Flow invests billions in Jamaica

• Customers can watch, talk, click better than ever

With a saturation to date of approximately 50 per cent of the Jamaican market, Flow continues to invest billions in its operations with the hope that within 15 to 20 years it will be the preferred choice across the island.

Since parent company Columbus Communications Inc set up operations in 2004 in Barbados, the telecommunications company has expanded its operations to 22 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, offering to its clients cable-television services, high-speed Internet access, digital telephone and Internet infrastructure services.

So far, Columbus has invested US$1 billion in the wider Caribbean. And since starting operations in Jamaica five years ago, the company has invested US$250 million in local development. This investment will be ongoing, as it is expected that the company will be spending US$40 million each year over the next four years on its Jamaica operations. The company intends to continue its aggressive development, to ensure that within the next five years it will have a stronger foothold in major centres across the island.

Sharon Roper, Flow's vice-president, marketing, said the investment is worth every penny.

"We are part of a very exciting prospect to bring never-before-seen First-World technology to Jamaica. The response of our customers, both residential and commercial, has been nothing short of phenomenal," she said.

The company prides itself on innovative steps taken that put it on the cutting edge and make it the leader in telecommunications advancement.

Columbus' Caribbean infrastructure boasts over 18,000km of undersea fibre-optic cable network that links 22 countries in the region, four distinct, fully flexible and scalable network rings, 36 landing stations in 22 countries, a 320gbps capacity and commercial availability of compatible 40gbps transponder technology.

innovation leaders

For the first time in Jamaica, the country is linked directly to the United States and South America via the undersea fibre-optic cable. Along the island, there is 3,065km of cable, and the country has eight hubs covering all the major cities as well as an islandwide scalable DWDM backbone fibre ring.

Flow guarantees service and installation within 10 working days in major cities, and 30 business days for rural areas.

"We also plan to continue to be the innovation leaders by offering only the best, such as Internet speed faster than 100mbps to consumers, as well as telemedicine solutions, among other things," said Roper.

One of its new offerings is the Columbus Business Solutions, delivering packages tailor-made for its business clientele. This business arm of the company provides business-class solutions to small-, medium- and large-enterprise clients in Jamaica, the Caribbean and Latin America.

"We are now offering business clients in Jamaica the ability to access one of the most cutting-edge services in the world today," said Niall Sheehy, vice-president of Flow's Columbus Business Solutions.

"Our clients can now have business solutions designed for their specific needs."

Consumers have been touting the benefits of Flow services since the company took up operations.

"Our competitive, innovative edge has led to a 98 per cent reduction in commercial rates, reduced Internet rates at increased Internet speed. Flow introduced to Jamaican households Internet speeds of 100mbps. Our standard Internet package is the best value offering in Jamaica, 12mbps for only $2,450 per month. That's cheaper than 4G and about four times faster than the competition," said the marketing VP.

flow's first for ja

Roper said Flow was the first to offer digital cable television with over 250 channels, as well as allow customers to create their own cable packages, starting at $850 per month for 60 channels.

Flow also brought to Jamaica the first alternative landline, with all calls free on the Flow network. "We also have the cheapest rental rate at $595 per month, and no extra cost for our calling features," she stated.

She added, "Part of our new innovative products include bill view, caller ID and games on TV. We also have Flow On Demand, where customers can choose from a menu of video and watch what they want, when they want."

With a significant contribution to the job market, Flow employs 550 persons directly, in addition to several contractors.