"I've had problems with my service on a daily basis even before the hurricane," says Robert, a 19-year-old student at the University of the West Indies who asked that his last name be withheld. "I don't buy phone cards and my bills are paid on time so I know it isn't a credit problem."

This complaint is one of many as several Digicel subscribers, both pre-paid and post-paid customers, continue to experience dropped calls, are unable to place calls or send text messages throughout the day.

These problems, some experts say, are due to the company's over one million subscribers, all of whom cannot be supported by the network at its current capacity which, according to Digicel, numbers some 600 sites. In an interview with Sunday Business, Digicel's marketing communications manager, Heather Shields, said the company has invested an additional US$20 million (J$1.2 billion) to increase the capacity of its GSM network, already the largest in the island. "The company is working assiduously to implement measures such as erecting additional coverage sites as fast as they are identified and permission is given from the local planning authorities and communities to do so," Ms. Shields said. "This increased capacity will reduce the incidence of dropped calls and congestion and is an ongoing activity, as it has always been our policy to have available network capacity ahead of subscriber growth."

She said unexpected surges in demand have also been addressed and included in contingency plans and that Digicel also offers dropped call compensation to its post-paid customers.

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