November 20, 2009
Digicel Group increases first half profit by 10 per cent
From Caribbean360:
KINGSTON, Jamaica, November 19, 2009 - Mobile operator Digicel has reported a 10 per cent increase in its half year profit to US$364 million from operations in its 24 markets in the Caribbean and El Salvador. The company said it has grown its subscriber base by seven per cent in the past year to 7.3 million, and in its most recent quarter ending September 30th, added 98,000 subscribers.
November 5, 2009
Transfer of Vitelco, Innovate Cable Could Impact V.I. Ratepayers
From the St. Thomas Source:
What charges might go on the balance sheets of local utilities was a major concern of V.I. Public Services Commission (PSC) consultants as formal testimony in transfer-of-control hearings for Vitelco phone and Innovative Cable TV companies wound up Wednesday evening.The phone and cable companies, which are regulated by the PSC, are solvent. But their parent companies, which can be collectively called Innovative Communications or ICC, have been in bankruptcy since July 2006. National Rural Telephone Finance Corporation is the biggest creditor, and its financial arm, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), is seeking PSC approval to assume ownership of the regulated utilities.
November 2, 2009
Signals Announces The Launch Of Its New Forecasts For Triple Play In Latin America Service
Revenue-Generating Units Will Exceed 200 Million Accesses By 2014
Buenos Aires - November 2, 2009 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading telecommunications research and consulting firm for markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, announces the availability of its new service: Forecasts for Triple Play in Latin America. This service monitors growth in the number of Pay TV subscribers, broadband accesses and landlines in the seven largest telecommunications markets in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.
Continue reading "Signals Announces The Launch Of Its New Forecasts For Triple Play In Latin America Service"October 2, 2009
Digicel reaches 10 million subscriber mark
KINGSTON, Jamaica, October 1, 2009 - The Caribbean's largest mobile provider Digicel has reached the 10,000,000 subscriber landmark across its 32 markets in the region, Central America and the Pacific.At the end of June 2009, Digicel recorded 7.2 million subscribers across its 24 markets in the Caribbean and El Salvador. It said that following its recent launch in Honduras and Panama, 1.4 million more subscribers came on board, while the six markets in the Pacific account for a further 1.4 million subscribers.
More here.
September 17, 2009
Digicel acquires Orange Dominica
Here is some news - Digicel buying a competitor whole. Will this be a new trend in the domination of the region?
September 14th 2009 - DIGICEL ACQUIRES ORANGE DOMINICA LTDMonday, 14th September 2009 - Rouseau, Dominica : DIGICEL ACQUIRES ORANGE DOMINICA LTD - Acquisition marks Digicel's continued growth in the Caribbean.
Digicel, the largest mobile operator in the Caribbean and recent entrant to Central America, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Orange Dominica, the wholly owned subsidiary of France Telecom.
Since launching operations in Dominica in 2006 - following the acquisition of Cingular Wireless -Digicel has built a state of the art network, offering customers the best coverage and best value in Dominica. As part of today's announcement, Digicel has made a significant investment in expanding the capacity of the Digicel network to ensure that Orange customers moving over to the Bigger, Better Network will enjoy the best coverage, the best value and the best care in the mobile market in Dominica.
On launching operations in Dominica, Digicel brought real competition to the mobile market through the introduction of a variety of first to market products and services such as free voicemail, call me, credit me - to name but a few - which drove change in the Dominican mobile market. Digicel is committed to ensuring that its customers receive the best network, the best service and the best value in Dominica and across of all its 32 operations worldwide.
Richard Stanton, Country Manager of Digicel Dominica: "Today, Dominica's Bigger Better Network just got even bigger and even better with our acquisition of Orange Dominica. Orange customers are now part of Dominica's largest network calling circle and, from today, will enjoy the multiple benefits of best value, best service and best network that Digicel delivers."
