Flow increases support to Y.U.T.E with J$1 Million Donation

Sandra Glasgow, Chief Executive Officer, Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) accepts a cheque for the Y.U.T.E programme valued at J$ 1 Million from Sharon Roper, Flow’s Vice President, Marketing. The cheque was presented at Flow’s 5th Anniversary Celebration on the East Lawns of Devon House, last Thursday. The donation signifies Flow’s on-going commitment to the development of the nation’s youth.

Last Thursday July 21, the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Youth Upliftment through Employment (Y.U.T.E) project welcomed a J$1M cash donation from Flow; a symbolic move to further cement the organization’s commitment to the participants of the Y.U.T.E programme.

Sandra Glasgow, Chief Executive Officer, PSOJ who accepted the donation on behalf of Y.U.T.E, said that she was “Ecstatic about [the] partnership with Flow, a valued member of the PSOJ.” She also continued by saying that, “The support already received from Flow by airing Y.U.T.E ads on its cable channels is helping to spread the word about this important project.

The staff of Flow is also ‘stepping up’ to act as Mentors for Y.U.T.E. participants and we expect further support for our training programmes as we roll out the project over the next eighteen months. Flow is demonstrating, in an unequivocal manner, its strong commitment to helping to make the future brighter for young people in Kingston’s inner-cities.”

Flow celebrates fifth anniversary in Jamaica — Part I

THIS week, telecoms service provider Flow celebrates its fifth anniversary in Jamaica. During that time, Flow has managed to redefine the way Jamaicans employ digital broadband technology. The company has introduced high speed Internet and delivered cable television packages that to date can not be equalled.

Back in 2004, just after Hurricane Ivan, lead principals of Flow's parent company, Columbus Communications, Brendan Paddick and Michael Lee Chin flew into Jamaica to evaluate investing in the country. They were confronted by uprooted infrastructure, chaos and devastation. They made their way to Gordon House to inform then Minister of Commerce and Technology Philip Paulwell that they wanted to build a triple-play fibre optic network and the first objective was to lay a subsea link offshore Jamaica that would hook into a greater subsea network that services the Caribbean. They vowed that never again would Jamaica's telecommunications capabilities be incapacitated in such a manner.



They proceeded to put together an RFP that would have people bid on building that subsea network off the island. Two licenses were awarded and the network was delivered expeditiously, in fact, in less than 12 months and was in service in March 2006. In April of that year, Flow had its official launch.

Building a network

It started offering its services to just around 25 customers in the New Kingston area. When Michele English, who is now the President and Chief Operating Officer of Flow, arrived in Jamaica, in April 2006 she was the 92nd employee. By then, many construction professionals were engaged in building the network. Initially she was the general manager and was mandated to build a new business with less than a hundred employees. Today Flow has 550 employees comprising specialised expertise.

English points to the number of returning residents who have joined Flow, lending it their considerable expertise garnered from First World telecoms companies like Comcast, Time Warner and Rogers. She adds that many of these overseas professionals were impressed with what Flow was attempting to accomplish and got on board.


Carlton Baxter returned to Jamaica to visit his mother back in 2006. He recognised the infrastructure going up around Kingston and was curious. He went to visit Flow's offices, knocked on Michele English's door and told her he was an engineer with Comcast and was impressed with what he saw in Jamaica. He expressed an interest in returning home and started with Flow as a design manager. Today he is VP of Engineering at Flow responsible for its infrastructure roll out across the island.

Great efforts were made to train the local contractors. Today, English proudly proclaims they work full time for Flow and are very successful as a result of being equipped with the right tools. She credits the team of local contractors with Flow's ability to deliver a good product.

"We spent the first couple of years in construction mode and I had to do practically everything. One minute I was recruiting customer service representatives, the next, designing the products and coming up with how we were going to sell them. Then hub sites had to be built. There was a phenomenal amount of activity in those first couple of years, but five years on that hasn't really stopped but is now more focused on operational practices.

"We delivered to our first residential customers in the summer of 2006. Back then we only had a licence to deliver Internet and voice services both locally and internationally. We did apply for a cable license but we began with a double-play offering," recalls Flow's chief operating officer.

