Digicel Group, the Caribbean's fastest growing mobile telecommunications company, today confirmed it has acquired a GSM license in Bonaire in its continued expansion of a pan Caribbean GSM network. Digicel acquired a majority shareholding in Antilliano Por N.V., the entity which holds a business license to operate telecommunications in Bonaire and a federal license to operate a telecommunications company in the Netherlands Antilles.
This new license increases Digicel's coverage across the Netherlands Antilles as well as achieving the milestone of becoming the first mobile operator to connect all three ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) under one GSM network.
Digicel Bonaire will offer innovative and accessible mobile services that meet consumers' evolving communication needs, and create positive competition that drives value for local customers.
"Digicel's expansion into Bonaire within our Netherlands Antilles operations helps us achieve the significant milestone of being the only operator ever to offer services seamlessly across the ABC islands" said Digicel Group CEO, Mr Colm Delves. "Bonaire can look forward to benefiting from the fastest growing telecommunications company in the Caribbean with a compound annualized growth rate of 69 percent – an unrivaled figure among the world's mobile phone providers".
"We are bringing to the people of Bonaire cost efficient and cutting-edge mobile communications as well as seamless service as they travel across the Caribbean," he added.
Digicel first entered the Netherlands Antilles with its launch in Aruba in 2002 and expanded further into the region in March 2005 through the acquisition of Curacao Telecom. Mr Hans Lute, CEO of Digicel Netherlands Antilles leads Digicel operations in this region.
"We are delighted to be entering into a partnership with Digicel to launch superior quality telecommunication services in the near future and look forward to working with Hans Lute and his team," said Alvin Obersi, of Antilliano Por NV. "Digicel's experience in the Netherlands Antilles, its customer centric focus and dynamic approach to business should have a positive impact on the people of Bonaire."
With over US$1 billion invested in the Caribbean, Digicel is the largest mobile operator in the region with a network of close to twenty Caribbean markets and employs over 1500 people.
