LIME (telecommunications company)

{{Short description|Caribbean telecommunications company}} {{Infobox company | name = LIME | logo = LIME logo.png | logo_size = 88px | type = | founded = 3 November 2008 | defunct = 7 May 2015<ref>{{cite web |title=LIME brand axed, Flow elevated in unfolding telecoms merger |url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20150508/lime-brand-axed-flow-elevated-unfolding-telecoms-merger |website=Jamaican Gleaner |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> | fate = | successor = | location = | key_people = | num_employees = | parent = [[Cable & Wireless Communications]] | industry = [[Mobile phone|Mobile]] [[telecommunications]] | products = | owner = | homepage = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225054848/http://www.lime.com/en/diaspora/home-international |date=2015-12-25|title=Archived official website }} }}

'''LIME''', an acronym for 'Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment', was a communications provider owned by the [[United Kingdom|British]] based [[Cable & Wireless Communications]] for its operations in [[Anguilla]], [[Antigua & Barbuda]], [[Barbados]], [[British Virgin Islands]], [[Cayman Islands]], [[Dominica]], [[Grenada]], [[Jamaica]], [[Montserrat]], [[St. Kitts & Nevis]], [[St. Lucia]], [[St. Vincent & the Grenadines]] and [[Turks & Caicos]] in the [[Caribbean]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwc.com/nearfar/our-regions/caribbean.html |title=Cable & Wireless Communications - Caribbean |date= |publisher=Cable & Wireless Communications |accessdate=2 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406010603/http://www.cwc.com/nearfar/our-regions/caribbean.html |archive-date=6 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The company formed from the integrated businesses of Cable & Wireless in the Caribbean which adopted the LIME name on 3 November 2008.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/7178|title=SKNVibes {{!}} Time to 'LIME' at Cable & Wireless|website=www.sknvibes.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> LIME operated as the native, incumbent telecommunications service provider in many of the islands where they reside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/telecommunications/Cable_*_Wireless_,Barbados,_Limited-LIME_,Barbados, |title=Cable & Wireless (Barbados) Limited |author=Business News America |accessdate=2 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904143045/http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/telecommunications/Cable_%2A_Wireless_%2CBarbados%2C_Limited-LIME_%2CBarbados%2C |archivedate= 4 September 2009 }}</ref>

The company also operated mobile telecommunications under the ''b''mobile brand from 2003 until rebranding them as LIME in 2008.<ref name=":0" /> Competitors include [[Digicel]] (largest mobile competitor).

Cable & Wireless Communications, LIME's parent company, also owns a 49% share in [[Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago|TSTT]] in [[Trinidad & Tobago]] and a 49% share in [[BaTelCo (Bahamas)|BaTelCo]] in [[The Bahamas]].

The company was the only authorized carrier licensed by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] to sell [[iPhone]]s under contract, as well as being the only approved carrier for use (by Apple) in the English-speaking Caribbean. This was obtained in 2011 after Claro's exit from the Jamaican market.

In 2015, LIME's parent company acquired Columbus Communications and decided to adopt the brand name [[FLOW (brand)|FLOW]] for its consumer-facing business, replacing the LIME name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/CWC-gives-LIME-the-boot--rebrands-to-Flow_18900497|title=CWC gives LIME the boot, rebrands to Flow|last=|first=|date=8 May 2015|website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> As of May 2016, the LIME name was fully discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Caribbean Telecoms Market Statistics and Analyses 2019 - ResearchAndMarkets.com|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/caribbean-telecoms-market-statistics-analyses-192700588.html|access-date=2020-02-25|website=Yahoo Finance|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Services== * International and domestic voice telephone services; * Data/IP services such as ADSL, Frame, or ISDN; * Mobile/Wireless services including 3G, 4G across smartphone platforms such as Samsung and Apple. * Other services including satellite-based communications and television services for select countries.

==Background== {{Main|ConTel Corporation (Continental Telephone)}} The history of Cable & Wireless' network build-out in the Caribbean region dates back to the 1880s. In recent times the West Indies unit has been considered 'key' in global revenue turnover.

