Digicel

Digicel was founded in 2001 by Irish entrepreneur Denis O'Brien. The company launched in April 2001 in Jamaica.{{cite news|last=Cauley|first=Leslie|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2006-08-27-digicel_x.htm|title=Digicel makes cellphone connection in Jamaica|date=27 August 2006|newspaper=USA Today}} In March 2003, Digicel expanded to St. Lucia and St. Vincent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/taking-midas-touch-to-caribbean-1.454924|title=Taking Midas touch to Caribbean|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} In 2005, Digicel purchased Cingular Wireless’ Caribbean and Bermudan operations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20050627/carriers/cingular-wireless-sells-caribbean-bermuda-operations-to-digicel|title=Cingular Wireless sells Caribbean, Bermuda operations to Digicel|date=1999-11-30|website=RCR Wireless News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}}

In April 2006, Digicel launched its services in Trinidad and Tobago.{{cite web |title=Digicel to launch on Thursday |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2006/04/04/digicel-to-launch-on-thursday/ |website=TeleGeography |access-date=13 August 2021}} In May 2006, Digicel began operations in Haïti.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-haiti-digicel-obrien-idUSBRE90F0AQ20130116|title=Irish cellphone entrepreneur banks on a smarter Haiti|date=2013-01-16|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-02-25|language=en}} Between 2006 and 2008, Digicel expanded into the Central American mainland, as well as the Pacific.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/digicel-casts-its-net-across-caribbean-1.1038309|title=Digicel casts its net across Caribbean|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} In September 2006, it acquired an unrelated mobile phone provider: Digicel Holdings in El Salvador.{{Cite news|last=Young|first=Shawn|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115880684589269725|title=Cellphone Start-Up's Aggressive Expansion|date=2006-09-21|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-02-25|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}

File:Digicel storefront in Castries, Saint Lucia.jpg, Saint Lucia, in 2012]]

In 2007, Digicel acquired U*Mobile in Guyana,{{Cite web|url=http://guyanachronicle.com/2017/02/13/digicel-makes-commitment-to-children-with-special-needs|title=Digicel makes commitment to children with special needs|date=2017-02-14|website=Guyana Chronicle|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}} and launched in Suriname in December.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070119192333/http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000028/002832.htm "Suriname grants telecom licences to Digicel and Intelsur"] Caribbean Net News, August 17, 2006

In April 2002, Digicel received permission from Jamaica's then-minister of industry, commerce and technology, Phillip Paulwell, to disregard the interconnectivity fee ceiling issued by the Offices of Utilities Regulation (OUR).{{cite web|date=22 January 2010|title=Blow to Digicel|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Privy-Council-hits-Digicel_7347055|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305151436/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Privy-Council-hits-Digicel_7347055|archive-date=2015-03-05|work=Jamaica Observer|location=Jamaica}} Following a judicial review, it was determined that Paulwell did not have the power to make this decision. Digicel appealed the ruling to the Jamaican Supreme Court in 2003 and won. OUR appealed the decision to the appellate court, which ruled Paulwell's decision was outside his powers and OUR didn't have to comply with Paulwell's directive. Digicel appealed to the Privy Council, Jamaica's final court of appeal, which upheld the appellate court's decision in 2007.

Digicel appealed the decision to the United Kingdom Privy Council. In January 2010, the Council ruled in favour of the OUR, meaning LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless Jamaica) was allowed to keep the J$340 million Digicel had been ordered to pay them by the Jamaican courts. In 2015, LIME's parent company acquired Columbus Communications and decided to adopt the brand name FLOW for its consumer-facing business, replacing the LIME name.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/CWC-gives-LIME-the-boot--rebrands-to-Flow_18900497|title=CWC gives LIME the boot, rebrands to Flow|last=|first=|date=8 May 2015|website=Jamaica Observer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509010615/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com:80/business/CWC-gives-LIME-the-boot--rebrands-to-Flow_18900497 |archive-date=2015-05-09 |access-date=2020-02-25}} As of May 2016, the LIME name was fully discontinued.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Caribbean Telecoms Market Statistics and Analyses 2019 - ResearchAndMarkets.com|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/caribbean-telecoms-market-statistics-analyses-192700588.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618131520/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/caribbean-telecoms-market-statistics-analyses-192700588.html |archive-date=2019-06-18 |access-date=2020-02-25|website=Yahoo Finance|language=en-US}}

