GREAT BAY:---- On Thursday evening at Holland House, Glen Carty, United Telecommunications Service (UTS) Eastern Caribbean Division Chief Executive Officer (CEO), launched the country’s first 4G LTE Network connecting everybody to their world via 20 cell sites throughout the country.
It was approximately five months ago that a presentation was made to Minister of Telecommunications, and representatives from the Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP-SXM) at UTS Headquarters in Philipsburg, regarding the company’s move into 4G LTE technology for enterprise and consumer business on Sint Maarten/St. Martin, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Barths.
This is a historic moment for Sint Maarten as UTS Eastern Caribbean launches mobile and broadband high speed data for consumers with speed and capacity never experienced before on St. Maarten, adding that the country will have the most modern network on the island with the best quality of service for the end user.
LTE (Long-Term Evolution) has become the fastest developing mobile communications technology ever – LTE era. LTE is commonly marketed as 4G LTE, which is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.
The LTE network is an investment of approximately US$15 million ensuring UTS customers growing demand for data, speed and quality for years to come. Carty is very proud to announce that its 4G LTE service is available for all of its monthly 3G customers on St. Maarten with no additional charge for only US$35 per month.
The company is also busy working simultaneously on a number of fronts such as enhancing its 3G services, installing fibre optic for businesses and homes, and enhancing its fixed wireless service via Caribserve.
“UTS started with a 2G network back in 2003, and up to 2011 this worked well. The network outgrew itself based on today’s customer demands. Smart phones today are determining the way forward and telecommunication providers have to adjust to these new trends by making the necessary investments in order to connect you to your world.
“This is what we have been doing after a strategic review of where we are now and where we want to be five years from now. The telecommunications sector is a dynamic sector as new technologies become available. Therefore, we have joined with several strategic partners on a number of fronts that would allow us to maximize all opportunities that exist. We are working with Huawei Caribbean who has the technology.
In addition, “UTS Eastern Caribbean has signed an agreement with AT&T and other carriers where it concerns 4G LTE roaming, because visitors to the country, stay-over or cruise, as well as investors, want and demand a high speed quality service. This St. Maarten company is the only mobile provider that covers the Eastern Caribbean with seamless connectivity, because it’s all about connecting you to your world.
“UTS Eastern Caribbean will also be working with a company called Amber Connect to launch safety and security devices. This will also be a synergy between this company and our award-winning Training and Development Centre (TDC), which is managed by a dedicated and dynamic team of professionals.
“The idea is to train our own St. Maarten-ers where it concerns the development of applications. TDC will create the opportunity that could be utilized by the private and public sectors to learn to develop technology right here at home.
“UTS mission has evolved from an infrastructure-driven company to a technology and customer-driven company that offers superior connectivity and access to content through innovative solutions. We went through a process of restructuring and preparing for the future of technology.
“We have our own supervisory board, our own budget; the decision-making is done here at home, so we are able to respond faster to trends and developments and make those key decisions that are necessary to benefit our customers and business clients. We are a local company with vested interests in our country.
“UTS Eastern Caribbean is all about connecting you to your world, and with this new evolution, we have a very exciting sustainable future ahead for all our customers,” CEO Glen Carty said on Thursday.
The UTS Group is one of the Caribbean’s premier, integrated and growing providers of proven telecommunication technology. It serves consumers, businesses, governments, and other institutions in the Caribbean area, South America, and Europe.
UTS Group has over 90 years of experience, and is considered the market leader and trendsetter in its main markets in long distance and mobile telephony services.
Huawei, founded in 1987, is a global leader of Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions. The company’s products and solutions are used in 170 countries and regions. Huawei is ranked 285th on the Global Fortune 500 based on its revenue in 2013. In 2014, the company’s revenue reached approximately US$46.5 billion and employs 170,000 people.
