We have a similar problem with our big financial players and the 'common man'.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Best internet connection in Trinidad and Tobago
Updated Jule 20th 2023
Online classes require approximately 10 MB per device for sound and video, so for example if you have 3 devices at the same time this would require a 30 MB download connection etc.
Bmobile: https://bmobile.co.tt/internet/
This is probably the most widely available provider. They offer wired service through fibre and DSL on phone lines and wireless service through dongle or hotspot devices. Fibre is in a limited area and DSL is probably the most commonly available service of all. TV and phone service is also offered.
Flow : https://discoverflow.co/trinidad/internet/overview
This is probably the second most widely available wired provider after Bmobile. I think once they became available in an area internet users would switch to them away from Bmobile because of their packages. They offer services through fibre to an area and then coax copper to your home. TV and phone service is also offered.
Digicel Fibre: https://www.digicelgroup.com/tt/en/digicel-plus/bundles.html
Probably the fastest growing provider right now. The introduction of their service has made the competitors refine their offerings and this is good for the consumer. They offer fibre to the home (FTTH) in several areas. Wireless service is accessible throughout the country. TV and phone service is also offered.
Amplia: http://amplia.co.tt/internet/
This company was formerly Massy which was purchased by BMobile. They are a FTTH provider only available in a limited area. TV service is also offered.
Lisa: https://www.lisacommunications.com/internet/
They offer fixed wireless service throughout the country which is dependable. They mainly focus on businesses and residential customers benefit from this. Their speeds are much slower compared to others but it is traded for reliability.
Starlink:https://www.starlink.com/
This service uses a small dish which is fixed to your building or vehicle and receives service from satellites in space.
Greendot: http://www.gd.tt/broadband-internet/
They can be found throughout the country providing fixed wireless internet. TV is also offered.
Air Link: https://www.airlinktt.net/internet
This wired service is only available in and around Princes Town. TV service is also offered.
Novo Communications : http://www.novocommunications.net/index.php/welcome/internet
A FTTH provider in a limited area around Penal.
RVR Networks: https://www.facebook.com/RVR-International-Limited-1674070962879714/
Internet and TV provider (Mayaro, Rio Claro, Sisters Road, New Grant, Williamsville, Tabaquite, Caparo, Gran Couva, Tortuga, Preysal)
'Wired' vs 'Wireless'
First of all, any 'wired' provider is typically cheaper than a 'wireless' provider. When I say 'wired' I mean a wire (copper or fibre) comes to your house which is what you get with Flow, Digicel, Bmobile and Massy\Amplia fibre and copper options. You can have a wireless access point from that wire broadcasting throughout your house, but reception is only in and around your house, within range of the access point. Some providers give you a WiFi capable modem or access point with their install and some tell you buy your own. The packages are 'unlimited' download with your amount of data not monitored or capped, given reasonable usage. There may not be an official Fair Usage Policy from the providers but they may throttle you down if you use whatever they consider to be too much, but it is very unlikely you will reach that.
A 'wireless' provider can offer a mobile or fixed service.
- Mobile wireless services would be Bmobile or Digicel via Wifi/USB dongles that you can carry around the country away from your home and still get service. Mobile options typically have a limited amount of data for a given period, eg 15GB per month. It is very easy to reach this with a lot of video or music playing and posting and viewing pictures. In my experience Digicel wireless can give as high as 12 Mbps in a particular area and the most your may get with Bmobile is 5 Mbps. The technology they use is capable of much faster but this is how they have tuned their networks. Maximum speeds will fluctuate drastically depending on many factors such as network load and reception.
- Fixed wireless services such as Lisa and Green Dot set up antennas outside your home and have to be in sufficient range of their radio towers in order to offer service. Packages typically allow unlimited data to be downloaded, according to a fair usage policy. The service can be affected by weather, structures in the line of sight and RF interference. Wireless options have much higher latency (higher ping) than wired ones.
Packages
Most providers have a good package around $275 that can support a family (at least 3 or 4 devices) simultaneously despite what their marketing departments will say to upsell you. They are arranged starting with the best value ($ per Mbps) at the top.
