Telecoms group Cable & Wireless (C&W) has dismissed claims it illegally prevented competition in the Caribbean.C&W is facing a multi-million dollar damages lawsuit from Caribbean rival Digicel at the High Court in London.Digicel says it has leaked papers showing C&W implemented a "well thought-out campaign" to stop competition in some Caribbean markets.But C&W has dismissed Digicel's claims as without foundation, describing them as no more than a "spoiling tactic".It said it would vigorously defend the case.'Delaying tactics'Digicel chairman Denis O'Brien said he had been sent an internal report from C&W that set out a detailed plan showing how the firm could use "delaying tactics" to illegally prevent competitors from setting up business in the Caribbean. In our view, that is totally illegalDenis O'Brien, Digicel chairmanCaribbean phone wars hit Trinidad"When you go into a market and set up a mobile operator in competition to C&W what they do is delay and delay and delay the interconnection of the new operator to their network," he told the BBC."In other words, Digicel mobile needs to talk to a C&W mobile and that is subject to an agreement - and it is a very long and detailed agreement - so instead of this taking maybe a month or six weeks to negotiate it can go on for in some cases nearly six months."He alleged that in one market - St Lucia - C&W blocked calls not only to Digicel, but also international calls."In our view, that is totally illegal and if you look at the legislation of the countries, it is in breach of the legislation," he added.Tougher competitionC&W dominated the mobile phone business across the Caribbean for several years, but several governments in the region have issued new licences to its competitors.Set up in 2001, Digicel subsequently won many of the licences and now has 4.7 million customers in 22 markets.However, it claims it was forced to delay operations in many markets by up to six months - partly because of delays in securing interconnect deals with C&W.As a result it has launched a claim for damages, for what reports suggest could be as much as $300m, against C&W.The case is not expected to reach the courts until 2008.]Telecoms group Cable & Wireless (C&W) has dismissed claims it illegally prevented competition in the Caribbean.C&W is facing a multi-million dollar damages lawsuit from Caribbean rival Digicel at the High Court in London.Digicel says it has leaked papers showing C&W implemented a "well thought-out campaign" to stop competition in some Caribbean markets.But C&W has dismissed Digicel's claims as without foundation, describing them as no more than a "spoiling tactic".It said it would vigorously defend the case.'Delaying tactics'Digicel chairman Denis O'Brien said he had been sent an internal report from C&W that set out a detailed plan showing how the firm could use "delaying tactics" to illegally prevent competitors from setting up business in the Caribbean. In our view, that is totally illegalDenis O'Brien, Digicel chairmanCaribbean phone wars hit Trinidad"When you go into a market and set up a mobile operator in competition to C&W what they do is delay and delay and delay the interconnection of the new operator to their network," he told the BBC."In other words, Digicel mobile needs to talk to a C&W mobile and that is subject to an agreement - and it is a very long and detailed agreement - so instead of this taking maybe a month or six weeks to negotiate it can go on for in some cases nearly six months."He alleged that in one market - St Lucia - C&W blocked calls not only to Digicel, but also international calls."In our view, that is totally illegal and if you look at the legislation of the countries, it is in breach of the legislation," he added.Tougher competitionC&W dominated the mobile phone business across the Caribbean for several years, but several governments in the region have issued new licences to its competitors.Set up in 2001, Digicel subsequently won many of the licences and now has 4.7 million customers in 22 markets.However, it claims it was forced to delay operations in many markets by up to six months - partly because of delays in securing interconnect deals with C&W.As a result it has launched a claim for damages, for what reports suggest could be as much as $300m, against C&W.The case is not expected to reach the courts until 2008.
