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Digicel launches in British Virgin Islands, invests $17Mn

  • December 1st, 2008
  • 5:46 am

Digicel, the largest mobile operator in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Central American market, today launched services in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) — its 25th market in the Caribbean and Central America and 30th market world-wide. With an investment of US$17 million, Digicel introduces a new era of choice and competition for mobile customers in BVI.
With a population of 23,000 and mobile penetration at an estimated 90 percent, Digicel’s investment in BVI focuses on building a brand new state-of-the-art network that provides coverage to 98 percent of the population. The new network is supported by 24/7customer care, first-to-market innovations such as self-service top up machines with 24-hour access and online bill payment, as well as a wide range of affordable handsets.
“We are delighted to launch in the British Virgin Islands and are looking forward to demonstrating to customers what being with the Bigger, Better Network means,” Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO, said of today’s launch. “I would like to thank the Government for all of its assistance with our entrance to this market. As the third entrant, we will drive competition for the good of consumers by providing the best coverage, the best care and the best value to the people of this country. This is an exciting time for us both here in BVI — and more widely — as we continue to expand our global presence and delight customers with what we do and how we do it.”
Digicel BVI is led by Alan Bates, who has worked with Digicel since 2003. Serving as Head of Sales and Distribution for the Dutch Caribbean region and Sales Director for Digicel Bermuda, Bates has played an instrumental role in leading the company’s operations to the number one position in the market.
With a thriving tourism and financial services industry, BVI has one of the most prosperous economies in the Caribbean. BVI covers a group of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands, with the main islands being Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke and Anegada.

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications — the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 25 markets, including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. With a launch planned imminently in Panama, Digicel expects to be in 26 markets by the end of the year. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup and the Copa De Naciones, the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel.

About Wireless Federation

Wireless Federation is an industry research conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The mandate of the Wireless Federation is to provide its members and customers industry knowledge that can further enhance their understanding of the wireless industry. Wireless Federation conducts bespoke research and produces boxed reports in collabaration with Industry Bodies, Telecom Operators for Issues that revolve around ARPU, CHURN and Loyalty.
They have been associated with more than 225 mobile operators globally to set their Pricing/ Tariff Strategies, Go-To-Market Strategies for Mobile Advertising, Mobile Payments, Cutting VAS among others amongst 59 countries globally.

For more information please visit www.wirelessfederation.com

   

Telecom commences 3G operations for international roaming customers (New Zealand)

  • November 28th, 2008
  • 8:24 am

Telecom, New Zealand, much awaited 3G network commences operations for international roaming customers only. The 3G network has active coverage for inbound roaming customers in the Auckland CBD, Auckland airport and city-to-airport commuter route. Activation of similar coverage in Wellington and Christchurch will start by early 2009.The new W-CDMA network, which originally had to run by Christmas, has delayed to July 2009.
According to Telecom the 3G network will cover 97% of New Zealand and cost $547 million. CEO Telecom Retail Alan Gourdie said the roaming arrangements launched this week are with Telstra Corporation Australia and the Digicel Group who cover a range of Pacific Islands. Telecom is in talks for further international roaming agreements in order to offer subscribers 170 overseas destinations for voice and texting and over 110 destinations for internet data by June’09.
   

Digicel to recieve Kiribati’s mobile licence in next three weeks

  • November 20th, 2008
  • 12:51 pm

Digicel is nearing to recieve the mobile licence of Kiribati to launch GSM services in the country. The government of Kiribati approves Digicel’s proposal of an investment of over $9.3 million in deploying a network across all Kiribati’s populated islands. According to Telecommunications Authority Chief Executive Pwanouia Aberaan the finalisation of the licence is under process and the issuing of licence is expected in next three weeks.

   

Digicel launches operations in Honduras, invests $450Mn

  • November 20th, 2008
  • 5:59 am

The Latin American mobile operator Digicel launches its operations officially in Honduras with an investment of $450Mn. The investment also includes the amount it paid for Honduras’ fourth mobile license which is $80.1Mn, says Digicel Honduras’ CEO Miguel García.
According to CEO García, Digicel aims to have a subscriber base of 5,000 by year-end and to become country’s second largest mobile operator within a year of launching.
According to an unofficial statement the operator also additionally aims to take country’s mobile penetration to 80% which stands at 60% presently.
“Honduras is a very exciting market for us as it allows us to strengthen our presence in Central America. With a population of close to 7.6mn and mobile penetration at just 60%, there is huge potential for growth in this mobile market and we look forward to becoming a strong competitor,” the spokesperson said.

