Maureen Rabbitt, head of communication, Digicel Group, says the telecoms has experienced growth across all its markets over the past year. - File

Digicel Group on Tuesday reported a 100,000 growth in its Jamaican customer base, nixing suggestions that its market might have peaked locally.

"Both existing and new markets are experiencing strong growth," said Maureen Rabbitt, in response to Wednesday Business queries.

"Digicel Jamaica currently has 1.7 million customers which represents an increase of 100,000 from our announcement in December 2006."

Digicel had announced its market size after reports had put its subscriber numbers higher.

The new numbers, however, represent a mere 6.25 per cent growth for Jamaica compared with a 40 per cent growth in Haiti.

That market added 400,000 subscribers up to the end of March 2007, building on the one million customers Digicel had reported months into the startup of its operation in that country of some eight million people.

Strong growth in Guyana

Digicel also reported strong growth in Guyana, saying its clientele had climbed from its 18,400 base at acquisition in November to more than 100,000 — a five fold growth in four months.

Overall, Digicel Group has announced a 144 per cent increase in its subscriber base, saying it now has 4.7 million customers across its 22 markets that span Central and South America, the Caribbean and Samoa.

Jamaica and Haiti together represent 66 per cent of Digicel's worldwide clientele, with the remaining 1.6 million spread across the other 20 markets.

Its third largest market Rabbitt said was Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel launched operations in the twin-island republic in April 2006, "breaking the monopoly there and offering real choice at last," said Rabbitt.

The last official count of cellphone subscribers in Jamaica was 2.1 million, with Digicel controlling about 75 per cent.

business@gleanerjm.com