Telecommunications provider Digicel last Thursday announced that it will dispense with roaming charges across its Caribbean and the US markets.{{more}}

The move, which applies to voice, SMS and data roaming charges, sees customers being able to communicate for the same rates that they pay at home, when they travel in the Caribbean and the US.

The change will be in place across the region by October 1, 2013 and customers will not be charged an activation fee, a release from the company said.

“As the first operator in the region to dispense with roaming rates, Digicel is reaffirming its commitment to customers and to ensuring that they always benefit from best value.

“The move comes on the back of the fantastic customer reaction to Digicel’s ‘Same Rates a Yaad’ plan launched in Jamaica, which has since been mirrored in markets like Barbados, Panama and Trinidad and the company’s ongoing mission to ensure that customers get more for less,” the release said.

In welcoming the news, Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell said: “This move by Digicel is commendable, and is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Brian Finn, Digicel Group Commercial director, commented: “At Digicel, we are always looking for new ways to drive value to our customer base and to keep people connected. We are proud to be the first operator to be making this move and to be ensuring that our valued customers can communicate easily and economically wherever they are in the region.”

He continued: “This is all about giving our customers the freedom to communicate as they wish when they travel, without the fear of running up high bills.”