Bethel: 5G is coming

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel has announced that telecommunications companies have submitted recommendations to the government for the implementation of a 5G network in The Bahamas.

“Let me assure the Bahamian people, 5G is coming,” Mr Bethel said in the Senate yesterday, as he revealed it was the Cabinet’s decision to approach the country’s communications giants to have discussions about 5G.

5G is the fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks. Phone companies began introducing the technology around the world in 2019.

“One of the issues raised was the question of devising a strategy for the implementation of 5G within our lifetimes and as soon as practicable,” Mr Bethel said.

“I asked the agencies, the two giants, to either prepare a separate or collaborative report.

“Well, being in a state of competition they went so far and combined, up to a certain point, their recommendations and then for competitive reasons they each went and did other things into separate reports that have now been received (and) turned over now to the appropriate minister for implementation.

“I was minister of the regulator and I put the lions in the cage. Having done that, those reports as soon as received were turned over to the minister and I am sure that he will be able to in short order I believe he’s speaking tomorrow to give a more full presentation.

“But, the government of The Bahamas I assure you now has already weighed in with our private sector partners and they have fully embraced the challenge to devise plans which the honourable minister, who we say is the best of the lot and I agree he is one of the best of all of us will no doubt push through towards an early conclusion.”

Mr Bethel said State Finance Minister Kwasi Thompson was expected to make further comment on the matter at a later date.

He was responding to Senator Fred Mitchell, leader of opposition business in the Senate, who raised concern that the country could not advance efficiently into a digital economy while plagued by telecommunications issues.

He said: “When I go to Grand Bahama in the middle of every call whether using the phone network or using the data network (there are) dropped calls, dropped data. Sometimes you have to wait two and three minutes for it to come back up and (also) here in New Providence.

“So, all I say is one day you know you go to the ATM and it keeps spinning, spinning, spinning you know. Central Bank is saying it’s going to become a digital currency and all of the digital stuff. Nothing in my view beats cold hard cash. It’s the greatest invention of mankind because it’s easy to use and no issues. So, that’s my feel on that and I mention that because in the last couple of weeks there was a statement by the now CEO of BTC a man named Andre Foster.

“The first time I’ve seen the telephone company’s actually address the question of 5G and what they are going to do. Now, my feeling is and this is the suggestion to my own party is that he says 5G will come in (20)22 or (20)23. I don’t know how you’re going to build a digital economy unless you improve this service.

“My view is that the Bahamas government ought to form a public corporation and do from island to island within the islands a complete fibre network to digitise this country, which we will own and the phone companies can take in offers if they want, but they clearly do not in my view have the national interest of this country.”

He continued: “What they are doing is selling cell phones. You know the more cellphones you sell and extracting profits and fancy ads and all of this but national development cannot move forward in my view unless there is a proper digital platform and infrastructure for The Bahamas and I’d like to advocate that.”

New BTC CEO Andre Foster recently told Guardian Radio that to build a 5G network locally would require partnership with other providers because it needs “so much investment from an infrastructure perspective.” Mr Foster said there was no real demand locally for such a network, therefore it will likely not be built until next year or 2023.

In 2019, Aliv’s Chief Officer Damian Blackburn said the company was “keeping a close eye” on global developments around 5G, the next generation of mobile technology, even though he suggested this was unlikely to become “commercially available” until 2022.

Comments

FreeUs242 says...

💉 + 5G=☣️...💃🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️

Posted 19 March 2021, 4 p.m. Suggest removal

moncurcool says...

> “Let me assure the Bahamian people, 5G
> is coming,” Mr Bethel said in the
> Senate yesterday, as he revealed it
> was the Cabinet’s decision to approach
> the country’s communications giants to
> have discussions about 5G.

If the Tribune commentary is correct, why do communications companies need the cabinet to approach them to talk about doing 5G? Don't communications companies always look to upgrade their networks to the latest technology?

And if that is not bad enough, listen to what Fred Mitchell suggest be done to advance technology in the country

> He said: “When I go to Grand Bahama in
> the middle of every call whether using
> the phone network or using the data
> network (there are) dropped calls,
> dropped data. Sometimes you have to
> wait two and three minutes for it to
> come back up and (also) here in New
> Providence.
>
> “My view is that the Bahamas
> government ought to form a public
> corporation and do from island to
> island within the islands a complete
> fibre network to digitise this
> country, which we will own and the
> phone companies can take in offers if
> they want, but they clearly do not in
> my view have the national interest of
> this country.”

Fred Michell apparently is still using BTC. If he is on aliv, he would know in Grand Bahama, they don't drop call.

And his solution for the problem, is for the government to form a company to develop the the digital network.

And this is the man and his party who want to run this country. Governments never run corporation. If we go back to the government in control, like when BTC had the government monopoly, we would go into the dark ages in digital networks.

If this is what Fred and the PLP have to offer, if shows seriously devoid of ideas.

Posted 19 March 2021, 4:04 p.m. Suggest removal

JokeyJack says...

So now we have money for 5G? Really? People all over the place sleeping in cars, sharing $5 plate and yall got money for 5G. This means we are being overcharged for service so they can save money to buy it OR they planning on borrowing MORE money on my grandchild's name.
These are the kind of moves (that make no sense) that cause people to believe that 5G is a part of the Covid plan for depopulation ... because the priority is not there otherwise.
When you hear someone trying to break in your window at 3 O'Clock in the morning you don't say to yourself "Thank God the Easter Bunny finally reached with the eggs."
When you hear government and companies scrambling to buy whole new networks with no money, the Easter Bunny don't come to mind either.

Posted 19 March 2021, 8:16 p.m. Suggest removal

JokeyJack says...

Rest assured though, as soon as they can stupid Bahamians will chase behind Americans and buy that new 5G capable phone ... even pregnant women with baby in the womb. Gotta have it, ya gah die anyway right?

Posted 19 March 2021, 8:23 p.m. Suggest removal

FreeUs242 says...

Even cheating men🙂

Posted 19 March 2021, 9:05 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

The facts are, there is very little benefit in 5G for the average consumer. At least as an end phone internet user. The benefits are for the companies that will be utilizing technology such as artificial intelligence. Or using the internet for driverless vehicles or security intelligence etc. But the 5G technology is just too expensive to roll out exclusively for these companies, especially since the coverage will eventually have to be worldwide. So the regular consumer must have to foot the bill.

Posted 20 March 2021, 7:42 a.m. Suggest removal

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