19 years ago – the Digicel difference

Updated excerpt from Observer column published 20 April 2020

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

Digicel founder and Chairman Denis O’Brien and the late Deputy Prime Minister Seymour Mullings look on as Makonnen Blake Hannah makes the first Digicel phone call on April 19, 2001. With him is Scripps Howard Champion Jodi-Ann Maxwell. 

Nineteen years ago today, Jamaicans lined up in Kingston and St James to buy their first Digicel mobile handsets, items that were previously regarded as luxuries. I was proud to have been part of the team which piloted the launch on the previous day, ending with hundreds of phones lighting up at midnight in the Grand Jamaica Suite at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

The intrepid Irish entrepreneur Denis O’Brien recalls seeing an advertisement in the Financial Times about a telecoms license being offered in Jamaica, and decided to apply. What a moment for our country – this opened up employment, and a revolution in telecommunications. The Irish cared less for your address and more for your competence. We saw Debbie Williams rise from office attendant to senior receptionist and listened to her cheerily emceeing the Digicel 10^th anniversary celebrations. As Digicel launched networks in 32 other countries, their Jamaican managers were sent to train the new teams. “I want them to have the Jamaican DNA,” Denis O’Brien told Cliff Hughes at the Haiti launch in 2006.

We caught the energetic buzz of Colm Delves, Seamus Lynch, David Hall, and Jamaica’s own Harry Smith, now Chairman of Digicel Jamaica. From Professor Hopeton Dunn whose telecoms chair at UWI was funded for several years by Digicel, we heard reports of market women, fishermen and taxi operators whose business grew significantly because they could make and receive orders quickly. Live-in household workers spoke of their relief that they now had a way to keep in close touch with their children.

Digicel Foundation Labour Day Project 

In 2004, Digicel launched their Foundation, with their first CEO Major General (Ret’d) Robert Neish overseeing the fast rollout of islandwide projects with military precision. Built on the pillars of education, special needs and entrepreneurship for community development, the Foundation (which I chair) has invested to date US$37.7 million, in 1,279 projects, improving the lives of 649,747 Jamaicans.

X-Factor star Dalton Harris got his start on Digicel Rising Star.

At a time when Jamaican dancehall lyrics were heading for the gutter and music hopefuls were being blocked by payola kings and queens, Digicel introduced the 'Rising Stars' competition, launching timeless new talents including Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin and Dalton Harris. They also sponsor 'All Together Sing', showcasing the talent of our high school students and their dedicated teachers. 

Happy 19^th Birthday Digicel – here’s to many more dynamic years!