Telecom Company FLOW Announces Price Increase

Telecommunications company FLOW has issued an advisory informing customers of a rate increase for some of its cable, telephone and Internet services effective June 1. 

FLOW says the price adjustment will only affect its non-advanced video service customers who subscribe to the Watch Starter and add-on packages as well as customers with broadband and telephone services. 

Those customers will pay increases ranging from $25 to $1,104.

In an advisory to its customers, FLOW, which was recently bought by Cable and Wireless, said the increase comes after "careful consideration" and "could not be avoided". 

The company pointed out that the last increase took place in 2013. 

In addition, FLOW says it is faced with rising operating costs, particularly a 12 per cent devaluation of the Jamaican Dollar over the last two years against the benchmark US currency. 

It explains that the devaluation has caused "direct and significant impact" on its business as it incurs 80 to 90 per cent of its costs in US dollars. 

According to the company, it has kept price adjustments below the national inflation rate despite the competitive business and economic environment. 

In March, Cable and Wireless Communications, the operators of LIME in Jamaica completed its purchase of Columbus International Inc, who are the operators of FLOW in the region. 

Last week, the Cable and Wireless announced that LIME will adopt the name FLOW.