Telecommunications
The telecommunications industry in the Cayman Islands continues to evolve, resulting in better rates, higher internet speeds, better service and more consumer options. The main providers are LIME, Digicel, TeleCayman and WestTel.
Local & Long Distance Land Lines
As soon as you arrive, you will want to arrange a local telephone service. Unlike in the US, every provider must be able to provide local, as well as long distance, telephone services. Therefore, there are several choices for overseas calls. You can use a fixed line, a wireless fixed line, a cellular phone or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). All the cellular providers offer an International Direct Dialling service and, depending on your rate plan, prices are often comparable to those for fixed lines. They also offer International Text Messaging (SMS) services at a very reasonable cost. LIME and TeleCayman provide local and long distance telephone services via a fixed line for your home or workplace. Digicel provides local and international telephone calls through their fixed line wireless service for business customers only, while WestTel provides telephone service via a wireless broadband connection (VoIP).
Be sure to check out the different long distance plans available. You will find a variety of choices to suit your needs and calling habits. In addition to long distance calling plans for your mobile and home phones, discount calling options are available from most carriers. Although the rates have been getting lower, they are still considerably more than in many parts of the developed world. You can check with all providers as to their rates for international destinations.
The timeline for getting your residential line installed varies from 5-15 business days. If you are building a home in a newly developed area and want a fixed land line installed, check directly with LIME or TeleCayman to confirm the expected time of installation.
Overview of Provider's Local & Long Distance Services
LIME offers picture messaging, which can be used to supplement voice-to-voice communication, as well as international calling via the internet using a VoIP service called NetSpeak. With NetSpeak, you get unlimited international calling for a flat rate. Service options include access to overseas and toll-free numbers, so overseas friends and family can call you for little or nothing. You can use a regular phone, a WiFi phone or your computer to make and receive calls. LIME offers a choice of residential calling plans, called HomePlans, which include discounts on broadband service and calling features like voicemail, caller ID and call waiting.
TeleCayman provides residential and business internet along with local and long distance telephone services. They offer free calling to all other numbers on their local network.
Digicel provides telephone service via wireless broadband connection (VoIP) to businesses only. They offer a package called Business Voice which includes per-second billing, no need to change your phone numbers or extensions, a dedicated account management team, free installation, analogue lines or an E1 PRI redundancy by having a second carrier on your PBX and multi-service discounts when you add data or internet.
WestTel also provides telephone service via wireless broadband connection (VoIP). They can provide you with a permanent phone number and the equipment you need within a few hours. There is no connection fee, no line rental and you can make free WestTel to WestTel calls. See their website for per minute rates for local and international calls.
Mobile Service
All Cayman mobile phone service providers use GSM technology. As a guideline, CDMA is the technology used by Verizon and Sprint in the USA, as well as Telus and Bell in Canada. GSM is the technology used by Vodafone, O2 and Orange in Europe, Cingular and T-Mobile in the USA, and Rogers Wireless and Microcell in Canada. While Digicel and LIME do not sell CDMA handsets in Cayman, they both offer CDMA roaming as long as the phone is linked to an account with an overseas CDMA operator. However, while you are in Cayman it is much cheaper to use LIME or Digicel than an overseas CDMA operator.
As rates are always subject to change, contact the companies directly for the most accurate information. Once you pick your provider, you must choose between a prepaid or a post-paid service plan. The advantage of prepaid mobile service, provided by LIME and Digicel, is that there is no monthly fee, contractual commitment or deposit. The disadvantage is that you will pay approximately .05¢ more per minute for calling times (rates vary depending on the time of day and whether you call during the week or weekend). However, to get prepaid service you simply need to purchase electronic top-ups as needed to add calling credit to your phone number. Top-ups are available online, at ATM's, at 24-hour kiosks and at locations such as gas stations and supermarkets equipped with top-up terminals. Check with your chosen provider for the list of top-up options they offer. The advantage of a post-paid plan is that by purchasing a bundle of minutes on a monthly basis, the cost per minute is less. Some pricing plans offer lower rates on international calls by including them in your bundled minutes. These plans are especially geared to the resident who calls abroad often. Plans are available to share minutes with other people and to set up calling circles to reduce calling costs to people within the circle.
When you sign up for mobile service, be sure to inquire about roaming services and applicable rates if you plan to do a lot of travelling and use your phone while you are away. All providers offer roaming so that people can reach you on your local cellular phone number while you are abroad.
Before you rely on using your existing phone in Cayman, it is advisable to check that it is compatible with the Islands' networks. In most instances, you should be able to insert a new SIM card, turn the phone on and use it. You can call your home provider and ask if your phone works in the Cayman Islands. If not, you can easily buy a new phone on-Island for a reasonable price.
Overview of Provider's Mobile Services
Both Digicel and LIME's mobile service covers all three Islands and each has worldwide roaming agreements with other carriers. They also both do per-second billing, itemised billing, flat monthly fees for bundled minutes, roll-over minutes on post-paid plans and support Blackberry service.
Digicel offers a closed-user-group (CUG), which allows customers to call from a fixed line to company mobiles or mobile to mobile for a flat monthly fee. They also offer dropped call compensation and "Call Me" which allow customers to send an SMS text call request to another Digicel subscriber when their prepaid account total is less than CI$1. For business customers, Digicel can customise a mobile package tailored to the size of the business and number of employees involved.