Delivering a stellar service

This goes some way in explaining why Flow went into acquisition mode, snapping up cable operators aggressively. The first company Flow acquired was Sauce in the Kingston area thus allowing it to offer a triple-play service (Internet, voice and cable). Flow had arrived, and the question was could it manage expectations?

Today Flow has about 5000 kilometres of fibre in its network, then another 4000 kilometres of cable, a 1000 kilometres of subsea cable and a dozen hub sites built. When Flow first got started it could only deliver its service to 10,000 homes. Five years later it can deliver to 50 per cent of the homes in the country and almost 100 per cent of all businesses operating in Jamaica in terms of an enterprise level fibre service.




Full Article: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/VIDEO--Flow-celebrates-fifth-anniversary-in-Jamaica---Part-I_9272577#ixzz1T8PASPXw

Majesty down Tivoli in Game One of Flow final

Title-hungry Majesty Legends outmuscled Tivoli Wizards, 88-83, in Game One of the Flow/National Basketball League best-of-three final at the National Stadium Courts on Thursday night.

Majesty led by as much as 21 points near the end of the third quarter and it appeared they were trying to kill the clock in the last quarter which worked, but in favour of the defending champions Tivoli.

After trailing Majesty by 14 points (76-62) with under five minutes to go, Omar Barnes put metal to pedal to close the gap, 76-68, with Anthony Farquharson pushing the score 76-70.

According to Majesty coach Ludlow Barker, the team was showing complacency at that time.

A three-pointer from Baldon Todd of Majesty and two free throws from Barnes pushed the score to 79-73.

Tivoli Wizards’ Anthony Farquharson (left) moves in to challenge Majesty Legends’ Baldon Todd during third quarter action in the Flow NBL at the Stadium Courts on Thursday night. (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby)

Majesty eventually held on for victory, with Todd finishing with a game-high 29 points and Kemar McLeish contributing 21 points and 11 rebounds.

For Tivoli, Farquharson led with 24 points and 15 assists, supported by Andrew Whilby 16 points.
The first quarter ended 19-19, before Majesty pulled away for 39-32 in the second quarter and 64-46 in the third quarter.

Majesty coach Barker said the team had been working on "some things", including rebounding and working the ball. "We matched the tempo of Tivoli and took care of business," he said.

Tivoli coach Edward Marshall, in his post-match analysis, said: "Basically we missed a lot of free throws, but big up to Majesty because they really fought. They had a big lead and it was going to be hard to catch up," said Marshall.

Game Two will take place at the National Indoor Sports Complex tomorrow at 7:00 pm, after Urban Knights and the Jamaica Defence Force battle for the third place at 5:00 pm.


Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Majesty-down-Tivoli-in-Game-One-of-Flow-final_9119906#ixzz1R7IaLIfV

Majesty, Tivoli in NBL showdown

Kemar McLeish of Majesty Gardens (left) tries to dribble past Javon Bailey of Urban Knights during their Flow/NBL semi-final match at the National Stadium Courts on Tuesday. Majesty won, 73-68. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

MAJESTY Gardens Legends marched into the final of the FLOW/National Basketball League (NBL) final on Tuesday after beating Urban Knights, 73-68, in Game Two of their best-of-three semi-final series at the National Stadium Courts for a 2-0 win.

Majesty will now face Tivoli Gardens Wizards in the best-of-three play-off decider, starting at the same venue tomorrow, in a repeat of last season's finale.

Majesty Gardens, with 19 points from Damion Young and 17 points and 11 rebounds from Boldon Todd, kept on top of their opponents for most of the match and came out deserved winners.

Hovando Dunn and Kemar McLeish gave good support, with Dunn posting 13 points and McLeish 12 points and five assists.

Javon Bailey was the Knights' topscorer with a game-high 20 points. His best support came from Dave Blackwood with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Winning coach Ludlow Barker said he had promised there would not be a Game Three in the series.

"This one was a lot harder to work for... as after a good first-half we got very sloppy... but we are on a mission and now we are ready for Tivoli," he said.