   

Trinidad and Tobago call bid for third mobile licence

  • November 6th, 2008
  • 5:52 am

Trinidad and Tobago, telecoms operator are planning to award a third mobile licence in the country carrying spectrum in both the 800MHz and 1900MHz bands. This tender is open to any interested entity which is not already a shareholder in an existing telecoms licensee on the islands and the process will close in February 2009. The new licence holder is going to compete with TSTT and Digicel. In 2005, Laqtel was granted an operating licence but was incapable to pay its licence fees and had its concession cancelled earlier this year.

Guyana passes two telecom bills to combat crime

  • October 21st, 2008
  • 8:21 am

Guyana parliament has passes two most controversial bills in the parliament. One of the bill will authorise wiretapping and force cell-phone providers to register clients, as part of a push to fight crime.
The second bill will require Digicel and Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GT&T) to register whosoever subscribers to them. The above two bills will allow the police to review past details for crimes in the country.

   

Arcep to renew Digicel, SRR and Orange Carribean’s GSM licences (France)

  • October 21st, 2008
  • 8:16 am

Arcep, the French regulator has given out a summary of the public consultation over the renewal of three GSM licences for the overseas operators. The operators in question are Digicel, Radiotelephone Society of Reunion (SRR) and Orange Caribbean which are due to expire on 8 December 2009, 23 February 2010 and 14 June 2011 respectively.
The conclusion derived out of the public consultation is that the three GSM licences will be renewed with the same frequency allocations and a strengthening of obligations concerning the provision of service, coverage and quality of service.

   

Digicel and Ericsson sets in motion to launch GSM mobile network (Panama)

  • October 3rd, 2008
  • 10:29 am

According to a media report, Ericsson has been contracted to deploy a GSM/EDGE mobile network for start-up operator Digicel Panama. Under this deal Ericsson will provide the Irish-owned cellco with a mobile softswitch, optical and microwave backhaul facilities and a convergent charging and billing solution.  Ericsson will also be held responsible for network deployment and systems integration. Also the Swedish firm is the supplier of choice for the Digicel group in 24 markets across the Caribbean and Central America. Currently, Panama has two mobile operators Movistar and Cable & Wireless. Digicel and America Movil won Panama’s third and fourth mobile licences in May, each paying around USD86 million. Both of them aiming a commercial launch by the end of 2008. Digicel is planning to invest USD334 million in its Panamanian subsidiary.


Vodafone Fiji goes ‘carrazy’ marketing as Digicel enters Fiji (Fiji)

  • October 1st, 2008
  • 5:21 am

With the coming of Digicel to Fiji the imcumbent players have tied up their laces with massive marketing campaign including cut-price or even free services in order to take away the spark that digicel will create.
Digicel, in Fiji, will end the mobile market’s 14 year monopoly run by Vodafone Fiji. The well established operator has been marketing it’s services by offering it’s ‘carrazy’ text promotion at half price. The daily newspapers and TV channels have, reportedly, been flooded with adverts offering lower prices, extended promotion dates and free texts and airtime.
Telecom Fiji, the fixed line operator has been promoting its EasyTel cordless telephone service, offering no line rentals, a talk-time promotion, decreased call rates and SMS instant messaging. Meanwhile, the MVNO Inkk Mobile has come up with a talk-time offer giving subscribers 15 minutes of free air-time for every 5 minutes used; the offer is valid until the end of January.

   

Digicel will roll out its new mobile network in Fiji soon (Fiji)

  • September 26th, 2008
  • 5:52 am

Caribbean-based Digicel Group said it could roll out its new mobile network in Fiji next week. The launch of Digicel mobile network will be going to give competition to Vodafone Fiji which has long enjoyed the monopoly on the provision of cellular services there. The interim government of Fiji issued Digicel Fiji with its mobile operating licence in July’08, it was announced five months after the firm had won the right to offer services in competition with Vodafone. Commerce Minister Tom Ricketts said that Digicel would be issued with its concession once it had paid the licence fee of USD10.25 million.