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When TSTT launched their internet service in 1995

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Following up from my blog post: Back in 2017 when Graeme Suite was Manager Brand, Public Relations & External Affairs, I had emailed him asking, "Does TSTT have any information on the history of internet in Trinidad?" He was able to send me a Newsday September 21, 1995 article titled "TSTT surfs the Internet" written by Horace Monsegue. Below are the contents of that article written more than 28 years ago. I was in form five at St Mary's College at that time. I remember Carib-Link and according to my friend Bard, they operated from 1995 to 2003 and initially provided dial-up internet access across Trinidad and Tobago.

Here is the contents of the Newsday article that I carefully converted to text on my mobile phone to make it indexable by the search engines.

Page 4 NEWSDAY Thursday September 21, 1995
NEWS
TSTT surfs the Internet
By HORACE MONSEGUE

MORE TRAFFIC joined the Information Superhighway, yesterday, when Telecommuni- cations Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) launched its Internet Service at a special media communications workshop at Textel House, Edward Street, Port-of-Spain.

Participants were able to "cruise" the Superhighway, as TSTT revealed the latest ad- vancement in technology that is turning the world into a "global village."

Chief Executive Office of TSTT, Samuel Martin said that the speed of technological advancement was so astonishing "that it is all too easy to be left behind."

Martin said that the launching of the TSTT Internet Service will now make it possible for customers to be able to dial-up access or have dedicated access to the Worldwide Web through a local node. Martin said that in early 1996, TSTT expects to introduce Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) which will enable the transport of voice, data and video on a single line.

Martin added: "International incoming 800 serv- ices will be available by the end of this year and Pay- 800 Service in 1996, to allow customers to access overseas 1-800 numbers.

"Public fax, video conferencing and Personal Communication Services are all part of the planned product offering which will complement or be added to the current range of services TSTT now offers."

Jean Wilson, Acting General Manager, of TSTT's Marketing Department explained that significant infrastructural work had to be conducted, in introducing not only Internet, but also CallMaster. "In only six months our engineers were able to complete work on the modernisation of the exchanges.

This feat was accomplished in what Nortel (Northern Telecom) described as 'record industry time'," Wilson said. She said: "Nortel has been so impressed by what has been achieved here that they have requested TSTT's participation in joint presentation with themselves at international fora."

Wilson said there are 10 services being offered. "The services are being sold singly or in multitudes to meet the needs of our customers, satisfying their requirements for privacy, convenience and security."


INTERNET FUN: TSTT's Chief Executive Officer, Sam Martin, (second fron left) makes a jovial point, encouraging smiles from TSTT's Public Relation: Manager, Patt Christopher (left), Newsday reporters Horace Monsegue and Kris Rampersad, along with TSTT's Marketing Analyst, Sherry Ragoo (far right), at yesterday's Internet demonstration. Photo by RATTAN JADOO
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