Strong competition for phone services expected

By Mellica McPherson

Many residents are still not sure which telecom they will choose for their mobile and telephone needs. In the talks of liberalisation many telecommunications companies continue to present themselves as the perfect choice, and as of recent Digicel has taken up the cause.

At the BVI Chambers of Commerce and Hotel Association’s monthly luncheon held on 24 January, the guest speaker was Lisa Lewis, Project Director of Digicel Group. She confirmed that Digicel had applied in 2005 for a licence to operate in the Territory, and that the company is looking forward to a favorable review of that application. She also divulged that Digicel has since requested a status report from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

She focused on what the BVI could expect in a “truly liberalised market.” Ms. Lewis pointed out that  ”liberalization in the Caribbean actually started in 2000,” adding that before 2000 there was a widespread dissatisfaction with the incumbents.

The Project Director talked about the company’s track record within the Caribbean. She informed that Digicel began in Jamaica in 2001. The company now operates in 22 markets. “Digicel is not only the largest mobile operator in the Caribbean, but also the fastest growing. We acquired Cingular Wireless' Caribbean and Bermuda operations in 2005 and of Bouygues Telecom Caraibe in 2006, and that has assisted us significantly to expand our reach.”

The Digicel representative mentioned that part of the company’s strategy is to be competitive, provide better customer care and superior network quality in each of the markets they enter. This translates into a better service experience for the customers who have embraced the freedom of choice offered by Digicel. Ms. Lewis went on to mention that Digicel has invested more than US$1.5 billion in the region.

According to Lewis, another part of Digicel’s strategy is its ability to be innovative. She explained that Digicel is first in its markets to provide unique service options on a regular basis. Some of the listed unique services are: rollover minutes, per-second billing and pre-paid roaming.

At the end of her presentation, Mrs. Lewis explained that in a liberalised environment there are several winners, but in the end there is only one ultimate winner and that is the customer. When there is true liberalisation there is a high penetration and a vibrancy in the telecommunications sector, and that vibrancy, she explained, was brought to many countries by Digicel.