Abinader backs new telecom competitors to improve services and lower prices

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to increasing competition in the Dominican Republic’s telecommunications sector, saying the entry of new companies could improve service quality and reduce costs for consumers.

Speaking at a press conference, Abinader addressed the arrival of a new Vietnamese-owned telecommunications company. He said the government’s economic policy seeks to break up oligopolistic and monopolistic structures across different sectors by opening markets to additional competitors.

The president noted that approximately 95% of the Dominican telecommunications market is controlled by two companies, while local rates are about 22% higher than the Latin American average. He argued that greater competition would encourage operators to invest more in technology, improve services and offer more competitive prices.

Abinader said the government prioritizes national investment but also welcomes foreign companies from allied countries, provided they do not pose risks to national security.

Regarding the Vietnamese investment, he emphasized that Vietnam is a strategic U.S. ally and said any telecommunications company operating in the Dominican Republic must comply with international information-security standards and safeguards.

Abinader stressed that the government’s objective is to promote fair competition, improve telecommunications services and ultimately lower prices for Dominican consumers.