Following the launch of its $43 million 4G network in Nassau late last year, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is now extending the service to the Family Islands, and says most of The Bahamas should be able to access the high speed wireless network by August 2012.

In December 2011, New Providence moved from a 2G wireless internet service to 4G – the fastest internet available. Since then Grand Bahama has become almost 100 per cent converted and BTC has pledged to bring Abaco, Bimini and the Berry Islands on board by mid-May.

BTC’s Vice President of Brand & Communications Marlon Johnson said the company has completed 35 of 41 cell sites in Abaco and expects the island to be fully connected by the end of April.

“When the work is done customers will enjoy greatly improved service, fewer dropped calls and much faster speeds as Abaco goes from a 2G platform to the blazing speed of 4G,” he said.

“Abaco was a large territory to cover because of all the small cays and the sprawling lay of the land,” he continued. “We have 45 cell sites in New Providence and 41 in Abaco despite the difference in population so you can see how comprehensive our coverage had to be.”

Once the 4G network is in place, users will experience faster upload times, better download speeds and speedier web browsing.

BTC will also open its first renovated store in Treasure Cay, Abaco, on April 26.

cmorris@dupuch.com