Digicel Mobile Money, a mobile banking service, was launched in Fiji in July 2010.{{Cite web|date=19 July 2010|title=Mobile phone banking launched in Fiji|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/191473/mobile-phone-banking-launched-in-fiji|access-date=2020-09-03|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} Also in 2010, Digicel launched TchoTcho, a cash app for money transfers to phones in Haiti.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-24|title=How Mobile Money Is Increasing Financial Stability|url=https://haitiantimes.com/2019/10/24/how-mobile-money-is-increasing-financial-stability/|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Haitian Times|language=en-US}} In 2011, Mobile Money in Fiji was expanded to allow transfers to and from Australia and New Zealand at no cost.{{Cite web|date=5 December 2011|title=Digicel offers free money transfer|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2011/12/05/digicel-offers-free-money-transfer/|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Fiji Sun|language=en-US}}

In February 2011, Digicel took a controlling stake in Netxar Technologies, a leading systems integrator in the Caribbean region.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/02/11/news/guyana/digicel-acquires-netxar-technologies/|title=Digicel acquires Netxar Technologies|date=2011-02-11|website=Stabroek News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}} In March, Digicel announced that it was selling its operations in Honduras and El Salvador to Mexican telecom company América Móvil, and América Móvil was selling its operations in Jamaica to Digicel.{{Cite web|last=Harrison|first=Crayton|date=30 November 2011|title=America Movil Weighing Options for Digicel El Salvador Deal|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-12-01/america-movil-weighing-options-for-digicel-el-salvador-deal-1-|access-date=2020-02-25|website=Bloomberg}} In March 2012, Digicel acquired Comcel/Voila, its main competitor in Haiti.

In May 2012, the Tax Authority Jamaica (TAJ) visited Digicel's offices in New Kingston with an order from the Jamaican Supreme Court to look for data regarding the company's payment of the general consumption tax.{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Arthur|date=May 10, 2012|title=Gov't Defends Digicel Tax Raid|work=Jamaica Gleaner|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120510/lead/lead1.html}} A couple of weeks later, TAJ and Digicel agreed to have more dialogue surrounding the situation.{{Cite web|date=14 May 2012|title=Digicel, Tax Administration call truce|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120514/lead/lead6.html|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Jamaica Gleaner|language=en}}

In October 2012, América Móvil announced it wouldn't acquire Digicel's operations in El Salvador.{{Cite news|date=11 October 2012|title=Mexico's America Movil ends deal to buy Digicel|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/mexico-americamovil-idUSL1E8LC0B920121012|access-date=2020-09-03}}File:Digicel Imax.jpg

In June 2013, Digicel announced that it would invest $9 billion in a mobile phone network in Myanmar, if granted a licence.{{Cite news|last=Thomson|first=Amy|date=2013-06-03|title=Digicel-Soros Consortium Promises $9 Billion Myanmar Investment|language=en|work=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-06-03/digicel-soros-consortium-promises-9-billion-myanmar-investment|access-date=2020-09-03}} However, Digicel lost the licence bid to Telenor and Ooredoo.{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Digicel-loses-out-to-Norwegian--Quatari-telecoms-in-Myanmar-bid_14594881|title=Digicel loses out to Norwegian, Quatari telecoms in Myanmar bid - Business|work=Jamaica Observer|access-date=16 February 2015}}{{Cite news|last=Keena|first=Colm|title=O'Brien's Digicel loses out in Burma|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/o-brien-s-digicel-loses-out-in-burma-1.1445602|access-date=2020-09-03|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

Digicel acquired SAT Telecom, a cable and internet company in Dominica, in February 2014 and relaunched the brand as Digicel Play in October of that year.{{Cite web|date=19 February 2014|title=Digicel acquires cable TV operation|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140219/business/business9.html|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Jamaica Gleaner|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2014-02-17|title=SAT sold to Digicel|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/sat-sold-digicel/|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Dominica News Online|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=22 October 2014|title=Digicel Play launches services in Dominica|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/digicel-play-launches-services-in-dominica--1044776|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Telecompaper|language=en}} In September, Digicel acquired Telstar Cable Limited in Jamaica.{{Cite web|date=11 September 2014|title=Digicel completes acquisition of Telstar Cable Ltd|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/power/55364|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Jamaica Gleaner|language=en}}

In 2015, TchoTcho was relaunched as MonCash with additional banking services. In September 2016, Digicel Play launched as Play Go, a live streaming service.{{Cite web|date=5 September 2016|title=Digicel launches Play Go streaming app|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Digicel-launches-Play-Go-streaming-app_72694|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Jamaica Observer}}

In July 2017, Digicel bought 16.6% of Tonga Cable from the government.{{Cite news|last=O'Halloran|first=Barry|date=28 July 2017|title=Denis O'Brien's Digicel pays €3.6m for Tonga Cable stake|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/denis-o-brien-s-digicel-pays-3-6m-for-tonga-cable-stake-1.3170342|access-date=2020-09-03|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In January 2019, O'Brien named Jean-Yves Charlier as chief executive, replacing Michael Willner.{{Cite news|last=Brennan|first=Joe|date=28 January 2019|title=O'Brien chooses Charlier as new chief executive of Digicel|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/o-brien-chooses-charlier-as-new-chief-executive-of-digicel-1.3773750|access-date=2020-09-03|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} Jean-Yves stepped down as the Group CEO of Digicel in July 2020, and Oliver Coughlin was named the CEO for Digicel's Caribbean and Latin American business.{{Cite web |last=Release |first=Press |date=2020-07-09 |title=Coughlan is new Digicel CEO for Caribbean, Central America |url=https://technewstt.com/pr-digicel-couglan/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Tech News TT |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Ciara |date=2020-07-09 |title=Digicel appoints Oliver Coughlan to head up Caribbean, Central America business |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/digicel-appoints-oliver-coughlan-to-head-up-caribbean-central-america-business-1.4300066 |access-date=2022-06-09 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

In May 2020, Digicel announced plans to restructure its debt.{{Cite web|title=Digicel reports 'overwhelming support' for debt restructure|url=https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3825546/digicel-reports-overwhelming-support-for-debt-restructuring-plans|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.capacitymedia.com|date=22 May 2020 |language=en}} The restructuring plan was approved by Digicel's bondholders and completed in June 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-18|title=Digicel Group to finalise debt swap after court approval|url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20200618/digicel-group-finalise-debt-swap-after-court-approval|access-date=2021-06-07|website=jamaica-gleaner.com|language=en}} As part of the exchange, O'Brien contributed $50 million in assets to Digicel, consisting of the company's Jamaican headquarters and $25 million in cash.{{Cite news|last=Brennan|first=Joe|title=O'Brien may pull off $1.7bn Digicel debt write-off – but at what cost?|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/o-brien-may-pull-off-1-7bn-digicel-debt-write-off-but-at-what-cost-1.4220151|access-date=2021-06-07|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In November 2020, Digicel announced that, in its financial second quarter to the end of September, its earnings have dropped due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Brennan|first=Joe|title=Denis O'Brien's Digicel sees earnings drop 8% in second quarter|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/denis-o-brien-s-digicel-sees-earnings-drop-8-in-second-quarter-1.4419275|access-date=2020-11-25|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In October 2021, Digicel announced the sale of its Pacific operations to Telstra Group, an Australian telecommunications company.{{Cite news|date=2021-10-25|title=Digicel Pacific: Australia's Telstra buys Pacific firm 'to block China'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59033485|access-date=2021-10-25}}{{Cite web|last=Galloway|first=Zoe Samios, Anthony|date=2021-10-24|title=Telstra seals $US1.6b deal to buy Digicel with a helping hand from Canberra|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/telstra-seals-us1-6b-deal-to-buy-digicel-20211025-p592sj.html|access-date=2021-10-25|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} The sale was estimated at US$1.6 billion.File:Digicel Bus Stop (29920030973).jpg.]] However this was thrown into doubt in March 2022 when the Papua New Guinea government imposed a retrospective tax of over $100m on the company.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/denis-o-brien-s-digicel-says-bizarre-tax-will-delay-telstra-deal-1.4844003|title = Denis O'Brien's Digicel says 'bizarre' new tax will delay Telstra deal| newspaper=The Irish Times }}

