The talk of a new telecoms player in Jamaica being announced in 2021 does not instill hope in me.

The only possible player I see being bullish on the Caribbean already has a market leading position in broadband & subsea capacity here in Jamaica.

Further, an Orange (France Telecom), Millicom, Telefonica or Vodafone will NOT enter into a market like Jamaica too — for reasons too numerous to list in 280 characters.

My guess is that this market entrant will be locally owned and will have to (be willing to) fight against local economic headwinds & financial strength of existing operators.

This operator will (likely) have to gain special concessions — likely buoyed by a islandwide broadband network rollout — to achieve key penetration targets, meet the needs of the market (affordability, speed, etc.), scale and entrench business viability.

I’m not saying it’s impossible but the business case for establishing a new market entrant (IN 2020) is a VERY capital-intensive endeavor. Without government subvention & deep pockets, them reaching the places our existing market players already are will be a VERY tall ask.

There are other avenues that I believe the government can explore without a “third” market entrant. That, however, I will reserve for otherwise conversation.

These are just my two cents.