Digicel has fired the latest shot in the battle for market share in the liberalised telecommunications market.

Yesterday, the wireless services provider said it would offer Netflix — the provider of streaming movies and TV shows via the internet — free for up to a year for qualifying customers.

In an apparent potshot at Bermuda CableVision Ltd, Digicel Bermuda CEO Alistair Beak described cable TV services as “dated”.

Bermuda Cablevision CEO Terry Roberson responded by saying many of his company’s customers were sticking with their cable service, while also watching online services.

“Online services such as Netflix are changing the way people in Bermuda consume media,” Mr Beak said in a press statement. “As more and more individuals are moving away from dated cable TV services, we decided to offer customers the fantastic line up of movies and top TV series provided by Netflix for free when launching our combined Home internet and Access service on one bill.”

Bermuda CableVision CEO Terry Roberson agreed with Mr Beak that “online services are and will continue to change the way people globally consume media”.

He added: “There are so many new services to review and we are just as excited as Digicel is about the offerings. However, Bermuda Cablevision has been blessed in that many subscribers seem to be keeping their cable, and watching YouTube or Netflix online at the same time, because they realise that the internet cannot provide all the great programming that is available on our channel line-up.”

Digicel is offering free Netflix for six months with an internet subscription and 12 months with an internet and access subscription, with no contract. The company offers at speeds ranging from 6 Mbps to 25 Mbps. Netflix, which offers plans starting $7.99 per month, can be viewed on computers, smart TVs, tablets and mobile phones, which means it can be viewed anywhere that has an internet connection or Wi-Fi.

In addition to the Netflix offer, Digicel is offering customers a single bill for all of their internet and phone products, including home internet access, internet, home phone and mobile phone.

Bermuda CableVision, whose fibre-optic cable network is one of the distribution methods used by internet service providers (ISPs) to connect customers is these days an ISP itself as well. KeyTech Ltd, the group which owns ISP Logic Communications, has acquired a controlling interest in Bermuda CableVision Ltd.

Mr Roberson said: “We are also excited that Bermudians are going online, as our brand-new internet service is the perfect platform with one bill, one network and one provider — at a lower price.”

The result of liberalisation of the telecoms sector has has been more choice for the consumer and a fall in prices. Many in the industry believe there will be further consolidation, leading to a small number of dominant players.