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, said of today's announcement: "In just eight years, Digicel has grown rapidly and now has operations in 32 markets worldwide. Our success across the Caribbean and beyond is based on ensuring that we deliver on our commitment to providing the best mobile experience, by our willingness to choose and invest in the right technologies and innovative products and services - and by ensuring we drive value for customers day in, day out. We're delighted to be welcoming the Orange customers to Dominica's Bigger, Better Network."
Yes it is a small market - but this could be a new trend for Digicel.
September 11, 2009
Jamaica Offers Most Robust Broadband in the Caribbean
From Signals Telecom Consulting:
The price gap between Cable Modem and other technologies continues to increase throughout the Caribbean. While on the 1Q08 Cable Modem rates were just 5% cheaper expensive than DSL, by 2Q09 the difference widened making Cable Modem rates 44% and 65% cheaper than DSL and fixed wireless broadband connections respectively.
Buenos Aires - September 9, 2009 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading telecommunications research and consulting firm for markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, presents the Fifth Edition of its market survey "Comparative Analysis of Broadband Rates in the Caribbean." This study forms part of a research program that also covers South and Central America, and analyzes the pricing strategy of 58 broadband operators in 25 markets in the Caribbean Basin and Bermuda.
August 31, 2009
New Owner for Innovative Likely by Year's End
From the St. Thomas Source:
August 27, 2009 -- By year's end, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation will own ICC, parent company to Innovative Telephone Corporation and its telephone, cable television and Internet operations, Innovative President E. Clarke Garnett said Thursday.Garnett, speaking to Rotary of St. Croix at its weekly speaker's luncheon at Gertrude's Restaurant, said the company has digitized the television services, worked on line maintenance and was in the process of upgrading its cellular and wireless services. But the heavy lifting to upgrade and strengthen the company's network will begin after the transfer of control.
ICC, formerly the property of ex-telecoms magnate Jeffrey Prosser, has been in bankruptcy since July 2006. National Rural's affiliate, Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, is the lender to ICC and holds a $525 million judgment against it. Efforts to auction the component companies were hampered by the global financial crisis and in January, National Rural announced its intent to credit bid for the properties. A credit bid is when a creditor bids for a property at auction, offering not cash, but part or all of the value of the debt owed it.
July 14, 2009
Bahamas Telecommunications Company for sale
The Nassau Guardian is reporting:
The government is today launching the formal process intended to lead to the sale of a 51 percent stake in The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), The Nassau Guardian can confirm.This exercise is intended to lead to bidding for the state-owned company.
Parties interested in purchasing BTC will be required to complete a registration form and pay a US$25,000 processing fee by July 28.
The government plans to refund the fee for any party that is not chosen to move ahead to the due diligence phase of the process, but the fee will not be refunded to any prospective buyer who moves to this next phase. In addition to acquiring a 51 percent shareholding in BTC, the new owner would also gain operational control of BTC, which currently provides services to over 334,000 wireless, 132,000 fixed line and 18,500 broadband customers throughout The Bahamas. The company currently has 190 roaming agreements in place serving more than four million tourists who visit The Bahamas each year.
Pretty interesting - I wonder how the overall economic situation will affect the sale price and/or the ability of potential buyers to find credit or capital to buy it.
June 10, 2009
Atlantic Tele-Network Acquires Some Verizon Wireless Customers
This sounds like good news for ATNI - I had been worried about the revenue streams with both the Guyana situation and the threat of competition from Digicel - but this story seems to be a solid new revenue generator:
SALEM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI - News) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain wireless assets from Verizon Wireless for $200 million. Under terms of the agreement, ATN will acquire wireless properties, including wireless spectrum licenses and network assets, serving over 800,000 subscribers primarily in rural areas across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, and Idaho. Verizon Wireless is required to divest these properties as part of the regulatory approvals granted for its purchase of Alltel earlier this year.Under terms of the agreement, ATN will purchase the assets for $200 million in cash. ATN expects to fund substantially all of the purchase price with cash-on-hand and borrowings under its existing credit facility. As of April 30, 2009, ATN had approximately $90 million in cash and cash equivalents, $75 million of available borrowings under its undrawn revolving credit facility, and an additional $50 million of borrowing capacity, subject to lender consent, under its term credit facility.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including the receipt of required consents and approvals from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.) ATN's obligation to close the transaction is not subject to any financing condition. ATN expects the transaction to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2009.
"This is a very attractive transaction for ATN and it accomplishes what we have been patiently seeking over the past few years," said Michael Prior, ATN's President and Chief Executive Officer. "It provides ATN with enhanced scale and revenue diversification and enables us to expand meaningfully our US wireless business. Coupled with our existing US wireless operations, we will now have significant wireless operations in rural areas of more than 10 states. Including our international operations, we expect to have more than 1,000,000 retail wireless subscribers by transaction close. We believe that our long history of operating success in comparable markets, combined with our financial resources, makes these businesses an ideal fit for us. We aim to further develop these markets for customers who want the attention and flexibility of a local operator. We look forward to transitioning the employees and subscribers of the acquired businesses to ATN and to continue building our wireless business."
May 26, 2009
Sale of shares in Guyana telephone company to develop ICT sector
From Caribbean360:
May 22, 2009
Cable & Wireless plans to cut more jobs
From the Telegraph:
May 19, 2009
Cellular rivals in Guyana sign SMS interconnection agreement
From The West Indian Newspaper:
Digicel and the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co. said on Saturday that their clients can start text-messaging each other by June.
The companies said technical details were worked out a year ago but disagreements had remained over contract terms. The pact was reached the same day regulators were scheduled to begin hearings on the issue.
A joint release issued on Sunday said, "Digicel and GT&T are pleased to announce that they have come to an agreement to enable cross-network mobile texting in Guyana"
May 18, 2009
Analysis of Broadband Rates in the Caribbean
From Signals Telecom Consulting:
Why PJ, Digicel officials went to Cuba
More intrigue in the Caribbean telecom world - from the Jamaica Observer:
At the same time, the storm triggered by media reports that local authorities had reason to search the aircraft chartered for the trip has left the public wondering what information the authorities had and the credibility of the intelligence they received.
May 11, 2009
Digicel seeks to end Guyana telephone monopoly
Potentially big news today from AP today on Digicel - they are going after one of the regions last monopoly markets, Guyana:
Digicel says it is missing out on millions of dollars because its nearly 300,000 subscribers can't make international calls.
Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co. has had a monopoly on the calls since it was privatized in 1991. The company is owned by Salem, Massachusetts-based Atlantic Tele-Network.
The permit expires next year. The company can renew it for 20 more years, but the government is against it.
This can't be good news for Atlantic Tele-Networks - it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
April 23, 2009
Telecommunications fraud in Bermuda
From Caribbean360:
Word of the fraud came from the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce whose officials recently met with the country's telecommunications service providers to discuss the situation."
April 16, 2009
Signals Telecom Consulting
Signals Telecom Consulting is the leading Caribbean Basin and Latin American telecommunications markets consulting firm. They are a source for many of the press releases you read here on Caribbean Telecom News.
Signals Telecom Consulting was founded in 2004. The firm is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina with an on-site presence in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the U.S.
The Signals Telecom Consulting staff includes 30 consultants and a strategic relationship with consultants in six countries including Brazil, Mexico, Great Britain and the United States.
US begins easing telecom restrictions for Cuba
This is some interesting news (from http://signalstelecom.com):
US New Policies towards Cuba Are a Positive Step, but Many Obstacles Need to Be Addressed by Both Nations.
America Movil / Telmex (Mexico), CANTV (Venezuela), Millicom (Luxemburg), Oi (Brazil), and Telefonica (Spain) the Leading Candidates to Challenge US Operators in a Liberalized Cuban Telecom Market
Cuba is the most attractive telecom market for potential investors in the Western Hemisphere due to its large population and feeble penetration rates for fixed and mobile telephony, Internet (dial up and broadband), PayTV services, etc. In addition, the geographic proximity to the US, the large Cuban immigrant community and strong historical ties between the two countries make the island a natural expansion market for US operators.
March 20, 2009
Mobile Market in El Salvador to Generate US$ 8.78 Billion in Revenue by 2014
Subscriber numbers will record a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.52% during the 2009 - 2014 period, achieving a penetration of 122.83%. Claro, Movistar and Tigo are betting on service bundling to increase revenues and customer retention.
Buenos Aires - March 17, 2009 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading telecommunications research and consulting firm for markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, announces the availability of its report entitled "Mobile Market Analysis: El Salvador". This report is one of a series of six studies on Central American mobile markets that analyze competitive dynamics, regulatory framework, operator strategy and growth forecasts for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
Continue reading "Mobile Market in El Salvador to Generate US$ 8.78 Billion in Revenue by 2014"February 27, 2009
USB Modem Cost for 3G Connections in Latin America More Than US$ 53
Operator emphasis on promoting mobile Internet connection services is behind the proliferation of promotions that increase 3G device subsidies to as much as 100% in the case of postpaid customers. Uruguay and Venezuela offer the lowest subsidies for 3G USB Modems in the region, while TIGO Colombia's rates for prepaid mobile Internet connection are positioned among the most attractive in Latin America.
Buenos Aires - February 26, 2009- Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading telecommunications research and consulting firm for markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, announces the availability of its report entitled "Comparative Analysis of 3G Prices in Latin America," which analyzes the offer of Internet access via 3G connections from 20 mobile operators in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela.
December 14, 2008
Commercial launch of Digicel in Honduras and Panama Encourages Technical Innovation in Competitors
WiMAX to Enable Digicel's Convergent Offer
Delays in the commercial launch of Claro Panama will benefit growth by Digicel in this market. Development of UMTS/HSPA networks and services by Tigo, Cable & Wireless and Claro in the various Central American markets will force Digicel to deploy this technology in the next 12-18 months, and to use WiMAX to sell broadband services, and eventually PayTV services.
Buenos Aires - December 4, 2008- Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading company in telecoms research and consulting covering the markets of Latin America and the Caribbean, announces the publication of a series of six reports on the mobile markets of Central America that analyze competitive dynamic and strategy, the regulatory framework, operator profiles and growth forecasts for: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
Around 4% of Mobile Lines in Latin America will be Ported in the 2008-2013 Period
Regulators Will Be Forced to Increase Resources to Halt Un-competitive Practices
Aggressive customer retention tactics by mobile operators will require regulatory authorities to increase their budgets to be able to combat unfair trading practices. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico will be the markets most affected, as they account for 85% of the region's portability.
Buenos Aires - December 9, 2008 - Signals Telecom Consulting, the leading telecommunications research and consulting firm for markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, announces the publication of its report on "Mobile Number Portability in Latin America." This report analyzes the impact of MNP in various markets in Europe and the United States to determine the potential impact of MNP in Latin American markets, in terms of the number of porting customers and approximate costs.
Continue reading "Around 4% of Mobile Lines in Latin America will be Ported in the 2008-2013 Period"December 8, 2008
Atlantic Tele-Network Board Declares Quarterly Dividend
SALEM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI - News) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share, payable on January 12, 2009, on all common shares outstanding to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2008.
November 10, 2008
AT&T to buy Centennial for $944 million
Missed this bit of news from Friday:
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- AT&T Inc. said late Friday it plans to buy regional wireless provider Centennial Communications Corp. for $944 million in cash, in a bid to expand its coverage.The move comes days after the Federal Communications Commission approved the merger of AT&T rival Verizon Wireless and closely-held Alltel Corp., which promises to propel Verizon past AT&T as the number one U.S. wireless carrier in terms of subscribers.
AT&T said in a prepared statement that acquiring Centennial will improve "coverage for customers in largely rural areas of the Midwest and Southeast United States," as well as in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
November 9, 2008
7th Annual Caricam Conference
The 7th Annual Caricam Conference is November 17th to 19th in Cancun!
More info here: 7th Annual Caricam Conference
