This is a roundup of the ICT/technology news across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 5 December to Sunday 11 December 2011.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Digicel hails 16 per cent revenue growth
Jamaica – Regional mobile operator, Digicel, has reported that its revenues increased by 16 per cent year on year to US$1.24 billion for the six months ended September 30, 2011… more
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
BTC begins expansion with $500K flagship store
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has invested $500,000 in its new flagship store in The Mall at Marathon and embarked on a multimillion-dollar expansion of its service and retail offerings… more
BTC launches 4G network
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) officially launched its 4G network in New Providence shortly after 7 p.m. last night, with plans to expand the network’s reach to the Family Islands… more
Emergency phone line coming
Dominica – There will soon be a fully functional non-problematic emergency telephone line in place for Dominica. Government Productivity Assistance Parry Bellot has pledged that the new and improved services will be installed next year… more
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
BTC Opens New Flagship Store With 4G Launch
Bahamas –Declaring Nassau was now on par with the most advanced telecoms networks in the world, Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham figuratively flipped a switch and transformed New Providence into a world of 4G, the lightning fast speed revolutionising cellular and internet service… more
Mobile broadband evolves in Bahamas
Bahamas – Ericsson has been selected by BTC, the Bahamas subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) group, as the sole supplier of their new mobile network… more
Tele-ambulance services being introduced
Bahamas – Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis announced that the Public Hospitals Authority is very close to furthering e-health in New Providence with its tele-ambulance services, which will facilitate faster, more responsive medical assistance and hospital care to members of the public… more
MoBay call centre to create 1000 jobs
Jamaica – Minster of Industry, Investment and Commerce Christopher Tufton, has announced a major investment in Jamaica’s business process outsourcing sector… more
Thursday, 8 December 2011
BTC flagship in GB to receive boost in Q1
Bahamas – Although the 4G network is expected to launch on Grand Bahama on Dec. 12, residents can also anticipate refurbishments and updates at their own flagship store by the first quarter of next year… more
BTC promises improved service after dropped calls
Bahamas – A Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) official said yesterday that mobile phone customers who have experienced interruptions in service since the new 4G network was launched should see improvements to their phone service by the middle of this month… more
Call centre to employ 1,000 in MoBay
Jamaica – One thousand jobs will be created when the Convergys Corporation opens its first call centre in Jamaica next year, Dr Christopher Tufton, the minister of industry, investment and commerce, announced yesterday at a press briefing in Kingston… more
LIME wins third USF contract
St. Vincent & the Grenadines – LIME has signed a third successive Universal Service Fund (USF) contract with the NTRC… more
TELEM Files Injunction against SMCU
Sint Maarten – President of the St. Maarten Communication Union (SMCU) Ludson Evers told members of the media on Thursday that the St. Maarten Telecommunication Company (TELEM) filed an injunction against the union on Wednesday… more
Rethinking education Business and learning in the Digital Age
Trinidad & Tobago – For the first time, developing economies can realistically contemplate leap-frogging over traditional growth stages and constraints to accelerate development… more
Technological Injection in Service Sector
Trinidad and Tobago – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) held a two day workshop on Monday, December 5, and Tuesday, December 6, at the Radisson to discuss policy issues related to science, technology and innovation systems in the region… more
IDB hosts meeting to encourage greater broadband penetration in Latin America & Caribbean
USA – Representatives of leading international companies that provide telecommunications service, equipment and software met today with telecom experts from the Inter-American Development Bank to discuss ways of improving the regulatory framework in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to encourage greater broadband penetration and usage… more
Friday, 9 December 2011
Cuba to allow private ads in state-run yellow pages
Cuba – Cuba’s Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) has announced the recent approval of the inclusion of a section in the Yellow Pages phone book for the advertisement of services offered by the self-employed sector… more
CARICOM continues work to formulate regional broadband policy
Guyana – Officials with responsibility for information and communication technology (ICT) in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), along with development partners, are still working to fine-tune a draft implementation plan for the CARICOM regional digital development strategy (RDDS), a CARICOM release stated… more
High speed internet essential in modern society – CARICOM
Guyana – Forty percent of households in developing countries should have internet access and internet user penetration should reach 60% worldwide, 50% in developing countries and 15% in Lesser Developing Countries (LDCs), according to CARICOM… more
Jamaican software companies win big at Sage Caribbean Conference
Jamaica – At the Sage Partners Caribbean Conference held on November 6, at Hilton Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, visiting Sage executive Tom Miller expressed satisfaction with Sage’s performance in the Caribbean… more
Digicel’s revenues up 16% for 6-month period
Jamaica – Digicel, the Caribbean’s largest mobile telephone service provider with operations also in Central America and the Pacific reported strong financial performance for the six months ended September 30, 2011… more
Mobile banking roadmap laid out next week
Jamaica – A roadmap for the development of comprehensive mobile financial services system is to be laid out at a symposium on Monday, December 12, says Dr Maurice McNaughton, Director of the Centre of Excellence of the Mona School of Business (MSB), at University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona… more
Next Generation Network plans to break ground next month
US Virgin Islands – After almost losing millions in federal broadband grants and ultimately firing its president, the V.I. Next Generation Network is getting back on track and plans to break ground next month… more
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Caribbean uniquely positioned to become global leader in combating cyber security threats
Barbados – The Caribbean as a region is in a unique position to become the global leader in combating cyber security threats… more
Sunday, 11 December 2011
They made an app for that
Jamaica – Decarteret College (DC) walked away with top honours in the inaugural BlackBerry Developers Competition with an application or app, combining music with chemistry… more
Image courtesy of Gary Thomson, Flickr
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