MILLER

Cable and Wireless (C&WJ) Homefone Prepaid customers will be facing an increase in their rates as of February 1.

The new rates will see customers paying an increase of 36 per cent to Cable and Wireless fixed lines for off-peak periods, and an eight per cent increase for peak periods.

This means that the rates will move from 99 cents to $1.35 for off-peak time, and from $1.25 to $1.35 for peak period.

Meanwhile, there will be a 25 per cent increase to Digicel Mobile lines for on- and off-peak periods, and a 36 per cent increase to Cable and Wireless Internet Dial-up for off-peak period, and an eight per cent increase for peak period.

"This change eliminates the off-peak rate," Errol Miller, vice-president of corporate communications and corporate affairs at Cable and Wireless, told The Gleaner in justifying the increases.

The company will also be introducing a single rate of $1.35 per minute for calls made to other C&WJ fixed lines at any time of the day, eliminating the peak and off-peak calling rates which previously applied.

The rate also applies to calls made to access dial-up Internet service.

The rate for calls to the C&WJ bmobile customers remains at $8 per minute. Meanwhile, calls to all other mobile service providers will be increased to $10 per minute.

The monthly charge for ADSL service is now US$34.95, said the telephone company.

In addition, the monthly billing cycle has been brought forward and bills will, therefore, now be generated on the first of each month, and will become due on the 15th, said the company.