- CONTRIBUTED
Andrew Massias.
A JAMAICAN Telecommunications company, Island Networks Limited (INL), has broken new ground in wireless communications in the Caribbean, by being the first to deploy within the region, a layer two network driven by the highly rated Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology, which not only speeds up network traffic but also makes it easier to manage.
INL's MPLS network currently has 95 per cent coverage of the island's business market, and was built by the company at a cost of over US$3 million ($192 million) with equipment manufactured by Cisco Systems. The latter is the pioneer of the MPLS technology and is the world's leading developer of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies.
BECOMING POPULAR
The Internet Protocol (IP) MPLS technology is fast becoming popular with multinational businesses because of the capability it gives businesses to provide new services in e-commerce, while decreasing operating expenses and facilitating fast and economical communication between branches regardless of geographic location.
Island Networks' chief executive officer, Andrew Massias, says INL has achieved what other telecommunications companies in the region have aspired to do, but had not succeeded thus far.
"What we have done is to bring ... tomorrow's technology today and what makes it even more special is that a Jamaican company, owned by Jamaicans, is the first to bring to the region, this world-class technology," he said.
"This technology has enabled Island Networks to provide true quality of service (QoS) in wireless telecommunications to include teleconferencing, domestic and international calling, video telephony, on and off island disaster recovery transport, virtual private data networking and 'always on' high speed Internet, he explained.
Mr. Massias pointed out that this achievement has positive implications for corporate Jamaica and by extension the Caribbean, as multi-location businesses can use the network for inter and intra-branch calling, video conferencing and to access data from any of their office locations islandwide at any time using BRANCHconnect® a special service designed by INL to facilitate fast communication between multi-location businesses.
BENEFITING FROM SERVICES
"Some of Jamaica's top blue chip companies are already benefiting from the services provided by our network. With this MPLS technology, CEOs can run their local and overseas companies from the boardroom," Mr. Massias said.
Commenting on competition from other telecoms companies in the local market, Mr. Massias said, "Competition is a very good thing, it's good for consumers and it's good for businesses. What should be clarified though is that INL's core business is not Internet services. INL typically includes Internet services into the business packages, but focuses on the important mission critical data services that are delivered entirely through its carrier class MPLS network. This focus bundled with other business solutions is clearly what differentiates INL in the market. We have been in the market less than two years, and as you can see from the buildout of this MPLS network, what we've accomplished within those two years is no small feat. I'd say we are quiet achievers."
Island Networks Limited, which began operations in Jamaica in March 2004, has already begun its Caribbean expansion with the opening of its Puerto Rico office and deployment of data services in San Juan. "We are now looking to take our services to at least two other Caribbean islands by the middle of this year," Mr. Massias said.
