In a news release issued late yesterday, Digicel's Commercial Director Harry Smith announced that his company would be reintroducing its $1 per minute rate at nights while reducing the cost of sending text messages to $1 until November.  In addition, he said "Digicel will offer C&WJ customers with old TDMA technology (handsets) the opportunity to come in and get a brand new Nokia 1108 GSM handset at 50 per cent off (with) a free SIM card."

Digicel's customers will also be able to earn discount points, which will be redeemable for discounts on purchasing new handsets as of October 1.  Smith said Digicel spends more than $130 million per month in rewarding its customers.

Digicel's offer has come a day after C&WJ announced a 45 per cent reduction in cellphone rates with the elimination of cross network charges.  The 'Anyone Plan' as it is dubbed by C&WJ, reduced cellphone rates to its customers to $10 per minute during peak hours and $8 per minute during off-peak hours to any other cellular network or landline telephone.  This is a reduction from the $17.50 it normally costs to make a similar call.

C&WJ CLAIM CRITICISED

But Mr. Smith last night discounted C&WJ's claim of reducing rates, pointing out that his rival had actually increased rates by 14 per cent to its own customers when the cost of making calls during nights and weekends is taken into consideration.  "By comparison, Digicel customers have always been able to call each other at lower rates," he said in the release.

Digicel, which now has the largest cellular network on the island and the largest customer base, said it has spent more than US$600 million on its network and now has over 730 sites.  Mr. Smith said Digicel has earmarked to spend a further $1.5 billion per year to expand its network over the next five years.

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