BTC ‘drives’ for better service and reliability

THE BAHAMAS Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday said it has added two new mobile towers on New Providence to improve network capacity as it moves to “drive” improved services and reliability during 2023.

The carrier, in a statement, said it has added two new tower sites at Gladstone Road and Venice Bay and is also conducting “proactive maintenance” on its mobile network in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

BTC said it plans to spend 2023 gaining feedback from Family Island communities, accessing the network and making improvements where necessary.

Sameer Bhatti, BTC’s chief executive, said: “We are listening to our customers and a key priority this year is to improve services and drive a culture of reliability and performance in the organisation. Now,more than ever before, customers are making purchases and deciding who they will do business with based on perceived reliability.

“I’ve had customers tell me: ‘I want my mobile data to be unnoticeable because it’s always working’. We will be investing more time in our networks to ensure that we are providing quality service for all our customers. Our mobile network is critical to our customers’ daily lives, so we are taking the time to ensure that we are providing the best service possible.”

Airline honours Sandals founder

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

AN AIRLINE will honour Sandals Resorts International’s (SRI) founder, the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, by naming a new aircraft that is set to be delivered this year after him.

Citing his work to strengthen and foster tourism in Jamaica, Frontier

Airlines will name the plane tail ‘Stewart the Red-Billed Streamertai’. This will both honour the Sandals founder and incorporate Jamaica’s national bird, the red-billed streamertail, locally known as the doctor bird, to Frontier’s signature plane tails programme. The new design was unveiled by Frontier Airlines president and chief executive, Barry Biffle, at a ceremonial event held at Sandals Montego Bay.

“Sharing Jamaica with the world was my father’s joy, and our hearts are filled with immense pride with the introduction of ‘Stewart the Red-Billed Streamertail’ to the Frontier fleet. I know that my dad would be so proud to have our Jamaican doctor bird flying once again,” said Adam Stewart, executive

BTC said businesses, residents and persons commuting through the Gladstone Road and Venice Bay areas will experience improved voice and data services due to the new towers. The carrier is also conducting ‘drive-tests’ to get an in-depth view of its mobile network. Technicians are using mobile phone software to collect real time information about network performance while driving through different areas. Typical voice and data calls are simulated and provide information reflective of the customer experience. BTC then analyses that information to determine quality-of-service levels and the next steps to make appropriate improvements or adjustments.

Mr Bhatti said: “We are doing ‘drive-tests’ in New Providence and Grand Bahama now, and already the team has identified and acted on areas requiring improvement. The southwestern corridor in New it the luxury location of choice.” chairman of Sandals Resorts International.

The bidding officially opens on March 10 and, while listed at $28.8m, the estate is being offered without reserve.

Providence is big on our agenda for improvements, and we’ve already made strides by erecting new cell sites.

“We’ve completed the western end of Grand Bahama and Freeport. The team is now working on the eastern end of the island. In a few weeks, we will make some major announcements relative to improvements in our Family Islands.” Customers experiencing service issues can send a What’s App message to CALL-BTC (225-5282) or to the carrier’s social media channels.

FRONTIER Airlines unveils its plans for the new plane tail, Stewart the Red-Billed Streamertail, in honour of Sandals Resorts founder, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

“Thank you, Frontier. We are honoured that you have chosen to pay tribute to him in this extraordinary way. His legendary spirit will now continue to soar over his beloved Jamaica.”

“We present this new design in recognition of the work that Mr Stewart, and indeed the entire Stewart family, has done for tourism in Jamaica,” said Mr Biffle.

A fierce champion of Jamaican since entering the tourism industry in 1981, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s leadership helped resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry at the time. He was elected president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in 1989 and was inducted into its ‘Hall of Fame’ in 1995.

He served as a director of the Jamaica Tourist Board for a decade, and as president of the Jamaica Hotel