By Sue-Ann Wayow
TWO new plans geared towards persons in the offshore and maritime industry have been launched by bMobile/TSTT.
There are now the Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan for corporate customers and the Maritime Plan for non-corporate customers.
The new plans which give access to 10 GB of roaming data, will provide customers with reliable, convenient and secure access to their data services and mobile applications while at sea, a release from Bmobile on Monday stated.
Bmobile stated that the plans 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 were positioned to benefit recreational vessels and can serve as one more level of safety for those in the waters around T&T.
Assistant General Manager of Business Sales, TSTT, Darryl Duke said, “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 explained that TSTT partnered with a leader in offshore roaming to enable the plans.
“The Local Offshore Data Roaming Plan and the Maritime Plan from bmobile give you coverage in some of the most far-reaching areas in the waters around T&T,” said TSTT’s Senior Manager of Major Accounts Anton Romany.
“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. If for instance you are stranded at sea, you are now able to make a call using any over-the-Top (OTT) application (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram, FaceTime) from three major zones, which in some areas is as far as 40 miles offshore,” he added.
Romany said 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.
Coverage in the vicinity of the Angelin field is in the works.
To access the plan, corporate customers are required to contact their Account Managers, however, 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 release stated.
The maritime plan is available to new and existing postpaid and prepaid customers and must be activated before going offshore or to sea.
It stated, “Bmobile is proud to provide this new, innovative solution for its customers in the maritime industry and looks forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the people, economy and businesses of Trinidad and Tobago.”
