Digicel rival C&W says Liberty deal would add clout

Cable & Wireless yesterday said a deal with billionaire John Malone’s Liberty Global would help both companies add scale in a high-growth, low-penetration region for smartphones and broadband connections.

The company, which has assets in Latin America and the Caribbean, last month announced it is in talks to be acquired by Liberty Global. Cable & Wireless is seeking more than $5.5bn (€5.03bn) to strike a deal, people familiar with the discussions have said.

Denis O’Brien’s Digicel telecoms firm has identified Cable & Wireless as its key competitor in its main Caribbean markets. It may face increased competition in the Caribbean if Liberty — which also owns UPC-Virgin Media and TV3 here — were to buy Cable & Wireless.