Belize's BTL says that it has received approval and full support from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), to proceed with the installation of a new wireless country-wide communications network that will extend coverage of BTL's telephone and high-speed internet services throughout the whole of Belize, including rural areas and those areas that at present do not receive service, or receive only limited services.
BTL will continue to maintain and expand its existing GSM network, but this new wireless network, using the 450 MHz frequency, will provide much expanded coverage. The cost of the network is put at around US$15 million.
Primarily targeted at residents and businesses in small rural communities, the service will also be offered to the Emergency Services, Government Support Services, Belize Security Forces, and for those civilians traveling into the more remote parts of the country such as tour guides and fishermen. This new wireless network will also play a key role in supporting the commitment BTL made at its recent AGM to get all government primary and secondary schools 'on-line' throughout Belize.
Given Belize's rugged terrain, with many small communities nestled away in valleys and out-of-the-way places, and the varied demands of the Security and Emergency services, the full deployment of this wireless coverage is technically challenging, and there is a substantial financial investment required to complete the project.
The first customers using this new network are scheduled to come on-line before the end of this year.
The Mobile World subscriber database estimates that BTL ended Q3 '06 with just over 104,000 subscribers, giving them a market share of around 72%. The sole competitor is the CDMA operator, Speednet Communications."
Posted to the site on 19th February 2007
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/22102.php