In September 2022, credit rating service Fitch issued a warning of a potential debt default.{{Cite news |title=Digicel eyes maturing $925m bond as earnings drop |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/09/07/digicel-eyes-maturing-925m-bond-as-earnings-drop/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} The Irish Times suggested "there's little or no equity value in Digicel to chase".{{Cite news |title=O'Brien has months to avert ceding almost 47% of Digicel to junk bondholders |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/09/09/obrien-has-months-to-avert-ceding-almost-47-of-digicel-to-junk-bondholders/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

On September 11, 2023, Digicel Group filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/digicel-group-files-for-chapter-15-bankruptcy-in-new-york?context=search&index=0|title=Digicel Group Files for Chapter 15 Bankruptcy in New York|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=Bloomberg|language=en}}

On November 29, 2023. Rajeev Suri was appointed as the new Chairman of Digicel Group.{{Cite journal |date=2023-11-29 |title=Rajeev Suri to be appointed Chairman of Digicel Group |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2023/1129/1419153-rajeev-suri-to-be-appointed-chairman-of-digicel-group/ |journal=RTÉ |language=en}}

On April 20, 2024, Digicel ceased operations in Panama after failing to award the tender to operate and exploit the personal communications service, after the bidding process concluded without award due to the withdrawal of the only interested company.

Digicel's exit from the Panamanian market occurred in a context of significant changes in the country's telecommunications sector, including the merger of Cable & Wireless Panama and Claro Panama, which reduced the number of main operators in the market.

Following the announcement, Digicel asked its customers to switch to another network within 30 days from March 20, 2024 to retain their phone numbers.

Digicel is a sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Asia-Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams in these regions.{{Cite web|date=19 February 2019|title=Digicel pledges US$20,000 to Dominica Special Olympic team for upcoming World Games|url=https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/sports/digicel-pledges-us20000-to-dominica-special-olympic-team-for-upcoming-world-games/|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Dominica News Online|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=13 February 2019|title=Digicel sends Team Samoa to World Games in Abu Dhabi|url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/6427|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Samoa Observer}}{{Cite web|date=22 February 2019|title=Digicel supports Special Olympics Team Nauru|url=https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/digicel-supports-special-olympics-team-nauru-82687|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Loop Nauru|language=en}} From 2005 to 2018, Digicel sponsored The West Indies cricket team.{{Cite news|last=Paul|first=Mark|date=30 May 2018|title=Digicel ends West Indies cricket sponsorship|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/digicel-ends-west-indies-cricket-sponsorship-1.3514091|access-date=2020-09-03|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In 2008, Digicel announced that they would sponsor the Vanuatu national cricket team, as well as the National Rugby 15s and 7s teams.{{Cite web|date=26 June 2008|title=Digicel Launches with The Bigger Better Network in Vanuatu - Solomon Times Online|url=https://www.solomontimes.com/news/digicel-launches-with-the-bigger-better-network-in-vanuatu/1998|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Solomon Times|language=en}} That same year, Digicel became the sponsor of the Digicel Cup for rugby in Fiji.{{Cite web|date=1 June 2008|title=Digicel sponsors provincial rugby: $13,000 for major unions|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=90926|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181829/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=90926|archive-date=14 July 2014|website=The Fiji Times}}

In April 2013, Digicel was announced as the first global sponsor of the 2013 inaugural tournament for the Caribbean Premier League.{{Cite web|date=16 April 2013|title=Digicel announced as major sponsor for Caribbean Premier League|url=https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/digicel-announced-as-major-sponsor-for-caribbean-premier-league/|website=St. Lucia News Online}}

In 2021, Digicel sponsored the PlayGo Emerge Competition for short films made in the Caribbean.{{Cite news|date=11 October 2021|title=Curaçaoan filmmaker wins PlayGo Emerge film competition {{!}} Loop Jamaica|language=en|work=Loop News|url=https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/curacaoan-filmmaker-wins-playgo-emerge-film-competition|access-date=2021-12-14}}

In 2004, Digicel and its shareholders set up the Digicel Foundation in Jamaica.{{Cite web|last=Edwards|first=Al|date=30 September 2011|title=Digicel Foundation deepens its commitment to educating Jamaica|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Digicel-Foundation-deepens-its-commitment-to-educating-Jamaica_9815070&template=MobileArticle|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Jamaica Observer}}

The Digicel Foundation is active in Jamaica, Haïti, Trinidad and Tobago{{cite web |url=http://www.digicelfoundation.org/trinidad-and-tobago/en/home.html|title=Digicel Trinidad and Tobago Foundation}} and Papua New Guinea.{{Cite web|date=14 November 2019|title=Denis O'Brien's warnings for Ireland - change up tax laws and education|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/business/denis-obrien-ireland-us-council|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Irish Central|language=en}} In Haïti, the Digicel Foundation helped rebuild after the 2010 Haïtian earthquake struck Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.{{Cite news|last=Strom|first=Stephanie|date=2012-01-06|title=A Billionaire Lends Haiti a Hand|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/business/digicels-denis-obrien-helps-rebuild-haiti.html|access-date=2020-09-03|issn=0362-4331}} Projects have included building primary schools and restoring the historic Iron Market.Ed Vulliamy, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/09/haiti-anniversary-denis-obrien-vulliamy "How an Irish telecoms tycoon became Haiti's only hope of salvation"], The Guardian, January 9, 2011

The following is a list of Digicel Group's Pacific operations. These operations are headed by an office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, as well as one in Singapore. Digicel's Pacific operations were acquired by Australian telecommunications company Telstra on July 14, 2022.{{cite web |title=Telstra completes $2.4b Digicel deal |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/telstra-completes-2-4b-digicel-deal-20220714-p5b1h0 |website=Australian Financial Review|date=14 July 2022 |access-date=1 May 2024}}

The following is a list of the North Atlantic, Caribbean and Central American operations of Digicel Group. All report to Digicel Group's headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

In the Caribbean region, the main competitor is American-owned Liberty Latin America.{{cite web |url=http://www.lla.com/ |title = Home {{!}} Liberty Latin America}}

• Southern Caribbean Fiber
• List of mobile network operators of the Americas
• List of telecommunications regulatory bodies

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.digicelgroup.com/ Digicel Homepage]

{{Caribbean mobile phone companies}}

{{French mobile phone companies}}

{{Trinidad and Tobago mobile phone companies}}

{{Major telecommunications companies}}

{{Turkcell Group}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Communications in Haiti

Category:Communications in Jamaica

Category:Mobile phone companies of El Salvador

Category:Mobile phone companies of Trinidad and Tobago

Category:Companies based in Kingston, Jamaica

Category:Jamaican brands

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2001

Category:Companies that have filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy

Category:Jamaican companies established in 2001

Category:2001 establishments in Jamaica