Friday, December 05, 2008Enter Digicel

Staff WriterThe Latest Cellular Provider to Enter The BVI Market

Digicel, the largest telecommunications operator in the Caribbean, launched in Jamaica in April 2001 as the country’s first GSM mobile provider, ending a telecommunications monopoly that existed for decades. Digicel’s goal is to deliver affordable, innovative mobile communications to all that fosters personal and professional connections whilst bridging the gap between nations and people.

Incorporated in Bermuda, the Company has operations in 23 markets, consistently introduces exciting, first-to-market technology innovations and is aggressively expanding business operations into new markets such as the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Honduras and Panama. Digicel rapidly gains market share in every country it has entered to date and has invested in excess of US$2 billion in the region. The privately-owned company has 6.54 million total subscribers, representing an annual growth rate of more than 50%. Digicel closed its March 2008 financial year with revenues of more than US$1.5 billion.

The company was founded by Denis O’Brien, a successful telecommunications entrepreneur who established Esat Telecom in Ireland, which was valued at US$2.5 billion when it was acquired in 2001 by British Telecom after a hostile bid takeover attempt by Telenor. The Company’s brand is present in more then 30 markets, which includes its sister operations Digicel Pacific Ltd. and Digicel Central America Holdings Ltd.

Digicel’s operations include: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curaçao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago & Turks & Caicos. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths and expects to launch in BVI, Honduras and Panama later this year, bringing Digicel to a total of 26 markets in the Caribbean and Central America. Digicel rapidly gains market share in every country it has entered into and continues to appeal to wireless subscribers who are dissatisfied with telecommunications services offered by incumbent mobile providers.

In its first year of operation (launched May 2006), Digicel Haiti recorded an impressive 1.4 million customers. The Company invested more than US$260 million, representing the largest ever corporate investment made by an international company In Haiti. It now has more than 2 million customers in Haiti (May 2008). In March 2007, Digicel launched the Digicel Haiti Foundation, a non-profit organization solely dedicated to helping build strong, sustainable communities and fostering economic growth across Haiti. With a firm focus on education, the Digicel Haiti Foundation – comprised of Digicel staff – led the rebuilding efforts of 20 primary schools in the country.

In December 2007 and May 2008, Digicel’s sister company, Digicel Central America Holdings Limited, won a competitive bid for a license to operate a GSM mobile network in Honduras and Panama respectively. Honduras has a population of nearly 7.5 million people while Panama has a population of three million.

Digicel Pacific Ltd, another Digicel sister company, launched in Papua New Guinea in July 2007, leading to a 0.7% growth in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Digicel recently launched in Tonga, Vanuatu and Fiji, while Digicel Samoa continues to enjoy steady growth. Digicel’s 4,000 employees follow a set of values that promote respect, confidence, hard work, honesty, communication and responsibility. 90 percent are from the region.

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