NOVEMBER 15, 2005 - GEORGETOWN, THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, Digicel, the fastest growing mobile telecommunications provider in the Caribbean, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Cingular Wireless' operation in the Cayman Islands. The company looks forward to receiving regulatory approval in the remaining market of Barbados in the near future which will mark the conclusion of Digicel's agreement last June to acquire Cingular Wireless' Caribbean and Bermuda operations.

 

Full integration plans between both companies are now underway to ensure a smooth transition for Cingular customers in the Cayman Islands. These plans will allow former Cingular customers to soon have full access to Digicel's valued offerings including comprehensive coverage, competitive rates, innovative products, a growing suite of corporate services and state-of-the-art handsets while continuing to enjoy their current Cingular Wireless services. An additional roaming agreement between Digicel and Cingular will also bring favourable roaming rates to Digicel customers.

 

Digicel Cayman CEO, Mr JD Buckley commented, "We are delighted to have reached this stage and wish to extend our gratitude to people of the Cayman Islands for their continued support of our business. Our acquisition of Cingular Wireless' operation puts us undoubtedly in a stronger position to continue to help drive telecommunications development and we look forward to delivering the benefits to the people and businesses of the Cayman Islands."

 

With a sharp focus on the business community, Digicel corporate services for both post-paid and pre-paid customers include BlackBerry, closed user groups; mobile web; international roaming with over 180 operators; rollover minutes, texting; and Digicel's signature per-second billing. Digicel is continuously expanding its data roaming capabilities to more countries, networks and devices. Post-paid customers are able to seamlessly access the Internet on their laptops or mobile phones while travelling in the United States and the United Kingdom amongst other countries, thereby staying in touch with friends, family and colleagues.  

Digicel launched its operation in the Cayman Islands in March 2004 and since then the company has been a significant contributor to the Cayman economy and an active member of the local community. The company's character was tested in September 2004 when Hurricane Ivan swept across the Cayman Islands.  Even before committing US$1 million for relief efforts in the Cayman Islands, Digicel employees distributed food, water, and clothes to the community after the storm, while engineers and equipment were dispatched to sustain power and service to customers. 

 

With this acquisition of Cingular Wireless' Caribbean and Bermuda operations, Digicel is now in a position to increase the size of its pan-Caribbean GSM network to include Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis and Dominica, is near completion of the acquisition of Cingular's operations on the islands of St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines and awaits regulatory approval in Barbados.

 

With a vision to establish a seamless Pan-Caribbean wireless network, Digicel Group's investments in the region have exceeded $US600 million.  The Company recently reached a milestone of over 1,000 employees in its fourth year of operation and anticipates a 30 percent increase in staff by the end of 2006, due to subscriber growth and market expansion. 

 

Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest growing wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean.  In four years, Digicel has become renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets. It is the largest GSM operator in the region.

                       

By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting edge of wireless communications.

 

With the recent achievements of new licenses and acquisitions, Digicel is now well on its way to be offering services in the near future in over 15 Caribbean countries, covering a total population of 14 million people. Incorporated in Bermuda and currently operating in eight countries including Aruba, Barbados, Curaçao, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Digicel looks forward to launching in Trinidad & Tobago and Haiti as well as entering into the markets of Bermuda, Anguilla, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica through its acquisition of Cingular Wireless' Caribbean and Bermuda operations. The Cingular acquisition will also allow Digicel licenses in St Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Barths.

 

The company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup, which involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is an important qualifier towards the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

 

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel.