One Communications says it has completed capacity upgrades at 35 mobile sites across Guyana as traffic on its network increases and the company prepares to move remaining locations away from older 2G-only service.
The work forms part of a multiyear US$25 million modernisation programme. Company officials said at a Friday media briefing that total mobile-data traffic had increased 28 per cent, while average consumption per customer climbed 23 per cent, from 17.3 gigabytes to 21.3 gigabytes.
The company is using additional long-term evolution, or LTE, technology to expand capacity and reduce congestion during periods of high demand.
Upgrades have already been completed at Annai and Kurupukari. Sites serving Lethem, Lethem Central, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma are expected to receive LTE service by mid-October.
Those locations are significant because reliable broadband can be more difficult to provide in Guyana’s hinterland than along its densely populated coast. Communities may depend heavily on mobile networks for education, banking, government services and business transactions where fixed broadband is limited.
One Communications is also assessing approximately 30 locations for possible expansion, including Experiment, Golden Grove, La Bonne Intention and East Canje. The company stressed that those sites remain under evaluation; construction decisions will depend on engineering studies, regulatory approval and network priorities.
Chief Executive Officer Abraham Smith acknowledged that coverage and performance problems remain in some areas.
