Flow Anguilla

FLOW ANGUILLA

KEEPING ANGUILLA CONNECTED SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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INTERVIEW: FLOW ANGUILLA

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KEEPING ANGUILLA

CONNECTED Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Desron Bynoe, Country Manager for Flow Anguilla, about supporting local businesses, the importance of safety, and providing an essential service to residents in a pandemic.

By Ciara Jack Nestled among the gleaming waves of the Eastern Caribbean is the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, a small island hemmed in by vibrant turquoise coastline.

Keeping some 15,000 residents connected is the communications and entertainment company, Flow, which not only serves Anguilla but many other islands across the region.

“Flow is the longest-serving communications and entertainment provider in Anguilla, serving the government, customers, and businesses throughout the island,” says Desron Bynoe, Country Manager for Flow Anguilla. “We commenced our operations here in October 1971, starting with a modest operation from the back of an old British Army truck, which was left on the island after the Anguilla Revolution.”

Almost fifty years later, Flow is now the predominant provider of telecommunications in Anguilla. “We did this by ensuring that the availability of streamlined, readily-available, affordable access to our products and services empowers the creation of e-commerce and an investment-friendly

environment” says Mr. Bynoe. “Effective telecommunications is critical to attracting foreign investments in many industries such as tourism and construction, and none more significant than our small- to medium businesses (SMBs ). SMBs are the engine of our local economy, as they account for roughly 70% of our economic activity within Anguilla itself.”

BOUNCING BACK The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the importance of reliable connectivity for businesses and individuals around the world. For many, the normal activities of daily life found a new, digital

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INTERVIEW: FLOW ANGUILLA

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“EFFECTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS CRITICAL TO ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN MANY INDUSTRIES SUCH AS TOURISM AND CONSTRUCTION”

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home. “No doubt, telecommunications have redefined the way we live, work, and play, and ultimately how we do business” says Mr. Bynoe. “In Anguilla, which is a luxury tourism destination and small island developing state, connectivity to the outside world is of the utmost importance. Anguilla has only recorded three positive cases to date, and we have received a COVID-free designation from the World Health Organization, not having an actual case in excess of 100 days now. So, it has been relatively good on that front. Maintaining this feat requires a conscientious approach from everyone. The main issue, however, is not necessarily that we are COVID free, but the absence of visitors. Tourism accounts for 75% of our GDP. The inability to receive visitors has obviously affected our economy However, we are resilient people, who come together in times of crisis, and like other times we will bounce back and we’ll come back stronger.”

SAFETY FIRST In response to the pandemic, Flow promptly implemented thorough safety measures across the Anguilla business to keep necessary in-store visits sanitary. “For us, in a public health crisis, the delivery of critical services can prove challenging” says Mr. Bynoe. “From the onset of the pandemic, we reduced our hours of operation and applied health control measures. We implemented social and physical distancing protocol for staff and customers, erected plexiglass barriers in the store, and staff were provided with necessary personal protective equipment.

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We currently continue to conduct temperature checks upon entry, we have installed hand sanitizer stations through the store, and we have also implemented digital and virtual stores to serve customers who prefer to have contactless interactions with us.”

Given these unprecedented times, we had to become innovative to ensure that we could continue to support new customers.

“We instituted a self-installation process, where we provide customers with support to install all the relevant hardware needed for our service,” says Mr. Bynoe. “In cases where it is necessary for a technician to visit the customer’s home, we ensure that they follow all of the necessary precautionary protocols in terms of public health and safety, and ensure that they are well-outfitted with necessary PPE as required.”

OCEAN FREIGHT TRUCKING / DELIVERY Study platform free of charge to all primary and secondary school students through a partnership with the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation and One on One Educational Services,” says Mr. Bynoe. “What we did was provide access to a comprehensive virtual education platform, offering a wide array of educational content enabling students to continue their study from home during this crisis.”

“Flow also provided free access to Ministries of Education and Health

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AIR FREIGHT US MAILBOX

websites to enable residents of Anguilla to gain necessary information about the pandemic,” says Mr. Bynoe. “Additionally, we continue to provide lifeline internet access for qualifying low income households, allowing internet connectivity at concessionary rates.”

WEATHERING THE STORM For Flow, the pandemic isn’t the only major disrupter. “Our most significant project remains the ongoing reconstruction and

HELPING HAND For the first time, many households across the globe were forced to adapt to homeschooling. Online learning became a vital tool for working parents, and indeed to create some semblance of normal teaching hours.

Flow initiated a scheme to assist the school children of Anguilla. “Between March 31st and June 15th, we gave access to our Flow SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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INTERVIEW: FLOW ANGUILLA

“WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE NO LONGER A LUXURY. INSTEAD, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE CONNECTIVITY, THE LIVELIHOOD, CREATING SPECIAL MOMENTS THAT MATTER”

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We move the earth to please if you ask us to

advancement of our fixed and mobile structures following the passage of Hurricane Irma,” says Mr. Bynoe. “Particular attention was given to reinforce the network from such a future risk, as we are sitting in the hurricane zone and are exposed to this impact from natural disasters of hurricanes between the months of June and November of each year.”

Flow is working hard on not only an underground transmission network in Anguilla, but also mobile towers that can withstand a Category 5 storm, which usu-

ally sees winds of up to 185mph. “What is critical for us is business continuity, which is vital to limiting the island’s vulnerability to various forms of disasters,” says Mr. Bynoe.

SUPPORTING THE NATION Flow’s primary focus is to keep our lovely island of Anguilla connected,” says Mr. Bynoe.

“To achieve this objective, we will continue to make long-term investment in our network, as that is our bread and butter.”

Despite other industries in Anguilla coming to a halt, the need for reliable telecommunications has only increased during the pandemic. “We’re supporting consumer behavior changes and the projected increase in demand as more importance is placed on reliability and speed,” says Mr. Bynoe. “This improvement roadmap

is likely to result in more fiber optic cable installations in our fixed infrastructure, and improvement in our existing mobile infrastructures as well. All of that is to ensure that we adequately meet the demands of our consumers.”

With such a pragmatic approach to the future, Flow is set to continue to sustain the most important services in the region. “At Flow, keeping our customers connected remains our top priority,” says Mr. Bynoe. “We understand that the services we provide are no longer a luxury. Instead, they are essential to the connectivity, the livelihood, creating special moments that matter, and supporting the central social pillars, such as the national security, healthcare, and education, of the government, people, and businesses that operate in Anguilla.” c

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T. 1-800-804-2994 discoverflow.co/anguilla/

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