Following the recent liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, Digicel yesterday announced a reduction of its overseas calling rates.
As a result, the company said in a press statement that Digicel subscribers can now call up to 100 countries, including China, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Panama, St Maarten, Brazil, Venezuela, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, for the same $30 per minute rate as it would cost to call a local number. “This is the first of many service and product changes customers can expect thanks to liberalisation,” Digicel Chief Executive Officer Gregory Dean was quoted as saying in the statement.
The company added that rate reductions will result in the cost of overseas calls being significantly reduced by as much as 600% from the pre liberalisation rates. “This will be a great benefit for persons keeping in touch with friends and family and business persons needing to conduct trade globally,” it said.
Dean also reported that Digicel has taken the decision to significantly boost the number of persons working on its network upgrades. “We are making every effort to ensure customers see the promised benefits of liberalisation in the shortest possible time,” he said.
At the start of the month the PPP/C administration ended GTT’s over 30-year monopoly over the sector and Prime Minister Mark Phillips said it would create competition and ultimately better services.
Digicel, which is one of the three licensed telecommunications operators, had welcomed the move and announced its plans to swiftly “bring a new era of connectivity and opportunity to the people of Guyana” after saying they have endured poor quality, poor coverage and poor service for years.
