By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday asserted it will move “as fast as regulators allow” in rolling out the new network technology that its top executive branded as “a huge deal”.

Sameer Bhatti, the carrier’s chief executive, told Tribune Business that the next-generation fixed wireless access technology formally launched in Bimini yesterday is already in the process of being introduced to BTC’s Eleuthera customers. 

Disclosing that the new network’s roll-out on that island should be completed by next month, and all 600 BTC clients migrated over from its legacy copper network, he added that it represents the wireless or wi-fi equivalent of fibre optic infrastructure with the same broadband Internet download speeds and TV channel and landline access - but without having to put cables in the ground.

However, Mr Bhatti told this newspaper that the speed with which the next generation fixed wireless technology - known as the ‘BTC Air Network’ - will be rolled out to other Family Islands is dependent on “how easy” the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) makes the process.

Praising the communications regulator’s “diligence”, he acknowledged that it is soon due to publish its National Spectrum Plan review and any adjustments with BTC eager to gain access to presently unused and unlicensed frequency bands to facilitate the Air Network expansion.

Confirming that BTC will still rely on fibre-optic cable networks on New Providence and the more populated islands, Mr Bhatti said Grand Bahama is now 100 percent switched over with no client remaining in its now-decommissioned copper network. And Bimini has also been used as the testing, or proving, ground for BTC’s new retail store look and layout, with the Mall at Marathon next to undergo the change.

“This is a huge deal,” Mr Bhatti told Tribune Business of the Bimini launch, “because what we have done is, we call it the BTC Air Network, the next generation fixed wireless access. This technology provides the equivalent of fibre.” This, he added, meant it offers broadband Internet download speeds of 150 mega bytes per second (Mbps) plus access to 160 TV channels and landline services.

The BTC chief added that the ‘Air Network’ will be primarily deployed to service the “more sparsely populated communities” of the Family Islands and cays, while fibre optic cables will remain its primary infrastructure in locations such as New Providence and Grand Bahama. The move also appears designed to combat the competitive threat posed by the likes of Elon Musk’s Starlink and satellite providers.

“It is a big deal? It’s a huge deal. We’re out here launching this thing,” Mr Bhatti said. “We’ve had it trialling and running for over a year, working out the glitches. With any new technology you have some glitches, but people are raving about it. We’ve shut down the copper network in Bimini...

“Eleuthera is underway right now. That’s the island we’re focused on now. We have 600 customers on Eleuthera. We’re from Briland to Spanish Wells, all the way down. We’re in Rock Sound now. We’re going to shut down the copper and migrate everybody to BTC. I would expect that, if we were having this conversation in September, we would expect to have planted our flag and sat we’re done in Eleuthera.”

Asked how quickly BTC will deploy its ‘Air Network’ to other Family Islands, Mr Bhatti acknowledged: “The big question is how fast can we go to the other islands. I would say we would go as fast as URCA allows us to. They are presently dealing with the National Spectrum Plan.

“On the other side, they have the ability to make it easy for us to roll this out. I’ll leave it at that and give them a chance to make it easy for us. Sameer’s ready to give it. How can make URCA make it easier for BTC to roll this out. On the other side, to be fair, the team at URCA are very diligent and are sharpening their pencils on the National Spectrum Plan.

“I think they intend to publish it in the third quarter. I don’t know what date. I hope they look carefully at our desire to use unlicensed spectrum to support the network. I hope they look at this and say: ‘Let’s make it easy for them to do this as fast as they can.”

Mr Bhatti said BTC had made it a priority to hire and train Bahamians to install the ‘Air Network’ on Bimini, with persons from islands such as Abaco, Eleuthera, Long Island and Andros involved so that they all have the necessary skills to deploy the technology at home. The same, he added, was done with the 2,100 square foot Bimini retail store’s overhaul.

The “immediate next step” in BTC’s retail transformation is its flagship Mall at Marathon outlet, with Exuma and Eleuthera set to follow soon after. Mr Bhatti said the plan is to address other elements of BTC’s product offering and services alongside the network and infrastructure upgrades.

“Access to fast, reliable Internet should be universal, not exclusive,” said Mr Bhatti. “With this pioneering technology, Bimini ascends as a beacon of the digital Bahamas, empowering work, learning and entertainment with unprecedented speed and reliability.

“We have wholly transformed Bimini’s connectivity landscape, and I am also proud to say that we are also currently rapidly rolling out this evolution to Eleuthera.” Around 90 percent of Bimini’s population are already benefiting from and using the next-generation fixed wireless access network.

Mike Calabrese, vice-president of worldwide sales at Tarana, BTC’s technology partner, added: “We are excited to see our ngFWA solution making progress on The Bahamas’ digital divide. BTC is doing great work to upgrade their community with ultra-fast broadband, and we’re honoured to be a part of it.”