Digicel Panama and Claro Panama were both awarded licenses by the government of Panama to create new cell phone networks in the country. Digicel’s $83 million bid beat out rival cellular provider Claro’s $73 million bid, which was raised at the request of Panama’s government to match Digicel’s bid for the license. The two new cell phone companies will double the options for consumers in Panama, joining the current Cable and Wireless and Movistar Panama. The new cell phone companies will increase the competitiveness of the market in Panama, and aim to fill the gap of the nearly 800,000 Panama residents without cellular phones. Digicel, which is owned by wealthy Irish businessman Denis O’Brien, is expected to have their operations running by the end of the year.
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