The Tribune

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has initiated a 10-day “trade-in” campaign aimed at ridding the country of some 2,300 outdated cellular phone models.

This is the first time in the BTC’s history that it has offered a trade-in. “There are some 2,300-plus models, amounting to 250,000 handsets, in use in the Bahamas today that are out of date,” said Marlon Johnson, BTC’s vice-president of marketing.

“Many of those are actually grey market phones that were purchased from companies other than BTC or brought into the country from abroad and had to be ‘rigged’ to work on our system. In order to service all of those devices, we have had to keep outdated platforms up and running. With all our upgrades, we want to clean up the morass of the multiplicity of units.”

  BTC is spending more than $42 million upgrading its mobile platform, enabling 4G data, the fastest mobile speed available, and it holds the first license for LTE, which will allow access to mobile TV and other downloads 10 times faster.

BTC wants the mobile devices people use to fall in line with the new systems and platforms it is providing.

“We have to maximise compatibility,” said Mr Johnson. “So we are making it almost irresistible for everyone who is carrying around an old phone to trade it in for a new smart phone for a ridiculously low price, and with credit for data or phone service.

“We’re even extending the campaign to those who just want a new smart phone and don’t have a trade. We will even take in a busted-up phone so long as you can still make a call from it.”

  One day after the sale started, BTC had sold out of its two most popular models of BlackBerry. Other phones, including several models of Samsung and Nokia, are available from $15 for pre-paid customers and from $29 for post-paid customers.

“The phone must be working and able to make and receive calls,” said spokesman Jerome Sawyer.

“We will test it when you bring it in, so make sure it is fully charged and there is a SIM card. And note that there is a limit of two trade-ins per customer.

Mr Sawyer said BTC hopes to have replaced at least 50 per cent of the antiquated phones by the time the campaign ends on October 6.

“Our biggest worry, right now, the way the advance sale went, is being able to satisfy demand.” he said. “Response has been fantastic and we are just starting.”