JAMAICA TO BENEFIT FROM DIGICEL ACQUISITION OF CLARO
January 5th 2012 - JAMAICA TO BENEFIT FROM DIGICEL ACQUISITION OF CLAROJAMAICA TO BENEFIT FROM DIGICEL ACQUISITION OF CLARO
Digicel to deliver lower cross-network rates, island-wide 4G Mobile, free wireless broadband access for schools and post offices in remote areas - while providing job opportunities and Enhanced Separation Programme for Claro staff
Thursday, 5th January, 2011 – Kingston, Jamaica. The acquisition of Claro in Jamaica by Digicel, which was completed on November 30th 2011, will spur both innovation and investment and benefit consumers right across Jamaica, the telecommunications provider announced today.
In keeping with its commitment to ensuring that customers always benefit from the best value, best service and best network, Digicel has announced a number of initiatives that aim to ensure that Jamaica benefits from the very best in technology innovation and that access to these technologies becomes more widespread.
The initiatives will see Jamaica benefiting from super-fast mobile technology through the introduction of island-wide 4G Mobile, lower cross-network calling rates and an intent to bring complimentary wireless access to primary and secondary schools and post offices in remote locations.
As a result of the acquisition, Digicel will be investing a further US$30 million in the rollout of its 4G Mobile services – in addition to its existing investment of over US$1 billion in Jamaica - and once again be bringing the latest in innovation to mobile users.
Based on HSPA+, 4G Mobile from Digicel is the next step in high speed mobile internet with speeds of up to five times faster than the standard legacy 3G technology. Digicel will deliver island-wide coverage to over 80% of the population and will enable customers to enjoy a better experience through faster access to files, the internet and social media; more engagement and more excitement through faster communication, entertainment and information; and more choice with an even wider range of handsets.
Further, Digicel has also reduced its cross-network rates meaning that, effective 4th January for prepaid and 12th January for postpaid, customers will benefit from a JA$3.50 per minute peak rate reduction and a JA$2 per minute off peak rate reduction on calls to the other network.
Digicel Jamaica CEO, Mark Linehan, comments; “Our investment in and rollout of 4G Mobile will see us once again leading innovation and spurring economic growth in Jamaica by putting the very latest and greatest technology in the hands of consumers. The island-wide availability of 4G Mobile will see Jamaica benefiting from the best of the best courtesy of Digicel. Our 4G Mobile service will deliver speeds of up to five times faster than legacy 3G services and will be complemented by our commitment to best value and best service. 4G Mobile opens up a world of possibilities for our customers.
“In addition, our reduction in cross-network rates for both prepaid and postpaid customers and our intent to bring complementary wireless broadband services to schools and post offices in remote areas of Jamaica underline our commitment to ensuring that everything we do has a positive impact on our customers and on Jamaica in general.”
“In addition, our reduction in cross-network rates for both prepaid and postpaid customers and our intent to bring complementary wireless broadband services to schools and post offices in remote areas of Jamaica underline our commitment to ensuring that everything we do has a positive impact on our customers and on Jamaica in general.”
It was also announced today that Digicel has offered an Enhanced Separation Programme to Claro employees. In commenting on this, Mark Linehan stated; ‘Our Enhanced Separation Programme is significantly more generous than what is legally required providing all employees with an extra four weeks of pay above what is required and continuing healthcare, lunch allowances and phone credit benefits for a period of three months. In addition, we will be providing outplacement services and encouraging Claro employees to apply for any vacant positions we currently have in Digicel. While the services of some Claro employees will be retained for the next several months - and others will likely secure permanent positions with Digicel - in the interest of fairness, we have made the decision to offer the enhanced separation package to all Claro employees.”
Mark Linehan concluded by saying; “We are very excited about 2012 and the further benefits we will bring to our customers on foot of the considerable investments we are making in the future of telecommunications in Jamaica.”