Blink wireless broadband internet to empower rural communities

Last week the organisation successfully completed the simultaneous launch of the Blink Broadband Wireless Pilot Project on both islands; at the Bridge of Hope Children’s Home in Sangre Chiquito and the Golden Lane Homework Center, Tobago. This project is essentially designed to empower and enable residents of mainly rural and underserved communities by providing them with broadband internet with data speeds of up to ten megabits per second (mbps).

The Blink Broadband Wireless Pilot Project will serve 800 homes in four communities located in different quadrants of Trinidad and Tobago; Sangre Chiquito, Cheeyou, Rancho Quemado and Golden Lane, Tobago at no cost to residents for a period of three months.

The service is powered by Blink’s technology partner, Huawei and employs the latest 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology. As the successor to Wi-Max, LTE is considered to be the future of mobile data as it provides wireless data connections that are not only faster than Wi-Max but can adequately compete with its fixed line counterparts. By simply installing antennas and using pre-existing mobile cell towers, this 4G LTE technology completely eliminates the need to run cables or wires. In so doing it increases the quality and reliability of Blink’s 95 percent coverage in Trinidad and Tobago. The set up device is even more cost effective and convenient than its predecessors as it does not require the expertise of technicians to install. Residents can simply plug it in and access broadband internet with speeds of up to ten mbps which translates to quick and easy downloads, fast sharing of documents and hassle free video streaming.

During his address at the Trinidad leg of the launch, Acting CEO of TSTT, George Hill, explained that the company’s multimillion dollar investment into the Blink Wireless Broadband project is intended to benefit the national community. Mr Hill also noted that this project aligns itself to the 2014 theme for World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, “Broadband for Sustainable Development; a theme which identifies digital development as a transformative tool for sustainable development by making high speed broadband internet affordable and universally accessible. Against this backdrop the Acting CEO emphatically stated, “We are creating greater continuity for an information-age learning experience so that our children have the best chance for success.”

Member of Parliament for the area, The Honourable Colin Partap echoed similar sentiments as he described the project as “ground breaking”. Reflecting on its significance to his constituency, the Member of Parliament stated, “The Blink Wireless Broadband Project marks the beginning of an era where no child would be placed at a disadvantage because of their location.” Minister of Public Utilities, The Honourable Nizam Baksh went one step further and encouraged residents to use the service to improve their quality of life and realise their potential and that of their children by doing research, seeking out educational opportunities and developing the knack for business and e-commerce.

On the sister isle, Assemblyman Godwin Adams expressed his gratitude to Blink for selecting his community as one of the first to benefit from the service and challenged the company to continue enabling his and other communities in Tobago. Executive Vice President of Blink Sales Service and Tobago Operations, Vinood Radge Coomar, explained that as a part of the company’s five year strategic plan, the Blink Wireless Broadband Project will be rapidly deployed nationwide to cover 300 sites over the next six months. At the simultaneous launch of the project, Blink further demonstrated its commitment towards empowering and facilitating the development of communities by providing the Bridge of Hope Children’s Home and the Golden Lane Homework Center with computers and free internet access.

Following this pilot project, Blink Wireless Broadband technology will be made available to the public at competitive and affordable pricing.