Digicel Jamaica has committed to spend $2 billion over the next 12 months to upgrade its local network and improve coverage across Jamaica, while facilitating the scheduled roll out of its wireless broadband solution, WiMAX.

In a press statement last Friday, Digicel Jamaica's CEO, David Hall said that the investment represented the company's commitment to entering the landline voice service and broadband markets.

"The current broadband offerings in Jamaica rely heavily on fixed lines, making it limited in choice for Jamaican consumers and businesses, while internationally, broadband access continues to trend away from fixed line to wireless," said Hall.

"Digicel is committed to extending competition to landline voice service and broadband in our ongoing efforts to offer better communication solutions, which are cutting-edge and at lower costs to our customers, who have not had a choice in the past."

The investment is schedule to start April 1, 2006, and should take 12 months to complete.

Digicel's broadband solution, WiMAX, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including "last mile" broadband connections and high-speed enterprise connectivity for business.

Digicel recently concluded a three-month technology trial in the Cayman Islands.

The company's director of business services, Chris Hayman, said in the press statement that the objective of the company was to "develop a cost-effective wireless broadband solution for voice and data in Jamaica that will drive our competitive advantage, and provide a superior product and customer focused network".

Digicel started providing mobile services in Jamaica in 2001, and estimates its subscriber base at 1.4 million as at December 31, 2005.
Having recently acquired licences to operate in other countries in the region, and acquiring Cingular's Caribbean operations, Digicel will have a presence in 15 Caribbean countries.

These are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Curaçao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Haiti.

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