Codetel announced it will be investing more than RD$2,000 million in the next four years to modernize its national telecommunications network. Investments this year will be RD$350 million to replace telephone centrals, and improve optic fiber installations. The Codetel optic fiber network is 1,000 kilometers long throughout the national territory. The Codetel investment will fund the doubling in size of this network within the next three years. Vice president of operations, Jose Suero said that the company is focusing its investments on an aggressive modernization program, and will be installing digital centrals in interior cities and replacing more than 300,000 wire lines in different regions. The company will continue to place cables underground in high risk areas. This practice proved its worth as most areas in the DR remained communicated during Hurricane Georges in 1998. For years, Codetel has maintained a virtual monopoly on telecommunications in the DR. This year, though, new players like Centennial Corporation and France Telecom are expected to put up some real competition. Codetel service has declined considerably in recent years opening up a breach for the new companies to attract unsatisfied consumers.
