The number of mobile phone providers operating in the island will be reduced on Thursday with the shutdown of the Claro network.
This will leave the country will two mobile phone companies: Digicel and LIME. Operations will come to an end at Claro amid concern that its acquisition by former rival, Digicel, will lead to less competition in the market.
Digicel announced last year that it would be taking over Claro as part of a deal reached with America Movil. Under the agreement, Digicel acquired Claro's Jamaican business in exchange for America Movil getting Digicel's operations in El Salvador and Honduras. In January, Digicel said it would close down the Claro network and integrate part of it into its network.
It also announced that it would invest a further 30 million US dollars in the roll out of 4G Mobile. But some Claro dealers have complained that their investments were destroyed with the buyout. Customers as well have complained about having to switch networks, and in some cases, pay to change handsets. On Wednesday Digicel reported that more than eighty percent of the Claro subscriber base had migrated to its network. It also said it was responding to the concerns of Claro customers and dealers.
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