TSTT promises fight to keep customers

THE Telecommunications industry needs clear regulations and rational rules to which all players must subscribe, in order to deal with the challenges which exist around the regulatory environment. This is the view of CEO of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) Samuel Martin. Speaking at the launch of the company’s newest initiative, “InstantOne” mobile connectivity, held at the Hilton Trinidad Ballroom yesterday, Martin explained that they recognised there were priorities the company must meet in order to be successful and maintain its competitive edge. He said the regulatory environment was one of these and explained that the company’s first priority must be an improvement in the quality of customer service, and to achieve this TSTT must re-invent itself to be a “customer-centric” company. He noted that a customer centered business model was a key element of the company’s future success, and one which would take TSTT to a new level while making them a more competitive company, able to stay ahead of the rest in the new competitive environment.

Martin also stated that TSTT must deliver on established market expectations noting that over the years it had made great strides in bringing state-of-the-art technology to Trinidad and Tobago, including the best innovation in wireless, national voice and data services. He noted that the company was aware of the challenges its customers faced through network costs, migrating from one technology to another and support of the increasingly mobile workforce, and gave the assurance that TSTT intended to deal with these challenges by positioning their product and service solutions in the best way possible to meet its customers’ needs. Martin told participants that TSTT intended to take up all the challenges ahead and turn them into opportunities, noting that the end-game of their “strategic roadmap is to position us to take advantage of new opportunities consistent with our strategy of providing the most appropriate products and services to the customers.”

One such opportunity is the alliance that has been formed between TSTT and communications giant Motorola which, Martin explained, would bring TSTT complementary strengths that would enable it to offer powerful solutions like “InstantOne” to its customers. “Simply stated,” Martin said, “We want your business and we are going to work hard to get it and keep it.” Also addressing participants at the launch was Motorola’s director of system solutions, Caribbean and Central America, John Magee, who stated that Motorola was pleased to be involved in the launch of this country’s first fully digital two-way radio network.

He said Motorola had been doing business in Trinidad and Tobago for the last 40 years and was seeking a way to provide a new integrated voice and data network for companies operating in the energy sector over the last five years. He said the company had explored options that would provide the highest level of service at the most cost-effective price to energy companies engaging in mission critical operations. In 2002, after extensive analysis of the digital technologies available today, Motorola approached TSTT about the possibility of working together to invest, install and operate a new network providing integrated voice and data communications. He said after several consultations with TSTT over the available technologies, it was decided that Tetra would be selected as the preferred technology for this country’s energy sector.