Digicel's newly appointed general manager has led companies to success on the African continent and now he is vowing to repeat that success in Bermuda.

David Hunter said he plans to make the company the leading provider of mobile telephony services with the most subscribers in Bermuda's crowded market.

"Our long term vision is to make Digicel number one in the market, we are not yet there yet, we have a little way to go to be number one but we will do that by giving customers the products and services they are looking for," Mr. Hunter said.

His past roles include managing director for Celtel International, one of the largest mobile operators in Africa. He previously served as managing director of Celtel Sierre Leone and Telecel Zambia.

"I have grown markets in Africa over the last ten years and any of the countries I have worked in have become number one after I left and I think I can bring those same skills to Bermuda and bring us to number one.

"We are very much involved in the Telecommunications Review and Digicel have made their comments on the new legislation that is being drawn up," he added.

Mr. Hunter would not be drawn on whether Cable & Wireless' pursuit of the KeyTech acquisition in the face of opposition by Government and other service providers, creates a state of uncertainty about the future the telecommunications industry.

"We want to see the industry move forward as a whole and not being retarded," he said. "We are still being aggressive as we always have been and will not be slowing down our growth.

"Digicel will be making more inroads into the consumer market. I think we are seen very much as corporate players but we would like to be seen as both corporate and consumer market providers."

The jovial Scotsman said as companies seek to increase market share, competition will drive prices down.

Mr. Hunter said as a dynamic company, Digicel will consider any acquisitions or joint ventures that will benefit the company in the long run.

"Bermuda is more of a corporate market compared to some of the bigger markets we work in where there is more of a consumer market.

"Customers here expects customer service, new products and the latest technology, which is the not case in some of the other markets."