Patricia Maher, Country Manager of Digicel Grenada says that the acquisition of a submarine fibre network across the Caribbean could see the company become a full telecommunications service provider.
On Monday Digicel announced that it has reached an agreement with the Guadeloupe-based Loret Group and with Caribbean Fibre Holdings, to acquire a submarine fibre network across the Caribbean region. It will acquire Middle Caribbean Network, Southern Caribbean Fibre, Antilles Crossings and a number of related assets from Global Caribbean Fibre.
“This deal will provide Digicel with a wholly owned submarine fibre optic cable network of approximately 2,100 km providing capacity from Trinidad to Guadeloupe,” said a statement from telecommunications provider which began operation in 2003 in Grenada.
According to the statement, the company has also entered into a transaction with Global Caribbean Fibre and Global Caribbean Network to provide submarine fibre capacity from Guadeloupe to Puerto Rico with onwards connectivity to the mainland United States.
“With these new capabilities, Digicel is underpinning its commitments to delivering best network, best service and best value and will once again be at the forefront of driving competition and consumer choice in the region,” Maher reiterated.
In total, Digicel has secured access to a robust network comprised of 15 submarine segments with a reach of some 3,100 km across the Caribbean region. Digicel will also have extensive onwards capacity on other submarine networks connecting locations such as Miami, Paris and New York.
The financial terms of the contract are not being disclosed and the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, said; “We are always looking for new ways to ensure that we deliver choice and innovation to our valued customers. The acquisition of this submarine network secures significant additional broadband capacity for Digicel. This additional capacity is central to our continued drive to offer innovative services and products to our customers in a data hungry world.”
