Dear Editor,
I like to welcome Digicel to Guyana and wish them all success.
We really needed cellular competition and already we are seeing cell phone prices falling at an unbelievable rate.
However, I am disappointed with Digicel’s post and pre- paid rates.
I expected cheaper rates, especially since the PUC had set a floor and ceiling rate from $7 to $32 per minute.
I must remind your readers that Umobile’s lowest rate was $15 and you saved 50% calling any 3 numbers on the Umobile network.
While Digicel may boast of being the best network and have the best customer care in Guyana, it’s not enough to make the average Guyanese switch to the Digicel network.
Yours faithfully,
(name and address provided)
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Digicel for their comments and received the following response from Mr Tim Bahrani, the Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana.
“Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the issues raised by your reader. I also take this opportunity to thank the reader for welcoming Digicel to Guyana and the wishes for our success.
Digicel is pleased to have been able to launch our brand in Guyana soon after the acquisition of U-Mobile and we remain excited by the potential to serve Guyana and to support the country’s development. In order to do this Digicel has brought an initial investment of US$60 million to the country and heralded a new era of choice and competition for mobile customers, as noted by your reader. We are also improving coverage in key Guyanese communities, and taking coverage to large areas that had not experienced any coverage in the past. Digicel has also opened 50 retail stores and is rolling out 6,000 recharge stations across the country.
Digicel’s investment in Guyana is focused on building a brand new, state-of-the-art network supported by unprecedented customer care available 24/7, first-to-market innovations such as Rollover Minutes and Pre-paid Roaming as well as handsets including the Motorola F3 and Digicel’s exclusive KONKA range.
The letter did observe that,” already we are seeing cell phone prices falling at an unbelievable rate,” this observation is in keeping with what Digicel brings to the market place. Since Digicel launched in the Caribbean five years ago, incumbent providers were forced to offer new services and more competitive rates (up to 40% reduced), Guyana is no different.
We focus on what has driven and continues to drive our success: a passionate customer-centric approach to business, excellent network coverage, superior customer care, innovations in technology and state-of-the-art handsets. Digicel listens to our customers’ feedback and we tailor services portfolios to meet customers’ lifestyle. We have been consistently first to market with new offerings and our dedication to the Caribbean community through sports sponsorships, cultural and social initiatives has helped build our strong brand image.
Since launch in Guyana Digicel has focused on bringing value to the market for our customers. I have listed these below so that you readers can look at the list.
– GYD 500$ credit on the SIM with handsets.
– 1000$ SIM only credit.
– Real per second billing, starting from the first second.
– Low calling rates for pre-paid of $22 off peak Digicel – Digicel.
– Calls on our packages from post paid packages from as low as 9$….Business only
– 20% discount on all Digicel to Digicel calls.
– The best network in Guyana.
– Free voice mail retrieval.
– Pre-Paid Roaming in all Digicel countries (22).
– Wide range of products for example CALL ME, CREDIT ME, working GPRS.
– Convenient top up and balance check. With the widest range of Top ups.
The letter also made reference to the PUC ruling on rates and I wish to say that Digicel welcomed the PUC ruling to create upper and lower rates in the Guyanese market; this has opened up the market to true competition and opportunities to serve the customers what they want.
Digicel in its continuous effort to ensure customer satisfaction complied with the PUC ruling from day one; true per second billing is being applied to all local calls.
This means that if a person makes a call for 3 seconds that is what he or she pays for. It is unfortunate that we can not apply the same for International calls since we depend on GT&T for that service and we are billed on a per minute basis from them.
In closing, I disagree with the writer that the “average Guyanese” won’t switch. In fact, now is the best time to switch to Digicel.
Those who switch will experience strong signal, crystal clear calls, $1,000 credit when they switch, 20% of Digicel to Digicel calls, true Per Second Billing, and 24×7 Customer Care.”
