APUA Telephones (Antigua Public Utilities Authority) is Antigua & Barbuda own national telecommunications company bringing up to date telecom services to both residential and business customers. With a penetration rate of 49 telephone lines per hundred population, Antigua’s line growth rate has been exceptional over the past eight years, increasing from 16,000 at the end of 1991, to over 33,700 today.
New DMS Switch in Operation -- February 1995 saw the upgrade of their Northern Telecom DMS 100 switch to the new DMS Supernode, enabling increased processing power to accommodate new features and prepares the way for offering new services. The Supernode is capable of supporting more than 100,000 lines and will service our needs well into the future.
All telephones throughout Antigua are on the DMS 100 digital system and anyone can take advantage of the latest technological features available anywhere in the developed world. All main routes are served by fibre optic cable and are placed underground for security and continuity of service.
Antigua's Network -- also supports other services including Mobile phones, Coin and Card phones, Pagers, Credit Card Validation, and the latest state of the art - Digital based and Fibre Optic PABX and advanced key systems.
External services are provided by Cable & Wireless (WI) Ltd, with international Direct Dialling, Operator connected calls, Cardphone Service, USA International Direct Service, Credit Card calls, Facsimile, International Data Access Service (IDAS), 800 Incoming and Outgoing Service, Telex Facilities and Document Transfers, all being available. Cable & Wireless launched the Internet service in July 1995 and also has a nationwide Pager service.
A Cellular Telephone service is operated by Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular.
Quality of Service -- The quality of service offered by APUA Telephones has improved mainly due to the replacement of most of the old aerial cable network with substantial quantities placed underground and all new cable being grease-filled to inhibit moisture ingress, which was a major cause of faults.
Services offered by APUA Telephones include:
New and Improved Voice Mail System
We have increased the capacity of the system to 15,000 mailboxes. Other features include Fax Memo, Pager Messaging and Message Delivery.
Centrex
Available to all customers, eliminating the need for PABX equipment at customer premises. Customers are provided with Direct Inward and Outward dialling of local and overseas calls.
Custom Calling Features
APUA offers its customers a collection of vertical services including Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Speed Dialing and three way Conference calls.
CLASS Services
APUA Telephones have introduced more modern CLASS features that include, Calling Number delivery, Calling Name delivery, Automatic Recall and Automatic call back on busy. Also available are Customer originated trace and call blocking features.
Switched 56/64 Data Services
APUA provides connectivity nationwide. Switch 56 is a high speed, all digital connection supporting a wide range of sophisticated new applications for end users. Typical applications include interconnecting Local Area Networks, ATM machines and Broardcast services.
PABX and Key Systems
APUA offers a large variety of PABX & Key systems aimed toward satisfying your business requirements. We provide connectivity to our DMS 100 switch via analogue or digital P2/PX trunks.
Private "Lease" lines
APUA provides high quality two or four wire lease circuits that support a number of special services.
T1 Service
Provides businesses with 24 circuits for local connections between sites or to the international carrier.
Fibre Connectivity
This is possible between local sites for our business customers with high bandwidth demands.
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
This standardised, digital access to voice, circuit switched data and packet-switched data services makes it idea for new information age applications, such as, work-at-home, Multimedia communications and Local Area Network connectivity. Internet users benefit significantly with ISDN, as it transmits data much faster than conventional modems.
C7 Signalling
This enables our customers to receive Calling Number information from many overseas locations particularly the U.S and increasingly from the Caribbean.
Other Services Planned -- New Billing System
This will not only improve our customer service by presenting easy to understand bills but will also enable us to introduce "PREMIUM Services" for local entrepreneurs to exploit these services to their own advantage.
Services Planned -- Features on Demand
Call return, Repeat dialing and Three-way calling, for people who only need them once in a while. No signing up, no connection charge, no monthly fee, customers simply just pay as they use the features.
Services Planned -- Digital Cellular
Offering high voice quality, island-wide coverage and security of mobile calls with the latest features on the market today.
The Future
The combination of digital switching and Fibre Optic leaves APUA Telephones well placed to meet anticipated developments in the Telecommunications sphere including sophisticated voice and data services, video on demand, interactive video (conferencing, distance learning, etc.) and various multimedia and broadband applications.
APUA Telephones Head Office is located at Thames St, St. John’s, Antigua, Tel. (268) 480 7000.
For information on the above services contact the Commercial Department, Tel. (268) 462 2013 FAX (268) 462 2782.
Last updated March 23,1999