The Caribbean region will soon be classified among some of the world’s leading economies with the introduction of LIME’s cutting edge fourth generation (4G) mobile technology, set to revolutionise its mobile networks across the Caribbean and once again, distinguish the company as the first to introduce this technology to its customers throughout the region.
To coincide with the observance of World Telecommunications Day on May 17, the telecommunications and entertainment company used the platform of a glitzy launch at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Grand Cayman to announce a US$80M investment to finance major improvements to its regional mobile networks. The network upgrade will enable LIME’s customers to access blazing fast Internet and numerous sophisticated data services on their wireless devices.
The new technology will be introduced in Grand Cayman this summer, then gradually rolled-out across the rest of the region. The network improvement programme builds on LIME’s outstanding 140 year history in the Caribbean where the company has been the leader in technology innovation. LIME was the first to introduce groundbreaking services including, telex messaging, telephone, mobile phones, the internet, Mobile TV and now, 4G.
Over the next 18 months, LIME’s existing mobile networks will be upgraded from 2G technology to EDGE in all markets, except Jamaica, where a 3G upgrade was completed earlier this year. In numerous locations within the selected markets, LIME will be deploying 4G technology which will catapult its Caribbean networks into the realm of those in some of the world’s largest economies. 4G will also serve as a platform for LIME’s future network development as the protocols are fully compatible with the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology that will power mobile networks in the future.
David Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of LIME, said: “Our business has operated in the Caribbean for the past 140 years. We introduced the first telephone connections, the first Internet connections, the first mobile service and the first mobile TV service. Now we’re spearheading the 4G revolution, enabling our customers to work, play and stay in constant contact while on the go.”
With 4G, LIME’s mobile subscribers will have the power to instantly send and receive large files such as videos, music, graphics and photos from enabled wireless devices including mobile phones, tablets, laptops and netbooks. LIME’s customers will also be able to enjoy real-time online activities including video streaming, online gaming and social networking while on-the-go all at the same time as making a phone call.
Jeffrey Baptiste, General Manager LIME Dominica said: “People of all ages, especially the young, want to be online all the time and need fast, affordable mobile data service that enable them to do all the things they can now do with a fixed internet connection while on the go. Our mobile 4G network will ensure that LIME can satisfy customer needs as the insatiable demand for mobile internet service grows.”
Mr. Baptiste added: “The experience for customers moving from 2G services, to both EDGE and 4G will be like going from riding a bicycle to driving a Ferrari; you will feel the difference immediately. This is a massive step forward for mobile service in the Caribbean and LIME is pleased to drive the proliferation of advanced technology in the region.”
What is 4G?
4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It succeeds the 2G and 3G families of standards, and includes wide range technologies. LIME’s initial deployment of 4G wireless is based on HSPA+. LIME’s initial rollout of HSPA+ allows for shared download/upload speeds of 21/11 Mbps in a single mobile sector, with 3 sectors typically deployed at a mobile site.
4G data speeds
The actual download/upload speeds experienced by LIME’s customers will depend on the technology available in the user’s area, the user’s mobile device’s capabilities, and the number of other users simultaneously accessing the network in the sector. When in an HSPA+ coverage area with a suitable HSPA+ device, LIME expects that users will experience download speeds of 6 Mbps.
What can you do with 4G?
Mobile 4G will deliver a superior online experience, delivering popular web sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare all much faster using a smartphone device or, using mobile broadband, through a tablet or computer. Faster download speeds are particularly necessary for large files – such as a film or video clip download, or to play online games through the Internet.
With LIME’s 4G network, when in a 4G coverage area and with a suitable device, LIME’s customers:
– Will enjoy enhanced data speeds in more places
– Video chat with no dependency for WiFi
– Watch video at blazing fast speeds
– Send photos to social networks, friends, and family faster than ever
– Browse the web with amazing speed, even when on a call
– Send email, easily, with huge attachments
– Download photos, apps, music, and other documents in the blink of an eye
It has been 2 years since this article and neither lime nor digicel yet to bring 4g. When they say select markets they mean. Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, st. Lucia… Then entire Caribbean excluding Dominica. I mean if u know u not going to give us the service y get ppl hopes up? I mean come on tht is wat u call false advertising and I am very disappointed.
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soooooooooooooooo long lime say dey bringing 4G up to now my blackberry still running EDGE. when will we c progress??
Please LIME … tell us … Is Dominica getting 3G, 4G? Also Digicel can carp all they want … unless they bring in 3G they can shut up.
I don’t care a fig if Jamaica has 3G … I is in Dominica.
The Real 4G According to Engineers. In October 2009, the ITU fielded 6 candidates that could meet the true definition of 4G. The main criteria required speed boosts, but more importantly, new technologies that make more efficient use of spectrum, as well as an ability to work with other radio access systems and fixed wireline networks. The standard also requires that equipment makers provide features that will help guarantee the quality of service on wireless networks. Last month, the ITU declared the upcoming LTE-Advanced and WirelessMAN-Advanced the only true 4G wireless technologies.
