General Manager of FLOW Dominica, Jeffrey Baptiste, has said that the company is desirous of being the only true legitimate full-service provider in Dominica.
Baptiste said this was the push towards the acquisition of local Dominican cable company Marpin 2K4 Ltd by Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W), the operators of Flow.
On Friday, May 12, 2017, the company announced that it had acquired Marpin 2K4 Ltd.
The addition of Marpin means that Flow Dominica will soon be able to offer cable television services in addition to its mobile, fixed-line telephony and high-speed broadband services.
“Let me just say that we have been discussing with the former owners of Marpin say, for the last 18 to 24 months, and I think it came from a desire for us to be the true legitimate full-service provider in Dominica,” Baptiste said.
He stated that the company is rising to the challenge of meeting the needs of the customers.
“We have been operating in this market from the 1930’s; we’ve prided ourselves for shaping the telecommunications infrastructure in Dominica but we also recognize that customer needs have evolved and people more broadly now want to have a single stop when they deal with a service provider and we felt it was appropriate and fitting that we include as part of our product portfolio cable television,” Baptiste stated.
He said that this has been done across the region in several other markets and felt that it was appropriate and the time was right, to include television as part of the company’s product offering in Dominica.
Baptiste also expounded on what drove their interest in Marpin.
“And why Marpin?…I think we will all accept that Marpin, I think, still has a very credible product in Dominica. I said to the Marpin staff when I spoke to them for the first time on Friday, that I admire the passion and the commitment that they have displayed over the years, that they have held the company together under trying circumstances,” he said.
Baptiste said as a Marpin customer himself, he still believes the company has a very good product and that the quality of its service and the quality of its customer experience is ahead of that of the competitor.
He said it was the right decision to acquire the company.
“And I think pretty much it was a good opportunity and we’re buying into good potential. We’re buying into a company that has very good equity in the market, has a very passionate and committed and dedicated population and we just felt it was the right decision, the right strategic move, for the future of the company,” Baptiste stated.
The FLOW GM said that this is not only great news for customers in Dominica but also for the employees of Marpin 2k4.
He described the acquisition as an opportunity to transform the telecommunication landscape in Dominica.
He also highlighted the importance of this investment to Dominica stating that it will push Dominica up the ranks of the ICT World Index which, according to him, is going to be very important for the country “as we reshape and shape Dominica as the place for investment within the region and more broadly within the world.”
Baptiste noted further that this decision presents a wonderful opportunity which he thinks will bring significant value, not only for staff and customers but more broadly, the economy and the country.
Which is it? lime? flow? who are you? now conveniently cable and wireless? Legal trickery? and please stop harassing my phone. I don’t want to beg my relatives in Canada and the USA.
OK bye bye flow, digi here i come.
i’m out, I have had bad dealing with cable and wireless, now u guys bought over marpin 2k4, I want no dealings with lime, digi hear I come (strange – wasn’t it cables that crushed marpin? hmmmm)
Too many monopolies on this planet. The more competition the better.
revenge is sweet marpin helped to break cable & wireless monopoly now cables own marpin. Life is truly strange.
You need to ask and find out what were the issues and circumstances that caused Cable and Wireless to now purchase Marpin. Could Marpin continue to operate under its existing structure and survive the competitions of Flow and Digicel. Try and find out.
All of these provider of one thing or the other just come and say we made so many millions of profit at the end of every year. Can someone tell me what is in it for the consumer, and who will relieve us from exorbitant billing?
Good i hope they come and fix my cable better than marpin not rice or rain am watching
I just hope we don’t end up with a monopoly that can virtually print its own money.
Do better for Marpin. Flow.. Digi is a pure waste anyway.
An investment of a lifetime.
Well done Mr. Baptiste! Congrats!
Now down to a duopoly with 2 international players, each offering same services. Our small economy really cannot sensibly accommodate more than 2 players in that sector. Good for competition but alas, in this sector lower price to us consumers is the least I expect….but I do expect improved services!
BTW what is a “legitimate full-service provider”? What will your company be/do that Digicel is not?
Rgds,
KeithB
Indeed this new venture has potential for a lot of significant strides in our telecommunications sector. It will bring enhancement to the broadband product as well as cellphone and telephone services.
“high-speed broadband services” high-speed my A dollar sign dollar sign….