A Telecom Scorecard 1999-2000

A family in Washington, DC will pay only $44.94 a month, less than their counterparts in 21 other Western hemisphere countries, for a high usage telecom scenario that finds them making nearly 2000 minutes of local, domestic and international long distance calls and with unlimited internet access. In Jamaica, the next lowest country, the same family would pay $80.22 a month, while other families would face prices as high as $302.18 in Bolivia, $245.81 in Trinidad and Tobago and $171.72 in Argentina for the same set of calls and services.

This market basket comparison, as well as several other scenarios for local, domestic long distance, international long distance, internet and wireless services in 22 Western Hemisphere countries compiled by AdTI, helps illustrate the ways that consumers can benefit from liberalized telecom markets, and how lack of competition stifles commerce and communication.