Telecommunications

Telecommunications services are provided by the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation (BaTelCo), a public utility. Its digital telephone network connects every inhabited area of The Bahamas and provides and provides Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) to and from all parts of North America and the Caribbean. Other services offered by BaTelCo are:

1. International direct distance dialing to many countries outside the North America area.
2. Cellular telephone service with roaming capabilities between The Bahamas and all major North American cities.
3. Automatic radio paging in New Providence and Grand Bahama (with a new system to be installed this year.)
4. Custom calling features such as Call Forwarding, Three-Way Calling, Call Waiting, Speed Dialing, Subscriber-Activated Call Blocking and Cancel Call Waiting.
5. Telegram service.
6. HF and VHF maritime mobile service.
7. Leased voice, data and telex lines to meet customer requirement.
8. Facsimile service.
9. Access to credit card validation networks.
10. Access to international packet switching network via Tymnet and Telenet.
11. PBX and key system installation and maintenance services to support a variety of business applications.
12. Country-Direct services such as USA Direct, Canada Direct, MCI, Call USA.
13. 1-800 services.
14. Public coin telephones.
15. Collect call charging to a number of countries.
16. Provision of data modems and ancillary equipment.
17. Calling cards acceptance.
18. Access to International Maritime satellites (INMARSAT) system.
19. Licensing of radio frequencies.
20. Phonecards in denominations of $5, $10 and $20.
21. Prepaid Card for Travellers (no limit). Allows convenience of calling back to The Bahamas via a 1-800 number.
22. International Business satellite (direct link between The Bahamas and Switzerland).
23. Internet services.

Post

A National Postal Service operates in the civic centre of Grand Bahama. Air and surface mail service is offered for inter-island and to all foreign countries. There is one central delivery service where boxes are rented at nominal rates.

There are a number of world-wide courier services available.

Water

The Grand Bahama Utility Company, a subsidiary of the Port Group of Companies, provides unlimited fresh water from an elaborate water table to the Freeport/Lucaya City.

Water supply for the outlying settlements is provided by the government owned Ministry of Works and Utilities via smaller systems. Additional water for the settlements is purchased from the Grand Bahama Utility Company.

Newspaper and Magazines

The principle newspaper for Grand Bahama Island is the Freeport News (daily). National publications which are also available in Freeport include the Nassau Guardian and The Tribune (Dailies). There are a wide variety of other weekly, monthly and quarterly publications, e.g. Grand Bahama Star, The Bahamas Journal, The Bomb, The Punch.

Major American newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Miami Herald are readily available. British newspapers such as the Times, Financial Times, Observer and Daily Telegraph are also available.

Radio and Television

The Government owned Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (based in Nassau) has a local station in Freeport. Radio Bahamas operates radio and television transmissions within The Bahamas. Radio channels are ZNS 1(1540 on AM); ZNS 2 (1240 on FM) and ZNS 3 Freeport (810 on AM). Private radio has been approved by government. 100 JAMZ and COOL96 are two local private radio stations broadcasting from Freeport

No license is required for radios or TV's in private homes. The Cable TV current rate schedule is $30 per month for Resident houses and Condominiums.

The Television cable, commercial advertising, Miami area radio is available and all U.S. national stations and cable broadcasting are readily available in Grand Bahama.