Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago
Encyclopedia
Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (generally known as TSTT) is the largest telephone
and Internet service provider
in Trinidad and Tobago
. The company, which is jointly owned by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and Cable & Wireless
, was formed out of a merger of Telco (Trinidad and Tobago Telephone Company Limited) and Textel (Trinidad and Tobago External Telecommunications Company Limited). TSTT no longer holds a monopoly
in fixed-line telephone services due to Flow
introducing a fixed-line service of their own, but their cellular
monopoly was broken in June 2005 when licenses were granted to Digicel
and Laqtel
.
was located adjacent to the Town Hall (now City Hall) on Frederick Street. By 1898, the Telephone System had developed sufficiently to justify enactment of the Telephone Communication Ordinance.
Around 1890, the telephone service extended westward out of Port of Spain
to Carenage and then onwards to one customer in Chaguaramas. In the early 1900s, the government operated telephone lines in rural areas, namely from Arima
to Manzanilla and from San Fernando
to Cedros
. History records show that a Mr. Bell of Bacolet started the service in Tobago
.
The early system consisted of local battery operated telephones connected to a magneto
switchboard
, a far cry from the sophisticated electronic system which is in operation today. Special cables called enamel cables were developed for use in this country, and it is reported that their use became worldwide because of their durability.
The British owned Trinidad Consolidated Telephones Limited was responsible for the early developmental growth of the Telephone Network in Trinidad and Tobago
from the mid-1930s until 1960.
Approximately 6,300 lines were in service when the Country got its first 1000-line Step-By-Step Exchange in 1936. In 1947, Consolidated purchased the Government operated system in Tobago and the first Teleprinter
(TELEX) link was established in 1949.
After a prolonged strike in 1960, which existed for 1,124 days, the Government of the day purchased the Company and on November 30th, Trinidad Consolidated Telephones Limited became the state owned Trinidad and Tobago Telephone Service.
In 1968, the Government entered into a partnership with Continental Telephones of the United States
, to whom it sold fifty percent of the holdings. This was later dissolved in 1973 and the Company returned to full ownership by the Government.
Over the years, automatic Step-By-Step exchanges were gradually extended to suburban and urban areas as the Company sought to keep pace with the development of the country. Development programmes were implemented in 1935, 1943, 1952 and 1964. A loan agreement was signed in 1974 with the World Bank
for 18 million dollars to carry out a massive development programme. This resulted in the introduction of modern, electronic stored programme equipment at the Exchanges.
In 1979, the government contracted Nippon Electric of Japan
for the supply and installation of 48,000 additional lines and associated equipment.
In March 1981, some 8,000 subscribers were transferred to the new Electronic Exchange at Nelson. Similar ND 20 Exchanges, were commissioned at Thompson in San Fernando
, Chaguanas
, Couva
, Piarco
, San Juan
, Diego Martin
, Maraval
, Arouca
and St Augustine.
The major thrust of the Company's development programme took place during the period 1982 to 1987.
Between 1983 and 1989, DMS-100
Digital switches were installed throughout the country and, as a result of this new technology, training of employees became a significant factor. The new technology saw the introduction of new services such as International Direct Distance Dialling and Vertical Services (Call Waiting, Call forwarding and Conference Calling).
The Company's operations were divided into the following Divisions - Technical Operations, Marketing, Human Resources and Finance. The Company's employee headcount consisted of 2,300 employees (including contractors).
There were approximately 160,000 customers in four major operating districts.
in December 1969 a joint venture participation, with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago holding 51% of the share capital and Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited, the other 49%.
The Company acquired the assets of Cable and Wireless in Trinidad and Tobago and assumed responsibility for external telecommunications, commencing 1 January 1970. As the legally constituted body charged with the responsibility for telecommunication links between the country and the rest of the world, TEXTEL provided the transmission, switching and signalling facilities to interconnect with the international facilities of all other countries.
along with other Cable and Wireless
companies in the region. TSTT's mobile service currently uses the GSM network for data and voice. In 2007 they began launching data services on a CDMA network. Their previous TDMA
network was discontinued on August 31, 2006.
As of 2006 competition has been introduced into its mobile market in Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel
, which also serves other countries in the Caribbean, began operations on their GSM network in early 2006. Digicel and TSTT have since had legal battles over an inter-connection agreement to allow communication between their two networks. LAQTEL
, a Trinidadian owned company, was also awarded a CDMA license but on March 14, 2008 had its license revoked.
service with speeds up to 1GB. In October 2007, TSTT introduced its ADSL2+ broadband internet service branded "Blink Broadband" with speeds up to 10Mbit/s.
technology.
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
and Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. The company, which is jointly owned by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and Cable & Wireless
LIME (Cable & Wireless)
LIME, an acronym for 'Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment', is a communications provider owned by the British based Cable & Wireless Communications plc operating in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts...
