The proposed buyer of the Bermuda operations of Cingular Wireless moved last week to reassure customers that Digicel and Cingular are committed to making the transition a seamless experience.

Digicel, which is the fastest growing mobile telecommunications company in the Caribbean, said last week that the acquisition, which remains subject to regulatory approval and other conditions and requirements, is anticipated to close as soon as possible.

Digicel Group chief operating officer Donal O?Shaughnessy said: ?We are working with Cingular on full integration plans and are committed that this process will be as seamless as possible with former Cingular customers being able to keep their mobile phone, telephone number as well as their current benefits following the acquisition.?

Since incorporating in Bermuda in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest growing mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean and it is the largest GSM operator in the region. Digicel?s investments in the Caribbean have exceeded $US600 million. In 2004, the Caribbean-based company which currently operates in nine countries grew its customer base by 33 percent and recently reached a milestone of 1,051 employees in its fourth year of operation.

It anticipates a 30 percent increase in staff by the end of 2006, due to subscriber growth and market expansion to include Bermuda, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. Digicel?s market share in the Cayman Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, will also be strengthened as Cingular?s customer base will transition to Digicel.

Digicel either already provides or is in the process of rolling out customer services similar to those offered by Cingular such as roaming packages and products including BlackBerry.

After the acquisition, Mr. O?Shaughnessy said that Digicel will offer Cingular customers competitive rates, expanded coverage and 24-hour customer service. They will also be a part of the network with the widest coverage in the Caribbean as Digicel intends to enter into a roaming agreement with Cingular that will provide former Cingular and Digicel customers with favourable roaming rates in additional markets. For Digicel?s existing customers, this will mean enhanced roaming benefits. Digicel?s planned expansion to five new territories including Bermuda will also result in more savings on calls within the Digicel network.

Digicel also plans to expand its support of a broad range of social, sporting and cultural initiatives throughout the Caribbean to Bermuda and its other new territories.

It is currently the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup, which involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is an important qualifier towards the CONCACAF Gold Cup.