True 4G calls for peak speeds of 100 Mbps for mobile applications such as driving a car down the road, and 1 Gigabit per second for fixed networks. To achieve such speeds, operators will need five to ten times as much spectrum as most are using now to deploy LTE, as well as complex antenna configurations (8×8 MIMO) that require some new antennas at the tower and more inside the mobile devices. Some operators won’t ever get to that point. Others might, but it’s going to take four or five years before people start rolling out anything like the ITU’s version of 4G.
i probably should ask if we are even gonna get that 4G in Dominica
hmmm,
A 4G network running on system that is inadequate for the 2G its now running on. Hope service improves! LIME needs to improve alot! The new system is welcomed, hope it doesn’t come with all the technical glitches they have now.
do you know what you are saying? if it runs on a 2G network then it is not 4 G
BUT WAIT JEFFREY SEEM TO BE FORGETTING THAT DOMINICA HAS BEEN ON GPRS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, WE HAVENT HAD EDGE WE HAVENT HAD 1G,2G,3G….SO LET SEE WHEN THEY REFER TO THE CARIBBEAN IF DOMINICA IS PART OF
Digicel Jamaica alreaDY HAS 4G. & Claro, so thats not the first time that a caribbean provider will be giving 4g service.
But will be a first for Dominica.
Its true that they playing on words here with brilliant marketing that might well backfire.
But dont think Its LIME alone doing it. Digicel claimed to have launched 4G in Jamaica so long, and up to now they cannot connect one phone to it. Their brand of 4G is actually WiMAX and only for providing wireless internet, and you must have a device to connect your computer, not a phone. Digicel was even taken to court over that by LIME as false advertising, but the case was dismissed since during the period while waiting for trial, the definition of 4G changed and it was agreed that it could also be applied to the WiMax service they have available. Thats why they had to go and buy Claro network to give them 3G that can work on cell phones. But even the 3G network of Claro is outdated already, and LIMEs 3G (HSPA) network in Jamaica is about 5 times faster.
However what LIME is launching is real 4G or for the techies, HSPA+ which will be upgraded to LTE. I know what I am talking about, if you disagree, do some research on Google and WikiPeidia and lets talk facts….
Can see you did some reading. Great wish all Dominican was like you.
soo true! couldnt agree more!
Digicel customers already have edge here so I would say Digi is ahead. So Lime is going to just upgrade Dca to edge and not 4G. I Bet you. Plus digicel is already working on bringing in 4G so seeing that locally they already ahead i bet DIGI givesus 4G first
WHEN OH WHEN,MY CHILDREN WHEN WE WANNA KNOW WHEN……………..selected markets mean jamaica and barbados again…that is why my contact list in my phone turn from Lime to DIGI….because is crappy GPRS they throwing down duminicans throat like our money here not worth nothing while barbados and jamaica have 3G already.It seem lime playing us for the politician’s fool
Well it’s about time!
DE HISTORY DEY WUD CREATE IS IF DEY HAD GIVE EACH OF US A FONE LOL LOL
in select market areas… i believe the question we should be asking is if dominica is one of the market areas to be getting this type of technology and not an upgrade from GPRS to EDGE which digicel is already offering in the country…
so ask LIME Dominica if they will be upgrading to 4g on the island
4g yaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! zor kar feh mwen morde lol,,, can’t understand what the hoopla’s about,,,,, lime making a big deal out of a 4g upgrade hhhhmmmmm like they are the first to bring it in,,,, so wat if digicel becomes the first to bring 5g when it becomes available,,,, should digi then say,,, ‘we making history by being the first to bring in 5g’,,,, get my drift
stupes. if you cant understand what the hoopla is about then you clearly have not understood the article. its pretty straightforward.perhaps google can break it down for you. or maybe you are just behind when it comes to mobile technology. and yes, if there is ever a 5g n digi introduces it, then they do get full bragging rights.
small SXM already got 4g,so wheree d hell LIME coming out with them being the first to bring it to the caribbean,its a good thing to take a vacation
Ah, belle beff poo Jeff, I will now be able to use my 4G iphone
LIME—–y don’t tou just tell the dummyincans public ,look we going to trick all you with our 4G CRAP
I share that sweet development, we are making technology more user friendly. Good news
Very good move , looking forward to the service. hope its affordable
Yes Mr.Shaw I am very happy to hear that good news. I have always been saying that we are using the same phones like the people in the US and other countries but with a very limited usage.Its time i get more out of my BB.I also what to say that i am very disgust with the fact that whiles roaming i have to pay for incoming calls.This needs to be resovled ASAP.
sorry for my many mistakes but i have to say this is fantastic news
tlfinally oime says somethingvthat pleases me time to put our smartphones to initial use
lime when are u going to remove that killer $25.00 per month on home telephones….
that is what you should be doing…. not giving us 1g 2two g and 3 g network
totally agree
Well said. Also the huge cost of landline broadband service.
that so called “killer” fixed line rental is there to maintain the multi-million dollar fixed network strung all over the Island to get to everyone in their comfortable hideouts.
please be guided ….would you buy a new truck oil it,gas it and run it till death …nooooo
you’d have to maintain it right…oil change,tires,gas,shocks,bushings,wipers,fuel filters,air filters etc..and we who own vehicles know these ain’t cheap..