6th Feb 2007 15:00
Vodafone Group Plc06 February 2007 VODAFONE AND DIGICEL SIGN 3 YEAR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Partnership Means Customers can seamlessly Access their Services as they Travel on Each Others' Network and More Synergies between the Two Operators FEBRUARY 6th, 2007 - LONDON, UK AND KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Vodafone and Digicel haveannounced today a partnership agreement to offer new roaming capabilities acrossDigicel's markets in the Caribbean and Bermuda and Vodafone's global network.The agreement also extends to Digicel's sister operation in Samoa. In addition, under the terms of the agreement Vodafone and Digicel will becomepreferred roaming partners offering customers a seamless world-class mobileexperience whilst they travel on each others' network. Both Vodafone and Digicel will market co-branded roaming capabilities, offeringpre-paid and post-paid customers easy access to their voice mail and customerservice using their standard short codes, as well as better value for both voiceand data services. With some variation from market to market, initial servicesavailable will include Voice and GPRS Roaming services with plans in place toshortly include Top Up offerings. For Digicel, which also has roaming agreements with 245 partners in 130countries around the world, the partnership allows the company to expand thenumber of countries where it offers pre-paid roaming. The companies will aim to work together to jointly develop innovative productsand services as well as purchase handsets, creating cost benefits, greater valueand more solutions for customers. Vodafone and Digicel will co-operate inmarketing and delivering mobile services to multi-national corporate customers. Matthias Jungemann, Partner Markets Director at Vodafone, said, "Our agreementwith Digicel means that Vodafone customers can now access their services whiletravelling across the Caribbean. No other mobile operator can offer the kind ofglobal footprint Vodafone now has for easy to use, great value roaming services.Including Digicel, Vodafone's branded roaming services will be now available in81 countries. "Given Digicel's footprint in the region, the company was a clear choice as ourpreferred roaming partner for the Caribbean. We look forward to extending thebenefits of this partnership, not only in delivering our innovative roamingcapabilities, but also working together in how we can purchase smarter and howwe can deliver a superior mobile service for multi-national corporatecustomers." CEO of Digicel Group, Colm Delves added, "Today is a very significant day forboth Digicel and Vodafone and the first step of an exciting relationship. Ourcustomers in the Caribbean and Bermuda will now have access to a wider spectrumof products and services especially when they travel abroad. With thispartnership, we are once again bringing our markets to another level in terms ofbreadth and depth of service offering." He added, "Co-branding will further boost the brand reach of both partnersglobally. We are bringing together the Digicel and Vodafone names, which in turnwill increase roaming traffic by gaining access to more internationaltravellers." - ends - For further information : Vodafone Digicel Media RelationsInvestor Relations Maureen RabbittTel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Tel: +1 (876) 361 2852 (Jamaica) Media RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664444 About VodafoneVodafone is the world's leading international mobile telecommunications groupwith equity interests in 25 countries across five continents with 198.6 millionproportionate customers worldwide as at 31 December 2006 as well as 34 partnernetworks. For further information, please visit www.vodafone.com About DigicelDigicel is the fastest growing mobile operator in the Caribbean and new entrantto the Central American mobile market. Having launched in Jamaica in 2001, thecompany now has operations in 22 markets and 4 million customers withinvestments in the region exceeding US$ 1.5 billion. For more information,please visit www.digicelgroup.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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