Amid mounting public scrutiny, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is vigorously defending its proposed merger with Speednet, asserting that operational efficiency through consolidation represents the only viable path forward. BTL Chairman Mark Lizarraga presented a stark choice to Belizean consumers: embrace the merger or face potential reductions in dividends, infrastructure investment, and consumer benefits.
In an exclusive interview, Lizarraga emphasized the enormous financial demands of maintaining and expanding telecommunications infrastructure in Belize’s small market. “Technology has a very short lifespan and they’re very expensive,” stated Lizarraga, highlighting the economic challenges of serving a limited population base without achieving greater operational efficiencies.
The chairman outlined BTL’s dual commitment to both national development and consumer protection, noting the company’s pledge to maintain current pricing structures for at least two years regardless of the merger outcome. However, Lizarraga warned that without the proposed consolidation, BTL’s ability to expand services, lower prices, and maintain existing infrastructure would be severely compromised.
Lizarraga positioned the merger as fundamentally connected to Belize’s broader digital transformation agenda, arguing that the telecommunications efficiencies gained would directly enable national progress. The chairman’s remarks come as public debate intensifies regarding the potential market consolidation and its implications for consumer choice and pricing in Belize’s telecommunications sector.