Digicel Haiti Now Has More Than 92% Of Cell Sites Back On Air

KINGSTON, JAMAICA--(Marketwire - January 27,and non-perishable food have been donated by
2010) - Major progress has been made in restoring thefriends, families and customers of Digicel and sent to
Digicel network in Haiti. With more than twice theNGOs in Haiti.
number of cell sites of its nearest competitor, overAs the single largest investor in Haiti with a total
92% of them are now fully operational and theinvestment of over US$300 million since its launch in
company has significantly increased its international2006, Digicel has over two million customers in Haiti.
circuits to support the major increase in internationalThe Digicel Haiti Relief Fund has donated US$5 million
traffic into and out of the country.to NGOs in Haiti to support the relief efforts and over
Over the past two weeks, Digicel technicians haveUS$500,000 has been raised by Digicel customers
been working to restore the network following theacross the Caribbean and Central America through a
earthquake on January 12th. The update is as follows:text and voice donation line. Digicel also gave each of
its two million customers US$5 in free credit -- totaling
-- New equipment to replace damaged cell sites beingUS$10 million.
deployed -- Over 60 stores have reopened forIn addition, over 60 video messages of support have
business -- 13 planes carrying 80,000lbs of equipment,been recorded by well known people such as the
90,000lbs of supplies and 21,000lbs of medical suppliesFastest Man in the World, Usain Bolt; President Martinelli
and antibiotics have been sent to Haiti from Jamaica --of Panama; West Indies legend, Sir Garfield Sobers;
Digicel office in Turgeau, Port-au-Prince, is operationaland many more. All videos are available to view on
and the majority of employees are back at work. --ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
T-Mobile has generously donated four Liberty Jeeps,After eight years of operation, Digicel has 8.8 million
35 generators and 2,000 Motorola W160 phones andcustomers across its Caribbean and Central American
chargers to assist with the relief effort -- Rise Again -markets and is renowned for competitive rates,
Digicel's collaboration with international reggae artist,unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide
Shaggy - is receiving air play right across the world. Allvariety of products and services and state-of-the-art
proceeds raised from the sale of the song go directlyhandsets. By offering innovative wireless services and
to the Digicel Haiti Relief Fundcommunity support, Digicel has become a leading
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, comments: "Webrand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at
have made excellent progress over the last twothe cutting-edge of wireless communications -- the
weeks in restoring the Digicel network in Haiti. Withcompany is also a recent entrant to the Central
over 92% of our cell sites fully operational, theAmerican and Pacific markets.
remaining 8% -- which are destroyed rooftop sites --Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has
are being replaced with mobile cell sites, some ofoperations in 32 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and
which have already been deployed with the remainderCentral American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua
scheduled to be commissioned over the next few& Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the
weeks.British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao,
"We have also increased our international circuits toDominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada,
support the significant increase in international trafficGuadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica,
both into and out of Haiti, as our more than two millionMartinique, Panama, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St.
customers keep in contact with friends and family, andVincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad &
as a result of the high volume of aid workers whoTobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company
have traveled to Haiti to assist in the relief efforts. Wealso has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel
are committed to ensuring that everyone in HaitiPacific comprises Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea,
benefits from a network that offers them the bestSamoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
service and the best coverage right across theIn total, across its 32 markets, Digicel has 10.3 million
country."subscribers.
Digicel employees across the region have been takingDigicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central
part in a variety of initiatives to raise money for theAmerican sports teams, including the West Indies
Digicel Haiti Relief Fund. In Dominica, a Digicel-organizedCricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout
radiothon received pledges for over US$40,000 in justthe region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel
five hours; in Cayman, Digicel is sponsoring a concertCaribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones
on January 30th and all proceeds from the sale ofDigicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American
food and drink at the event will be donated to the reliefqualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
efforts; and in Jamaica, thousands of items of clothes