Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) announced today that The Bahamas should have one of the region’s most advanced telecoms networks in the near future. If they are successful in purchasing 51 percent of shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), CWC will support and prioritise BTC’s existing engineering strategy and help the company to invest in new technology.
Geoff Houston, who is leading CWC’s transition team, commented: “Our aim is for Bahamians to have access to technology which matches that available in the United States. This will include 4G mobile services and a quadrupling of broadband speeds.”
BTC currently operates a second-generation (2G) network which can support the most basic data services. 4G is the fourth generation of mobile technology, which enables users to upload, download and stream data far more quickly.
Smartphones – handsets which are akin to mini-computers – and 4G technology, offer a new world of experience to consumer and business users alike and can be used to download music, watch TV, play games and access the many thousands of applications now available.
A 4G network will also enable BTC to introduce mobile broadband that can be accessed using a simple dongle which plugs into laptops and other types of computer. The dongle service will allow laptop users to access the internet anywhere on the islands where there is a 4G signal. This will be much more convenient for many Bahamians than relying on fixed or wireless broadband.
Mobile Broadband is particularly popular with people who regularly live or work in areas where there are limited Wi Fi or fixed line broadband services available. Sales people for example can keep up to date with administration in between appointments.
Finally, CWC also plans to make fixed line broadband speeds eight times faster than the one Megabyte per second currently available.
Mr Houston said: “High speed broadband is a platform which supports the development of a whole community. Faster broadband encourages more people to get online, makes it easier for entrepreneurs to launch new services and helps households take advantage of all the great things the web can offer – from music downloads and social networking to education and business services and even pay TV services like we offer in Panama and Monaco.”
According to the World Bank, a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration stimulates economic growth by 1.38 percentage points.
About Cable & Wireless Communications
Cable & Wireless Communications is a global, full-service communications business. We operate leading telecommunications businesses through four regional units – the Caribbean, Panama, Macau and Monaco & Islands. Our services include mobile, broadband and domestic and international fixed line services in most of our markets as well as pay-TV, data centre and hosting, carrier and managed service solutions. Our operations are focused on providing our customers – consumers, businesses, governments – with world-class service. We are the market leader in most products we offer and territories we serve. For more information visit www.cwc.com.
About LIME
LIME (Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications company, focused on building products and services that make Caribbean people’s lives better. LIME’s aim is to deliver the best communication services across the board, full stop. LIME is part of Cable & Wireless Communications, one of the world’s leading international communications companies. For more information visit: www.time4lime.com
Diane Phillips & Associates
