Telecommunications in Belize dates back to 1902, when a manual line linked Belize City with Consejo Village in the Corozal District in the Northern region of the country. Since then Digi has grown from a small company to Belize’s largest nationalized telecommunications company, providing the latest in cutting edge technology by deploying and maintaining its high quality networks.
On August 24, 2018, the company underwent a Brand revamped and is today marketed under its new brand Digi. Digi is a significant step forward in the company’s evolution, redefining its National company identity, driving change and shaping the future of communications. The new brand signals the company’s revitalized aim to continue delivering on the promise of the digital world in a manner that is simple, reliable and affordable – exactly what customers demand.
Today, the services and products provided by Digi are vast and varied and distinguished by efficiency, quality and advanced technology. The company has expanded its mission to go beyond just providing telephone service to providing telecommunications solutions for its residential, business and government customers.
Digi operates an extensive network of telecommunication services in wireline, mobile, data, Internet and value added features. Each offers a full range of products and services that include fixed line telephone service, fixed wireless, national and international mobile services, high speed data services, national and international data networks, and innovative new business solutions.
Important Dates in BTL’s History
1902 |
A manual wireline links Belize City with Consejo Village in the Corozal District. |
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1956 |
Cable & Wireless, Plc, a British firm, introduces the first telephone system in Belize with international radio-telephone links. |
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1963 |
The Government of Belize gives Cable & Wireless a license for telecommunications services. C&W installs a 1,000 line step-by-step dial office in Belize City with access to international service using high frequency radio circuits. |
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1972 |
By Ordinance No. 22, the government established Belize Telecommunications Authority (BTA) as a statutory board with duties to operate, maintain and administer the national telecommunication services, and to regulate, control and plan all other internal and external telecommunication services. |
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1975 |
BTA begins operating regional services to Mexico and Central America. |
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1987 |
On December 13, C&W and BTA merge to form Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL). On December 30, the government vests the assets of BTA to BTL. |
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1988 |
On January 1, BTL was granted a 15 year exclusive license to operate the telecommunication services in Belize |
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2001 |
Carlisle Holdings Ltd. Increases its BTL shareholdings to 52 percent. The company commits to a $50 million investment in GSM cellular infrastructure. |
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2002 |
The company constructed a GSM Network Nationwide, with capital expenditure amounting to $60 million |
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2003 |
Carlisle Holdings Ltd., announces its intent to sell its interest to the Government of Belize. |
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2004 |
On April 1, the Government of Belize acquires Carlisle Holding's BTL shares, and then immediately sells those shares, together with other Government BTL shareholdings, to Innovative Communication Corporation LLC. As a result of these transactions, on April 1 st, 2004 Innovative owned 83.7 percent of BTL. |
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2005 |
On February 9, following the failure of ICC to pay for 52% of the shares acquired from the Government of Belize, the Government took-back and subsequently re-sold those 52% shares to a number of private entities. At March 2005, BTL was providing over 100,000 cellular lines, 35,000 fixed lines, and a wide variety of additional services including national and international data circuits, together with high speed internet using wireless and fixed line solutions. |
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2007 |
On May 29, with the coming into force of the Belize Telecommunications Undertaking (Belize Telecommunications Limited Operations) Vesting Act on May 29th 2007 (the “Act”), all the goodwill properties, assets, obligations and rights of Belize Telecommunications Limited were transferred to Belize Telemedia Limited. |
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2009 |
On August 25, by virtue of an Act of Legislature of Belize, the Government of Belize became the owner of the majority of the shares in Belize Telemedia Limited. The remaining shares are owned by 908 small shareholders. |
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2011 |
In September, the General Sales Tax of 12.5% was removed from all Internet services for both fixed and mobile services. |
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2012 |
On January 20, BTL Executives took evolutionary steps towards bringing the fastest mobile network to Belize, when they signed a contract with world renowned telecommunications giant Ericsson, for the provision of an advanced mobile cellular network that offers 4G services to DigiCell customers across the Country. |
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2013 |
On April 30, all users of Internet services were given full and open access to VOIP based services and applications in Belize thus, closing the digital divide. |
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2014 |
On Tuesday April 28, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and Belize Communications Workers’ Union (BCWU) officially signed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that signaled BTL’s commitment to investing in the company’s human resources. The company undertook a major structural reorganization in July 2014 and launched the Culture Change Initiative with these changes focusing on our internal and external customers at all times.
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2015 |
On October 8, 2015 BTL announced its installation of six (6) additional network filler sites countrywide and a newly erected cell site in Hopkins which provided increased capacity and better 4G coverage and services. These changes in the way the company does business paid off significantly with improved performance and record operating earnings of $157.1 million – as well as much improved profits of $22.1 million in 2015/2016.
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2016 |
After partnering with Huawei Technologies, on December 16, 2016 BTL formally launched its revolutionary, brand-new 4G LTE Advanced Network under the DigiCell mobile banner. The roll out of the pilot phase of BTL’s Hypernet, fiber based broadband project, the first step in the eventual replacement of the aging copper network that will allow for world class speeds and quality for broadband, telephone and eventually video services has also been completed.
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2017 |
On August 1, 2017 BTL formally launched its state of the art Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Network DigiNet in San Pedro. BTL partnered with Microsoft 365 and became a Microsoft Silver Cloud Solution Provider reselling services. In 2017 BTL announced its installation of seventeen (17) new 4G LTE sites countrywide to provide improved coverage with a total of 127 cell sites. |
| 2018 |
On March 20, 2018 DigiCell, BTL Mobile Brand, launched its feature packed DigiGo App for PrePaid customers. On August 24, 2018 the company announced its brand revamp and introduced its new brand Digi which will replace BTL in the market. |
| 2019 |
Digi’s Fiber to the home broadband connectivity coverage increased to 90% of all homes & businesses countrywide. Over 2,000 kilometers of fiber was deployed, and more than 30,000 broadband customers were connected to DigiNet. In 2019 Digi launched four state of the art retail stores including the Signature Store in Belize City, and the newly modernized retail stores in Orange Walk, San Pedro and Belmopan. Digi launched DigiLearn, a program that allows teachers and students to collaborate online via a 500Mbps DigiNet connection FREE of charge under the company’s Internet for Schools Program. Businesses also saw the implementation of new services including:
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| 2020 |
Digi tripled its Fiber Internet speeds to meet customer demands and ensure that we maintained our dominance in the fixed broadband market. Digi introduced its Queuing Management System to reduce customer wait time and to capture relevant data to better manage and improve in-store traffic and experience. Digi launched the Safe Cities Project with the Belize Police Department to support the fight against crime using innovative technology. |