The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is designing more offerings to meet ever-increasing Bahamian demands for data.

Carlyle Roberts, BTC’s vice-president of enterprise and strategic solutions, told Tribune Business that with the communications moving further away from the fixed-line voice segment to data usage via social media and Whatsapp, the company is refining its package offerings.

“The demand for data is consistently increasing. We reflect that in our plans, and so our newer plans now increase the amount of data,” said Mr Roberts.

He added that BTC was looking at improving its offerings for business customers, and said: “We know that we have been a partner to businesses for a long time, but what we have seen is our customers are evolving and the way they require the use of technology, and we want to continue to evolve to meet their need.

“What that means today is that customers need more data. We have gone back and created plans that will give them more data. We are now in the throes of what we call our limitless plan. We want to give our customers value and more ways to connect with us as well as more services.”

BTC is currently offering a ‘Roam like you’re home’ package to its business customers, according to Mr Roberts.

“We have heard them say when they travel the roaming bill tends to be high. We are right now offering them the ability to roam and pay the same cost as when they are home, and so incoming calls are free and their outgoing calls are at a reduced rate,” he explained.

“Initially it’s a promotion, meaning it will be limited to the US, Canada and some Caribbean countries. We just want to get it started off in the month of April, and then we will put it into full production by May and then go to our new plans. It’s going to be big for business.”

Mr Roberts said there has been a shift, not just in the business segment but among consumers in general, moving away from the traditional fixed-line voice segment.

“People’s lifestyle and the way they communicate has been moving from fixed-line,” he said.