DIGICEL STATEMENT
January 8th 2009 - DIGICEL STATEMENTProvidenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands - Thursday, January 08, 2009: In spite of allegations made by LIME against Digicel, Digicel maintains its position that it has not defied an order by the OUR (a fact confirmed in writing by the OUR), has never engaged in anti-competitive behavior, has not breached its interconnect agreement, or blocked calls on its network.
The upgrade to Digicel’s systems is designed to improve the customer experience by improving network efficiency and ensuring better call quality for its customers. It will also help Digicel combat the very serious issue of illegal traffic routing, which is costing the Jamaican economy millions of dollars every year. This has resulted in a shortfall in the Universal Service Fund Levy which is money that is earmarked for the Jamaican education system. These are all factors that LIME apparently has no interest in, by virtue of its obstruction to this legitimate process.
Digicel, with reference to the court order issued today, looks forward to having an opportunity to present its case to the court, as the current order was granted on an ex-parte basis which means that only one side of the story has been presented to the Judge to date.
In essence, very little has changed as a result of this order being granted. As previously stated, not a single customer was, nor will be, affected by Digicel’s system upgrade.
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, commented on LIME/Cable &Wireless’ recent claims, “For LIME/Cable & Wireless to threaten to dismantle the entire telecommunications market in some form of retaliatory action because it is unhappy about a systems upgrade is not only shocking, but is morally reprehensible. In fact, it is a threat that has the potential to put people’s lives at risk and highlights that even after eight years of liberalization, LIME/Cable & Wireless continues to think and act in a monopolistic fashion.
“Its accusations, comments and insinuations in relation to this matter are not only false, but are defamatory and Digicel can confirm that it is initiating legal proceedings against LIME/Cable & Wireless to this effect.”
