bmobile - Bridging the Digital Divide

bmobile connects young minds to learning

As the only truly local communications solutions provider, bmobile takes its corporate social responsibility seriously. As the company continues to deliver best-in-class solutions for citizens and corporate customers, it maintains a strong focus on supporting the country it serves.

bmobile is the country’s longest-serving and only truly local communications solution provider with a self-determined ethos to make T&T better. The company has long been engaged in ensuring connectivity for the nation’s youth. When the country shifted into remote learning, bmobile immediately responded to the shortfall in smart device and connectivity accessibility for many students. In addition to allowing free access to pertinent educational websites, bmobile implemented solutions supporting the continuation of education for T&T’s students.

bmobile believes that technology availability levels the playing field. Over 20,000, 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Mathematics national students, were provided with zero-rated data access to online Mathematics revision through a partnership between bmobile and local NGO, Restore A Sense of I Can (RSC). This meant that any CSEC student using a bmobile data plan could log on to the platform for free.

Empowering Students through collaboration

Collaboration for a greater cause is critical to bmobile. They joined Digicel to assist the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) in procuring and securing 10,000 smart devices at the best possible rates, at a time when the demand for these was extremely high and supply almost nonexistent for smaller countries like ours. bmobile worked closely with the relevant organisations to evaluate and find the best-fit data solutions so that students could continue to excel. bmobile also partnered with other telecom and technology providers to support the Catholic Education Board for Management (CEBM) efforts to help fill the gap in providing devices and data service to approximately 4000 of the most in-need and at-risk students.

For over 15 years, the bmobile annual staff Programme, Employee Book Buddies has provided pupils from Children Homes across the country with textbooks and school accessories, working with the homes and suppliers to source and package the items for distribution. With over 1500 students assisted since inception, the Drive had to recalibrate with the advent of COVID-19, and digital schooling. This year, the company provided financial support to 13 Children’s Homes, and partnered with valued business customer, RAMPS Logistics, to provide Smart Devices with connectivity to several children’s homes.

Delivering in Food Security

bmobile recognised the real and immediate need to deliver relief to families affected by national lockdowns due to Public Health regulations. As a business that operates in every corner of the nation, with a team that interacts daily with customers from all walks of life, staff members created and executed voluntary food donation drives. The company also helped NGOs provide families across Trinidad and Tobago with relief.

To ensure longer-term food security, a partnership with Kids in Need of Direction (KIND) allowed that organisation to expand their Plant What You Eat programme to over 16 communities.

Covering Youth in Mental Health and Personal Development

bmobile understands that the traditional educational system may not be able to adequately address the holistic needs of a young person’s development. This has been the driver for bmobile powering a national discussion on mental health organised by Spartans TT Sports Club at the height of the national lockdown and State of Emergency in the country.

bmobile also joined the EPOCH Foundation as a technology partner to host a webinar covering self-esteem, communication, conflict management, professional branding, resume writing, interview practice, leadership, and entrepreneurship, among other areas.

Empowering Women

bmobile reinforced its support of the development of women with the 2021’s UWI-Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business (ALJGSB) virtual Women in Leadership Conference, highlighted by a keynote address by the first female Prime Minister of Barbados, The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley. The company also participated in the deployment of the Girls in ICT Day, which introduced 18-25-year-old women to the world of e-commerce. Bmobile also welcomed another female first, Lisa Agard, as Company CEO on 24th May 2021.

Maintaining Sport Support at National and Community Levels bmobile continued support of national athletes like two-time Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott in the delayed Tokyo Games this year, who has been a bmobile ambassador for eight years. The four-time CARIFTA champion noted, “One of the major things I appreciate about bmobile, is that we share the same goal; to do our best to make the nation proud.” In a less visible sport, bmobile joined Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA), to host the Inaugural Grand Prix Online Chess Tournament.

The company works with organisations like United Way TT (UWTT) by facilitating the use of its text-to-donate service for fund-raising efforts. bmobile also made it possible for customers to have free access to accurate, up-to-date, relevant information related to COVID-19 easily by zero-rating 13 key websites for organisations sharing official updates during the pandemic, making it accessible for all prepaid and postpaid bmobile customers. A free call allowance was also deployed to help customers stay in touch with loved ones affected by the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in April 2021.

Continuity of Cultural Celebrations

bmobile is majority-owned by the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the company has had a long history supporting local culture and particularly, Carnival. They were excited to keep the spirit of Carnival alive during the pandemic. bmobile supported three competitions, the Soca Monarch, the Chutney Soca Monarch and partnered with TUCO to create the Online Road March. All competitions offered interactive engagement with fans by way of the Text to Vote platform - allowing the public to chime in with their support and their vote for their favourite artistes in each competition.

From their headquarters to their technicians in the field, the company recognises and believes that mutually-assured success is the only way forward for Trinidad and Tobago.

Anjanie Ramesar-Soom of bmobile chats with participants at the 2020 tech4Girls Workshop as they share their business ideas.