The Dominican Republic » Telecommunications

Codetel in the countryside

admin — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:55:30 +0000

The Dominican Telephone Company (CODETEL) has expanded its “Rural Broadband Connections” program by linking three more communities to the Internet. The program is designed to bring the Internet to the country’s remotest communities and serve a million and a half people who do not have access to this type of communication. A total of 20 communities have been connected so far, and the goal is to reach a total of 503 communities. The three latest communities were Las Matas de Santa Cruz in Montecristi province, San Victor in Espaillat province and Monte Plata, the capital of the province with the same name.

Isolated Dominican island’s students get the Web at last

admin — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:40:42 +0000

La Romana.- A girl’s eyes light up with astonishment, incredulity and innocence when she “clicked” a computer menu in front of her to access the Earth Sciences chapter provided by the Encyclopedia Encarta.

The students of the Adamanay grade school on Saona Island will now have access to Internet, as part of the communication network to help with their education.

Dominican Telecommunications Institute president (Indotel) Jose Rafael Vargas yesterday headed the inaugural of the Communications and Computer center, which ends the island’s historical isolation from the world

Government officials, media executives and lawmakers attended the ceremony.

Source: DominicanToday.com Picture: Listin.com.do

VIVA Wireless debuts in Dominican telecom market

admin — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:30:21 +0000

SANTO DOMINGO.- (BUSINESS WIRE)–Trilogy International Partners, an American holding company which invests in wireless telecommunication operations outside the United States, today announced the launch of its new telecommunications company in the Dominican Republic, VIVA. Trilogy International Partners acquired Centennial Dominicana in March of 2007, and has restructured and reinvigorated the operation.

Under Trilogy’s leadership, the existing CDMA network has been overlaid with GSM technology and the coverage footprint has been expanded. With the unveiling of the VIVA brand comes a new suite of enhanced mobile communication service offerings that will include greater functionality, modern technology, and more choice for mobile customers.

“The Dominican Republic presents a strong growth opportunity for us. With the new VIVA network, and a new pricing paradigm, we feel that we are the right company to provide additional services and choice to the market today,” said Brad Horwitz, President and CEO of Trilogy International Partners. “Further, as the sole telecommunications operator with pan-Hispaniola coverage, we are in the unique position to optimize operational and commercial synergies across the island.”

VIVA will offer a compelling value proposition, convenient access and superior customer service with its clear offers and state of the art network coverage and quality. Its product portfolio includes a number of value-added services and plans that cater to the needs of prepaid, post-paid and corporate customers. VIVA’s extensive distribution network of flagship stores, dealers and approximately 30,000 recharge locations nationwide ensures that its customers will always be near a VIVA commercial outlet when they need one.

Source: DominicanToday.com

6.5 million telephones

admin — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:27:09 +0000

There are 6.5 million telephones in operation in the DR, a country with an estimated 9.5 million inhabitants. Of these, 5.5 million are cell phones, of which 97% are digital, according to the president of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel).

Jose Rafael Vargas said that there are 962,000 landlines in the DR. He said that at 70.3%, the DR’s tele-density is one of the highest in Latin America.Vargas made these statements during a TV interview with Ramon Nunez and Jacqueline Morel on Channel 11.

Source: Dr1.com