| Phone Fight Erupts Over Caribbean |
By BBC Caribbean
July 19, 2007
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| Cable and Wireless is facing a British High Court claim for millions of dollars in damages. |
The telephone giant was hauled before the courts by its Caribbean rival Digicel, which has accused the British firm of stifling competition.
Irish-owned Digicel claims Cable and Wireless has been trying to obstruct its entry into English-speaking telecoms markets in the Caribbean - allegations |
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| Cable and Wireless denies. |
| Cable and Wireless has for decades enjoyed a monopoly on telecommunications in several Caribbean Countries but has recently had its position challenged by Digicel. |
| However, Digicel said it was "the victim of a co-ordinated effort" by Cable and Wireless to "prevent and delay" its plans to launch competing telephone networks in areas such as St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and the Cayman Islands. |
| Digicel, which expects the case to come to court next year, is seeking damages amounting to "several hundreds of millions" of dollars. |
| Cable and Wireless has flatly rejected its competitor's allegations. |
| In a statement on Thursday, it said Digicel's claims "are without foundation" and has promised to "vigorously defended" itself against them. |
| Cable and Wireless is the dominant telecoms operator in 10 out of 14 Caribbean markets, and operates in countries such as Panama, Britain, the United States and across Europe. |
| Digicel said it was "extremely frustrated" with the "continual illegal obstructions that we have encountered from Cable & Wireless." |
| Leader Floyd Seymour told BBC Caribbean: "We've see the effect that wholesale casino gambling has had on areas like Atlantic city, New Jersey and Las Vegas.". |
| The Jamaica-headquartered mobile provider said it hopes the legal case will put and end to "Cable and Wireless' anti-competitive practices." |
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