President of Blue Telecommunications, Lindbergh Smith, made the disclosure on Tuesday, during a press conference held at the British Colonial Hilton.
“It is our goal to institute a cabling system between here and Cuba. This is one of our major initiatives to open up trade here, as well as to ensure that we are finding the business revenue streams to ensure that BTC continues to grow outside the borders of our country,” Mr. Smith said, adding that this is all pending regulatory approval.
Mr. Smith added: “We are going to make sure that all the things are covered politically, as well as all the regulatory issues have been met and that we are really meeting the requirements to really grow BTC outside the bounds of the Bahamas and that it continues to be a viable entity in this country.”
Blue Telecommunications is one of three consortiums remaining in the competitive bidding process for 49 per cent of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company.
The team of Blue Tel, a Bahamian company with foreign backing from One Equity Partners and Detecon International, will bring more than $300 million of foreign investment into this country and it is expected that over the next three to four years there will be a further investment of about $200 million to $260 million.
On Tuesday, Blue Tel met with the Tenders Commission and conducted a formal presentation. The meeting brought to a close almost three-and-a-half years of work.
Mr. Smith told the media that Blue Tel has got the expertise to bring faster service, where a customer would no longer have to stand in line anymore to pay your phone bill.
“If we are successful at the acquisition, you don’t have to waste your lunch hour standing in line to pay your phone bill, you will be able to pay on-line,” he said.
And, he noted that a process will also be put in place where a customer would no longer have to wait two to three weeks just for a telephone. That will be done in a day.
“In terms of paying for phone services, we believe that we have the ability reduce the cost of services on cellular as well as fixed lines as well as the advancement of more services with respect to the internet and BFL capabilities. The business community who utilises the services tremendously we will be able to give those entities package deals where the cost of doing telecommunications business here in the country will substantially be reduced,” Mr. Smith explained.
He stressed that these are just some of the key things Blue Tel will be offering to the Bahamian public.
The Nassau Guardian
