Digicel to Launch 4G WiMAX Across Jamaica

First Year Investment of Over US$22.7 Million in High Speed Wireless Broadband Internet

Market Wire

posted: 86 DAYS 12 HOURS AGO

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KINGSTON, JAMAICA -- (Marketwire) -- 09/02/09 -- Digicel Jamaica today unveiled details of its upcoming Digicel Broadband service which will deliver wireless broadband internet services at never before seen speeds to the Jamaican population.

Digicel has secured a license in the 2.5Ghz spectrum for the deployment of wireless broadband services. With it, Digicel will roll out 4G WiMAX services offering true multi megabit per second personal wireless broadband with speeds significantly faster than current 3G offerings.

The Digicel Broadband service will be easy to access and affordable. The service will be true 'plug 'n play' as users will be able to plug in a simple small wireless device to their computers (laptops or PCs) or other Internet-ready devices and they will be connected to the world wide web. The Digicel Broadband service makes "personal broadband" a reality. By putting users in control in the same way that they are in control of their mobile phones, they can take their broadband service with them and access it when they are on the go. That's the magic of wireless broadband.

Mobile WiMAX is a standards-based technology that will turn cities and towns into giant Internet hotspots enabling customers to receive fast, reliable and affordable broadband Internet services at work, at home or on the go.

Set to launch in second quarter of 2010, Digicel Broadband will, on day one, cover 60% of the population with coverage in all 14 parishes -- with further roll out continuing across Jamaica driven by customer demand. Network roll out commences this month (September).

Digicel paid US$1.2 million for its license and will invest a total of US$22.7 million in the first year of the project. Creating 60 new jobs, Digicel Broadband will have dedicated technical, customer care and sales and marketing resources.

Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, said: "We're going to shake things up. Only eight years ago, Digicel entered the mobile market in Jamaica and turned it on its head. Today, we have two million customers connected on Jamaica's Bigger, Better network benefiting from the best service and the best value available."

He continues: "We want to do to broadband what we did to mobile in Jamaica. Customers will be able to experience the multiple benefits of 4G technology in terms of flexibility, affordability, coverage, bandwidth and security.

"We have had phenomenal demand for our personal WiMAX services in the Cayman Islands -- and have had huge success with our corporate fixed WiMAX solution here in Jamaica. Digicel is bringing 4G to Jamaica and it is going to be fantastic."

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

After eight years of operation, Digicel has more than eight million customers across its Caribbean and Central American markets and 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 32 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel.

Contact:
Antonia Graham
Digicel
+1 (876) 564 1708

antonia.graham@digicelgroup.com

MARKET WIRE

2009-09-02 16:00:32