Telecoms rivals Digicel and LIME may be poles apart on most issues, but in a rare moment of agreement, the fierce commercial adversaries have both thrown their support behind Government's plan for a single regulator to police the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

Digicel's support for the proposed move, voiced by its legal representative, is hinged on the hope that the single regulator will be more focused on ICT as opposed to broader utilities regulation duties. However, LIME's backing, coming from its Jamaica boss, is tied to the company's long-standing beef over perceived unfair practices in the mobile market.

"I think a new regulator should be used to regulate the competitive markets of ICT which encompass telcos, the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) and the Broad-casting Commission, (but) the regulator should concentrate on handling ICT issues only, rather than a combination of utilities issues," Richard Fraser, Digicel Jamaica's legal and regulatory manager, said.

Telcos and telecoms are industry speak for ICT firms.

Fraser contends that bringing the regulation of telecommunications, spectrum management and broad-casting into one unit should provide clear benefits to the entire ICT sector.

He did not elaborate on these expected benefits.

But mobile rival LIME is placing upfront, long-held concerns about mobile market tactics, including pricing and connectivity issues, over which it has taken Digicel to court.

"LIME's main concern now is that whoever takes responsibility will deal with the significant market imbalances that exist and create the level playing field the industry and customers require," LIME's Jamaica Country Manager, Geoff Houston, told the Finan-cial Gleaner.

"LIME will always work within the guidelines established by any entity which the government sets up to be the regulators of our industry. All we ask for is a level playing field and the required vigilance."

Oversight of the ICT sector is split among the SMA, the Broadcasting Commission and the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).

The Broadcasting Commission monitors and regulates the electronic media, broadcast radio and television, as well as subscriber television; the OUR's mandate includes providing an avenue of appeal for consumers who have grievances with utility companies; while the SMA is responsible for the licensing of operators using any radio frequency in the conduct of its business.

Earlier this month the Office of the Prime Minister announced that a draft ICT policy was being prepared for submission to cabinet with a central provision being a single regulator empowered to treat with select competition issues specific to the sector.

The draft, now being considered by government and opposition parliamentarians, addresses matters including creating a modern, cohesive and responsive legal and administrative framework; efficient spectrum planning, allocation and assignment; facilitating the accelerated deployment of affordable and accessible high capacity networks islandwide; as well as building human capacity to support ICT investments.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com