Flow is delaying its planned shutdown of its candw.ky email service, which it had earlier announced would be discontinued in August.
The Utility Regulation and Competition Office, known as URCO or OfReg, ordered the company last month to continue the service for the time being, until a longer notice period for users could be worked out.
Earlier, the telecommunications service provider had said it was planning to implement a phased closure of the candw.ky service, and notified customers that they would be unable to send emails from the end of June, receive incoming emails from 31 July, and access the service entirely from 31 Aug.
However, in response to a request for an update on the situation from the Compass this week, the company said, “Flow Cayman has removed all specific date references from its proactive customer communications and replaced them with the term ‘soon’ to reflect the current status of discussions.
“While no definitive timelines have been agreed at this stage, we remain engaged in constructive discussions with OfReg and we are working collaboratively to identify the most appropriate path forward. We will continue to keep customers informed as further clarity becomes available.”
OfReg confirmed that Flow had agreed to delay the planned cessation of the candw.ky email service, known to many as ‘candy wacky’, and had advised the regulator that previous customer notifications referring to an August shutdown have been withdrawn.
The regular said it would be meeting with Flow next week “to discuss the particulars, including a clear proposed cessation timeline, customer notification requirements, and the support arrangements that would need to be in place for affected subscribers”.
It added that until those matters are agreed, its direction to Flow remains in effect. “Flow may not discontinue, suspend or impair the candw.ky email service without URCO’s prior written consent. URCO will keep the public informed of any material developments,” an URCO spokesperson said.
Flow Cayman says it has formally responded to the regulator’s directive, and was engaged in “constructive discussions to better understand the issues raised and to work towards a positive outcome for all stakeholders”.
It added, “Our focus remains on engaging collaboratively with URCO while ensuring customers continue to receive the support, information and guidance they need throughout this process.”
Explaining the rationale behind its plan to discontinue the service last month, the telecommunications company, which was previously known as Cable and Wireless and then LIME, said the email service, which was once in ubiquitous use in Cayman, was “approaching end of life and will no longer receive the updates and security enhancements necessary to meet evolving technology and safety standards”.
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