4G mobile vs broadband

The Editor, Sir:

I write with reference to the article on the front page of the Financial Gleaner on Friday 6th January 2012 titled '4G goes national' and would like to take this opportunity to point out a number of inaccuracies which result in the article causing huge confusion to consumers.

There are three main areas of concern as follows:

1) The article refers to Digicel's 4G service - but confuses the 4G broadband service we launched in August 2010 based on WiMAX technology - with the 4G mobile service we are set to launch in the coming months based on HSPA+ technology. To be clear, 4G broadband is a service used with PCs, laptops and netbooks and aims to increase easy and widespread access to wireless broadband Internet services. 4G mobile meanwhile delivers speeds up to five times faster than legacy 3G services and will be available on mobile handsets and via USB dongles in the coming months.

2) The article suggests that Digicel's 4G broadband service launched in August 2010 was only available in the Kingston and St Catherine areas of Jamaica. Not the case. 4G broadband is an island-wide service covering 60 per cent of the population in Jamaica.

3) The article references the cross-network rate changes that Digicel has made but it quotes inaccurate figures. Digicel has voluntarily opted to reduce cross-network rates meaning that, effective January 4 for prepaid and January 12 for postpaid, customers will benefit from a J$3.50 per minute peak rate reduction and a J$2 per minute off peak rate reduction on calls to the other network.

Because of these inaccuracies, I would like to reiterate the key points of our announcement here.

Our investment of US$30 million in the roll-out of 4G mobile based on HSPA+ technology will see us once again leading innovation and spurring economic growth in Jamaica by putting the very latest and greatest technology in the hands of consumers.

Digicel will deliver islandwide coverage to over 80 per cent of the population and will enable customers to enjoy a better experience through faster access to files, the Internet and social media; more engagement and more excitement through faster communication, entertainment and information; and more choice with an even wider range of handsets.

In addition, our reduction in cross-network rates for both prepaid and postpaid customers by J$3.50 per minute peak rate and a J$2 per minute off peak and our intent to bring complementary wireless broadband services to schools and post offices in remote areas of Jamaica underline our commitment to ensuring that everything we do has a positive impact on our customers and on Jamaica in general.

We are very excited about 2012 and the further benefits we will bring to our customers on foot of the considerable investments we are making in the future of telecommunications in Jamaica.

Mark Linehan

CEO, Digicel Jamaica