Digicel: ‘Stop Whining TeleBermuda’
Telecommunications provider Digicel today [Dec. 22] threw down the gauntlet to one of its rivals, issuing a statement which said: “Stop whining TeleBermuda and do your fighting where it matters — in the marketplace.”
Yesterday Digicel announced they would recommence the marketing and sales of their international long distance service effective immediately.
Government then released a statement saying they will refer the matter of whether this service is in compliance with the terms of licences provided to Telecommunication Bermuda and West Indies Ltd [TBWL] and Transact Ltd. to the Telecommunications Commission.
“Additionally, Government will soon initiate a consultation period with industry stakeholders regarding a change in policy for the provision of international long distance service,” said the statement.
“The lifting of the injunction clearly put the onus on the Government to act,” TBI president and COO Greg Swan told “The Royal Gazette” last night.
“Knowing the statutory powers of the relevant Ministries, and knowing the Government’s position in sworn affidavits, I can only expect that the relevant Government Ministries will take the appropriate action accordingly,” said Mr Swan.
The statement issued by Digicel this morning said, “Mr. Swan’s declarations essentially amount to TeleBermuda seeking to unilaterally dictate to the Government of Bermuda, through the media, how Government should conduct their business.”
Digicel said Mr. Swan is not “entitled to peremptorily demand, in the manner of a spoilt child, how Government should protect his company’s commercial interests at all costs to the exclusion of all other considerations.”
“Digicel would also remind Mr. Swan that TeleBermuda was offered the opportunity to give a cross-undertaking as to damages to the Supreme Court last week if they wished to prevent Digicel/Transact from re-launching ILD,” said the statement.
“TeleBermuda, represented in Court by Mr. Swan, expressly refused to do so. In essence, TeleBermuda refused to put their money where their mouth is. TeleBermuda seem to prefer to do their talking in the press- a much cheaper option.
“It would also appear that TeleBermuda would prefer to seek to have the Government of Bermuda do their bidding rather than take action themselves. Digicel applauds the Government of Bermuda for not acceding to TeleBermuda’s siren like pleas to do TeleBermuda’s bidding.”
When asked to respond to Digicel’s statement today, TeleBermuda’s Gregory Swan said he will “not dignify this with a response.”
The full statement from Digicel follows below:
Digicel / Transact wish to respond to statements made to the media yesterday by Mr. Greg Swan, COO of TeleBermuda. These statements concern Digicel / Transact’s relaunch of their Long Distance over VoIP (“ILD”) service yesterday.
Mr. Swan’s declarations essentially amount to TeleBermuda seeking to unilaterally dictate to the Government of Bermuda, through the media, how Government should conduct their business.
Digicel would remind Mr. Swan that he is no longer the Director of Telecommunications and that does not have a role in dictating or framing Government policy or activity.
Mr. Swan is not entitled to peremptorily demand, in the manner of a spoilt child, how Government should protect his company’s commercial interests at all costs to the exclusion of all other considerations.
Digicel would also remind Mr. Swan that TeleBermuda was offered the opportunity to give a cross – undertaking as to damages to the Supreme Court last week if they wished to prevent Digicel / Transact from re-launching ILD. TeleBermuda, represented in Court by Mr. Swan, expressly refused to do so.
In essence, TeleBermuda refused to put their money where their mouth is. TeleBermuda seem to prefer to do their talking in the press- a much cheaper option.
It would also appear that TeleBermuda would prefer to seek to have the Government of Bermuda do their bidding rather than take action themselves. Digicel applauds the Government of Bermuda for not acceding to TeleBermuda’s siren like pleas to do TeleBermuda’s bidding.
TeleBermuda’s attempts at taking the lost cost, low risk option of having others fight their battles appears to have failed. Digicel is contented to note that the Government of Bermuda has not allowed itself to be used as a proxy for TeleBermuda and their commercial interests.
Digicel / Transact would call on TeleBermuda to clarify whether they have threatened legal action, directly or indirectly, against the Government of Bermuda in relation to these matters. Digicel believes that the Bermudian public would be well served by a full and frank disclosure by TeleBermuda of all of its private activities in this regard.
Digicel wants to compete with TeleBermuda in terms of price, service and quality. Digicel wishes to compete vigourously, but fairly. As is always the case in these matters, with competition the consumer always wins. The price of international calls has already fallen significantly over the past weeks. TeleBermuda continues in its efforts to stifle competition.
TeleBermuda has a very significant headstart over Digicel in the market for international calls. They should not be afraid of some new competition. Stop whining TeleBermuda and do your fighting where it matters; in the marketplace.
The people of Bermuda deserve choice; they deserve competition. TeleBermuda – stop standing in the way of progress and get down to fighting for customers.