, was formed out of a merger of Telco (Trinidad and Tobago Telephone Company Limited) and Textel (Trinidad and Tobago External Telecommunications Company Limited). TSTT no longer holds a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
in fixed-line telephone services due to Flow
Columbus Communications
Columbus Communications is a cable television and telecommunications company based in Freeport, Bahamas, serving markets in the Caribbean and Latin America....
introducing a fixed-line service of their own, but their cellular
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
monopoly was broken in June 2005 when licenses were granted to Digicel
Digicel
Digicel is a mobile phone network provider covering parts of Oceania, Central America, and the Caribbean regions. The company is owned by Irishman Denis O'Brien, is incorporated in Bermuda, and based in Jamaica. It provides mobile services in 26 countries and territories throughout the Caribbean...
and Laqtel
Laqtel
LaqTel Ltd. is a privately held up-start mobile phone and wireless service provider, of Trinidad and Tobago. Currently a division of Telcom Holdings Ltd. , LaqTel was first founded in 2002 by Dr...
.
TELCO
The first telephone was introduced in Trinidad and Tobago in 1883 and the first Telephone ExchangeTelephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
was located adjacent to the Town Hall (now City Hall) on Frederick Street. By 1898, the Telephone System had developed sufficiently to justify enactment of the Telephone Communication Ordinance.
Around 1890, the telephone service extended westward out of Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
to Carenage and then onwards to one customer in Chaguaramas. In the early 1900s, the government operated telephone lines in rural areas, namely from Arima
Arima
The Royal Borough of Arima is the fourth largest town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located east of the capital, Port of Spain, Arima supports the only organised indigenous community in the country, the Santa Rosa Carib Community and is the seat of the Carib Queen...
to Manzanilla and from San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
to Cedros
Cedros, Trinidad and Tobago
The coastal area known as Cedros lies on a peninsula at the South-Western end of the island of Trinidad. Located at the tip of the peninsula, Cedros lies mere miles off the coast of Venezuela...
. History records show that a Mr. Bell of Bacolet started the service in Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
.
The early system consisted of local battery operated telephones connected to a magneto
Magneto
A magneto is a type of electrical generator.Magneto may also refer to:* Magneto , permanent magnetic alternating current rotary generator* ignition magneto, magnetos on internal combustion engines...
switchboard
Telephone switchboard
A switchboard was a device used to connect a group of telephones manually to one another or to an outside connection, within and between telephone exchanges or private branch exchanges . The user was typically known as an operator...
, a far cry from the sophisticated electronic system which is in operation today. Special cables called enamel cables were developed for use in this country, and it is reported that their use became worldwide because of their durability.
The British owned Trinidad Consolidated Telephones Limited was responsible for the early developmental growth of the Telephone Network in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
from the mid-1930s until 1960.
Approximately 6,300 lines were in service when the Country got its first 1000-line Step-By-Step Exchange in 1936. In 1947, Consolidated purchased the Government operated system in Tobago and the first Teleprinter
Teleprinter
A teleprinter is a electromechanical typewriter that can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point and point to multipoint over a variety of communication channels that range from a simple electrical connection, such as a pair of wires, to the use of radio and microwave as the...
(TELEX) link was established in 1949.
After a prolonged strike in 1960, which existed for 1,124 days, the Government of the day purchased the Company and on November 30th, Trinidad Consolidated Telephones Limited became the state owned Trinidad and Tobago Telephone Service.
In 1968, the Government entered into a partnership with Continental Telephones of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to whom it sold fifty percent of the holdings. This was later dissolved in 1973 and the Company returned to full ownership by the Government.
Over the years, automatic Step-By-Step exchanges were gradually extended to suburban and urban areas as the Company sought to keep pace with the development of the country. Development programmes were implemented in 1935, 1943, 1952 and 1964. A loan agreement was signed in 1974 with the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
for 18 million dollars to carry out a massive development programme. This resulted in the introduction of modern, electronic stored programme equipment at the Exchanges.
In 1979, the government contracted Nippon Electric of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
for the supply and installation of 48,000 additional lines and associated equipment.
In March 1981, some 8,000 subscribers were transferred to the new Electronic Exchange at Nelson. Similar ND 20 Exchanges, were commissioned at Thompson in San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
, Chaguanas
Chaguanas
The Borough of Chaguanas is the largest municipality 2000 census) and fastest-growing town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located in Central Trinidad about south of Port of Spain. It grew in size due to its proximity to the Woodford Lodge sugar refinery. It remained a minor town until the 1980s when it...
, Couva
Couva
Couva is a town in west-central Trinidad, south of Chaguanas and north of Claxton Bay and San Fernando. The Greater Couva area includes the Point Lisas Industrial Estate and the Port of Point Lisas. Couva's southern boundary is at the town of California, and to the north Couva stretches to McBean...
, Piarco
Piarco
Piarco, a town in northern Trinidad, is the site of Piarco International Airport . It also includes the village of St. Helena. Piarco is the site of one of the few natural savannas in Trinidad and Tobago, the Piarco Savanna...
, San Juan
San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
San Juan is a town in Trinidad and Tobago. It lies in North Eastern Trinidad, between Barataria and St. Joseph.It is a busy town in the East-West Corridor; the centre of town is known as the Croisee. Population is 54,900 , and it is the third city of the country, larger than the capital. San Juan...
