M.S.H. Hassankhan (left), Suriname Minister of Transport, Telecommunication and Tourism, congratulates Philip van Dalsen, CEO of Digicel Suriname, on the granting of a licence to Digicel to operate a GSM network. - Contributed

Digicel has secured a GSM licence to offer mobile services in Suriname, the same day that a new law that liberalised the telecommunications sector there took effect.

"We are entering an exciting new era in telecommunications in Suriname, bringing more advanced services at more competitive prices and allowing more people than ever before to access mobile technology," said M.S.H. Hassankhan, Suriname's Minister of Transport, Communications and Tourism, in a statement issued by Digicel.

The monopoly, which the new law has now broken, was held by TELESUR for 25 years.

On Tuesday, Digicel refused comment on the size of the investment to be made in Suriname but a spokesperson suggested it would be comparable to previous investments.

Last year, the company investment US$60 in its Guyana rollout, but last week it announced a US$150 million investment in El Salvador. Those two markets, however, represented acqusitions versus the virgin territory that Suriname represents to the Digicel Group.

Market penetration

Suriname, with a population of less than half a million people, has a market penetration of 45 per cent for mobile phones, as estimated by Digicel. The new subsidiary will be run by Philip van Dalsen, "who brings more than seven years experience in mobile and fixed telecommunications management."

Digicel will "commence a rapid rollout of its service," said group CEO Colm Delves, but he did not offer a precise timetable.

The telecoms is now in 23 markets, and already has a presence in South America through it operations in Guyana and French Guiana.

"Digicel intends to make an important contribution to the growth and development of the burgeoning Information Com-munication Technology (ICT) development in Suriname," said van Dalsen, "as well as become involved in a range of sponsorships, and social and community initiatives."