fp Turks and Caicos

Saunders confirmed a “strategic partnership” between the two companies, which is neither a buy-out nor a merger, but rather an agreement to link their respective networks. He explains it is something he has been pushing for years and the reason, he says, is simple, “It offers both companies great benefits.”

In basic terms, Digicel has a wireless link to the world, WIV a fiber optic one. Both companies have agreed to provide each other access to the other’s “link”.

Saunders explains that both companies and their customers enjoy a shared benefit from the agreement and each company also has an individual benefit. “The joint reason for both of us“ Saunders said “is to provide each other with a level of redundancy. In the event something would happen to either connection, the downed network would immediately switch over to the other network.” This redundancy provides a large benefit for both the Digicel as well as the WIV customers, offering added security in case of network problems from either provider.

The individual benefit for WIV lies in the area of expansion of their internet and television service. With access to the Digicel network, WIV now has the capacity to offer internet and television service to anywhere in the TCI, where Digicel has a wireless tower. Until now, WIV only had the ability to carry traffic via their Fiber Optic line in Providenciales. With the new partnership, islands such as South Caicos and potentially Salt Cay will now have the ability to access WIV services through the Digicel network.

The added benefit for Digicel is that with the access to WIV’s fiber optic lines, Digicel will now be able to offer land-line services to their customers. “This greatly increases our pool of clients,” Saunders explained. “We can now sell phone service to anyone who has WIV service.” Digicel will now have the ability to offer bundled services to their clients and package attractive offers. “It took us three years to build up our brand and it was time for us to make the next leap,“ Saunders said.

“We have been hovering around 50 % of the market share in the Turks and Caicos for a while. I believe this will give us the product portfolio to move us past the 50% mark.”

This increased competition on the land-line market will be beneficial to all users in TCI. Cable & Wireless / LIME now will be under tremendous pressure to innovate their service portfolio in order to keep up with Digicel and not lose its customer base.