This week, Digicel announced it was closing Loop News and SportsMax, which had been a presence in the region for well over a decade. We examine this development and highlight some useful learnings for other businesses.
Earlier this week, regional telecoms giant, Digicel, has announced a significant strategic shift, moving away from its media ventures, Loop News and SportsMax, to focus on “enterprise-focused digital solutions”. This move follows their acquisition of Symptai Consulting Limited, a cybersecurity consultancy and technology advisory firm, signalling a clear pivot towards the business-to-business sector.
Loop News, a trusted news source since 2014, ceased operations immediately, marking the end of its 11 years of delivering news. SportsMax, known as the “home of champions” since 2002, will conclude its broadcast on Friday, 8 August 2025. Although SportsMax will no longer operate, Digicel has confirmed that sports content will remain accessible through other channels.
This strategic redirection will see Trend Media, another Digicel venture which operates under Digicel Business, continue and concentrate on ad tech and digital media management. Digicel Business now offers a comprehensive suite of ICT services, including cybersecurity, cloud solutions, digital media, and compliance solutions, which will be strengthened by the Symptai acquisition.
Digicel’s decision, while marking the end of significant media ventures, provides several crucial lessons for other businesses navigating a rapidly evolving digital landscape. We highlight four takeaways below.
1. Agility and adaptation to market trends
Historically, Digicel is a telecoms carrier and service provider, having deployed infrastructure across the Caribbean region and in the South Pacific, and has enjoyed considerable success since it launched operations over 25 years ago. However, the telecoms business has changed in the ensuing years. It is highly competitive and with ever-demanding consumers, resulting in it not being as profitable as it had been.
The acquisition of Symptai and the subsequent pivot demonstrate Digicel’s agility in adapting to emerging market trends, particularly the growing demand for cybersecurity and sophisticated digital business solutions, which is unlikely to slow down in the foreseeable future.
Takeaway: Businesses ought to continuously monitor the market, anticipate shifts, and be willing to transform their models to remain relevant and competitive. Sticking to old models, even if profitable in the past, can lead to stagnation.
2. The digital-first imperative
The launch of SportMax, Loop and even Trend Media would have been ways in which Digicel diversified its business, especially given the declining revenues from traditional sources. However, its move into a comprehensive suite of ICT services for enterprises underscores the pervasive “digital-first” imperative across all industries. From cybersecurity to cloud solutions, the future of business operations is increasingly digital, which Digicel appears to be actively fostering..
Takeaway: Organisations that have not yet fully embraced digital transformation across their services and internal operations risk being left behind. It also emphasises the need for continuous investment in digital infrastructure, talent, and solutions.
3. Strategic focus and specialisation
Digicel’s shift away from broad media operations towards specialised enterprise solutions exemplifies the importance of strategic focus. Loop and SportMax would not have competed with Digicel main line of business, but increasingly, media platforms worldwide have been struggling to remain viable due to declining advertising revenues, which may have contributed to the decision to close them.
In having a presence with business clients as their telecoms service provider, there would be opportunities to build on that relationship and add other services. Hence, further homing in on the needs of business clients should augur well for Digicel in the long term
Takeaway: In competitive markets, businesses can gain a significant advantage by concentrating resources on core competencies and high-growth areas. It also emphasises the value of businesses conducting regular evaluations of their portfolio to identify areas that align with future growth and market demand, even if it means divesting from previously successful ventures.
4. Leveraging acquisitions for strategic growth
The Symptai acquisition was a clear catalyst for Digicel’s new direction, by augmenting the suite of services Digicel Business offered and increasing its credibility in that space. It thus illustrates how strategic acquisitions can be used not just for market expansion but also to acquire new capabilities and accelerate a business’s pivot into new, high-value sectors.
Takeaway: Businesses should consider how mergers and acquisitions can be utilised to gain essential expertise and market positioning aligned with their long-term vision.
Digicel’s strategic realignment serves as a powerful case study for businesses and organisations across the Caribbean region. Decisive action, adaptability, and forward-thinking in the face of a dynamic market environment have resulted in opportunities to deepen its relationship with customers, whilst also allowing it to develop and focus on potentially more profitable lines of business that complement its core operations.
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