News: Digicel makes French Caribbean investment

(TTG 03/05/2006) Kingston - Digicel has shelled out US$196 million to acquire Bouygues Telecom Caraibe, a subsidiary of Bouygues Telecom with assets in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana.

“Digicel will add three new territories to its existing operations bringing its total number of operations to a milestone 20 markets since its inception five years ago,” the company announced in a press release.

Bouygues Telecom Caraibe, has over 160,000 subscribers with posted revenues for 2005 of US$148 million.

The acquisition of Bouygues Telecom Caraibe provides Digicel with a large established pre-paid and post-paid customer base and an advanced GSM network in markets that are populated by more than one million people.

The three territories have economies centred on the Euro as their functional currency and serve as a destination for international tourists including coverage areas in St Barths and French St Martin.

“We are delighted to welcome the employees and customers of Bouygues Telecom Caraibe into the Digicel family as we continue our quest to create a seamless pan-Caribbean network,” said Denis O’Brien, chairman and founder of Digicel Group.

Digicel launched in Trinidad on April 6.

“As we celebrate our fifth anniversary since our debut launch in Jamaica we are proud to have achieved this milestone of providing top-rate services in 20 nations.

“Digicel continues to maintain its position as the fastest growing telecommunications company in the Caribbean with a compound annualised growth rate of 69 per cent,” said O’Brien.

Digicel said it plans to increase its subscriber base with its bold marketing and its product offerings which include handsets, per second billing, prepaid roaming and rollover minutes.