{{Short description|Telecommunications company in Belize}} {{distinguish|Digicel}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = BTL (Belize Telemedia Limited) | logo = BTL LOGO.png | type = Public | foundation = 1972 (Merged with Cable and Wireless Belize in 1987) | location = Belize City, Belize | key_people = Ivan Tesecum, CEO, Mark Lizarraga, Chairman of the Board of Directors | industry = Telecommunications | num_employees = about 500 | products = Telephone, Internet, Digital TV | revenue = {{profit}} 22.1 million BZD (2015) | net_income = {{profit}} 157.1 million USD (2015) | homepage = [https://www.livedigi.com livedigi.com] }}
'''Belize Telemedia Limited''' (BTL), formerly '''Belize Telecommunications Limited''', is a telecommunications company in Belize that runs telecommunication services (wired and wireless) under the '''Digi''' brand.
== History == Established in 1972 as the Telecommunications Authority, it rapidly became Belize's leading telecommunication provider in the 1980s and 1990s.
According to ''The Guardian'', BTL was created in 1987 to create a competitor to the dominant Cable & Wireless. In 1992, Michael Ashcroft bought BTL. Ownership was 70%-transferred to the Hayward Charitable Belize Trust.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lord Ashcroft 'subjugated a nation', claims Belize prime minister|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/aug/28/michael-ashcroft-belize-telemedia-barrow|work=The Guardian|date=2009-08-28|access-date=2026-01-30|issn=0261-3077|language=en-GB|first=Michael|last=White}}</ref>
In May 2007, it changed its name from Belize Telecommunications Limited to Belize Telemedia Limited.
The wireless division of BTL is called DigiCell. In August 2009, the company was nationalized by the Government of Belize, who appropriated 94% of its shares which were previously controlled by Michael Ashcroft.<ref>http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/download/pm_intro_bill.pdf{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="7News">{{cite web|title=Government Passes Law to Takeover Telemedia|url=http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=14843|work=7 News Belize|accessdate=5 September 2013|date=24 August 2009}}</ref>
In 2016, BTL contracted Huawei to set up the country's 4G LTE mobile network. A fiber-optic submarine cable was deployed, connecting the mainland to San Pedro<ref>{{Cite web|title=Behind the network: Belize Telemedia Limited and Chinese technology|url=https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2026/01/22/behind-the-network-belize-telemedia-limited-and-chinese-technology/|website=breakingbelizenews.com|date=2026-01-22|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en-US|last=Palma|first=Zoila}}</ref>. In 2017, the company launched its Diginet offering, a superfast fiber-based internet.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Belize Telemedia Limited to debut DIGINET in San Pedro Town|url=https://www.sanpedrosun.com/community-and-society/2017/07/06/belize-telemedia-limited-debut-diginet-san-pedro-town/|website=The San Pedro Sun|date=2017-07-06|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en|first=Janelle|last=Cowo}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.livedigi.com Digi homepage]
Category:Telecommunications companies of Belize Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1972 Category:1972 establishments in British Honduras Category:1987 mergers and acquisitions
{{Belize-stub}} {{Telecom-company-stub}}