BTC to continue fiber-to-the-home push in 2022 to bridge digital divide

BTC to continue fiber-to-the-home push in 2022 to bridge digital divide
(FILE)

“We’ve delivered a lot in 2021, but in 2022 we must do even more”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will continue to focus on efforts to bridge the digital divide by providing greater access across the country through its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services as part of its 2022 strategy, the company said yesterday.

Inge Smidts, CEO of Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) — the parent company of BTC — recently visited The Bahamas as part of her goal to reconnect in person with employees and stakeholders throughout the markets in which CWC operates. Smidts met with BTC’s senior leadership team (SLT), union officials and the CEO of the company’s broadband competitor.

Smidts met with BTC’s SLT as the company finalized its strategy and key priorities for 2022. BTC will continue to focus on its efforts to bridge the digital divide by providing greater access throughout the country with fiber-to-the-home services.

The company will also be laser-focused on continued improvements to customer care for both residential and small business customers. 

Smidts said: “We must provide top-notch services to our customers. That requires us to continue to look at our business through their eyes. I’ve challenged the team to focus with granularity on the key issues and opportunities to step up and make key changes to deliver positive momentum.

“We’ve delivered a lot in 2021, but in 2022 we must do even more. We believe in listening to our customers and responding to their needs. 

“We heard loud and clear the need for further investment in our fiber-to-the-home footprint. As a result, we delivered FTTH in a number of key islands and communities, including Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma and New Providence this year.

“We launched our ‘Elevate’ campaign as we bundled all of our fixed and mobile services, becoming the first in country to truly launch a quad-play, one-bill solution for customers, and then we continued to innovate by addressing key customer service issues with the introduction of our WhatsApp Bot, new contact centers and solutions for small business customers and our virtual store.”

Inge Smidts.

Smidts also made it a priority to meet with the president and secretary general of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), Sherry Benjamin and Javotte Moncur respectively.

She said: “Positive relationships with our union partners are critical to me and to the company. I was happy to meet with Sherry and Javotte, firstly to congratulate them on their recent win and to discuss some pertinent issues.

“Our colleagues are our single most important priority, and will continue to meet with and work with our Union partners to ensure that we maintain a healthy relationship.”

Smidts also met with Franklyn Butler II, CEO of Cable Bahamas.

“It is important that we maintain good relationships with all of our stakeholders, including our competitors,” she said.

“At the end of the day, we are all allies working to provide telecommunications services to all Bahamians no matter where they are.

“When we compete, our customers win, and that’s what’s most important.”

Smidts returns to the country early next month for a meeting with Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and senior government officials.