Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett (right) addresses the audience gathered at the Montego Bay Yacht Club for the unveiling of America Movil's plans for its newest acquisition, Oceanic Digital/ MiPhone, while MiPhone CEO Alejandro Guiterrez and Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda look on. (Photos: Joseph Wellington)

Despite the inroads made in technology over the last five years, CEO of Oceanic Digital/MiPhone Alejandro Guiterrez claims that Jamaica is still not among the region's telecommunications leaders.

"Within the Caribbean, only five countries are below Jamaica's penetration rates and 18 are better positioned," Guiterrez told his audience on Saturday during his presentation at the Montego Bay Yacht Club, "so there is still a lot to do for the country."

Guiterrez emphasised that his Mexico-based company America Movil - which recently purchased Oceanic Digital/MiPhone - has a subscriber base of 159.2 million in the Americas and is among the world's top high-tech companies. His speech outlined that major local providers Digicel and Cable & Wireless have six and five million respectively.

MiPhone CEO Alejandro Guiterrez explains the chart that speaks to the 159.2 million America Movil subscribers in the Americas.

"America Movil is the largest privately held public company in Latin America and is the leading provider of wireless phone services in the region," continued Guiterrez. "The company covers a population of 790 million people across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Jamaica."

The CEO added that the "MiPhone revolution" is set to start first in the second city and will add a new dynamic to the local telecoms industry.

The company is set to introduce Apple's newest cellular device, the iPhone 3G, in the next couple of months.
"We introduced new 3G services in 14 countries, so our wireless networks enable our clients to have access to state-of-the-art services including live videoconference, TV services, wireless broadband accesses without line of sight," Guiterrez said.

Speaking also at the presentation, Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica Leonora Rueda said the introduction of America Movil to the island means more than just "more cellphones", but rather a cultural exchange whereby two peoples have a chance to learn more about each other.

Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett also welcomed the new company to local shores, citing that the addition to the telecoms industry will serve to reinforce the already strong Montego Bay economy. Bartlett's colleague, Minister of Health Ruddy Spencer, added that the partnership comes at a time when the government through his ministry is set to embark upon eHealth Care.

Spencer outlined that the proliferation of technology will mean better and more access to medical information.
"The investment in Jamaica currently is estimated at over US$250 million for the first year of operation, being one of the largest made in the last year, and it is distributed more evenly across populated areas," Guiterrez added. "This investment includes the building of more than 600 cell sites and will bring around 20,000 indirect jobs throughout the country during its build-out."

He mentioned, too, that MiPhone is expected to provide more than 300 direct jobs to Jamaicans and around 5,000 indirect jobs for distribution of its products and maintenance services.
In closing Guiterrez urged Jamaicans to support the new structure.

"MiPhone expects that with your support better services will be available to everyone, including e-learning, data roaming and Internet connectivity, prices will come down while almost everything else is going up. Jamaica will be better suited to compete against other countries in the region, specially in the tourism arena."

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS

Pepper Pot