North Rock Applies To Offer Cellular Service
North Rock Communications has filed a request with the Regulatory Authority seeking the allocation of radio spectrum required to provide a mobile cellular service in Bermuda.
Their formal request stated, “North Rock wishes to deploy a state of the art 4G network using LTE technology. LTE is a new radio access solution based on OFDMA [Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access].
“This is able to reach much higher data rates and data volumes than 3G, at multiple times current capabilities. To achieve this, OFDMA uses spread spectrum techniques, which are at their most efficient when used across larger bandwidth blocks.
“North Rock also wishes to deploy 3G/HSPA capability enabling us to provide a full, high quality cellular service in Bermuda based on compelling and innovative service offerings both technically and commercially.
“Our services will be designed to serve both the residential and business markets. We will also support a full inbound and outbound roaming service which will ensure visitors to Bermuda can get access to world class mobile voice and data services.”
The full request from Northrock can be read here [PDF]
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i hope they are coming to compete with those already there so the prices will be lowered
The newer wireless networks are robust and can deliver services equal to fibre. But I hope they don’t install a half azz network and try to screw us with hefty rates…..that game is old
I currently have a LTE phone and the speed/service with cellone are disappointing. if northrock are looking for beta testers I am available.
am down with a new provider lower these high azz rates now we need some one give belco a run
“Ditto” I couldn’t agree more
I am with you on that one 100%.
Agree, rates here are out of control, some heavy competition really needed
Cheers to more competition and better technology!
North Rock can’t even offer Internet and email services at a consistently high quality. Not going to trust them with my cellular service. Nope. Won’t do it.
So, you’re saying you’re satisfied with a spotty network like Digicel’s or CellOne’s?
All I know, I can barely contact my Digicel friends unless I call them repeatedly I can’t get data on my phone when I need it because CellOnes data only works when it wants to. Not when I need it to.
Hahah was thinking the same thing. Internet goes down bi-weekly and even when it’s up it doesn’t approach the advertised speeds!
Agreed, but is that NorthRock’s fault or Cablevision’s? I pay for 15MB
and get that during the day, but when I need it the most (evening or weekends), it is down around 1.5MB to 2.5MB. And for this I pay $220 per month (combined NorthRock [$130] and Cablevision [$90]internet-related charge). Please can the oversight commission monitor the local providers and hold them accountable. We the Bermudian public are tired of being taken advantage of here, but as of yet we have been given no viable alternatives.
I recall when the 15MB and 25MB service license was granted by Gov’t they specified that the speeds must be achievable 80% of the time. To which Cablevision simply said, “sure thing, we can do that”. Clearly knowing that they can’t, and that Gov’t has no way of checking.
AS Umm said…North Rock can’t even offer Internet and email services at a consistently high quality. Not going to trust them with my cellular service. Nope. Won’t do it.
While I agree with you & don’t plan to go with them. However the fact that they plan to offer an alternative that will trigger the other providers to keep their prices in check is a good thing for all.
YAYYY Go Northrock. I’ve said it time and time again. Once number portability is in place the Service Providers will be FORCED to provide the very best…. If not we’ll just leave
I’m tired of the “too bad, so sad” attitude I get from Digicel. I have vowed to never step foot in there ever again because of their horrific customer service. IMO they have the worst service that I have ever received from any business.
Ahh gotta love a little reform!!
Just what we need, more cell phones.
Cellular One has Bermuda’s first billboard on South Shore in Warwick. A flippin billboard! There are signage laws here, but they are never enforced. It really doesn’t matter up there anyway, the nasty gas station, the billboard, and Ewartville all on that short, sorry looking piece of ocean front property.
Ewartville LOVE IT LOL
North Rock will give Cell 1 and Diginuts a kick up their a$$.
I sincerely look forward to seeing Northrock on my cellphone in the near future. I also hope that they will use a Bermudian based call center to offer superior service to their subscribers, and will employ a network that shows us just who has the Bigger, Better Network. I also hope that number portability becomes a reality in the near future.
you go boy/girl. you are ready lol
Nice idea, but really consider the size of the market – 40k +/- potential customers? At best that’s 15-16k potential customers for each of the three providers, say at $100/month on average per customer = $1.5 million in revenue/month.
Considering the initial investment they will need to make in infrastructure (try $10 million at a minimum)and expenses to run the new business.
Is North Rock really ready to spend the millions of dollars it takes to build the infrastructure and improve their limited CS to make the venture realistic or are they playing games and trying to hoard licenses?
Ask yourself, why did BTC(M3 Mobility) get out of the game and merge with CellOne if there was growth potential in the market?
I think we are being a little naive if we think that a third player in the market is going to result in cheaper prices. Why did prices not drop when a third player entered the market previously? Because Bermuda (due to the size of customer base) is an imperfect market for any service like this! Service companies simply match each others prices and maintain a duopoly/trio-poly in the process!
You raise some valid points about NR getting into the Cell business but today the only business set to grow and continue to grow is I T and wireless based products but sooner than later the service will be provided thru VPN ip addresses and some overseas company will be selling service for cents. i.e. look at IPTV, Bermuda really has missed the boat on that you now have companies offering IPTV on Roku , now justin TV for 200 bucks per year and now a usb key for $10 dollars per year. THe internet is like water…will always find its own level. While it could be a block on NR’s behalf to make others think about getting into that space not a bad move. On the other hand North Rock are well position to activate a less expensive application to launch a mobile service that can change the way we look at communication as it stands today. I would think to jump in on the market and buy into the current platform with out offering a newer versatile product that will consolidate communication devices for one stop shop would be a dead end. In reality … what is a cell phone today, what does it look like? The only draw back NR has is they don’t own their off island pipe but with BTC off loading all its retail to become a wholesaler of bandwidth for off island traffic they are happy to support NR as they BTC win every time. ( BTC got out M3/logic to cut out labor cost taxes and pension to make pure cash with minimum bodies.) But you know as much a digicell might have the biggest sub based they also leave gapping holes in service and quality of signal. So the 10- 16k people is pretty doable but the up take on conversion will be slow if they don’t mind waiting 2-3 even 5- 7years to acquire the subs, but one thing all the carriers will agree on is… making money and lots of if it. lol
make your complaints to http://www.rab.bm