Telecommunications minister Phillip Paulwell has reacted to the news of the new Digicel rate with approval.

He said it is a sign competition is alive and well.

Paulwell said he’s looking forward to seeing a similar downward slide in data rates.

However, Digicel customers had mixed reactions to the new rates.

Less than an hour after Digicel announced the new plan on social networking site Facebook, it had received close to 2,000 comments from Jamaicans.

Many expressed appreciation that the rate had been dropped significantly, but even more seemed dissatisfied with the new plan.

They expressed disappointment that the $2.89 rate was being applied on a per minute basis instead of Digicel’s usual per second billing.

Others were incensed that the new plan did not give them the same amount of free texts and free talk time enjoyed under existing plans such as Digicel’s Gimme Five promotion.

Meanwhile, the reduction in call rates coincides with the setting of interim wholesale and retail telecommunications rates by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) at $5 from $9, effective July 15.

Digicel this week took the utilities regulator to court seeking leave to proceed with a claim for judicial review of the OUR’s recent determination on interim termination rates.

Digicel is claiming that such a move is contrary to the common-law right of natural justice.

LIME and the Fair Trading Commission have joined the suit to protect their interests in light of the move by Digicel.

radio@gleanerjm.com