Five years after its launch in Guyana, Digicel says it has invested in excess of US$70 million, but showed reluctance in revealing what its profit margin has been.
In anticipation of the company’s fifth anniversary today, Chief Executive Officer Gregory Dean, said at a press conference at the Essequibo Room, Pegasus yesterday that he remains optimistic that Digicel can compete in today’s market.
Asked directly about Digicel’s profit margin, Dean indicated that being a private company, it is only compelled to give such information to the police.
Pointing to competition from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), which recently launched its own Blackberry service, he said both networks have gained. “Competition helps to keep us on our toes and respond to the challenges,” he said.
Reflecting on Digicel’s past year, the CEO said it has now reached 95% to 96% coverage across Guyana. “In terms of our network, one of the things we were focused on when we came here was getting coverage as wide as possible and for the past year we set up sites at 58 Miles and Matthew’s Ridge and that has brought us to 95%-96% population coverage,” he announced.
With regard to capacity upgrade, Dean said work was done in Georgetown and some remote areas, citing Suddie and Rosignol.
Many upgrades were said to have been done in terms of data as a growing demand for this has been observed. “We have done a lot of upgrades on the network and we continue to do upgrades… We try to match the usage of the customer… Data is the future of the communications business.
There is also a lot of upgrades behind the scenes in terms of some of the support facilities,” Dean explained.
He further stated that there have been many achievements which they are proud to reflect on, including a “50% reduction or more in terms of prices and rates…”.
Dean promised that work to better the service offered will continue and this, he said, is inclusive of data expansion and services throughout the country.
“There are some challenges with that… a lot of it depends on what happens in terms of liberalization of the sector. I think that with the new parliament this will be done…,” he said.
Another difficulty faced, he said, is obtaining the terrain to set up sites. “We are looking at some remote areas.
We are in the telecommunications business and not the road building business and a lot of the locations we are looking at now are off the main trail,” he explained.
Power supply at some locations also serves as a problem but this has been overcome by the use of solar panels.
Meanwhile, Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James spoke of the anniversary concert which is slated for February 17 at the Providence Stadium. American R&B recording artiste Keri Hilson, Reggae Band Morgan Heritage, Jamaican singer I-Octane and local artistes x2 are scheduled to perform.
She indicated that tickets are currently being sold at $3,000 and an all-inclusive premium package is also available for $15,000. She pointed out that with every ticket, $500 credit is retainable.
James also noted that there is the ‘Text 2 win’ promotion through which five persons will have the opportunity to win themselves VIP tickets to the concert.
Also, supporters will be treated to a “very special surprise” on Thursday at 5.30 pm when the last leg of Digicel’s Mash Fit will be held.
