Babauta, 17 others change cell phone provider

Gov. Juan N. Babauta and 17 other Executive Branch officials have switched mobile phone services from Verizon to SaipanCell, effective last Friday.

Press secretary Peter A. Callaghan denied that politics was behind the shift in phone service providers. He also denied that it was the administration’s response to the recent sale of Verizon to Pacific Telecommunications Inc., which the governor had strongly opposed.

“It has nothing to do with it. It’s an act to save money and that’s the whole reason for the switch,” said Callaghan.

“It’s not political. We got a good deal.”

Callaghan said the Governor’s Office would save a lot in monthly charges. He did not specify, though, how much is the projected savings, saying this would be determined after at least a month.

Further, Callaghan said officials favor Saipancell because it offers roaming services. He said officials can use their new phones even when they are off-island such as in the mainland U.S.

Verizon general manager Anthony Mosley said he respects the decision of the government officials. He noted that it only shows that there is a healthy competition in the local telecommunications industry.

“That’s the great thing about competition,” he said.

On the issue of savings, Mosley said Verizon still has better plans. “The savings of course is based on their plan. We have better plan than our competition. They just have not looked at all the plans so we have not sold them the right plan,” he said.

He also wonders if the Governor’s Office went through a procurement process.

“How did they know that they’re getting a better deal? Normally they have an RFP, a request for proposal. How do they know they get the best deal and save taxpayers’ money?” he asked.

Mosely said that Verizon phones can also be used in the U.S. mainland. “It just roams a little bit differently. You have to use a prepaid roam,” he said.

Callaghan said the change in providers was a decision made by the Office of the Special Assistant for Administration, headed by Thomas Tebuteb.

He said the 18 users are enrolled in Saipancell’s corporate group plan.

“We had different phones. I had i-Connect. Some were using Verizon, some were using SaipanCell. In order to save money, we got a corporate plan that’s going to save us a lot of money,” said Callaghan.

The 18 officials include attorney general Pamela Brown, governor’s special assistants, and some Cabinet secretaries, including Callaghan.

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, who has been using SaipanCell, keeps his number but is now part of the group plan.

Mosley said the Governor’s Office customers have choices, just like any other customers. He expressed confidence that Verizon would get back the customers.

“We’ll win them back. We’ll win their business back, guaranteed,” he said.