800 Sophia residents connected to GTT Fibre service

Mar 06, 2023 News

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– company targeting 18,000 homes in Berbice

Kaieteur News – More than 800 residents in Sophia now have access to GTT’s high speed Fibre service as the company officially announced that it has connected 50% of homes in the country with the service.

CEO of GTT Damian Blackburn made the announcement during the launching of a smart classroom donated by the company to the Sophia Primary School last Friday. He said that more than 120,000 homes now have access to the service and the company is investing in Guyana’s future.

“Guyana is going through a lot of change right now and you are Guyana’s future. I am so happy that the future is in your hands because you are going to have huge opportunities” the CEO told a batch of Grade Six students who will be utilising the room to prepare for the upcoming NGSA examination, GTT said in a statement. The room is fully equipped with a projector, desktop computer, printer and scanner directly connected to GTT’s Fibre service. The company also donated a number of stationary items to the school.

“Strengthening Communities”

“The country is investing in you and investing in lots of things to make your life better with money that is being generated from oil and gas and maintaining our forest. At GTT, we are ensuring we play our part by strengthening communities, supporting your education and giving you access to the technology available to the rest of the world,” Blackburn said. Blackburn also encouraged the teachers of the school to use the internet as a tool to continue to improve their methods and expand their knowledge.

“I hope this smart classroom is not just used by you to learn new things but also by your teachers. Your teachers will have to learn new skills. So, it’s very important at this moment in Guyana that you are given access to the latest things that other children can get in other countries.”

“Investing in the Future”

Headteacher of the Sophia Primary School Audrey Sue, said she was surprised when the school was contacted by GTT to develop a smart room. “When I heard that GTT wants to make a classroom in our school into a smart room I said wow, I am going to welcome it with open arms.  We know this is the era when children are born into technology and GTT has placed a spark in our hearts by investing in their future”.

The headteacher said that the school’s curriculum includes the use of the internet and the smart room is a plus for the students. “Teachers will be able to engage in meaningful lessons. Children will be able to go online and have access to more information. I love the venture and I know we will be working together with GTT to make our school a success”.

In addition to Sophia, GTT launched Fibre in the community of Hague on the West Coast of Demerara last week and also partnered with that community in the area of education.  The company donated a desktop computer completed with a printer and scanner, a chalkboard and stationery to the Hague Primary School which has a small population of just 65 students. The school is already provided with internet connectivity through the Ministry of Education.

“More Opportunities”

COO of GTT’s Home Solutions and Fixed Networks, Eshwar Thakurdin, said that the company is making a massive effort to reliably connect its customers and provide them with best-in-class service.  He said Fibre is a large part of the solution.

“Fibre allows many devices to be connected to the same wifi and you can still have very strong connection, it still moves very fast and you don’t have to wait a long time to stream high quality videos or wait a long time for websites to load when you are doing research”.

Thakurdin disclosed that the company will be making Fibre available to more than 18,000 homes in East Berbice – Corentyne (Region Six), before the end of the year. Last weekend it launched the service in Fyrish on the East Bank of the Berbice River to benefit more than 1200 homes in the area. Other communities in the Region that have received the service this year, are  No.2, No.7, No.11, No.19 , Palmyra, Seawell, Sheet Anchor and  Susannah villages on the East Bank of the Berbice River. The villages collectively account for more than 2200 homes in the Region that will benefit from the upgraded connectivity solution.

Additionally, GTT has been directly engaging with its customers through door-to-door representatives to listen to their needs and provide the necessary guidance and support.

Thakurdin added that the company will be pushing ahead aggressively with its agenda and creating more opportunities along the way as it positively impacts the lives of its customers.

Headteacher of the Sophia Primary School Audrey Sue, is pictured during the launching of a smart classroom and the donation of stationery to the school.

 

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