WiFi Zone is fast, but coverage is limited

How good is TeleBermuda’s WiFi Zone at Dockyard?

The Bermuda Sun gave it a test run last Friday after seeing several comments on Facebook and Cruise Critic that gave it mixed marks.

For those unfamiliar with TBi’s deal, it has a WiFi zone in Dockyard (as well as Hamilton and St George’s). Customers can purchase one hour for $3; 24 hours for $9.99; three days for $14.99 and a monthly package for $29.99.

With cruise ships staying for two to three days at Dockyard it aims to make a three-day package attractive to passengers for $15. 

That’s much cheaper than the standard cruise ship rate of $0.75 a minute (which can be less if they buy packages). Or put another way, the 72 hour rate is the same as 20 minutes on the cruise ship, which makes it a very good deal for passengers to use.

Likewise, the monthly package of $30 is a great deal for the crew off the ships as they will get 12 days of WiFi from TBi. 

On Friday I purchased a one hour package. I originally tried buying it from inside the Clocktower Mall, but the signal was not strong enough for me to make the transaction. 

I eventually moved to outside the shop where the packages can be bought and was able to connect. I received a strong signal.

From there I proceeded to do a walkabout to check out the signal. Moving towards the Norwegian Breakaway (it was the only ship in port), I lost my connection near the ferry stop. I could not pick up on the pier next to the ship. On the walkway heading towards the Bermuda National Museum there is a painted circle with the TBi WiFi Zone on it. I stopped in it and was unable to pick up any signal while there.

Walking around the Bermuda Craft Market/Frog and Onion buildings, I was again unsuccessful in finding the TBi signal. 

Heading towards the Clocktower Mall, I picked it up again near Café Amici and around the front of the building. 

I spoke to a couple of crew from the Breakaway who regularly purchase the package from TBi.

They told me that at night they have been able to get the signal at the terminal for the ship. They added the speed depends on the time of the day and on whether or not the Celebrity Summit is in port.

Some passengers on the Cruise Critic board have reported that they have been able to get the signal from their balcony or deck of the ship while others have less success.

One poster wrote: “We were on the Dawn in June and we... were able to access it from our balcony most of the time. 

“Most people seemed to congregate near the gazebo area in the evening but I thought it seemed pretty strong throughout the Dockyard area just off the dock. 

The general conclusion from my test is that you can’t count on getting the TBi signal unless you are near the shop you can purchase it from or on the outside of the Clocktower Mall, but it was fast.

But if you’re a cruise ship passenger that doesn’t necessarily make it a bad deal, it’s still much cheaper than the ships’ price, but you may have to walk a bit to get it on your mobile device or computer. 

If you’re a local who has the TBi WiFi Zone as part of your Internet package, it still gives you an extra place to use it. n