He said the Legends will now have to try to correct some of their errors and put their previous meeting with the defending champions in the past.

"Whatever happened in the Southern Conference is gone; this is the All-Island, the big one, and this is the one we want," he said.

Majesty started brilliantly, scoring freely to take a 28-13 lead after the end of the first quarter. They continued into the second, stretching their lead to over 20 points at one stage, and led 44-27 at half-time.

However, many who had written off the former champions watched as the Calvin Martin-coached Knights, led by former St Catherine High School star Bailey, clawed their way back into the match in the third quarter.

Bailey was in scintillating form, producing some magical moments to constantly get on the scoreboard to keep the Knights within touching distance.

Urban Knights eventually claimed the period, 18-10, to close the gap to 10 points (55-45) entering the last quarter.

But Majesty held their nerve and played intelligently to keep their opponents at bay, preserving a seven-point advantage at the end, despite losing the period, 23-18.

"Majesty Gardens came out as if they really wanted it... We dug ourselves in a hole in the first half and we weren't running our systems...," said Urban Knights' assistant coach Kevin Alexander.

Meanwhile, Tivoli's coach Ted Marshall anticipates a competitive final from their arch-rivals, but believes his team is stronger defensively.


Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Majesty--Tivoli-in-NBL-showdown_9097782#ixzz1R7LIiyHk

THIS IS HOW I FLOW…THIS SUMMER!

WATCH
New or existing customers who sign up for Flow Watch service between June 15, 2011 and August 31, 2011 will get one month free with sign-up to any Watch package. The ‘one month free service’ is awarded as a credit on their 3^rd bill after installation of their service. Customers will pay no fee for standard installations.

TALK
New or existing customers who sign up for the Flow Unlimited service between June 15, 2011 and August 31, 2011 will get a free phone and pay no fee for standard installations.

CLICK
New or existing customers who sign up for Click service between June 15, 2011 and August 31, 2011 will receive ‘free wireless’ with their service. Flow will waive the wireless upgrade fee for the wireless router modem upgrade. Customers will pay no fee for standard installations. If an integrated wireless router modem unit is not available, Flow will provide a wireless router, free of cost to customer.Wireless router is property of Flow.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. This offer is available to new or existing residential customers in areas where Flow’s service is available,who sign-up for Flow’s service between June 15, 2011 and August 31, 2011
2. A ‘sign up’ is defined as the customer having paid any applicable fees and the services being installed.
3. New customers signing up for Flow service are required to pay the 1st months service fees (inclusive of G.C.T.) for the service (s) ordered and where applicable the subsidized purchase price (inclusive of G.C.T.) for any additional equipment ordered in advance before their service (s) can be installed. New customers will only be scheduled for installation when their ‘sign-up payment’ is received by Flow.
4. Customers who sign up for any Watch package will receive a ‘one month credit’ on their third bill after installation of their service. Offer only applies to new Watch subs.
5. The one (1) month credit is applicable to the base and optional package option for new Watch customers under this promotionat time of sign-up.
6. If the customer becomes delinquent or is disconnected during the first two month’s then they will no longer be eligible for the one month credit on their thirdbill.
7. Flow will waive the wireless upgrade fee for all Flow Click sign-ups during the promotional period. Customers will receive an integrated wireless router modem. If an integrated wireless router modem is not available, customer will be ‘wireless’ through a wireless router provided by Flow.
8. This wireless router remains the property of Flow.
9. Customers will pay no fee for standard installation during this promotion
10. The free phone offered for Flow Unlimited signups is provided on a promotional basis and has no warranty.
11. Customers who sign up agree to pay the rates (inclusive of G.C.T.) applicable to that service.
12. This promotional offer of a ‘one month credit’ in the 3rd month to Watch customers does not apply to Flow OnDemand purchases.
13. This Special offer cannot be combined with any other promotional offer
14. Existing customer’s account must be current to be eligible for this offer.
15. Existing Residential customers whose Flow service has been disconnected within the last ninety (90) days are not eligible to sign-up for this offer.
16. This offer is not transferable to any other person.
17. Flows standard residential Terms &Conditions apply.