The move could allow the GSM network to include the entire Bahamas by the end of September 2006.
Leon Williams, acting CEO of BTC, announced the contract Thursday at a trade show in the Dominican Republic hosted by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO).
Mr. Williams said BTC’s “aggressive schedule” to complete the expansion by the end of September is “a direct response to the great investments being made by the Bahamian government in an effort to attract high-end hotels and resorts.”
According to Nortel’s Alvio Barrios, the expansion will put BTC at the forefront of next-generation mobile communications in the Caribbean market, with next-generation voice, data and multimedia services.
Mr. Williams also said he expected the expanded service to improve The Bahamas as a tourist destination as well, with enhanced roaming capabilities.
According to the Nortel press release, the GSM/GPRS network enhancements will help provide a better customer experience by delivering enhanced services such as high-speed wireless broadband, m-commerce, multimedia messaging, and the ability to download large e-mail attachments, videos, music and games.
The GSM/GPRS solution from Nortel will enable BTC to achieve operational efficiencies through reduced network complexity and operating expenses as well as the ability to introduce new services quickly.
Nortel is working with other Caribbean customers such as TSTT and Laqtel in Trinidad and Tobago. Nortel has designed, installed and launched more than 300 wireless networks in over 70 countries across the globe.
Its 2005 revenues were reportedly somewhere around $10.5 billion.
By: Quincy Parker, The Bahama Journal
