The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) recently focused on the digital transformation of the Caribbean region – and its own role – when several of its personnel attended the 35th Annual Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO) Conference, in Trinidad.
“GTT appreciates that it connects its customers to the wider Caribbean region and the world – and that as a telecommunication provider, it has responsibility at an individual and collective level to help propel our people closer towards the benefits that can be derived from digital transformation,” said GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd.
According to the company, its mission is dedicated to improving life experiences by unlocking innovation through applications and infrastructure to every home and business in Guyana. As such, representatives within the GTT Operations, Legal and Commercial Teams joined over 500 other participants at the annual event, attending with customers in mind.
“Forums such as those hosted by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisations (CANTO) – provide the space for providers and other key stakeholders to collaborate, coordinate, disrupt where necessary – and harmonise where possible, the regulatory structures in the Caribbean and Latin America,” noted Nedd.
Nedd, an appointed CANTO Board Director for the period 2019-2020, also said that GTT team members who attended the conference, had the opportunity to engage in strategic industry discussions via sessions on Caribbean digital literacy, cybersecurity and data protection – an opportunity he described as “important” as the company seeks to develop its people, the clients they serve and the country as whole.
Farah Samad, GTT Team Lead of Recharge and Distribution, lauded the event as an impactful networking and professional developmental tool. “This being my first CANTO Conference, I was not sure what to expect. However, it certainly did not disappoint. The extensive panel discussions by various countries were very informative and expanded my understanding of how extensive the telecommunication industry is and what our counterparts are doing within their markets. I took ample notes on best practices.”
“Caribbean residents, it was stated, may reside in small countries, but they expect ‘the best the world has to offer – best service, lowest price – so they can compete in the global market’. Being well represented at CANTO’s Annual Conference ensures that continued technological evolution is forthcoming as propelled by GTT,” Samad added.
Sharing similar sentiment was Ian La Fargue, GTT Senior Engineer, who said that, “CANTO continues to provide a platform for networking with colleagues in the region, meeting with equipment vendors and being part of the discussion on key topics affecting communications in the region. Equally important, was the fellowship and networking with colleagues from GTT and ATNI (Atlantic Tele-Network) – GTT’s parent company.”
CANTO Trinidad attracted participants from the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States of America representing government, telecommunications operators and regulators, the private sector, academia and others.
According to a CANTO statement, the event was deemed a success as it delivered a packed programme that was relevant and varied in its scope, allowing members of society as well as young gamers and animators to equally voice their opinions on the digital future of the Caribbean and Latin America. CANTO 2020 will be held in Miami, Florida on July 19-22, 2020. (GTT press release)
