Construction of the $6 million submarine cable network that will extend between Bimini and Freeport is three months behind schedule, it was revealed.
In May, a Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) press release said the project would be completed by the end of the month.
“It is expected that this network should be ready for service by the end of September 2005,” it read.
But yesterday at a BTC press conference in Bimini, the Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts announced that the project’s completion date has been pushed back.
“Well as you can see they are in the final process and there is some groundwork that has to be completed. They will have the site installed and operational before Christmas,” said Minister Roberts.
BTC officials expect the new fiber optic cable network to “relieve the congestion that the residents of Bimini experience when making a cellular or long distance call.” It will also offer the island’s inhabitants high-speed internet access and GSM cellular services.
“This cable will have the capacity of tens of thousands of simultaneous telephone conversations compared to the system today that has a capacity of only 120 conversations,” said Minister Roberts.
“This new system will have the capacity for BTC to provide GSM cellular and DSL high speed internet services to the citizens of Bimini.”
By: JASMIN BONIMY, Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter
