Flow (brand)

{{Short description|American based telecommunications provider}} {{multiple issues| {{promotional|date=January 2019}} {{Cleanup rewrite|date=February 2025}} {{Notability|date=February 2025}} }} {{Infobox company | name = FLOW | logo = Flow (brand) logo.svg | type = | foundation = | location = [[Miami]], [[Florida]] | areas_served = Caribbean | industry = [[Telecommunications]] | products = [[Fiber to the x|Fibre broadband]], [[Hybrid fibre-coaxial|Cable broadband]], [[ADSL]], [[VDSL]] & [[VDSL2|VDSL2 broadband]], [[Mobile Broadband]], [[pay-TV|TV]], [[Mobile computing|Mobile]], [[Mobile telephony]] | owner = Romans God | homepage = {{URL|https://www.discoverflow.co/}} }}

'''Flow''' (stylized as '''FLOW''') is an American [[Telecommunications company|telecommunications provider]] business segment and division of the Liberty Latin America in [[Colorado]]. It is used to market consumer [[cable television]], [[Cable Internet access|internet]], [[telephone]], and mobile phone services provided by the subsidiary Liberty Caribbean throughout the [[Caribbean]] region. The brand was first introduced in 2015; prior to that, these services were marketed under the bmobile or LIME brand names.

== History== FLOW operates in the [[Caribbean]], and [[Cable & Wireless Communications]]<ref name="brands">[https://lla.com/our-brands brands], Liberty Latin America</ref> used to market [[cable television]], [[Cable Internet access|internet]], [[telephone]], and mobile phone services. Flow also replaced the UTS brand in the [[Dutch Caribbean|Dutch]] and [[French Caribbean]], following their acquisition of United Telecommunications Service (UTS).<ref>{{cite web |title=Flow to deliver more connections and faster speeds |url=https://utsbonaire.com/about-us/press-releases/flow-deliver-more-connections-and-faster-speeds |website=FLOW Bonaire |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604020426/https://utsbonaire.com/about-us/press-releases/flow-deliver-more-connections-and-faster-speeds |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The New Flow to deliver more connections and faster speeds |url=https://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/37631-the-new-flow-to-deliver-more-connections-and-faster-speeds.html |website=Saint Martin News Network |access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="brands"/>

Following the acquisition of Columbus by CWC, it was announced that the Flow brand would replace the [[LIME (telecommunications company)|Lime]] brand across the merged company, beginning in July 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title='LIME' brand to be replaced by 'Flow'|url=https://cnsbusiness.com/2015/05/07/lime-brand-to-be-replaced-by-flow/|access-date=31 October 2015|work=CNS Business|date=7 May 2015}}</ref>

==Wireless== ===2G=== Regions in which Flow operates a mobile network descended from the former [[LIME (Cable & Wireless)|LIME]] brand. Flow uses the [[GSM]] standard for [[2G]] which is accessible on 850 and 1900 MHz. It provides cellular data connectivity using [[General Packet Radio Service|GPRS]] and [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]]. All Flow markets have GSM coverage. 2G was discontinued in Jamaica on September 30, 2022<ref name="FLOW JM 2G 1">{{cite web |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2022/08/05/flow-jamaica-2g-shutdown-underway/ |title=Flow Jamaica 2G shutdown underway |publisher=TeleGeography |date=2022-08-05 |access-date=2022-08-05}}</ref><ref name="FLOW JM 2G 2">{{cite web |url=https://discoverflow.co/jamaica/2G-network |title=Shutdown of Flow 2G Network |publisher=FLOW Jamaica |date=2022-08-09 |access-date=2022-12-10}}</ref> and will be discontinued in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on September 30, 2023.<ref name="FLOW SVG 2G">{{cite web |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2023/08/21/flow-svg-announces-plans-to-shutter-2g-network/ |title=Flow (SVG) announces plans to shutter 2G network |publisher=TeleGeography |date=2022-08-21 |access-date=2022-08-23}}</ref>

===3G and '4G' HSPA+=== On June 22, 2009, Flow launched their first [[3G]] [[UMTS]] networks in Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 June 2009|title=LIME 3G hits the market - Roll-out starts in the capital, islandwide coverage to be phased in|url=http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090624/business/business2.html|access-date=2020-02-25|website=The Jamaica Gleaner}}</ref>

On October 6, 2011, [[Cable & Wireless Communications|CWC]] announced the launch of a '[[4G]]' [[HSPA+]] network in the [[Cayman Islands]] and plans to launch HSPA+ networks in the Bahamas and LIME Barbados.<ref>[http://www.cwc.com/assets/uploads/files/Press%20Releases/2011/CWC%20launches%204G%20in%20Caribbean%20FINAL%20061011.pdf LIME LAUNCHES 4G SERVICES]</ref> In March 2012, LIME announced the addition of 4G technology in Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/LIME-opens--4G--experience-centres_10998015|title=LIME opens '4G' experience centres|date=9 March 2012|website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> In January 2014, former [[Centrica]] chief executive, [[Phil Bentley]] took over as CEO of Cable & Wireless Communications.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1388993182990654000/cable-wireless-new-ceo-phil-bentley-commenced-role-on-jan-1.aspx|title=Cable & Wireless' New CEO Phil Bentley Commenced Role On Jan. 1|last=News|first=Alliance|date=2014-01-06|website=MorningstarUK|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> That same year, the company announced a US$250 million investment program nicknamed 'Project Marlin', aimed at improving CWC's mobile and fixed-line networks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/61fe7820-e0e6-11e3-a934-00144feabdc0|title=CWC plans to fire up telecoms networks with $250m investment|last=Mance|first=Henry|date=21 May 2014|website=Financial Times|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/21243/cable-amp-amp-wireless-reveals-strategy|title=Cable & Wireless reveals new strategy|last=Beckles|first=Natasha|date=23 May 2014|website=www.nationnews.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> The plan began with an announcement of an island wide HSPA+ network in Jamaica in March 2014.<ref>[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/LIME-flips-on-4G-within-2-weeks_16335824 LIME flips on 4G within 2 weeks]</ref>

In [[Jamaica]], Flow's largest market, the network covers around 2.8 million people and according to the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR).<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 May 2016|title=Flow celebrates hitting one million customers|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Flow-celebrates-hitting-one-million-customers_61486|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Jamaica Observer}}</ref>

===[[4G LTE|4G]]=== Flow operates LTE networks in 12 markets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cable & Wireless Communications {{!}} On the go |url=https://www.cwc.com/live/past-present/what-we-do/mobile.html |website=www.cwc.com |access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref>

====Cayman Islands==== 'Project Marlin' also involved the launch and build out of LTE networks across several of the company's markets. CWC's Caymanian business unit (then named LIME Cayman) launched their first LTE network on December 10, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 December 2013|title=Lime launches LTE network in Cayman Islands|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/lime-launches-lte-network-in-cayman-islands--985042|website=Telecompaper}}</ref> The network initially launched with 100% coverage across the Cayman Islands on LTE Band 17 (700 MHz).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=11 December 2013|title=LIME launches LTE in Cayman Islands|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2013/12/11/lime-launches-lte-in-cayman-islands/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=Comms Update}}</ref> CWC's network was followed by [[Digicel]] launching an LTE network on Band 3 (1800 MHz).<ref name=":1" />

In August 2016, Flow became one of eight carriers in North America and the first Caribbean operator to have rolled out an [[LTE Advanced]] network, followed by [[Orange S.A.|Orange]] in the [[French West Indies]] and the [[Dominican Republic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cable & Wireless Communications {{!}} Cable & Wireless Reports Preliminary Q1 2016/17 Results|url=https://www.cwc.com/live/news-and-media/press-releases/cable-wireless-reports-preliminary-q1-201617-results.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Cable & Wireless Communications}}</ref>

FLOW has VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling active in this market.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://discoverflow.co/cayman/what-is-volte |title=What is VoLTE? |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=discoverflow.co}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://discoverflow.co/cayman/network-manifesto |title=Network Manifesto|access-date=2026-05-19 |website=discoverflow.co}}</ref>

==== Antigua and Barbuda ==== Flow also operates an LTE network in [[Antigua and Barbuda]], which launched on November 24, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LIME zest at launch of mobile 4G LTE in Antigua and Barbuda|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2014/11/24/lime-zest-at-launch-of-mobile-4g-lte-in-antigua-and-barbuda/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Comms Update}}</ref> On August 17, 2017, CWC announced that it had completed a Gigabit LTE network trial in Antigua and Barbuda in partnership with [[Ericsson]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 August 2017|title=Ericsson, CWC demo gigabit LTE in Antigua and Barbuda|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/ericsson-cwc-demo-gigabit-lte-in-antigua-and-barbuda--1208736|website=Telecompaper}}</ref> The LTE solution tested leveraged network technology such as carrier aggregation, 4x4 [[MIMO]] (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and higher-order modulation (256-[[QAM]]) that maximized data speeds for wireless broadband subscribers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reichert|first=Corinne|title=Ericsson and T-Mobile attain gigabit LTE|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ericsson-and-t-mobile-attain-gigabit-lte/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref>

==== Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla==== Flow operates an LTE network in the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]] (which runs off the assets acquired from [[Atlantic Tele-Network|Islandcom Wireless]]) and [[Anguilla]] on Band 13.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

====British Virgin Islands==== Flow launched an LTE network in the British Virgin Islands on November 17, 2016. The network launched with LTE coverage available across all of the islands, LTE Advanced is available in Road Town, Spanish Town, Tortola, Spanish Island and Beef Island with speeds up to 100 Mbit/s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 October 2016|title=Flow: LTE Cell Sites Test Shows Speed More Than 40Mbps|url=http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=25719|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018225745/http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=25719|archive-date=18 October 2016}}</ref>

====Jamaica==== The network's plans for LTE upgrades were officially announced on January 17, 2016, where the company announced in a press release that it would be rolling out an LTE network in Jamaica. The network was initially planned to be rolled out in the high traffic areas in the [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston Metropolitan Area]] (consisting of the city of Kingston and its adjacent suburbs in [[Portmore, Jamaica|Portmore, St. Catherine]] and the parish of [[Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica|St. Andrew]]) and on the North Coast in the resort city of [[Montego Bay]] and the resort town of [[Ocho Rios]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 January 2016|title=FLOW announces upgrade to LTE|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/FLOW-announces-upgrade-to-LTE|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Jamaica Observer}}</ref> The company was, however, countered by its competitor, Digicel Jamaica, which launched its LTE network on June 9, 2016, in Kingston and a portion of Montego Bay. In July, Flow announced that it had applied to the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) for additional LTE spectrum to provide a 'faster service'.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FLOW Jamaica applies for LTE spectrum for high speed Internet|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20160726/flow-jamaica-applies-lte-spectrum-high-speed-internet|date=2016-07-27|website=Jamaica Gleaner|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> Flow subsequently acquired [[List of AWS-1 devices|AWS-1]] Blocks D and E to buttress their pre-existing Block F spectrum. In December 2016, Flow went live with an initial 12 LTE cell sites in the Kingston Metropolitan Area. According to Flow Jamaica's former Managing Director, Garfield Sinclair, the company's new parent, [[Liberty Global]] is focused on mobile data.

On August 20, 2017, the company announced that it was launching an additional 144 LTE sites covering Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and [[Mandeville, Jamaica|Mandeville]] by October 2017, making Flow the operator with the largest LTE footprint in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FLOW to Pump $83m to Improve Services|url=https://nationwideradiojm.com/flow-to-pump-83m-to-improve-services/|date=2017-08-10|website=Nationwide 90FM|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref> Flow also expanded coverage in the Kingston Metro Area, upgrading sites in the township of Portmore and the major town of [[Spanish Town]], which went on-air in October 2017. This effort was a part of a near 200 LTE site rollout across the island, availing the major towns and cities in Jamaica with LTE coverage by the end of 2017, with the goal of achieving comprehensive coverage by 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FLOW Jamaica to spend $10b on service upgrades|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20170820/flow-jamaica-spend-10b-service-upgrades|date=2017-08-20|website=Jamaica Gleaner|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>

In January 2018, the network announced that it had deployed over 170 LTE sites across the island.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} Flow's rollout of LTE Advanced in Jamaica continued with intentions to extend LTE coverage to 87% of the Jamaican population by the end of 2018 with a future target of covering 95% of the population by 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flow Jamaica unveils LTE expansion targets|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2018/06/27/flow-jamaica-unveils-lte-expansion-targets/|website=Comms Update|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>

In January 2023, Flow rolled out [[Voice over LTE]] (VoLTE) on its network.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://discoverflow.co/jamaica/volte |title= What is VoLTE? |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=discoverflow.co}}</ref> Wi-Fi Calling was later added.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-19 |title=Flow launches voice over Wi-Fi calling to customers nationwide - Jamaica Observer |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/01/19/flow-launches-voice-wi-fi-calling-customers-nationwide/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Barbados==== After conducting its first test call in October 2016, Flow Barbados officially launched its LTE network on March 22, 2017. At the time of launch, the network had a total of 35 active sites dispersed over Band 2 and 5 LTE (1900 MHz and 850 MHz respectively), making this Flow's third LTE Advanced network deployment.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 March 2017|title=Flow launches 4G LTE|url=https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/94922/flow-launches-4g-lte|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Nation News}}</ref>

====St. Lucia==== Flow launched St. Lucia's first LTE network, with availability in the capital city, [[Castries]], the town of [[Vieux Fort]], home of [[Hewanorra International Airport]] to the south of the island and the old capital and tourist town of [[Soufrière, Saint Lucia|Soufrière]] (home to [[The Pitons]], [[Soufrière Estate]] and [[Anse Chastanet]]) to the west.

The network is available on LTE Band 13 (700 MHz) with a maximum theoretical speed of 75 Mbit/s down and 25 Mbit/s up.

==== Saint Kitts and Nevis ==== On September 29, 2017, Flow launched Saint Kitts and Nevis' first LTE network, with availability in the capital city, [[Basseterre, Saint Kitts|Basseterre]], St. Peter's and Bird Rock in [[St. Kitts]] as well as [[Charlestown, Nevis|Charlestown]] in [[Nevis]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=SKNVibes {{!}} FLOW launches new LTE Service in St. Kitts and Nevis|url=https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/102808|access-date=2020-08-19|website=SKN Vibes}}</ref> The network is available on LTE Band 13 (700 MHz) with a maximum theoretical speed of 75 Mbit/s down and 25 Mbit/s up.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

==== Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ==== In December 2018, Flow launched its LTE network in [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], with availability in the capital city, [[Kingstown, Saint Vincent|Kingstown]], and nearby surrounding areas.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} The network is available on LTE Band 13 (700 MHz) with a maximum theoretical speed of 75 Mbit/s down and 25 Mbit/s up.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===[[5G NR|5G]]=== On June 4, 2024, FLOW launched 5G NR services in the Cayman Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kampa |first=Dana |date=2024-06-06 |title=New 5G services launch in Cayman |url=https://www.caymancompass.com/2024/06/06/new-5g-services-launch-in-cayman/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Cayman Compass |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On October 15, 2025, FLOW launched 5G NR services in Barbados.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cumberbatch |first=Shawn |date=2025-10-15 |title=The 5G Flow |url=https://nationnews.com/2025/10/15/the-5g-flow/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=nationnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> ====Pre-5G==== {{Update|part=section|date=August 2021}} On July 17, 2017, Flow's parent company, Cable & Wireless Communications, in collaboration with their parent, Liberty Global, announced that they had conducted a trial of [[LTE-A Pro]] technology in [[Antigua & Barbuda]]. The company announced that upon installation, Antigua & Barbuda will become the first country in the Caribbean (and wider Latin America) to be availed of an LTE-A Pro network, capable of speeds up to 800 Mbit/s. In October 2017, the company will be testing a [[5G]] prototype network, designed to deliver wireless data connections of around 2–5 Gbit/s. The testing and deployment is being done in collaboration with long time business partner and supplier, Ericsson.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cable & Wireless Communications {{!}} C&W COMMUNICATIONS IN THE VANGUARD OF PRE-5G TESTING IN THE CARIBBEAN|url=https://www.cwc.com/live/news-and-media/press-releases/cw-communications-in-the-vanguard-of-pre-5g-testing-in-the-caribbean.html|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Cable & Wireless Communications}}</ref>

===Future footprint expansion=== Flow currently operates in two markets with no wireless offerings, [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and [[Curaçao]]. Flow plans to add a mobile network to its portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago. The company applied to the governing telecoms body, [[Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago]] (TATT), in 2014 for a mobile license. To date, however, Flow has yet to receive a license despite being named as the recipient of the license being tendered by TATT. They plan to build an LTE network as well despite incumbents, [[bmobile]] ([[TSTT]]) and Digicel, having well established mobile customer bases.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nero|first=Sean|title=Flow urges TATT: Name third mobile provider|url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.356893.5e17ddcadf|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Flow cites its experience in other markets, to include previously launched LTE networks in other markets in addition to newly built networks in Jamaica and Barbados as an impetus to get TATT to issue the license. Flow's parent company, Cable & Wireless Communications, is a minority shareholder in incumbent TSTT, however, services are not branded as C&W but as bmobile, CWC's former consumer brand from 2003 to 2008 (succeeded by [[LIME (Cable & Wireless)|LIME]] in November 2008 in all markets except Trinidad & Tobago).

Plans for a mobile network in Curaçao came to the fore when Cable & Wireless Communications acquired [[UTS Curaçao]] and other UTS business units across the Dutch Caribbean. The Curaçao business unit of UTS will be combined with Flow's existing operations there with the promise of bringing faster LTE speeds and coverage with an improved customer experience.<ref>{{Cite web|title=C&W expands capabilities in Dutch Caribbean through combination with UTS {{!}} UTS N.V.|url=https://www.uts.cw/notifications/cw-expands-capabilities-dutch-caribbean-through-combination-uts|access-date=2020-08-19|website=UTS}}</ref>

===Mobile benchmarks and awards=== Based on drive tests carried out by engineering consulting company, MSI Americas, Flow was rated as the top carrier in the two tested countries; Jamaica and Barbados. In Jamaica, Flow was placed ahead of its competitor in terms of radio frequency quality, 3G throughput, and higher 3G retention. Flow was also rated the faster mobile network in the country, with users to experience on average, above 3 Mbit/s ([[downlink]]) on the HSPA+ network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Flow-says-it-tops-competitor-in-islandwide-mobile-benchmarking-tests_51138 |title=FLOW says it tops competitor in islandwide mobile benchmarking tests |date=February 9, 2016 |publisher= Jamaica Observer |access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> Flow Barbados also placed ahead of its competitor there as well in said categories as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2016/01/27/not-so-fast-says-flow/ |title = Not so fast says FLOW |work = Barbados Today |date=January 27, 2016 |access-date= February 9, 2016 |last1 = Today |first1 = Barbados }}</ref>

In addition, Flow Barbados was also ranked by [[Ookla]] as being the best ISP and mobile network in Barbados.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwc.com/news-and-media/press-releases/flow-is-barbados-fastest-telecoms-provider-says-ookla.html |title = Flow Is Barbados' Fastest Telecoms Provider, Says Ookla |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher= Cable and Wireless Communications |access-date= April 17, 2016}}</ref> Flow was also rated by Ookla as Cayman's fastest mobile and broadband network.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fastest ISPs and Mobile Networks {{!}} Speedtest Awards|url=https://www.speedtest.net/legacy-awards/ky/2016|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Speedtest}}</ref>

In 2016, [[P3 group|P3 Group]], a management consultancy headquartered in [[Aachen]], Germany, conducted benchmarks in six Flow Territories (Antigua & Barbuda, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica (pre-LTE), Montserrat, St. Lucia and Turks and Caicos). The finding of these benchmarks concluded that Flow networks were on average 90% better than their competitor, Digicel, in terms of call setup, download and upload speed, latency and video streaming (over YouTube). Raw scores showed that Flow also outranked the competition in voice and data performance at the very least, twice.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-01|title=Flow Caribbean Customers Are On The #1 Network Independent P3 Benchmark Quality Tests in Six Markets Reveal|url=https://cnsbusiness.com/flow-caribbean-customers-are-on-the-1-network-independent-p3-benchmark-quality-tests-in-six-markets-reveal/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=CNS Business|language=en-US}}</ref>

In Q2-Q3 of 2018, Flow Jamaica received the distinction by Ookla's [[Speedtest]] Awards by being Jamaica's fastest mobile network, with customers seeing speeds averaging at 22.66 Mbit/s on the downlink and 9.62 Mbit/s on the uplink.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedtest.net/awards/jamaica/2018?award_type=carrier&time_period=q2-q3 |title=Fastest Mobile Network - Flow |publisher=Ookla |access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref>