[[File:BMobile BVI headquarters.jpg|thumb|right|''b''mobile's headquarters in the BVI.]] ''b''mobile won one of the three franchises to offer cellular telephone services in the [[British Virgin Islands]] in 2007.<ref>[http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2723 BVI Platinum news, 26 May 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116043410/http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2723 |date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> However, rival operator [[Digicel]] issued court proceedings against the British Virgin Islands regulator, arguing that he had acted improperly by imposing a limit of three licenses (one of which was awarded to a local cable television company and has not been exercised). ''b''mobile was joined to the suit as an interested party. High Court Judge Rita Joseph-Olivetti found in favour of Digicel and quashed the original decision,<ref>[http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2713 BVI Platinum News, 25 May 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116043405/http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2713 |date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> which had been controversial.<ref>[http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2695 BVI Platinum news, 23 May 2007] and [http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2782 BVI Platinum news, 4 June 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116043400/http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2695 |date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> However, despite the court's ruling, Digicel received a license to operate in the Territory in 2008. Digicel lost separate proceedings against [[Cable & Wireless Worldwide|Cable and Wireless]] (as ''b''mobile's parent company) in the [[Courts of England and Wales|English courts]], claiming that Cable & Wireless has unfairly stifled competition in several Caribbean jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=BBCCaribbean.com {{!}} Phone fight erupts over Caribbean|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fcaribbean%2Fnews%2Fstory%2F2007%2F07%2F070719_phonewars.shtml|access-date=2020-09-03|website=BBC}}</ref> During the intervening period, ''b''mobile has obtained a virtual stranglehold on the [[Communications on the British Virgin Islands|cellular telecommunications market in the British Virgin Islands]] by a combination of low prices and aggressive advertising, as well as significant investment in infrastructure and technology.<ref>[http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2822 BVI Platinum news, 8 June 2007] and [http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2959 BVI Platinum news, 25 June 2007] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116042618/http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?page=article&aid=2822 |date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref>

=== Cable & Wireless plc regional profits === In 2005 according to the 2005 Cable & Wireless plc annual report:

* United Kingdom turnover: £1,602 million * Caribbean turnover: £550 million * Panama turnover: £257 million * Macau turnover: £117 million * [[Monaco Telecom]] turnover: £100 million * Rest of the World turnover: £167 million * Figures are from the financial report released to its shareholders the current listed financial breakdown for CWPLC is aforementioned by regional business segment.

In March 2010 the Cable & Wireless plc split into [[Cable & Wireless Worldwide]] plc (now a subsidiary of [[Vodafone]]) and [[Cable & Wireless Communications]] plc (now a subsidiary of [[Liberty Latin America]]).<ref>[http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/liberty-global-splits-caribbean-and-latin-american-arm Liberty Global splits off Caribbean and Latin American arm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109174605/http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/liberty-global-splits-caribbean-and-latin-american-arm |date=2021-01-09 }}, January 3, 2018, Loop Jamaica News</ref> LIME had prior became a subsidiary of C&W Communications.<ref>[https://www.liquidafrica.com/liberty-latin-america-sells-cable-wireless-seychelles/ Liberty Latin America Sells Cable & Wireless Seychelles], November 6, 2019, Liquid Africa.</ref>

In November 2014, the brand's parent company, Cable & Wireless Communications announced its merger with [[Columbus Communications]]. The merger has since become a hot button in the region especially since the company's largest competitor, [[Digicel]] lacks sufficient fixed line voice and data capability. This would make the amalgamated entity hold a monopoly on such services. The merger, despite being green lit by key markets such as Jamaica, is still being awaited regulatory approval by other markets.

In April 2015, it was announced that the brand was to be retired in favor of the name [[Flow (brand)|FLOW]] in Summer 2015, which was the customer-facing brand name of the [[Columbus Communications]]. Reasons cited by the company for the name change were results from an independent study which indicated that customers perception of LIME's brand was that of lackluster customer service and at times, spotty service. The study also found FLOW's to be much more positive and all round well received. This name change will occur across all the markets in which Cable & Wireless Communications operates as LIME.

==See also== * [[ECFS (cable system)]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.lla.com/who-we-are}} * [https://www.discoverflow.co/ Flow] * [http://www.cwc.com Cable & Wireless Communications]

[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2008]] [[Category:Telecommunications companies disestablished in 2015]] [[Category:2008 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:Liberty Latin America]] [[Category:Mobile phone companies of the Caribbean]]