cable & wireless started operating in 1982 under licence from the british government to provide international public telecommunications services on the island of diego garcia. in april 2013, the company was acquired by the batelco group, a telecommunications provider that now operates in 16 markets spanning the middle east & northern africa, europe, the south atlantic and the indian ocean. as of 19 august 2013 cable & wireless (diego garcia) limited changed name to sure (diego garcia) limited. sure international is the corporate division of the business,