Digicel confirms purchase of Suriname operator Uniqa

Jamaican operator Digicel signed an agreement to purchase United Telecommunications Services Suriname, which owns operator Uniqa in the former Dutch colony.

The purchase was confirmed in Digicel's latest filing sent to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this week, which dated the transaction June 30. However, the purchase has not yet been made effective.

Uniqa, the third largest operator in Suriname, will be integrated into Digicel's operations in the country. The deal, the value of which was not revealed, was first reported by local press in July.

According to the SEC document, Uniqa generated revenues of approximately US$4.4mn in 2013, the most recent year for which audited financial statements are available, and has dome 5,000 mobile subscribers.

Digicel has been increasing its presence in the Caribbean, particularly since competitor Cable & Wireless (CWC) announced its acquisition of Barbados-based Columbus International last November for US$3.02bn.

Digicel operates in 26 countries in the region, and the telco boasts the largest penetration in the Caribbean, reaching an 84% market share in Jamaica and 55% in Trinidad as of 2013, as well as 94% in Turks and Caicos in 2014.