===Radio frequency summary=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+Frequencies used on Flow Mobile Networks |- ! Frequency range !! Band number !! Protocol !! Class !! Status !! Note(s) |- | '''2100''' MHz IMT || 1 || [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]/[[High-Speed Packet Access|HSPA]]/[[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]] || [[3G]] || Active || Active in Curaçao |- | '''1800''' MHz DCS || 3 || [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] || [[4G]] || Active || Active in Barbados, Bonaire and Curaçao |- | '''1900''' MHz [[Personal Communications Service|PCS]] || 2 || [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]/[[High-Speed Packet Access|HSPA]]/[[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]]/ [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]/[[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]] || [[3G]]/[[4G]] || Active || Active in all markets. HSPA+ active on 1900 MHz in Jamaica. [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] Band 2 used in Barbados, [[British Virgin Islands|BVI]], Cayman Islands, Dominica and Jamaica. |- | '''1700/2100''' MHz [[Advanced Wireless Services|AWS]] || 4 || [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]/[[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]] || [[4G]] || Active || Active in Antigua & Barbuda and Jamaica. |- | '''850''' MHz CLR || 5 || [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]/[[High-Speed Packet Access|HSPA]]/[[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]]/ [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]/[[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]] || [[3G]]/[[4G]] || Active || Active in all markets. HSPA+ active in most markets. LTE Band 5 is used in Barbados and Grenada. |- | '''700''' MHz SMH A/B/C || 12/13/17 || [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]/[[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]] || [[4G]] || Active || Main LTE Bands (12/17 or 13) in all markets except Barbados. |- | '''700''' MHz APT || 28 || [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]/[[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]] || [[4G]] || Active/In-Deployment || Used in Curaçao |- | '''3500''' MHz C-Band || n78 || [[5G NR|NR]] || [[5G]] || Active/In-Deployment || Active in the Cayman Islands. |}

==Broadband, pay-TV and landline==

===Cable TV, HFC and broadband=== Flow operates HFC networks in the former [[Columbus Communications]] markets of [[Barbados]], Curaçao, [[Grenada]], Jamaica, Trinidad, [[Saint Lucia]] and Saint Vincent. The network also follows conventions shared with its sister companies such as [[Virgin Media|Virgin Media Ireland & UK]], [[Ziggo]], [[UPC Broadband|UPC]] in its choice of [[Customer-premises equipment|CPE]]; a custom [[Arris]] cable modem, capable of speeds up to 1 Gbit/s. The box's nomenclature 'FLOW Connectbox' also finds similarity with its sister brands like Ziggo, with Virgin Media being the only exception with its 'Superhub 3'. The company switched to using a DOCSIS 3.1 Sagemcom F@st 3890 v3 following Liberty Latin America's other markets in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-18 |title=Liberty Modem |url=https://newsismybusiness.com/liberty-modem/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=News is My Business |language=en-US}}</ref> DOCSIS 3.1 was rolled out in Trinidad in August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Shweta |date=2023-08-21 |title=Flow offers gigabit speeds to customers - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday |url=https://newsday.co.tt/2023/08/21/flow-offers-gigabit-speeds-to-customers/,%20https://newsday.co.tt/2023/08/21/flow-offers-gigabit-speeds-to-customers/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=newsday.co.tt |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Fibre and wireless broadband=== LIME, in 2014, began rolling out a [[FTTX|fiber-to-the-home]] (FTTH) network in Barbados.<ref>{{Cite web|title=C&W (Flow) aiming for 100% FTTH coverage as part of USD160m plan|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2015/07/20/cw-flow-aiming-for-100-ftth-coverage-as-part-of-usd160m-plan/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Comms Update}}</ref> They also have a FTTH network in numerous areas with greenfield deployment in Jamaica<ref>{{Cite web|title=LIME Jamaica launches 100Mbps FTTH service|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2011/12/16/lime-jamaica-launches-100mbps-ftth-service/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Comms Update}}</ref> and across all of [[Grand Cayman]] as well.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fruits of LIME investment evident; 100Mbps fibre goes nationwide|url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2015/03/04/fruits-of-lime-investment-evident-100mbps-fibre-goes-nationwide/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=Comms Update}}</ref> In January 2023, Flow rolled out a FTTH network in Tobago.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flow announces availability of services in Tobago |url=https://technewstt.com/pr-flow-available-tobago/ |website=Tech News TT |date=25 January 2023 |access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}} {{note label|id1||none}}[[Anguilla]], [[Antigua & Barbuda]], [[Barbados]], [[Bonaire]], [[British Virgin Islands]], [[Cayman Islands]], [[Curaçao]], [[Dominica]], [[Grenada]], [[Jamaica]], [[Montserrat]], [[Saba (island)|Saba]], [[Saint Barthelemy]], [[Sint Eustatius]], [[St. Kitts and Nevis]], [[St. Lucia]], [[Saint Martin (island)|St. Martin]], [[St. Maarten]], [[St. Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Turks and Caicos]], [[Mexico]], [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], [[Panama]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Honduras]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Belize]] and [[Dominican Republic]]

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.discoverflow.co/}}

[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2015]] [[Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:Liberty Latin America|Flow]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of the Caribbean]]