
transmission services
(7523**)
(c) Circuit-switched data
transmission services
(7523**)
(f) Facsimile services
(7521**, 7529**)
(h) Electronic mail(7523**)
(i) Voice mail (7523**)
(j) On-line information and
databaseretrieval
(7523**)
(k) Electronic datainterchange
(7523**)(1) Until 30April 2004 onlyonnetwork
facilities supplied bytheexclusive
public operator andbypass ofthe
exclusive public operator notallowed
andresale ofexcess capacity not
allowed
(2) None
(3) Until 30April 2004 onlyonnetwork
facilities supplied bytheexclusive
public operator andbypass ofthe
exclusive public operator notallowed
andresale ofexcess capacity not
allowed
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal sectionS/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page4Modes ofsupply: 1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orSub-sector Limitations onMarket Access Limitations onNational Treatment Additional Commitments
(l) Enhanced/value-added
facsimile services incl.
store andforward, store
andretrieve (7523**)
(m) Code andprotocol
conversion
(n) On-line information and/or
dataprocessing (incl.
transaction processing)
(843**)(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section
(o) Other
Internet andinternet
services (75260)(1) Until 30April 2004 fordomestic
services onlyonnetwork facilities
supplied bytheexclusive public
operator
(2) None
(3) Until 30April 2004 fordomestic
services onlyonnetwork facilities
supplied bytheexclusive public
operator
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal sectionS/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page5Modes ofsupply: 1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence ofnatural persons
Sector orSub-sector Limitations onMarket Access Limitations onNational Treatment Additional Commitments
Mobile services (terrestrial
based)
Cellular/mobile telephone
services
Mobile dataservices
Personal communications
services
Paging (75291)(1) None
(2) None
(3) Until (2000) cellular telephone services
using AMPS technology reserved for
exclusive service provider
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section
Mobile services (satellite based)
Cellular/mobile telephone
services
Mobile dataservices
Personal communications
services(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section
Fixed satellite services
Trunked radio systems
International video-conferencing
services (75292)
Telecommunications equipment
sales, rental, maintenance,
connection, repair and
consulting services(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal section(1) None
(2) None
(3) None
(4) Unbound except asindicated in
horizontal sectionS/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page6
REFERENCE PAPER
Scope
Thefollowingaredefinitionsandprinciplesontheregulatoryframeworkforthebasictelecommunications
services.
Definitions
Users mean service consumers andservice suppliers.
Essential facilities mean facilities ofapublic telecommunications transport network orservice that
(a) areexclusively orpredominantly provided byasingle orlimited number ofsuppliers;
and
(b) cannot feasibly beeconomically ortechnically substituted inorder toprovide aservice.
Amajor supplier isasupplier which hastheability tomaterially affect theterms ofparticipation (having
regard toprice andsupply) intherelevant market forbasic telecommunications services asaresult
of:
(a) control overessential facilities; or
(b) useofitsposition inthemarket.
1. Competitive safeguards
1.1 Prevention ofanti-competitive practices intelecommunications
Appropriate measures shallbemaintained forthepurpose ofpreventing suppliers who, alone
ortogether, areamajor supplier from engaging inorcontinuing anti-competitive practices.
1.2 Safeguards
Theanti-competitive practices referred toabove shallinclude inparticular:
(a) engaging inanti-competitive cross-subsidization;
(b) using information obtained from competitors withanti-competitive results; and
(c) notmaking available toother services suppliers onatimely basistechnical information
about essential facilities andcommercially relevant information which arenecessary
forthem toprovide services.S/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page7
2. Interconnection
2.1 Thissection applies tolinking withsuppliers providing public telecommunications transport
networks orservices inorder toallow theusers ofonesupplier tocommunicate withusers ofanother
supplier and toaccess services provided byanother supplier, where specific commitments are
undertaken.
2.2 Interconnection tobeensured
Interconnection withamajor supplier willbeensured atanytechnically feasible point inthe
network. Such interconnection isprovided.
(a) under non-discriminatory terms, conditions (including technical standards and
specifications) andratesandofaquality nolessfavourable thanthatprovided forits
ownlikeservices orforlikeservices ofnon-affiliated service suppliers orforits
subsidiaries orother affiliates;
(b) inatimely fashion, onterms, conditions (including technical standards and
specifications) andcost-oriented ratesthataretransparent, reasonable, having regard
toeconomic feasibility, andsufficiently unbundled sothatthesupplier neednotpay
fornetwork components orfacilities thatitdoesnotrequire fortheservice tobe
provided; and
(c) upon request, atpoints inaddition tothenetwork termination points offered tothe
majority ofusers, subject tocharges thatreflect thecostofconstruction ofnecessary
additional facilities.
2.3 Public availability oftheprocedures forinterconnection negotiations
Theproceduresapplicableforinterconnectiontoamajorsupplierwillbemadepubliclyavailable.
2.4 Transparency ofinterconnection arrangements
Itisensured thatamajor supplier willmake publicly available either itsinterconnection
agreements orareference interconnection offer.
2.5 Interconnection: dispute settlement
Aservice supplier requesting interconnection withamajor supplier willhaverecourse, either:
(a) atanytimeor
(b) afterareasonable period oftimewhich hasbeenmade publicly known
toanindependent domestic body, which maybearegulatory bodyasreferred toinparagraph 5below,
toresolve disputes regarding appropriate terms, conditions andrates forinterconnection within a
reasonable period oftime, totheextent thatthese havenotbeenestablished previously.S/GBT/W/1/Add.47
Page8
3. Universal service
AnyMemberhastherighttodefinethekindofuniversalserviceobligationitwishestomaintain.
Such obligations willnotberegarded asanti-competitive perse,provided theyareadministered in
atransparent, non-discriminatory andcompetitively neutral manner andarenotmore burdensome than
necessary forthekindofuniversal service defined bytheMember.
4. Public availability oflicensing criteria
Where alicence isrequired, thefollowing willbemade publicly available:
(a) allthelicensing criteria andtheperiod oftimenormally required toreach adecision
concerning anapplication foralicence and
(b) theterms andconditions ofindividual licences.
Thereasons forthedenial ofalicence willbemade known totheapplicant upon request.
5. Independent regulators
Theregulatory body isseparate from, andnotaccountable to,anysupplier ofbasic
telecommunications services. Thedecisions ofandtheprocedures usedbyregulators shallbeimpartial
withrespect toallmarket participants.
6. Allocation anduseofscarce resources
Anyprocedures fortheallocation anduseofscarce resources, including frequencies, numbers
andrightsofway,willbecarriedoutinanobjective,timely,transparentandnon-discriminatorymanner.
Thecurrent stateofallocated frequency bands willbemade publicly available, butdetailed identification
offrequencies allocated forspecific government usesisnotrequired.