ISP Down/ Up Mbps $ Per Month $ per Mbps
Flow 200 / 25 $ 317.50 $ 1.59 *
Digicel Fibre 200 / 200 $ 305.00 $ 1.53
Amplia 150 / 150 $ 250.00 $ 1.67
Air Link 125 / 30 $ 299.00 $ 2.40
RVR 75 / $ 200.00 $ 2.66Novo 75 / 25 $ 255.00 $ 3.40
Starlink 100 / 10 $ 365.00 $ 3.65 **
G.Dot 20 / 3 $ 223.88 $ 11.20
Bmobile LTE 20 / $ 223.88 $ 11.20
Lisa 2 / 0.768 $ 336.38 $168.19
Bmobile LTE 20 / $ 223.88 $ 11.20
Lisa 2 / 0.768 $ 336.38 $168.19
Notes
*Flow has a special rate 200mbps down, 25mb up for only $300.00 a month if you have a Carigamers MVP membership. Membership is currently $29/52 USD so the above rate includes that in the monthly rate. The regular price is $385 per month which would make it $1.93 per Mbps which is still the cheapest.
** Starlink speeds are taken from the 'Expected speeds during peak hours' table. Speeds will vary. This requires a substantial upfront cost of $4054.00 for satellite equipment and shipping. That is over four thousand dollars up front just for the equipment but you own it after that. This will work well for people who are in isolated\forested areas without lines or in housing schemes that are not wired for high speed internet.
Green Dot has an initial install fee starting at $1,687.50 for equipment and labour which reduces depending on the length of contract you choose.
Novo installation fee starts at $400.
RVR Internet special available only in in Mayaro, Manzanilla, Guayaguayare $200 for 200 Mbps down, 100 Mbps up. Link here.
Special mention - Airlink student special - 40mbps down, 10mbps up plus 75 TV channels for $250 per month.
Link - https://www.airlinktt.net/student
RVR and Lisa were included even though they are much more than $200 since I think they are the most usable speed options available from their respective companies.
Providers generally give reliable service. 10 Mbps and more download on each device is most likely sufficient for anything you need to do. I strongly recommend you start at a lower package and test it out and if you still think you need more then upgrade it. Some providers do not allow you to downgrade a package easily. Streaming video or downloading files is probably the most demanding task for your connection. If multiple users do this simultaneously the connection may become overwhelmed. You would then need a bigger package to satisfy your demand.
Flow also has their educational site with material for various exams https://www.flowstudy.co/
RVR and Lisa were included even though they are much more than $200 since I think they are the most usable speed options available from their respective companies.
Providers generally give reliable service. 10 Mbps and more download on each device is most likely sufficient for anything you need to do. I strongly recommend you start at a lower package and test it out and if you still think you need more then upgrade it. Some providers do not allow you to downgrade a package easily. Streaming video or downloading files is probably the most demanding task for your connection. If multiple users do this simultaneously the connection may become overwhelmed. You would then need a bigger package to satisfy your demand.
Flow also has their educational site with material for various exams https://www.flowstudy.co/
I think the best value for money for a new subscriber without a connection is currently Digicel's 100 Mbps Play package, given the price per Mbps shown above. Install can be as low as $175 if you get it on special promotion. Fibre technology has lower latency inherent to it as well as being on a network with less shared resources compared to Flow. The modem is capable of reading from an external USB drive, has 802.11ac WiFi and multiple ethernet ports. There is a 12 month contract and no security deposit. It is probably best to call them on 100 from a Digicel phone or 399-9999 from another phone. It can take weeks to hear from them if you fill out the form online.
Note - Flow is based on copper wires and because theft of these lines is so common there are regular outages and loss of service for several hours at a time due to copper line theft, failed equipment, loss of electricity in other areas and many other to name a few.
