Digicel Employees Organizing Clothes and Food Drives, Radiothons and Concerts Across the Region
Major progress has been made in restoring the Digicel network in Haiti. With more than twice the number of cell sites of its nearest competitor, over 92% of them are now fully operational and the company has significantly increased its international circuits to support the major increase in international traffic into and out of the country.
Over the past two weeks, Digicel technicians have been working to restore the network following the earthquake on January 12th. The update is as follows:
-- New equipment to replace damaged cell sites being deployed
-- Over 60 stores have reopened for business
-- 13 planes carrying 80,000lbs of equipment, 90,000lbs of supplies and
21,000lbs of medical supplies and antibiotics have been sent to Haiti from
Jamaica
-- Digicel office in Turgeau, Port-au-Prince, is operational and the
majority of employees are back at work.
-- T-Mobile has generously donated four Liberty Jeeps, 35 generators and
2,000 Motorola W160 phones and chargers to assist with the relief effort
-- Rise Again - Digicel's collaboration with international reggae artist,
Shaggy - is receiving air play right across the world. All proceeds raised
from the sale of the song go directly to the Digicel Haiti Relief Fund
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, comments: "We have made excellent progress over the last two weeks in restoring the Digicel network in Haiti. With over 92% of our cell sites fully operational, the remaining 8% -- which are destroyed rooftop sites -- are being replaced with mobile cell sites, some of which have already been deployed with the remainder scheduled to be commissioned over the next few weeks.
"We have also increased our international circuits to support the significant increase in international traffic both into and out of Haiti, as our more than two million customers keep in contact with friends and family, and as a result of the high volume of aid workers who have traveled to Haiti to assist in the relief efforts. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in Haiti benefits from a network that offers them the best service and the best coverage right across the country."
Digicel employees across the region have been taking part in a variety of initiatives to raise money for the Digicel Haiti Relief Fund. In Dominica, a Digicel-organized radiothon received pledges for over US$40,000 in just five hours; in Cayman, Digicel is sponsoring a concert on January 30th and all proceeds from the sale of food and drink at the event will be donated to the relief efforts; and in Jamaica, thousands of items of clothes and non-perishable food have been donated by friends, families and customers of Digicel and sent to NGOs in Haiti.
As the single largest investor in Haiti with a total investment of over US$300 million since its launch in 2006, Digicel has over two million customers in Haiti. The Digicel Haiti Relief Fund has donated US$5 million to NGOs in Haiti to support the relief efforts and over US$500,000 has been raised by Digicel customers across the Caribbean and Central America through a text and voice donation line. Digicel also gave each of its two million customers US$5 in free credit -- totaling US$10 million.
In addition, over 60 video messages of support have been recorded by well known people such as the Fastest Man in the World, Usain Bolt; President Martinelli of Panama; West Indies legend, Sir Garfield Sobers; and many more. All videos are available to view on www.facebook.com/helphaiti.
ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
After eight years of operation, Digicel has 8.8 million customers across its Caribbean and Central American markets and is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. 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 -- the company is also a recent entrant to the Central American and Pacific markets.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 32 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
In total, across its 32 markets, Digicel has 10.3 million subscribers.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel.