Digicel announced Monday that it has completed the acquisition of Cingular Wireless' operation in Grenada. According to a release from Digicel, full integration plans between both companies are now underway to ensure a smooth transition for Cingular customers on the island.

The plans will allow Cingular customers to soon have full access to Digicel's valued offerings including competitive rates, innovative products and state-of-the-art handsets while continuing to enjoy their current Cingular Wireless services.

An additional roaming agreement between Digicel and Cingular will also bring favourable roaming rates to Digicel customers. With this acquisition of Cingular Wireless' Caribbean and Bermuda operations, Digicel is now in a position to increase the size of its pan-Caribbean GSM network to include Bermuda, Anguilla, St Kitts & Nevis and Dominica and is near completion of the acquisition of Cingular's operations on the islands of St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“The company looks forward to receiving regulatory approval in the remaining markets of Barbados and the Cayman Islands in the near future”, the release said. According to Digicel CEO of Eastern Caribbean islands, Kevin White, "We are delighted to have reached this stage and wish to extend our gratitude to the Government and people of Grenada for their continued support of our business.

“Our acquisition of Cingular Wireless' operation puts us undoubtedly in a stronger position to continue to help drive telecommunications development and we look forward to delivering the benefits to the people of Grenada." "We are putting into place integration plans that have been developed with Cingular to ensure that the transition process is as seamless as possible for Cingular customers allowing them to keep their current benefits as well as enjoy Digicel's broad range of innovative products and services", he added.

Digicel launched its operation in Grenada in October 2003 and since then the company has been a significant contributor to the Grenada economy investing over US$10 million and creating hundreds of jobs both directly and indirectly. Digicel is also an active member of Grenada's community.

The company's character was tested in September 2003 when Hurricane Ivan swept across the islands of Cayman, Grenada and Jamaica. Even before committing US$5 million for relief efforts in Grenada as well as the islands of Jamaica and Cayman, Digicel employees distributed food, water, and clothes to the community after the storm, while engineers and equipment were dispatched to sustain power and service to customers. Last month, the Grenada government announced its approval of the Digicel bid to take over Cingular.

Minister for Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, Public utilities and Energy, Gregory Bowen stated that based on the impressive tract record Digicel already has in Grenada in delivering innovative products and services, competitive rates, as well as a demonstrated community spiritedness, “we are confident that Digicel's acquisition of Cingular Wireless will help drive telecommunications development on the island”.

“Digicel has proven that they (are) committed to the development of our people as evidenced by the tremendous assistance given to the revitalisation of our education system in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan and Emily," he remarked.