LIME has a plan called AllTalk, which gives mobile customers 6,000 minutes of talk-time each month for CI$40 a month (equivalent of three hours per day). Calls can be made to any other LIME landline or mobile anywhere in the Caribbean. They also offer a "Gim$5" service for prepaid plans through which they will advance you CI$5 to top-up your phone until you can go and pay for it.
Internet Providers
All four providers offer broadband internet service, whether via a traditional fixed line network (LIME), a fibre optic network in George Town and to Seven Mile Beach (TeleCayman), or via a wireless service (Digicel, WestTel and TeleCayman to the rest of the Island). Bandwidths vary depending on whether for residential or business, from as low as 512Kb to a high of 100Mb (upload and download times). They also offer unlimited internet usage, free modems and 24/7 customer support. An internet security computer protection add-on is available from LIME and Digicel for a low monthly fee.
Cellular mobile internet service, which provides access to mobile email, web-browsing and online updates using a mobile phone or PDA, is also available from Digicel and LIME. In addition, all mobile providers offer PC cards, which give full mobile internet service on a laptop computer. Visit local mobile providers' stores or websites for details.
Overview of Provider's Internet Services
Internet Access Plans
LIME
Residential broadband plans: (download/upload rates per month based on one year contract.)
Mega: 1Mb/256Kb for CI$25
Mega Plus: 2Mb/512Kb for CI$44
Mega Boost: 3Mb/512Kb for CI$59
Mega Max: 4Mb/512Kb for CI$84
A CI$15 discount per month per plan has been applied to the above rates based on a customer having a LIME post-paid mobile plan.
You can get 10% off the monthly broadband rate when you sign up for a Home Plan (residential fixed line service). Mobile bundle discounts cannot be combined with the Home Plan discount. Month-to-month (or no contract) rates are also available. At no additional cost, all plans include: 25Mb email box size, modem, HotSpot access, spam and virus blocker and 24/7 customer support. There is a CI$60 service charge for new customers, downgrades and moves.
DIGICEL
Broadband access for businesses and individuals is offered through their broadband wireless network. Just visit one of their stores and pick up a wireless modem. Non-business customers have the option of a prepaid broadband internet plan which offers four service packages (see below). Rates vary depending on whether you buy a one day or three month package. They also have a 24/7 customer care hotline and technical support centre for help. Installation is free and no deposit is required. You just need to purchase the wireless modem which costs CI$49.
Pay as you surf plan. Prepaid boadband rates are as follows:
1 day CI$5
1 week CI$15
1 month CI$49
3 months CI$120
TeleCayman focuses on providing businesses with a broad range of data services, including broadband, dedicated internet, international networking, disaster recovery and point-to-point connections. Its network can provide bandwidth ranging from standard 6Mbs broadband to more than 100Mbs. Although their focus is business, TeleCayman does provide residential internet service. This is bundled with telephone service and is designed for the home office. They can also provide email accounts as well as anti-spam and virus protection.
Monthly residential broadband packages download rates:
Home Office: 1,200 minutes and 512kbps for CI$110
Installation: CI$99 (one-time fee)
Their latest pricing for business and residential rates can be found at www.telecayman.com.
WestTel offers a mobile broadband "Plug and Surf" plan for internet and telephone service. Customers choose a package, pick up a unit from the WestTel/WestStar offices at Governors Square on West Bay Road, plug it in at home and start surfing the internet. The minimum contract is six months but there is no installation fee, no deposit and no telephone line required, only a modem.
Broadband plans: (download/upload rates in kbits and cost per month)
Bronze Plan: 512/256 for CI$40
Silver Plan: 1024/512 for CI$50
Gold Plan: 1546/512 for CI$69
They also have two business internet packages which have download/upload rates of 2.5Mb/1.5Mb for CI$125 per month or 4Mb/1Mb for CI$139 per month. There is an installation fee of CI$199.
Providers' Contacts
LIME
Galleria Plaza, West Bay Road or Anderson Square, George Town
Tel: (345) 949 7800, Customer Care: 811
Directory Assistance: 411
Email: cs@candw.ky
www.time4lime.com
Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm
Anderson Square, Downtown George Town
Open Monday-Saturday, 8.15am-5pm
Digicel
Cayman Financial Center
3rd Fl, 36A Dr. Roy's Drive, 3rd Floor,
George Town, Grand Cayman
or Suite 3106, 45 Market Street
Gardenia Court, Camana Bay
Corporate office: (345) 623 3444
Customer Care from Digicel mobile: 100
Customer Care (while roaming): (345) 326 0000 (voicemail) or 623 3444 (help)
Email: caycustomercare@digicelgroup.com
www.digicelcayman.com
TeleCayman
Corporate Centre, 4th Floor, Hospital Road
Tel: (345) 769 1000 Fax: (345) 769 0999
Email: ask@telecayman.com
WestTel
Governors Square, West Bay Road
Tel: (345) 745 5555 Fax: (345) 743 3333
Email: info@westtel.ky
Phone Repairs
Cellular World
Mirco Centre, North Sound Road
Tel: (345) 945 2355 Fax: (345) 946 2355
Email: dennis@cellularworldky.com
(you can also buy phones here)
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