The Bahamas Telecommunications company Ltd. (BTC) responded to what the company called “misplaced” allegations of “poor internet coverage for the Media” during the BTC CARIFTA Games.
Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Marlon Johnson was firm in his response to the allegations.
“BTC wishes to make it clear that the company did not and is not providing commercial internet services for any Wi-Fi or other Media related internet services at the Stadium,” stated Marlon Johnson.
“We were never asked to do so. Neither the Games nor the stadium management requested the services that are now being called into question. We provided FREE Wi-Fi services for the first 1,500 customers who accessed the service. We were not contracted to provide any commercial grade service at the games. What ought to have happened perhaps, is for the planning committee to have purchased our commercial service for Wi-Fi internet that is secure and password protected so as to enable the media to have dedicated access to internet.”
“This is the first such major event at the stadium and clearly there will be much learning that will come from this. One of these is the need to have a comprehensive internet and Wi-Fi strategy for all the various groupings that will descend on the stadium for these events. This will have to be led by the Stadium management and we will be happy to partner with them on finding commercial solutions that will work for them, for customers and for BTC.”
As for the broader question of mobile internet availability, Mr. Johnson pointed out: “The unfortunate reality is that when you have 10,000 persons in a single small area, you will have some congestion. Persons who travelled to the Olympics – or even those who visit the arenas in Florida for sporting events – will tell you that once the stadium starts to get full, the availability of mobile internet becomes less and less. We have added a new cell tower just outside the stadium which has helped. But short of a full “in-stadium” solution that would have to be funded at least in part by the Stadium Authority, it will be exceedingly difficult to provide full mobile hi-speed coverage for every user who wants it.”
