DIGICEL got the regulatory nod to buy a submarine fibre network from Guadeloupe-based Loret Group and Caribbean Fibre Holdings.

Nine months after inking the deal, the acquisition is now complete.

The regional telecommunications company said that the completion of the deal marks another major step in its “ongoing evolution from a pure mobile provider to a global complete communications provider”.

It follows the recent announcements of several cable TV and broadband acquisitions in the region.

The purchase provides Digicel with a wholly-owned submarine fibre optic cable network of approximately 2,100-kilometre (km) providing capacity from Trinidad connecting 12 countries to Puerto Rico with onwards connectivity to the United States.

In a related transaction, Global Caribbean Fibre and Global Caribbean Network will also provide Digicel with submarine fibre capacity from Guadeloupe to Puerto Rico with onward connectivity to the mainland United States.

In total, Digicel has secured access to a robust network comprised of 15 submarine segments with a reach of some 3,100 km across the Caribbean region.

Digicel will also have extensive onward capacity on other submarine networks connecting locations such as Miami, Paris and New York.

“In our data-hungry world, we are committed to ensuring we deliver innovative products and services to our valued customers,” said Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO. “This latest acquisition grants us significant additional submarine fibre capacity, which in turn means we can help our customers achieve their personal and business goals through advanced solutions and multimedia experiences on multiple devices.”

Digicel Group operates in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide.