Liberty Global Providing Free WiFi to Severely Impacted Communities in Puerto Rico
November 06 2017 - 09:00AM
Business Wire
- Puerto Rico Telecommunications
Regulatory Board and Liberty Global Leveraging Mobile WiFi Units to
Tour Areas Impacted by Hurricane Maria
Liberty Global plc ("Liberty Global" or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:
LBTYA, LBTYB, LBTYK, LILA and LILAK) is partnering with the
Government of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Telecommunications
Regulatory Board (“PRTRB”) on a mobile WiFi Tour providing free
Internet to communities throughout Puerto Rico most severely
impacted by Hurricane Maria. Liberty Global operates two telecoms
businesses in the Caribbean region, LCPR and Cable & Wireless
Communications (“CWC”), whose business covers over 20
countries.
In addition to a WiFi connection, those present can also receive
medical attention, help to fill out their federal aid applications
and hot meals. To date, more than 800 people have been cared for by
personnel from the School of Medical Sciences of the University of
Puerto Rico (UPR), while personnel for the Puerto Rico Senate and
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have helped complete
more than 1,800 federal aid applications. During the tour there
have also been over 10,000 hot meals served by Chefs for Puerto
Rico, an initiative created by renowned Spanish chef José
Andrés.
Mike Fries, Liberty Global CEO, commented: “Liberty Global’s
free WiFi Tour represents our steadfast commitment to aiding the
people of Puerto Rico at their greatest time of need with services
that have an immediate impact. I can attest first-hand to the
bravery of Puerto Ricans, and to the fierce determination of our
Liberty employees in helping restore services to our customers. I
would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Puerto Rico
Telecommunications Regulatory Board, the Government of Puerto Rico
and our collaborating partners for coming together to bring this
private enterprise and public agency partnership to life.”
Led by the Company’s Liberty Cablevision Puerto Rico (“LCPR”)
operation, the free WiFi Tour features three mobile units
specifically designed for first aid communications after a natural
disaster. The mobile units are equipped with satellite antennas
that provide Internet to the municipalities which the PRTRB
determined have the greatest telecommunications needs. The three
mobile WiFi vehicles are leading a caravan of locally provided
goodwill and services such as FEMA, banking, insurance, food,
water, medical supplies and doctors to 29 remote towns that do not
currently have internet connectivity.
Kymeta, a company Liberty Global has previously invested in
through its investment fund Liberty Global Ventures, supplied the
satellite antennas while Intelsat, a leading provider of
satellite-based data solutions, is delivering the Internet
connectivity. Kymeta offers the world’s only commercially viable
electronically-scanning satellite antennas and
terminals. Intelsat is providing high-throughput bandwidth
from its Intelsat EpicNG next-generation satellites and services,
including hubs and links, from the award-winning IntelsatOne Flex
platform.
The WiFi Tour is the latest of several substantive steps that
Liberty Global has taken to deliver humanitarian aid to the
Caribbean region in response to Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Liberty
Global has committed $1 million of funding to the Liberty
Foundation in Puerto Rico and the Cable & Wireless Charitable
Foundation, which were established to assist victims of the
hurricanes. Including this funding, a total of more than $1.8
million has been raised, with donations also coming from employees
and industry partners. In addition, Liberty Global has airlifted
and shipped emergency supplies, including water, food, personal
care items, power generators and solar light bulbs.
About Liberty Global
Liberty Global is the world’s largest international TV and
broadband company, with operations in more than 30 countries across
Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. We invest in the
infrastructure that empowers our customers to make the most of the
digital revolution. Our scale and commitment to innovation enable
us to develop market-leading products delivered through
next-generation networks that connect our 25 million customers who
subscribe to 50 million television, broadband internet and
telephony services. We also serve over 10 million mobile
subscribers and offer WiFi service across 10 million access
points.
Liberty Global’s businesses are comprised of two stocks: the
Liberty Global Group (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) for our
European operations, and the LiLAC Group (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK,
OTC Link: LILAB), which consists of our operations in Latin America
and the Caribbean.
The Liberty Global Group operates in 12 European countries under
the consumer brands Virgin Media, Unitymedia, Telenet and UPC. The
Liberty Global Group also owns 50% of VodafoneZiggo, a Dutch joint
venture, which has 4 million customers, 10 million fixed-line
subscribers and 5 million mobile subscribers. The LiLAC Group
operates in over 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
under the consumer brands VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil and BTC. In
addition, the LiLAC Group operates a sub-sea fiber network
throughout the region connecting over 40 markets.
For more information, please visit www.libertyglobal.com.
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Liberty GlobalInvestor
Relations:Oskar Nooij, +1 303 220 4218Christian
Fangmann, +49 221 8462 5151John Rea, +1 303 220 4238orCorporate Communications:Matt Beake, +44 20
8483 6428Julia Hart, +31 20 778 3345
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