The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) continues efforts to ensure cellular products and services improve on behalf of U.S. Virgin Islands consumers. The Commissioner of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Devin Carrington recently met with officials of Viya (a combination of the former telecommunication companies Innovative and Choice). He met with Viya executives Alvaro Pilar, CEO, and Jennifer Matarangas-King, vice president of public relations and governmental affairs.
The meeting, initiated at the request of Viya, was held to apprise DLCA of the company’s efforts to improve its network and better serve its clients. This discussion comes on the heels of DLCA’s publicly stated concerns regarding the level of service that U.S. Virgin Islands consumers are receiving from Virgin Islands cellular phone and Internet providers. The department’s concerns were prompted by repeated consumer complaints concerning dropped calls, dead zones and generally less than acceptable cell phone and Internet service in the islands.
Commissioner Carrington said, “I was happy with the initiative demonstrated by Viya, a local telecommunications provider and community entertainment sponsor. I was informed that the company has been investing in improving its infrastructure to develop an advanced LTE 4G network. The VIYA officials told me they will be launching the improved network shortly and that the public will see improvements not only in speed and reliability, but in the quality of connections. I restated my concern regarding dropped calls and dead zones, and the company was forthcoming in acknowledging the existence of these issues in their network,” said Carrington.
“However, Viya stated that their ongoing plans are aimed at addressing these types of service issues. At the end of the day,” said the commissioner, “all cellular and Internet providers must provide consumers with the products and services that they advertise and that consumers pay hard earned money for. This meeting was an effort to provide such an assurance on the part of VIYA.”
“The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs is pleased with the proactive approach of Viya, which was aimed at speaking to these consumer concerns,” said Carrington.
