With the start of the New Year, Cable and Wireless in Anguilla has introduced a further reduction in mobile phone rates and for international direct dialed calls on its pre and postpaid services.

L-R: Lester Forman, Avon Carty and Sutcliffe Hodge

The company’s Chief Executive, Sutcliffe Hodge, prefaced the announcement by stating: “As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, we are in a position to pass on some savings to our customers as the cost of communication declines… We are pleased to make the announcement that as of the first of January, 2006, some new rates will be in effect.”

Speaking at a press briefing on December 28, Mr. Hodge emphasised that the company’s reduced rates were not due to competition, as some persons might have assumed, but that it was a response to technology becoming less costly and more persons taking up the services being provided.

Vice President for Sales and Mobile, Lester Forman, said under the reduced rates, calls to St. Martin/St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts will now cost 60 cents per minute during the day-time – Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of 75 cents per minute. At night-time the rate will be 50 cents per minute, reduced from 65 cents. On weekends the cost will drop down to 40 cents from 55 cents per minute.

Another example of the reduced international rates is that for the United States, the cost has gone down from $1.25 per minute to 90 cents during the day-time, Monday to Friday. There is a reduction to 80 cents per minute in the evenings and 70 cents per minute on weekends, down from $1.75 per minute respectively.

Mr. Forman also announced some added value in the company’s mobile postpaid plans. This includes an entry level plan, the b-mobile 100 phone for $40 per month with 100 bundled minutes. It will incorporate some new rates for Cable and Wireless mobile to mobile calling for 45 cents and 55 cents per minute from Cable and Wireless mobile to other carriers.

The current b-mobile 175 plan is being upgraded to the b200 for the same price, providing 200 bundled minutes for the price of $50.00 per month. Customers will automatically be upgraded from the b175 to the b200. The current b-mobile 350 plan will be upgraded to the b425, thus providing customers with 425 bundled minutes for the same price of $99.00 per month. The b575 plan will be upgraded to the b675, adding some additional minutes for the same price of $149.00 per month. The b850 plan will be upgraded to the b950, adding another 100 bundled minutes for the same price of $199.00.

“We are continuing to look at our rates and how we compete within the market against our current competitors,” said Forman. “We have also reduced the price of sending text messages which are bundled along with our b-mobile plans. For each text message there will be a flat rate of 25 cents.”

Chief Executive, Sutcliffe Hodge, noted that in addition to the above reduced rates, customers could still take advantage of the company’s Talk Away Service. This allows them to get an additional 25 % discount. If they were to dial the 1010335 number they would be entitled to another 33% discount, thus paying as little as 32 EC cents per minute on weekends.

He added that the company would shortly be able to launch its Netspeak product which would allow customers to have a flat rate for unlimited calling to Canada, Europe and the United States and to have bundled minutes and free network calling.

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