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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : # Jamaican Gov ' t set ...eal ( RJR )...</span>
The Government is getting ready to deliberate on Digicel's proposed takeover of the operations of its competitor Claro in Jamaica. Daryl Vaz, the Minister with responsibility for Information, disclosed Sunday night that a formal request has been received from both entities for the deal to be cemented.It was submitted last week.According to Mr. Vaz, the matter will now be placed before Cabinet."We have received the request letter from Digicel and Claro jointly, and it is something that the government will have to look at very keenly in terms of the current landscape (in telecommunications sector). In due course we will address it," he said.Digicel announced on March 11 that it had signed an agreement with América Móvil, Claro's parent company, to acquire its Claro business in Jamaica. The deal will also see Digicel selling its business in El Salvador and Honduras to América Móvil. However, the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.If the green light is given the deal could close in the second calendar quarter. Digicel/Claro deal a retrograde step for the telecoms sector - unionIn the meantime, more concern is being raised about the Digicel/Claro deal.This time it is from the union representing workers at competing telecommunications company LIME which says it is worried about the implications for competition in the market.Garfield Harvey, the third Vice President of the University and Allied Workers Union, says if the deal is allowed to go through it would be a retrograde step for the telecommunications sector."I don't know that the Digicel/Claro deal is a good thing for the market because we seem to be ending up right where we started as far as competition is concerned. It seems as if the market is set to become a one horse market and unless Cable and Wireless/LIME is able to step up to the plate, the consumers are going to suffer," Mr. Garvey told RJR News.On Sunday, LIME issued a release in which it stated that it had taken note of the announced sale of Claro Jamaica to Digicel.The company said given the significance of this move to Jamaica's telecommunications industry, the Government, the Office of Utilities Regulations and the Fair Trading Commission should carefully assess the deal.LIME added that this should be done before approval is given by the relevant Minister. http://rjrnewsonline.com/news/local/...icelclaro-dealhttp://rjrnewsonline.com/news/local/...icelclaro-deal
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : # Jamaican Gov ' t set ...eal ( RJR )...</span>
The Government is getting ready to deliberate on Digicel's proposed takeover of the operations of its competitor Claro in Jamaica. Daryl Vaz, the Minister with responsibility for Information, disclosed Sunday night that a formal request has been received from both entities for the deal to be cemented.It was submitted last week.According to Mr. Vaz, the matter will now be placed before Cabinet."We have received the request letter from Digicel and Claro jointly, and it is something that the government will have to look at very keenly in terms of the current landscape (in telecommunications sector). In due course we will address it," he said.Digicel announced on March 11 that it had signed an agreement with América Móvil, Claro's parent company, to acquire its Claro business in Jamaica. The deal will also see Digicel selling its business in El Salvador and Honduras to América Móvil. However, the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.If the green light is given the deal could close in the second calendar quarter. Digicel/Claro deal a retrograde step for the telecoms sector - unionIn the meantime, more concern is being raised about the Digicel/Claro deal.This time it is from the union representing workers at competing telecommunications company LIME which says it is worried about the implications for competition in the market.Garfield Harvey, the third Vice President of the University and Allied Workers Union, says if the deal is allowed to go through it would be a retrograde step for the telecommunications sector."I don't know that the Digicel/Claro deal is a good thing for the market because we seem to be ending up right where we started as far as competition is concerned. It seems as if the market is set to become a one horse market and unless Cable and Wireless/LIME is able to step up to the plate, the consumers are going to suffer," Mr. Garvey told RJR News.On Sunday, LIME issued a release in which it stated that it had taken note of the announced sale of Claro Jamaica to Digicel.The company said given the significance of this move to Jamaica's telecommunications industry, the Government, the Office of Utilities Regulations and the Fair Trading Commission should carefully assess the deal.LIME added that this should be done before approval is given by the relevant Minister. http://rjrnewsonline.com/news/local/...icelclaro-dealhttp://rjrnewsonline.com/news/local/...icelclaro-deal