Digicel

Caribbean's Largest Mobile Telecom Provider Gained Significant Ground in 2007; New Licenses and Operations Extend Reach of Pan-Caribbean Wireless Network

KINGSTON, JAMAICA -- 01/15/2008 -- Digicel, the fastest-growing telecommunications operator in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Central American market, today announced significant year-end growth achievements in 2007. As the largest GSM operator in the region, Digicel ended the year with more than six million customers, a total investment exceeding US $1.9 billion across the region and new business operations in Suriname, Guyana and El Salvador.

"Digicel's progress in 2007 reinforced our position as the Caribbean’s leading mobile service provider and demonstrated delivery of sustained growth in our current markets, strategically expanding operations in new markets and providing exciting, first-to-market technology innovations to all of our customers,” said Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO.

Digicel achieved a number of key milestones in 2007. These include:

PARAMARIBO, SURINAME – Monday, April 16, 2007: Digicel, the fastest-growing mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean and new entrant to the Latin American market, today announced that it has been awarded a license to operate a GSM network in Suriname, extending Digicel’s seamless international mobile network and competitive offerings to 23 markets.

The new license comes as a result of the liberalization process of the telecommunication market in Suriname, which started four years ago by the Government of Suriname with the drafting of the New Telecommunication Provisions Act. This Act comes into effect on April 16, 2007. With a population of close to 500,000 Suriname’s mobile penetration is estimated at just over 40%.

His Excellency Drs. M.S.H. Hassankhan, Suriname’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Tourism, welcomed Digicel to Suriname stating, “We are entering an exciting new era in telecommunications in Suriname bringing more advanced services at more competitive prices and allowing more people than ever before to access mobile technology.

With Leading Pan-Caribbean Operator Becomes First in Region to Offer GSM and CDMA Roaming Capability

Digicel announced that through its partnership with Huawei Technologies, it has launched CDMA roaming in the Caribbean and Bermuda, making it the first GSM operator in the region to simultaneously offer GSM and CDMA on its mobile network.

Huawei has been awarded a CDMA2000 1x EV-DO contract and as a result CDMA travelers coming to the region will now be able to roam on Digicel's network and experience the same high level of roaming service that GSM roamers have come to expect from Digicel. In its initial stage, CDMA roaming is being introduced to five of Digicel's 22 markets, including Jamaica, Bermuda, Aruba, Cayman Islands and Barbados.

"When traveling to the Caribbean, many U.S. mobile customers experience poor service and erratic network coverage from CDMA Caribbean operators," said Mario Assaad, Digicel Group CTO. "Now, they can come to the Caribbean and have reliable mobile service by roaming on our seamless mobile network."