With the aim of both companies better equipping themselves to serve the Virgin Islands (VI), the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) and BVI Cable TV have reached an agreement on the sharing of the pole infrastructure in the territory. Photo: VINO/File

General Manager of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham, left, and CEO of BVI Cable TV Mr Romney Averad Penn have now reached an agreement between their respective companies. Photo: VINO/File

Due to to the issue, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had stepped in via an October 2019 meeting to listen to the concerns of both companies regarding pole sharing and now, several months later, both parties have reached a final decision on June 4 over the sharing of poles. Photo: VINO/File

The agreement comes after a fallout between the companies in August 2019 when the BVI Cable TV had publicly accused BVIEC of consistently trying to prevent it from rebuilding its cable network infrastructure in the Virgin Islands.

In August, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reported that BVI Cable TV, through its CEO Mr Romney Averad Penn, alleged that since the storms of September 2017, BVIEC had consistently tried to prevent BVI Cable TV from attaching their cables to their pole infrastructure.

"Either by outright barring us or by charging exorbitant fees, several times the amount charged to another local telecommunications company,” he said.

Mr Penn also lamented that an injunction had been successfully sought against BVI Cable TV by BVIEC, which had “effectively halted” its network deployment.

BVIEC fired back in a detailed statement on August 15, 2019, alleging that BVI Cable TV was trying to mislead the public by making statements which were “less than truthful”.

According to BVIEC, following the September 2017 hurricanes, the entire pole infrastructure comprising of several thousands of poles within the Territory was reinstated at the sole cost of BVIEC.

Agreement reached on June 4, 2020 

Due to to the issue, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had stepped in via an October 2019 meeting to listen to the concerns of both companies regarding pole sharing and now, several months later, both parties have reached a final decision on June 4, 2020, over the sharing of poles. 

With BVI Cable TV now able to attach its infrastructure to poles owned by the BVIEC, Chairman of the BVIEC, Mrs Rosemarie Flax stated, “I am pleased that both organisations were able to find common ground in advancing the best interest of all stakeholders in a manner that will add value to the economy of the Virgin Islands.”

Prior to the hurricanes of 2017, 55 percent of the pole infrastructure in the Virgin Islands belonged to BVIEC, FLOW owned 35 percent, and BVI Cable TV 10 percent.