For the past few years, most Caribbean countries have been sitting on the sidelines of conversations on 5G, as there were no immediate plans for it to be deployed. However, within the past year, Paradise Mobile has launched operations in Bermuda, with the Cayman Islands next in line, and more Caribbean countries to come. Zlatko Zahirovic, the Chief Technical Officer and a Co-Founder of Paradise Mobile, joins us to discuss, among other things: how Paradise Mobile has been able to launch viable 5G operations in the region; whether Paradise Mobile is a technology company or an innovation company, and how Caribbean countries could better position themselves to experience or leverage 5G.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music!!

Over the past five years, telcos worldwide have been moving away from deploying fourth-generation mobile/cellular technology (4G) in favour of 5G, the fifth-generation technology, that not only offers faster transmission speeds but also can better meet the demands of our increasingly connected societies. However, in the Caribbean region, the major telcos are of the view that there is no business case for 5G due, among other things, the significant cost outlay, frequency spectrum challenges and the anticipated low service take-up. As a result, they have been reluctant to deploy it.

However, with these well-established telcos not prepared to offer 5G, it opens up opportunities for other players to do so. We are thus beginning to see new players enter well-established markets and set up greenfield 5G operations, which has occurred in Bermuda and is imminent in the Cayman Islands.

How then are these new entrants able to make a viable business case in markets that it could be argued are already saturated? Although they would not be bogged down by past infrastructure investments and operating costs, most Caribbean countries have small populations, difficult terrain and relatively low Gross National Incomes when compared with more developed countries. In summary, there seem to be more challenges than advantages. However, Paradise Mobile has taken the plunge, which is the focus of this podcast episode.

 

Introducing our guest

Zlatko Zahirovic

Zlatko Zahirovic is the Chief Technical Officer and a Co-Founder of Paradise Mobile, a newcomer to the mobile/cellular telecoms sectors in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands that is offering 5G service.

Zlatko has over 15 years of experience in the building, maintenance, operations, and optimisation of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks. He led the wireless technology/backhaul strategy for 5G trials in Canada and was responsible for lab trials in excess of 10 Gbps. He also led one of the most mature Internet of Things (IoT) innovation teams in Canada – enabling and deploying several public safety and smart city projects across the country. Zlatko is regularly quoted in media and invited to speak at telecom industry conferences on innovation.

 

 

Insights into our conversation

One of the best takeaways from this conversation with Zlatko is that Caribbean countries should still aspire to experience and leverage the latest mobile/cellular technologies on the market. Yes, our countries may be small and may not be as rich as others, but there are still opportunities to be had… for the brave and innovative.

In not being bogged down by legacy equipment and procedures, Paradise Mobile has been able to deploy its 5G networks with newer and cheaper technologies and so can offer more competitively priced services. And if Zlatko has his way, technology upgrades will be done islandwide and not in the piecemeal manner that we have experienced, where certain locations of our countries still do not have 4G coverage, or the capacity available is inadequate for the demand.

Below are key questions that drove our conversation with Zlatko.

  1. In establishing a presence in Bermuda and Cayman, what is the problem Paradise Mobile is trying to solve? 
  2. The average listener might appreciate that 5G is faster than 4G, but what truly makes it different from 4G?
  3. What are some of the technical challenges Paradise Mobile has been facing?
  4. What has been the response of consumers?
  5. How has Paradise Mobile been able to establish viable 5G operations in Bermuda and Cayman?
  6. Are there any regulatory issues or considerations that Paradise Mobile faced or you have observed when dealing with regulators and/or the regulatory framework?
  7. Most Caribbean countries have entrenched monopolies/duopolies. Can they really support a new player providing 5G? What might be opportunities that could be explored?
  8. How might Caribbean countries be able to position themselves to experience or leverage 5G?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

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Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  Z Zahirovic;  Paradise Mobile; Gerd Altmann (Pixabay); Walls.io (Unsplash)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing Support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez