Telecommunications service provider Claro Jamaica has dealt another blow to its competitors as the battle for market share heats up. Claro is now offering one rate at $9.99 to call any network in Jamaica.

In its advertisements, the company states that the $9.99 per minute charge for prepaid customers provides one low rate to every network at any time.

Company officials note that this latest offer provides its prepaid customers with two options: the prepaid ‘basic’ or prepaid ‘anywhere’ plans. All of its prepaid customers are currently on the basic plan. However, Claro says that moving up is easy and customers need only to dial *135*999 for immediate activation – at no cost for the first attempt.

The company says that this is a continuing drive to provide affordable rates to all telephone users in Jamaica. The move follows on from Claro providing cross-net calls at $7 per minute (Claro to LIME and FLOW) and a comparative low of $12 per minute to Digicel, this is in sharp contrast to $17.70 per minute that Digicel charges its customers to call Claro.

Claro has recently seen an upsurge in its subscribers as it brings a better service with its 3G network at the lowest prices available in Jamaica. For the September quarter it added 85,0000 subscribers and its advertising campaigns are striking a cord with Jamaicans. Claro is now advocating that subscribers be allowed to switch networks but keep their number – the portability concept which is fair and gives people choice.

Digicel refused to lower interconnection rates and have subsequently complained to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) alleging collusion between LIME and Claro to reduce cross network prices.

“The 9.99 per minute to any number on any Jamaican network is amazingly less than Digicel to Digicel calls,” said a Claro company official, “it effectively changes the landscape on how prepaid customers are treated in Jamaica and opens the door for consumer choice in the market”.

The company is buoyed by the continuing consumer interest, and this is reflected in its rapid growth in subscribership. As a direct response, Claro is pledging that it will continue to find innovative ways of providing affordable telecommunications products and services to all Jamaican consumers.