CABLE & WIRELESS- DISCOUNT KING COMES CALLING AGAIN

Oh how has the mighty monopoly fallen. Cable & Wireless, once the free reigning telecom monopoly in Jamaica and the Caribbean, is now the leading telecom discount king, that this week launched another range of bundled calling plans.

Since the deregulation of the industry in Jamaica 6 years ago, the giant was slain and pretty much slaughtered by the Irish owned firm Digicel. With the hottest and most advanced cell phones, the sweetest local and international calling deals, plus customer service and community integration never before experienced- Digicel was like an all-you-can-eat buffet in front of starving Jamaicans.

Fast forward to 2008, Digicel has converted and kept loyal what is now 2 million subscribers, leaving Cable & Wireless with 600,000 subscribers and memories of the old monopoly days plus more CEO changes that even they care to remember.

Just this Monday they are trying again to win Jamaicans on price, ironically after screwing them with high prices for over 50 years. They have launched bundled packages again. I say again because this is the second major attempt in two years. The offer: For one flat rate per month, ranging from a low of $799 up to $7,499, for on-network, off-network and international calls and SMS texting, bmobile subscribers can buy packages of 280-3,800 minutes and 40-1,000 texts, from among eight structured plans.Oopps, almost forgot, they also said customers will also experience improved customer service. * Sigh* ok if they say so, but I’m not holding my breath.