Telecom firm invests US$1m for outsourcing service

Observer Business Reporter

Jamaica Network Access Point (JNAP), a telecommunications firm, is investing US$1 million to provide outsourcing telecommunication services to US telecoms and Jamaican businesses that want to reduce their costs.

" We have spent over US$1 million in setting up the operations so far," Mark Reid, the chief operating officer, told the Observer yesterday. "We are hoping in two years to be profitable."

JNAP has invested the funds in acquiring expensive switches, routers, fibre cables and cabinets which will be offered to telecoms to route international calls to Jamaica. It means that those telecoms do not have to invest in expensive systems in Jamaica.

" The telecom only has to get a licence in Jamaica," said Reid. "They do not have to worry about rent of an office, power and switching equipment."

The company started operating six weeks ago, having spent six months setting up. The company operates out of the Oceanic building in New Kingston.

JNAP has fibre interconnectivity into the major local players-Cable & Wireless, Digicel and Oceanic Digital.
It is also utilising Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPSCo) fibre line which runs around from New Kingston to downtown.

" We have four different types of fibre connectivity," he said. "No other firm offers this kind of connectivity."
The company offers a variety of space availability options from cabinets to 100 sq ft cages in house clients' networks. Currently 10 telecommunication companies are clients. Five cable companies are also banding together to utilise JNAP's interconnectivity to offer high speed Internet services.

JNAP has three power sources, two independent of JPSCo. It also has three methods of connectivity to the Internet.

" We are a one-stop shop, offering services which can reduce costs," he said.