One Communications upgrades 35 mobile sites as data traffic jumps by 28%

As part of its broader US$25 million investment programme aimed at strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure and supporting rapidly growing demand for connectivity, One Communications reported that it has completed upgrades to 35 mobile sites across Guyana. The upgrades are part of a multi-year network modernisation programme designed to increase network capacity, improve customer experience, migrate customers to modern technologies and prepare for future network expansion. The telecommunications giant during a media roundtable discussion on Friday related that the investment comes as customer demand for mobile connectivity continues to accelerate. To date, the company reported that mobile data traffic has increased by 28 per cent, while average data consumption per customer has grown by 23 per cent, rising from 17.3GB to 21.3GB.

“Guyana is experiencing an extraordinary period of economic and digital transformation,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of One Communications, Abraham Smith related. “More people are connected, businesses are becoming more digital, communities are expanding and customers are consuming more data than ever before. Our investment isn’t simply about keeping pace with telecommunications. It’s about keeping pace with Guyana,” he added. Globally and regionally, mobile usage is increasing at unprecedented rates as consumers, businesses and Governments rely more heavily on digital services.

The same trend is evident in Guyana, where internet penetration now exceeds 80 per cent of the population and customers are increasingly choosing to stay connected every day through longer-duration plans and always-on mobile services. To support this growth, One Communications has enhanced 35 sites across its mobile network, completing its planned 2026 capacity upgrade programme. The company is using advanced Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technologies to increase network capacity and improve performance during periods of heavy demand. “Think of the mobile network like the Heroes Highway,” Chief Operations Officer (COO) at One Communications, Randall Hewitt, Mobile stated. “As more people use the road, at some point you need more capacity. What we’re doing is effectively adding lanes and removing bottlenecks so that more customers can use the network at the same time without everything slowing down,” he further stated. In addition, the company is also completing the modernisation of all remaining 2G-only sites. Upgrades have already been completed in Annai and Kurupukari, while Lethem, Lethem Central, Mabaruma and Port Kaituma are expected to be upgraded to LTE by mid-October. While the current programme focuses primarily on strengthening the capacity and performance of the existing network, One Communications continues to identify opportunities to expand coverage into areas where customers want stronger and more consistent service. The company is currently evaluating approximately 30 locations for potential future network expansion, including areas in Experiment, Golden Grove, La Bonne Intention (LBI) and East Canje. Final deployment decisions will be based on technical assessments, regulatory approvals and network planning priorities. “We are not saying the network is perfect,” Smith noted while adding, “We know there are areas where improvements are needed. We are investing, the work is happening now, and we are developing the roadmap to address those opportunities.” He further emphasised that connectivity plays a critical role in economic participation, from entrepreneurs selling through social media and small businesses receiving digital orders, to vendors accepting mobile payments and students accessing online resources.