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AND STOP BREAKING THE RULES DIGICEL……
This is all waaay too funny. Some gramatical errors in Digicel’s statement though.. I wonder who does their PR?
if you’re gonna go out go out with guns blazing
who’s managing Digicel Bozo the Clown and Bubbles the Chimp
I’ll say you have to sit back and admire Digicel’s bravado in making this public statement although I wonder if Mr. Swan may now have a reasonable cause of action for slander as a result
Toute suite- Good to see you are an expert on slander following your own scurrilous attacks on poor Bozo the Clown and Bubbles the Chimp. I would imagine Bubbles may well instruct Attorneys to pursue you in Court for dragging him into this mess! Bozo tends to keep a low profile though.
I passed the Digicel store earlier- it looks very busy!! Digicel are blazing alright. Consumers vote with their wallets- most people really don’t care for this sort of media / PR nonsense. People are loyal to value; not to Brands; particularly in this economic climate. Digicel’s deal seems the best to me. Is that why the others as sooooo annoyed?
So Mr. Swan refused to respond? Looks to me that he has been called out. Is he sulking now? The bit where Digicel ask TeleBermuda to come clean about what they’ve been saying or threatening behind closed doors is very interesting. Too much public business gets done behind closed doors. Why don’t TeleBermuda stop complaining though and come to market with some special offers? Surely they can cut the costs of the international calls and still make money? C’mon and compete TBI!!! Are you going to keep cowering behind lawyers or are you going to come out of your foxhole and take Digicel on on price!! We need a good battle on price. Enough of the phony war in the press. I’m with TBI, but I’m gonna check out Digicel’s prices!!! You want my business come and fight for it! For too long we have had services provided as though these companies were doing the consumer a favour. The best deal will win. That’s the way it should always be.
TBI has cheap rates before Digicel came to the market and their rate is still better. Check it out.
I do not think that it is true that TBI has better rates, but really this is the central point. if TBI believes that it has better rates then why does it not focus on getting that message out there? Stopping competition is like trying to hold back the tide. TBI have had it good enough for long enough. Enough of Mr. Swan complaining- let him come out and say why people in Bermuda should stick with TBI rather than Digicel or anyone else. Whatever you might argue, there is no doubt that Digicel have brought the Telecoms market in Bermuda to life – they shook up the cosy arrangments. It’s survivial of the fittest now. Mores the pity that other sectors are not as competitive. That way, we all would have more $$ in our wallets.
I doubt this is about “stopping the competition”.. TBI have the better rates, compare on their respective websites.. The fact is that their are laws that should be abided by and are not.
I feel that if the Telecommunications Commission let this slide it will turn into a free for all… H*ll TBI and Link (C&W) should just start selling internet access to residential customers.. That’ll start a price war and no-one will win!!!
Correction: in a price war, *most* people will win. Most people being the many customers – not the few people in these companies trying to get our money LOL. More customer choice -> lower prices -> better service -> winning!
Can we all agree this is getting a bit ridiculous? I don’t get why it’s such a big deal – who even calls long distance anymore??? If anyone and everyone has the ablility to make long distance “calls” for FREE over the internet anyway, I understand why the Supreme Court said Digicel can offer the service… basically, why not?? If Bermudians still want to pay for long distance service, more power to Digicel for at least making it cheaper. While these companies duke it out, I will continue to use skype, which I think is actually a bigger competitor to TBI than Digicel will ever be and – might I add – is not subject to any of this madness.
What happens to all of the new Digicel LD subscribers’ contracts if Government revokes/suspends Transacts licence or the Commission rules that their entering into the market was illegal?
Will Digicel still hold them contractually liable to pay even if they are found to have provided an illegal service?
If Digicel is found to have provided an illegal service will they release these new subscribers from their contracts to allow them to run right back to TBI with their tails between their legs.
The stakes are far to high at this stage for the ordinary consumer to be involved.
Buyer be Beware!
Agreed.
Consumer – be patient.
I agree whole heartedly @ over it says! I just wish Digicel would stop acting like a spoilt brat themselves!
Because they don’t get their way as they have done in the rest of the Caribbean (by bullying and throwing their weight around) they are now reverting to taunts and name calling of their competitors.
Show some professionalism – bullying your way to the top is not gonna endear you to any customers or the Government. It looked like you were doing the right thing by suspending your move into ILD services after the Courts referred it back to the Telecomms Commission but now you have done a 180 and shown your true colours once again!
In a country that is now awash with folks who know only antagonism, disrespect and incivility (and has lead to the levels of violence we are now experiencing) we don’t need a corporate business to be acting in the same fashion! Grow up!
MAGIC JACK – buy it at Walmart and pay $100 a year for your calls!!
oh Guvmint want 35% at the airport
I’m all for a competition and everything about Digicel rubs me the wrong way. From their sullen, unhelpful staff, to their irritating advertisement and sleazy corporate image. Ill stick with TBI- I have been a happy customer for a number of years and will continue to do so. Obnoxious Digicel and their unprofessional attitude won’t be seeing a penny of my money!
Digicel won’t be seeing a cent of my money either!!! I love TBI!! Even better than Link Bermuda.
TBI, TBI TBI ALL THE WAY!!!