PREPAID TDMA CUSTOMERS CAN MAKE THE SWITCH

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC) has announced that its prepaid TDMA customers can now make the switch to GSM and keep their existing cellular numbers. Pre-paid porting began on September 8 and will end on October 31.

“We would like to emphasize that our Quik Cell customers can now come in and switch to GSM in preparation for the nationwide turn down of the TDMA network on October 31,” said Marlon Johnson, Vice President of Marketing, Sales & Business Development.
 

BTC is still aggressively working towards its nationwide shut down of the TDMA network. Johnson said, “Overall we are pleased with the progress of the GSM expansion project in New Providence and the Family Islands. In fact, in Exuma in particular we have had good reports from the residents on the quality of service on the GSM network and the extent of coverage now available.’
 

TDMA migration for pre-paid customers will take place over the next eight weeks. Customers are asked to come in according to the prefixes of the cellular numbers as listed below.

CELL NUMBERS DATES

395-0000 – 395-9999 SEPTEMBER 8-20
423-0000 – 423-9999 SEPTEMBER 22-OCTOBER 4

552-0000 – 558-9999 OCTOBER 6 – 18
636-0000 – 636-9999 OCTOBER 20-25
 

If customers miss their dates for porting, they can come in from October 25-31 to make the switch.
BTC strongly advises customers that once their cellular number is scheduled to be ported they will not have access to their text messaging and voicemail features.
TDMA customers will need to purchase a GSM phone if they do not have one. Cyber World is currently offering a 60% discount on selected GSM phones especially for customers making the switch to GSM. BTC has also extended its hours in Cyber World and the Wireless Department in the Mall at Marathon until 8:00pm to accommodate customers. TDMA roaming ended internationally earlier this year. In addition, globally the TDMA networks have been decommissioned, as leading carriers are moving towards the modern and tech-savvy GSM network.