If you already have Flow it is not worth it to switch to Digicel since you can take the 100 Mbps package. Most households would not saturate the 100 Mbps connections. Flow does not require a contract to be signed but they do prefer a minimum connection period of a few months. On lower packages they charge extra for a 802.11n WiFi capable modem which is not capable of reading from an external drive. They have consistently raised their packages to lead if not keep up with competitors. One major point to note is the cost of installation for the service. Digicel is currently offering free installation and modem which is $599 savings. Flow offers a free non-wifi modem to lower packages but charges for installation. You can wait until Flow has a promotion for free installation usually right before school closes for holidays.
Fastest internet - Flow and Amplia has the maximum download speed available with 1 Gbps in a limited area.
Fastest internet - Flow and Amplia has the maximum download speed available with 1 Gbps in a limited area.
Cheapest Internet in Trinidad - Bmobile with 6Mbps down for $168.
Best Deal - Air Link Student Bundle Basic and Student + plans include TV for a great price.
Best Deal - Air Link Student Bundle Basic and Student + plans include TV for a great price.
Many providers only give service to specific towns. Massy is only available in a very limited area. Airlink is only available in Princes Town and environs. Green Dot, Lisa, Digicel and Bmobile mobile dongles depend on wireless reception. This means you may not get good reception if you are in a hilly, rural or crowded area.
Bmobile DSL offers a dial up account with unlimited hours for any DSL plan you have. This is supposed to be a backup if your DSL goes down.
The upload rate is probably not a deciding factor for you but 1 Mbps up is plenty for the average person. If you are trying to do online classes and show your video and sound you would need an upload speed of at least 5 Mbps per device. Take note of initial installation costs and duration of contract. Start at the top of the table above to check which providers are in your area. Also check if your house/apartment may already be wired for a service, eg the last occupant may have already run lines to your apartment which would now save you the installation cost. Talk to the provider about what you want the connection for, I believe Lisa blocks streaming video.
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| BMobile 4g LTE Router |
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| BMobile 4g LTE Router |
The wireless devices will need the appropriate type of reception in order to operate at their full potential. Digicel's dongles switch down to edge speeds (about 100Kbps) if they are not getting high speed service. Bmobile's dongles lose service completely when not getting high speed reception. Digicel typically has better reception (with all their services).
I am only considering the stand-alone internet packages available from these providers and perhaps over simplifying the comparison because many of them offer discounts with bundles for phone and TV services. For example Digicel's bundle as mentioned earlier or Flow's Ultra bundle. You should go through their packages and see which would be best for you. If you already have a service and are shopping around be sure to consider the installation costs. As a mobile solution you can also use the data plan on your phone by making it a Wifi hotspot for your other devices. Digicel has data plans with unlimited WhatsApp chat which means some things would not count toward your data usage. If this is all you use it for then consider that option, noting that any videos or WhatsApp sound or video calls will spend data.
If your computer - desktop, laptop, phone etc is more than 4 or 5 years old it may not be able to take full advantage of your internet connection. HD video content is intensive and a slow PC can have stuttering and other issues due to the computer itself and not your broadband connection. The biggest bottleneck in a PC is usually the hard drive so consider upgrading to an SSD as well as adding more RAM (if your PC supports these) .
If you have an issue with any of these services and your problem is not addressed in the company's own stipulated time frames you should file a complaint with T.A.T.T. who is the regulatory body for these providers and this usually hastens the resolution.
TATT has published a comparison chart ( many years ago) also: https://tatt.org.tt/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=861&PortalId=0&TabId=222
Now that you have chosen your awesome new internet provider or upgraded your package please check out Tech gadgets for people new to broadband.
Providers are constantly upgrading their packages so call them directly before making a decision. Sometimes promotional info is posted to the social media accounts only and not on their websites. This info is offered as a guide only. I do not work for any provider and am not associated with them in any way and this is not a paid review.
Please comment about what service you have and how it is working for you. If you like this post please support the blog by clicking on ads.
Flow 100 / 20 $ 229.72 $ 2.29 (including GATT fee)
Some users who had the GATT special package from 2017 were limited to 60Mbps and some are on 100Mbps for the same $196. The reason for the disparity is unclear. The GATT special is extended until the end of 2018.
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