Two new roaming plans being offered by bmobile will make it possible for maritime and offshore customers to have secure access to their data services and mobile applications while at sea.
According to bmobile, its two new recently launched plans—Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan and Maritime Plan—are “robust and reliable mobile offerings designed to provide continued connectivity to people and businesses involved in offshore and maritime activity.”
The new plans give access to 10 GB of roaming data.
“The Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan (for corporate customers), and the Maritime Plan (for non-corporate customers) will significantly enhance the efficiency of communications for companies and persons engaged in the offshore energy sector, while also improving the livelihood, safety and security of fishermen in the offshore roaming zones. Additionally, the plans are positioned to benefit recreational vessels and can serve as one more level of safety for those in the waters around T&T,” the company explained in a release.
One of the ATEX junction boxes that make connectivity at sea possible. [Image courtesy bmobile]
To access the Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan, corporate customers are required to contact their Account Managers. Bmobile says non-corporate customers—including fishermen and those who venture out to sea for work or recreation—can activate the plan by dialing *123# and selecting the option for Maritime Add-Ons. Once activated, customers will receive a notification on the purchase of the add-on and notifications at 75%, 90% and 100% usage of the data bundle.
While the current plans are Data-only, bmobile will seek to add Voice functionality soon. The Maritime plan is available to new and existing post-paid and pre-paid customers and must be activated before going offshore or to sea.
Assistant General Manager Business Sales at TSTT, Darryl Duke, notes that the company joined forces with a leader in offshore roaming to ensure the effectiveness of both plans.
“We partnered with a leader in offshore roaming to enable this and expand our portfolio,” he said. “This illustrates the belief and efforts we will undertake as a communications leader to keep T&T powered and powering on!”
Duke explained the initiatives are key elements of bmobile/TSTT’s national development strategy.
“Supporting the economic development of Trinidad and Tobago is in the very DNA of what we do here at bmobile. Connectivity is the lifeblood of any modern organisation and we saw a need to fill the gap in communications experienced by the maritime industries,” he said.
A closer look These purpose-built, explosion proof cabinets are often used in offshore and other harsh environments to provide connectivity to those within the coverage area. [Image courtesy bmobile]
Senior Manager of Major Accounts at TSTT, says Anton Romany, says both plans provide coverage “in some of the most far-reaching areas in the waters around T&T."
"Whether you're a fisherman, a passenger on a sea-faring vessel, or an employee on an offshore rig, you can now rely on bmobile to keep you connected,” Romany asserts.
He explained:
“If for instance you are stranded at sea, you are now able to make a call using any over-the-top (OTT) application—such as WhatsApp, Telegram, FaceTime—from three major zones, which in some areas is as far as 40 miles offshore.”
Romany noted that coverage spans from the vicinity of the Poinsettia oilfield in the north, and the Cassia B and Mahogany B oilfields in the south-east, adding that coverage in the vicinity of the Angelin field is in the works.
