Digicel Wins Innovation Award For Tchotcho Mobile In Haiti

Digicel has won the 2011 Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award for Consumer Service Innovation for its TchoTcho Mobile Money service in Haiti.

This is the second time in three years that Digicel has won the prestigious Global Telecoms Business innovation award – the last time being for its introduction of the world’s first solar powered mobile phone in 2009.

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel, comments; “We believe TchoTcho Mobile will change the way people live and make transactions. With over 2.4 million subscribers and delivering 95% population coverage and the largest retail network, Digicel is uniquely placed to deliver mobile money services successfully. We are delighted to receive this award and certain that TchoTcho Mobile will fast become an essential part of people’s lives in Haiti.”

The award was presented to Digicel last night at the Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards ceremony in London. Designed to celebrate collaboration between operators and vendors, the Consumer Service Innovation award recognises the most innovative projects in the industry worldwide and was first presented in 2007.

“Scotiabank is proud to partner with Digicel to offer this innovative and affordable product to people in Haiti,” said Luce Veilleux, Senior Vice-President, Retail Products, Scotiabank. “It’s important to us to continue playing a positive role in Haiti’s success by making financial services accessible, promoting financial inclusion  and enabling businesses to grow and drive the successes of the Haitian economy just as we have since 1972.”

Global Telecoms Business magazine is part of the Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC group, a leading international business-to-business media group focused primarily on the international finance sector.

Digicel is the single largest private investor in Haiti, with an investment of US$490 million to date. Now serving 2.4 million customers, Digicel’s 2005 establishment in Haiti saw mobile prices lowered significantly and mobile penetration going from a very low five per cent to more than 35 per cent today, thanks largely to Digicel.

Furthermore, according to the French development agency, Proparco, Digicel Haiti has directly and indirectly contributed to a remarkable 20 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth between 2005 and 2007 (14 per cent directly, three per cent through suppliers and another three per cent through retailers).

Digicel also offers mobile money services in Fiji and Tonga.