Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus Communications has responded to concerns raised by the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ECTEL) on their proposed merger.

Earlier this week, ECTEL said the proposal deserves rigourous regulatory attention and diligent review.

The authority also said it was concerned that the merger could negatively impact competition by reducing choice for consumers of both services and service providers.

The statement was welcomed by Digicel, which has been vocal in its opposition to the proposed deal.

However, in a joint statement today Columbus and CWC said ECTEL’s concerns are natural.

The companies say they welcome the authority’s commitment to fully understanding the impact of the transaction.

CWC and Columbus also say they are committed to ensuring that customer choice and competition are promoted with the transaction.

The two companies also say they’ve been meeting with Governments and Regulators in the six countries affected by the merger - St Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados this week.

CWC and Columbus says they plan to visit St Lucia and Grenada next week.

They also plan to meet with ECTEL Executive to address concerns raised.

The companies say once they obtain the necessary clearances, LIME and Flow customers can look forward to a full range of exciting new products, with unmatched quality of networks and download speeds, savings on their current prices, and an improvement in overall service levels.

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