As the Government narrows its decision on a strategic partner for 49 per cent of Bahamas Telecommunications Company, Blue Telecommunications (Bahamas) Ltd., is selling itself as a candidate that will focus on customer service.
The Blue Telecommunications team includes Detecon & Diebold International, the management arm of which has extensive experience in privatising telecommunication companies, and Deutsche Telekom.
According to Blue Tel’s president, Lindbergh Smith, the organisation has been working for years with Detecon and Deutsche Telekom preparing the privatisation bid.
He said companies are known for their familiarity with early-stage challenges that come with the process and for their knowledge of managing and operating wireless, wireline, and form integrating and managing evolving telecommunication companies.
Detecon has approximately 700 consultants all over the world and is amongst Germany’s top five management consulting firms.
Mr. Smith said: “Because of Detecon’s immense presence in the global arena, it has buying power that smaller companies do not have. That will be a great advantage to The Bahamas as we move forward.”
Blue has entered into a framework agreement that, should it obtain the 49 per cent interest, Detecon International GmbH will provide management services.
Blue says it is the only Bahamian-led registered company in the bidding process.
It is partnering with financial advisor and accounting firm, PriceWaterHouseCoopers and three large international financial institutions, which Mr. Smith refused to name.
The Blue Tel team members, the majority of whom are Bahamians, Mr. Smith, President; chairman Barrett Russell; Dirk Muenning, Detecon Executive; Gary Joubert, chief marketing officer; Cedric Farquharson; David Hanna; Ricardo Rolle; Andre Weech and Dr. Barry Russell.
Should Blue’s bid be accepted, the team will act as an advisory group to the board of BTC .
“We feel that the Blue Consortium is extremely well positioned in this process, as the only bidder that offers the perfect combination of strong local knowledge and unparalleled international telecommunication expertise,” Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Muenning, said: “The key is to have the local business knowledge and cultural understanding so that at the end of the day, the services we want to sell as an operator and the revenues we are expecting of course come from the local people we want to serve, can only be achieved if we have the right partners for it.”
In their move to properly prepare BTC for the privatisation process, Blue Tel hopes to prepare employees to focus on customer service. According to Mr. Smith, there are no predicted staff cuts, only continued growth for the company.
Blue Tel representatives have toured the BTC facility, to meet employees.
By Lisa Albury, The Nassau Guardian
