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                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

PRESS RELEASE

                        TRICOM ANNOUNCES GROWTH PLAN AND
                           PROVIDES FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

         -- ANNOUNCES 2001 AND 2002 REVENUE AND EBITDA FORECAST; CAPITAL
            SPENDING SAVINGS IMPACTING FUTURE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS --

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - December 12, 2001 -- TRICOM (NYSE:TDR), a
leading integrated communications provider in the Dominican Republic, and a
facilities-based long distance carrier in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, today
provided financial guidance for the year 2001 and 2002. The financial guidance
reflects the Company's current sales forecast, significant savings in its
capital expenditure plans, and lower funding requirements going forward.

The Company expects 2001 revenues to grow 9 percent over 2000 levels to
approximately $240 to $245 million. Excluding revenues from Telecable ("TCN'"),
its recently acquired cable TV operations, the Company anticipates revenues of
approximately $280 to $290 million in 2002, a more than 16 percent rate of
growth. Revenue growth will be driven by expected strong local service and
wireless customer additions, higher average customer revenue, as well as the
continued expansion of its data service offering, as customers continue to
migrate to higher speeds and more advanced solutions.

TRICOM expects full-year 2001 EBITDA to reach approximately $85 to $90 million.
Excluding its cable TV operations, the Company anticipates 2002 EBITDA to grow
approximately 20 percent in the range of $105 to $115 million. A growing
customer base, solid average customer revenues, and the benefits of a larger
scale of operations is expected to drive EBITDA growth in the coming year. TCN
is expected to contribute additional revenues of approximately $25 to $30
million, and EBITDA in the range of $8 to $10 million in 2002. On a consolidated
basis, TRICOM expects revenues to reach approximately $305 to $320, and EBITDA
in the range of $108 to $120 million in 2002.

The Company expects capital expenditures of $125 to $130 million in 2001, and
approximately $70 to $80 million in 2002, a 40 percent decrease from this year.
In 2001, the Company implemented a capital budget reduction program matching
funding requirements to cash flow generation. By maximizing the utilization of
its existing fixed assets and focusing on improving service quality in existing
service areas, the Company has been able to curtail its next five years capital
expenditures by close to $150 million. The Company believes that the capital
expenditure savings will be realized without affecting growth prospects. The
Company has also cut back on the deployment of its Central American iDEN
network, focusing solely on Panama in the foreseeable future,
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and does not anticipate capital expenditures for expansion into other areas in
Central America in 2002.

TRICOM's funding requirements in 2002 are expected to be in the range of $15 to
$25 million. TCN is currently expected to be free cash flow breakeven in 2002
and its funding requirements' going forward are internally funded. TRICOM plans
to meet its funding needs with its cash position and through borrowing capacity
under its existing credit facilities. Given the significant savings in capital
expenditures, and reduced funding requirements going forward, the Company
believes it is fully funded and on track to have positive free cash flow in
2004.

ABOUT TRICOM

TRICOM (www.tricom.net) is a regional telecommunications provider in the U.S.,
Caribbean and Central America. In the Dominican Republic we offer local, long
distance, cable TV entertainment, mobile telephony, as well as broadband data
transmission services. Through TRICOM USA, we own switching facilities in New
York, Miami and Puerto Rico, providing us with end-to-end connectivity, and are
one of the few Latin American long distance carriers that have a United States
licensed subsidiary.

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THIS STATEMENT MAY CONTAIN CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH MAY INVOLVE
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES, AND OTHER FACTORS NOT UNDER THE
COMPANY'S CONTROL, WHICH MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS
OF THE COMPANY TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE, OR
EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THOSE
DETAILED IN THE COMPANY'S PERIODIC FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.