Tag Archives: Jamaica

Digicel shuts down Claro network in Jamaica

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Digicel has shut down the Claro network in Jamaica. Claro customers who chose to migrate to the Digicel network were able to keep their Claro number and access Digicel’s offers.

However, “due to technical incompatibility, as the Claro network operates on a different frequency, some Claro handsets will work on the Digicel network while others will not,” Digicel said in a mid-January media release. “Digicel’s dealer stores will be able to determine which handsets are compatible and which are not,” the company added. That network switch offer was initially available until 29 February, but has been extended until 9 March.

According to Digicel, the majority of the Claro customer base has migrated to its network.

Jamaica's FTC takes legal action on Digicel/Claro merger

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Jamaica’s Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has taken legal action to prevent the approved merger of mobile operators Digicel and Claro. The FTC filed a lawsuit with the High Court this month, seeking several declarations that, if granted, would result in the scuttling of the merger and fines of USD 5 million against Digicel Jamaica and Oceanic Digital Jamaica for breach of the Fair Competition Act, the Jamaica Observer reports.

The FTC will be asking the court for an injunction to block the merger, which it claims would result in lower competition in the telecoms market. According to the lawsuit, between April 2007 when Claro entered the market, and March 2011 when the merger was announced, “customers’ benefits from competition” among the Digicel, Claro and Lime have “exceeded USD 16 billion”.

The FTC alleges that this financial benefit to customers would be reduced should the merger go through.

LIME in Jamaica launches 100 Mbps broadband service

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Cable & Wireless Communications’ (CWC) Caribbean business, Lime, has launched a broadband service for residential customers. Lime is offering customers FTTH broadband plans with download speeds ranging from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps.

Lime’s FTTH broadband service will initially be available to customers in the Montego Bay and St. Catherine areas. The network will gradually be extended to other parts of the country.

C&W calls for Digicel-Claro Jamaican Merger to Be Investigated

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Jamaica’s Cable & Wireless – opertating under the brand LIME – has written to the Government, the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) expressing concerns about the recently announced deal for Digicel to buy its local rival, Claro.

Digicel and Claro announced last week that Digicel would sell its businesses in El Salvador and Honduras to America Movil, while in turn Claro Jamaica would be sold to Digicel.

According to analysts, the combined market share of the two companies in Jamaica comes to 80%, leaving Cable & Wireless (LIME) with the remaining 20%. The move has raised concerns that Digicel is effectively returning the country to a de-facto monopoly status.

The company said that given the significance of the merger to the Jamaican telecoms industry, the regulators “should carefully assess the deal, before approval is given by the relevant minister”.

“As a company proudly serving Jamaica for over 140 years, providing employment for more than 1,400 Jamaican workers and with almost 25,000 Jamaican shareholders, we stand ready to cooperate with all industry players to ensure the interests of our country and the Jamaican consumer are best served,” Lime’s managing director, Garry Sinclair said in a brief statement.

See the LIME Jamaica and Digicel Jamaica records in Latin Target

What is Latin Target? Find out at www.latintarget.com

Digicel buys Claro Jamaica

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Digicel has agreed to acquire America Movil’s Claro business in Jamaica. In turn, America Movil will acquire Digicel’s businesses in El Salvador and Honduras. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. However, there will be a net cash payment to Digicel. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter.

See the Claro Jamaica and Digicel Honduras and Digicel El Salvador records in Latin Target.

What is Latin Target? Find out at www.latintarget.com

Digicel passes 11 million customers milestone

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Mobile operator Digicel has reached 11 million customers across the 32 worldwide markets where it currently operates. Digicel provides mobile communication services across the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. Digicel reports its customer base has increased by 10 percent year-on-year, while its market share has also grown quarter-on-quarter in all of its major markets (El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad & Tobago).

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See the Digicel records in Latin Target.

What is Latin Target? Find out at www.latintarget.com

Digicel Group Added Nearly 100,000 Subscribers in Q3 2009

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­Digicel Group, which has operations in the Caribbean and Central American has reported a 10% increase in its half year EBITDA to US$364 million on revenues of US$857 million. Digicel has grown its subscriber base by 7% in the past 12 months to 7.3 million, and in its most recent quarter to September 30th 2009, it added 98,000 subscribers.

Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO, comments: “These results demonstrate a strong start to the financial year with Digicel increasing profits and subscribers even in a tough economic climate. Despite increased competition, Digicel is winning market share as customers continue to prefer the better value offered by Digicel’s Bigger, Better Network.”

Digicel‘s revenues for the six months to September 30th were US$857 million – growing 3% in constant currency terms. The company does not publish a net income figure.

See the Digicel Group record in Latin Target

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