{"id":81096,"date":"2026-02-04T18:53:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T00:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/?p=81096"},"modified":"2026-02-04T18:53:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T00:53:50","slug":"a-telecom-tug-of-war-the-battle-over-btl-and-speednet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/a-telecom-tug-of-war-the-battle-over-btl-and-speednet\/","title":{"rendered":"A Telecom Tug\u2011of\u2011War: The Battle Over BTL and Speednet"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a country where staying connected has never mattered more, a bold business move is raising serious concerns. Belize Telemedia Limited, already the heavyweight in the telecom industry, wants to buy out its rival, Speednet. Supporters say the deal could mean smoother operations and better service for customers. But critics aren\u2019t convinced. What started as a business transaction<\/a> has quickly become a national conversation, pulling in unions, business leaders, politicians, and everyday Belizeans who are asking: Who really benefits? Is this about progress, or about power? With negotiations now at a standstill, concerns over fair competition, consumer rights, and the future of telecommunications in Belize are front and center. Tonight, News Five takes a deeper dive into the arguments, the tensions, and what\u2019s at stake in the BTL\u2013Speednet saga, in this week\u2019s edition of Five Point Break Down.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Paul Lopez, Reporting<\/strong><\/p>\n

On January eighth, Belize Telemedia Limited applied to the Public Utilities Commission for approval to buy four telecom, cable, and broadband companies, a step required by law. But public and industry pressure quickly changed the course. Three of those companies walked away from the talks, leaving Speednet as the only one still at the table. Speednet, the country\u2019s second\u2011largest telecom provider, is valued at eighty million dollars. If the deal goes through, BTL would further cement its dominance of the market. Still, BTL\u2019s Chief Financial Officer, Ian Cleverly, insists the acquisition would benefit consumers and deliver stronger returns for shareholders.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Ian

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ian Cleverly<\/p><\/div>\n

Ian Cleverly, Chief Financial Officer, Belize Telemedia Limited<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBelize\u2019s market is small and mature. Operating two parrel mobile networks increases costs, and limits rural expansion. This is about efficiencies in the country, not consumer harm. Consumer protection, we are looking with no forced plan changes, services continues on BTL and Speednet. No number needs to change and we are looking at thirty six months price gap with PUC oversight.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Still, this isn\u2019t just a straightforward cost\u2011cutting move. Before anything happens, BTL must first get the green light from its board. The Government of Belize is the majority shareholder and Social Security has the second largest stake in the company.\u00a0 An independent member also sits on the board. So far, repeated attempts have fallen short, with BTL unable to win majority support from its board. Growing public resistance has disrupted the company\u2019s efforts to convene a board meeting and move forward with the acquisition. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry says consumer protection concerns are primary.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Giacomo

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Giacomo Sanchez<\/p><\/div>\n

Giacomo Sanchez, President, BCCI (File: Jan 8th<\/sup>, 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe issue of BTL\u2019s past actions raises consumer protection concerns and that was an issue for us years ago and the potential for that recurring within the sphere of consolidation continues to be in the forefront of our minds.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize argues that Social Security may be exposing pension funds to undue risks.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Ella

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ella Waight<\/p><\/div>\n

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB (File: Jan 26th<\/sup>, 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf we lose in a monopoly at the Social Security Board it will not allow for certain things to happen when you and I retire.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"At the same time, independent senators are urging that the deal be abandoned, citing fears of market monopolization and insufficient public<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Louis

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Louis Wade<\/p><\/div>\n

Louis Wade, Church Senator<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe person who in my belief is the architect or pushing this deal, that Belizeans are vocally and actively rejecting, once sat as an independent senator. And it is my personal belief that if he had the information we have and he sat where we sit today, I believe he would be with us rejecting this deal.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"The United Democratic Party has held two public demonstrations in one week, denouncing the proposed acquisition. Retired BTL employees have also voiced their objections, as they demand severance payments. Now, when it comes to who has the final word, the law is clear. That authority rests solely with the Public Utilities Commission. Under the Belize Telecommunications Act, the PUC regulates the industry and has the power to block the merger if it clashes with any of the Act\u2019s eleven objectives. So far, though, the commission hasn\u2019t decided, and until it does, this deal goes nowhere.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Stacy

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Stacy Grinage<\/p><\/div>\n

Stacy Grinage, Internal Legal Counsel, PUC<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe law sets out the objects of the act under section three. We have to think about the quality of service to consumers. We have to look at the quality and reliability of the services, the whole general provision of the service to the consumer, the price we have to consider. It is a list from about A to K about matters we have to consider to see whether such an agreement would frustrate those objects.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"In the end, the real winners or losers could be the thousands of telecom and broadband customers across the country. BTL argues that consumers will realize immediate benefits, while dissenting voices say that consumers will be at a disadvantage. At this stage, the PUC controls the direction of the deal, even as the prime minister emphasizes the need to respect the process and protect the public interest.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Prime

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Prime Minister John Brice\u00f1o<\/p><\/div>\n

Prime Minister John Brice\u00f1o<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em><\/strong>I have said all along let the process proceed. They came to Cabinet and spoke to us about two hours and a half. They answered every single question that ministers had and they left to our satisfaction. But as a Cabinet we have said let the process continue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the deal still up in the air, all eyes are on the Public Utilities Commission, whose decision could redefine the future of telecommunications in Belize. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a country where staying connected has never mattered more, a bold business move is raising serious concerns. Belize Telemedia Limited, already the heavyweight in the telecom industry, wants to buy out its rival, Speednet. Supporters say the deal could mean smoother operations and better […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":81017,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[449,444,475,474],"tags":[10459,10476],"class_list":["post-81096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-latest-news","category-news","category-people-places","tag-2026-02-04","tag-a-telecom-tug-of-war-the-battle-over-btl-and-speednet"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81096"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81097,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81096\/revisions\/81097"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greaterbelize.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}