Jamaican mobile telecommunications operator Digicel Jamaica has signed a contract with the Chinese telecom equipment provider ZTE to buy its full turn-key solution for the first phase deployment of a 2.5GHz mobile WiMAX network.

This is reportedly a part of Digicel Jamaica's USD22.7 billion investment project.

Under the agreement, ZTE will install a nationwide network that will cross all 14 administrative regions of Jamaica, covering 60% population of the country.

Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, said they are delighted to build the country's first nationwide WiMAX network in partnership with ZTE. ZTE's leading product solutions and world-class technology experts will help the company ensure that Digicel Broadband provides the best coverage, the best value and the best service in the wireless broadband market in Jamaica.

Prior to this, ZTE and Digicel jointly developed the world's first low-cost solar mobile phone in February 2009.

As one of the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean, Digicel made revenue of USD1.73 billion during its 2008 fiscal year end March 31, 2009. By the end of March 2009, Digicel had gained over two million users in Haiti and Jamaica.