Digicel was granted a licence by the Suriname government six months ago to operate in that market, but a full rollout of the mobile company's services has been pending the outcome of talks with Telesur.

Mobile phone penetration in Suriname is already estimated at 40-45 per cent.

Interconnection of networks

Interconnection of the two networks will allow for Digicel's customers to communicate, either through voice or messaging, with subscribers on Telesur's GSM network, and vice versa. It will also allow access to certain agreed services.

Suriname, with a population of some half a million, is the company's 23rd market.

Digicel said the Telesur talks, which commenced upon receipt of its licence, were supervised in the final phase by the Surinamese telecommunications authority, TAS.

"The negotiations were tough, but successful," said Philip van Dalsen, chief executive officer of Digicel Suriname, in a company statement.

"We are delighted to at last sign this interconnect agreement with Telesur, which to this year, had a 25-year monopoly, and applaud the commitment of TAS, who fully supervised the discussion during the past week."

Both parties have agreed that Digicel Suriname will order and deliver the necessary equipment needed to prepare the Telesur network to establish interconnection, said van Dalsen.

He anticipates that will happen this week.

"Because of our good relationship with our suppliers," he said Friday, "we are confident that the equipment will arrive in Suriname within a few days. So, people don't have to wait any longer."

Duration of connection

The interconnection could still take two weeks or more. As for its timetable for rolling out service, Digicel said only it was "imminent."

First, the equipment has to be delivered then physically installed. Digicel anticipates that testing of the system, thereafter, will take about 10 days.

"This testing will ensure that calls connect properly from one network to another, as well as checking call quality and the quantity of calls each network can handle at one time," said a company statement.

Digicel's investment in its Caribbean markets now runs to US$1.9 billion, securing the company a 5.2 million customer base.

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