The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive said yesterday he was pushing to make it less “Nassau centric”, with cellular and broadband Internet upgrades combining with its new pay-TV offering to benefit a wider consumer population.

Speaking at the launch of BTC’s Business Solutions Centre, Leon Williams said its Internet Protocol (IP) TV product, which is being tested in Bimini, will serve Family Island settlements that currently have no TV offering. 

“No citizen of The Bahamas should be marginalised in that regard, and we will be putting IPTV in those areas,” Mr Williams said. “Some people can’t see how their government functions on Channel 40 or watch ZNS news, and that is something that some people may take for granted.

“There are a number of island settlements where there is no coverage. Right now we are BETA testing 130 channels in Bimini for IPTV,” he added.

    “I think the take-up will be fantastic because we are going into areas where there is no cable TV service. We are going into areas where there is nothing; it’s all green field.

“The quality on that offering is amazing. For our basic package right now we have 130 channels for BETA testing, but we will constantly add to the content. We are negotiating now with Columbus Communications to  bring additional content to our channel line-up, which will be changing, and that is why we will be BETA testing.

“The technology we are using in Bimini will not be the same as what we will use in, say Andros, so we are testing the technology and, at the same time, adjusting the channel line-up.”    

Mr Williams added: “The next thing we will be doing is expanding our broadband so that every business on every island in the Bahamas who wants this technology can get this technology, the business phone plus.

“The whole idea is I want to stop making the company so Nassau centric, but to make BTC a company for all Bahamians.”

    Mr Williams said BTC will be improving its cellular network as well. “We will be trying to shore up the cellular network and make sure it’s a bigger, better network, that drop calls are reduced, coverage is provided throughout the islands and capacity is provided so that there are no dropped calls,” he added.