This is because Digicel is to launch a US$10 million satellite earth station next month, which will allow the company to route international call traffic in and out of Jamaica. This will enable the company to bypass the Cable & Wireless network.

This switching facility outstation will be located on an acre of land opposite Caymanas Polo and Golf Club. Though the facility will undergo testing sometime in September, it will not come into use until March next year when the telecoms market becomes fully deregulated.

Speaking to Wednesday Business, Digicel's chief operating officer Seamus Lynch said: "Right now all international switching goes through Cable & Wireless but with this new facility of ours, customers will get bandwidth at affordable prices".

The international gateway outstation, it is hoped, will assist in a reduction in international call rates by up to 20 per cent.

Last week, Digicel announced that it is to take on many of the staffers that its competitor Centennial Digital Jamaica (CDJ) plans to lay off.

"We plan to use the former Centennial personnel in our Jamaican operations while giving our existing staff an opportunity to work in St. Lucia and St.Vincent and other countries in the region where we operate," said Mr. Lynch.

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