, Diego Martin
Diego Martin
Diego Martin is a town in northwestern Trinidad, just north-west of the capital Port of Spain and east of Carenage. The Diego Martin Valley in the Northern Range was once filled with a number of small villages but is now a densely populated area. It was named after a Spanish explorer Don Diego...
, Maraval
Maraval
Maraval is one of the northern suburbs of Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain a valley in northern Trinidad in Trinidad and Tobago. It is situated at the bottom of the hills of Paramin and located east of the Diego Martin valley to which it is connected directly by Morne Coco Road, and west of Santa...
, Arouca
Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago
Arouca is a town in the East-West Corridor of Trinidad and Tobago located east of Port of Spain, along the Eastern Main Road. It is located west of Arima, east of Tunapuna and Tacarigua, south of Lopinot, and north of Piarco. It is governed by the Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation...
and St Augustine.
The major thrust of the Company's development programme took place during the period 1982 to 1987.
Between 1983 and 1989, DMS-100
DMS-100
The DMS-100 Switch is a line of Digital Multiplex System telephone exchange switches manufactured by Nortel Networks.The purpose of the DMS-100 Switch is to provide local service and connections to the PSTN public telephone network. It is designed to deliver services over subscribers' telephone...
Digital switches were installed throughout the country and, as a result of this new technology, training of employees became a significant factor. The new technology saw the introduction of new services such as International Direct Distance Dialling and Vertical Services (Call Waiting, Call forwarding and Conference Calling).
The Company's operations were divided into the following Divisions - Technical Operations, Marketing, Human Resources and Finance. The Company's employee headcount consisted of 2,300 employees (including contractors).
There were approximately 160,000 customers in four major operating districts.
TEXTEL
The Trinidad and Tobago External Telecommunications Company Limited (TEXTEL), was incorporated as a limited liability companyLimited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
in December 1969 a joint venture participation, with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago holding 51% of the share capital and Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited, the other 49%.
The Company acquired the assets of Cable and Wireless in Trinidad and Tobago and assumed responsibility for external telecommunications, commencing 1 January 1970. As the legally constituted body charged with the responsibility for telecommunication links between the country and the rest of the world, TEXTEL provided the transmission, switching and signalling facilities to interconnect with the international facilities of all other countries.
Mobile services
TSTT has re-branded its mobile division to bmobileBmobile TT
bmobile is a privately mobile phone service provider of Trinidad and Tobago. Currently a division of TSTT.-History:TSTT has re-branded its mobile division to bmobile along with other Cable and Wireless companies in the Caribbean. Since then almost all the other Caribbean mobile divisions have been...
along with other Cable and Wireless
LIME (Cable & Wireless)
LIME, an acronym for 'Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment', is a communications provider owned by the British based Cable & Wireless Communications plc operating in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts...
companies in the region. TSTT's mobile service currently uses the GSM network for data and voice. In 2007 they began launching data services on a CDMA network. Their previous TDMA
Digital AMPS
IS-54 and IS-136 are second-generation mobile phone systems, known as Digital AMPS . It was once prevalent throughout the Americas, particularly in the United States and Canada. D-AMPS is considered end-of-life, and existing networks have mostly been replaced by GSM/GPRS or CDMA2000...
network was discontinued on August 31, 2006.
As of 2006 competition has been introduced into its mobile market in Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel
Digicel
Digicel is a mobile phone network provider covering parts of Oceania, Central America, and the Caribbean regions. The company is owned by Irishman Denis O'Brien, is incorporated in Bermuda, and based in Jamaica. It provides mobile services in 26 countries and territories throughout the Caribbean...
, which also serves other countries in the Caribbean, began operations on their GSM network in early 2006. Digicel and TSTT have since had legal battles over an inter-connection agreement to allow communication between their two networks. LAQTEL
Laqtel
LaqTel Ltd. is a privately held up-start mobile phone and wireless service provider, of Trinidad and Tobago. Currently a division of Telcom Holdings Ltd. , LaqTel was first founded in 2002 by Dr...
, a Trinidadian owned company, was also awarded a CDMA license but on March 14, 2008 had its license revoked.
Internet services
TSTT Internet Services include dial up service, wireless broadband service based on EVDO technology, and ADSL-based Broadband service. TSTT also offers a variety of data solutions for the Corporate sector including leased circuits, virtual private networks, frame relay services, and metro EthernetMetro Ethernet
A Metro Ethernet is a computer network that covers a metropolitan area and that is based on the Ethernet standard. It is commonly used as a metropolitan access network to connect subscribers and businesses to a larger service network or the Internet...
service with speeds up to 1GB. In October 2007, TSTT introduced its ADSL2+ broadband internet service branded "Blink Broadband" with speeds up to 10Mbit/s.
Television services
TSTT is also in the process of rolling out its new TV service called "Blink Entertainment" which is based on the IPTVIPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
technology.