PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- DIGICEL Group, the fastest-growing mobile telecommunications provider in the Caribbean and new entrant to Central American market, today announced a strategic partnership with Caribbean Air Mail, Inc. (CAM), a leader in the money transfer market to Haiti.

This alliance gives the Haitian Diaspora communities in USA and Canada the ability to purchase mobile handsets and pre-paid minutes for friends, family and associates located in Haiti.

Digicel says it makes the entire process extremely simple and efficient for customers in need of call credit or a mobile phone.

When call credit is purchased on behalf of a customer, it is immediately sent to the friend or family member’s Digicel mobile account.

Any amount -- ranging from US$0.77 to US$138 -- can be sent and the Digicel customer receives a text message notifying them of the top-up and new balance.

The offer includes a choice of six cutting-edge mobile handsets, including the Nokia 1112, the Samsung X160 and the Motorola C261.

Once a Digicel customer is notified of a purchase made on their behalf, the handset is available within an hour at any of CAM’s more than 200 branches across Haiti.

“At Digicel, we believe in making mobile technology accessible for everyone and are continuously exploring new product innovations and partnerships to ensure that we can bring down telecommunications barriers,” said Ben Atherton, Digicel Group Marketing Director.

“Our partnership with Caribbean Air Mail further strengthens our commitment to raise mobile penetration levels in Haiti and drive the development of communications technology throughout the region.”

The Haitian Diaspora community population in both the US and Canada is comprised of some two million people, according to Digicel sources.

A recent report from Inter-American Development Bank also revealed that global remittance to Haiti topped US$1.65 billion in 2006.

“We are delighted to join with Digicel in this initiative as it allows us to offer more value and services to our customers.

“CAM brings to this alliance a quarter century of experience and reliable service, over one million loyal and satisfied customers and a common track record of first-to-market innovations,” said CAM General Manager, Jean-Claude Saliba.

Digicel first began offering Diaspora services in November 2005 with the launch of CaribFlex, which allowed Jamaicans living in the US and UK to send credit to family and friends at home.

This service was then extended to Haiti in 2006.

Since its launch in May 2006, Haiti has been a market of phenomenal growth for Digicel.

Digicel Haiti recorded 1.4 million customers in just 12 months and to date has invested US$260 million -- the largest investment ever made in the country by an international company.

Digicel Haiti employs 551 Haitian residents, has a staff of more than 700 people and has created a total of 5,000 indirect jobs.