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November 27, 2007 |
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DIGICEL GROUP: Launching Disabling Service for Stolen Phones Digicel, in response to the Jamaican government's plea to make efforts against cellular phone theft, is willing to launch a disabling service similar to that of Cable & Wireless Jamaica, The Jamaica Gleaner reports, citing Jamaican energy, mining and telecommunications minister Clive Mullings. The Jamaica Observer relates that Cable & Wireless Jamaican will launch by Dec. 7, 2007, a new service that will blacklist and shut down stolen cellular phones. The Jamaica Information Service notes that the Jamaican government had asked Cable & Wireless, Digicel, and Miphone to make efforts to protect subscribers. Minister Mullings told The Observer that due to concerns raised about the "alarming rate of cellular phones being stolen and the threat of violence to the owners," he launched discussions with mobile companies Cable & Wireless, Digicel, and Miphone about launching a system of closing down and blacklisting stolen phones to make those phones useless in the hands of thieves or their beneficiaries. According to The Observer, Jamaican education minister Andrew Holness suggested the service two years ago. Minister Mullings told The Observer that Cable & Wireless, Digicel, and Miphone responded positively to proposals. Cable & Wireless sent a letter to him on Nov. 9, advising him that the firm would be ready to implement blacklisting and shutting down of their stolen mobile phones by Dec. 1. MiPhone also expressed its willingness to take launch the same service but they hadn't given a start-up date, The Jamaica Gleaner notes, citing Minister Mullings. Minister Mullings commented to The Observer, "We are a people who like to be 'on top of things', and we will continue to acquire the latest in phone and telecommunication technology to keep us in touch. The government, therefore, had to find a way to allow individuals to continue to avail themselves of the use of mobile phones, while reducing the danger posed by dishonest and anti-social persons." Minister Mullings told the Jamaica Information Service, "If the government did not move quickly to address the problem, we would continue to see an increase in the number of incidents in which our citizens, including school children, are attacked for their phones." Digicel Ltd. is a wireless services provider in the Caribbean region founded in 2000, and controlled by Denis O'Brien. The company started operations in Jamaica in April 2001 and now offers GSM mobile services in Caribbean countries including Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Aruba, Grenada, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman, and Curacao among others. Digicel finished FY2005 with 1.722 million total subscribers -- 97% pre-paid -- estimated market share of 67% and revenues and EBITDA of US$478 million and US$155 million, respectively. * * * As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on Feb. 20, 2007, Fitch Ratings took these rating actions for Digicel Group Ltd., Digicel Ltd. and Digicel International Finance Ltd.: Digicel Group Ltd. -- Proposed US$1.4 billion senior subordinated notes due 2015 assigned 'CCC+/RR5' Digicel Ltd. -- Foreign currency Issuer Default Rating downgraded to 'B-' from 'B'; and -- US$450 million senior notes due 2012 downgraded to 'B-/RR4' from'B/RR4'. Digicel International Finance Ltd. --US$850 million senior secured credit facility assigned 'B/RR3'. Fitch said the outlook on all ratings is stable. |
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