A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 3 June to Sunday 9 June 2013.

Monday, 3 June 2012

Digicel launches nation’s first HSPA+ network

Anguilla – Wireless operator Digicel Anguilla has announced the launch of a nationwide HSPA+ network, which the pan-Caribbean group dubs ‘4G’…  more

e-Government to participate in first ever Bahamas Real Estate Inter-island Webinar and Conference

Bahamas – Brokers, agents, appraisers and developers will gather throughout the archipelago to participate in the first ever Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) Inter-island Webinar & Conference scheduled for June 4 at the Balmoral Club… more

Belize to Host Internet Exchange Point Forum

Belize – Internet in Belize is still the most expensive and among the slowest in the entire Caribbean region, according to a 2013 survey of Caribbean Internet Service Providers (ISPs)… more

Telecoms ask Medina to repeal the 10% tax levied since 2004

Dominican Republic – Executives of the country’s major telecoms went Monday to the National Palace to ask the government’s repeal the 10% temporary tax on their services levied since 2004… more

Haiti – Education : Launching of the Unit of Information Technology and Communication in Education

Haiti – Last week, at the Royal Oasis hotel in Petion-ville, in the presence of technical and financial partners, of technical and departmental directors of the ministry, the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) has proceeded to the launching of the Unit of Information Technology and Communication in Education (UTICE) and of Working Group on ICTs, two initiatives that contribute to the implementation of the Operational Plan for the education sector… more

Hats Off To The Our, Paulwell

Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir, I applaud the work of the minister of science, technology, energy and mining… more

Jamaica, Lots to be Earned from Mobile Apps

Jamaica – The Hon. Julian Robinson, Jamaica’s State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, said there is room for the island’s young innovators to benefit tremendously from the growing mobile applications market around the globe… more

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Cable Bahamas Gets People Talking With Sigma Systems

Bahamas – Sigma Systems, the leader in catalog-driven service fulfillment solutions, announced today that Cable Bahamas, a leading communications provider and first to offer Triple Play services to the Bahamas, has deployed the Sigma Systems Provisioning Solutions for the fulfillment of its residential voice services throughout Nassau, Grand Bahamas, Abaco and Eleuthera… more

Much to be earned from mobile app — Robinson

Jamaica – MINISTER of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Julian Robinson has said that there is room for the island’s young innovators to benefit tremendously from the growing mobile applications market around the globe… more

ECTEL publishes update regarding release of 700MHz spectrum

Regional – Regional telecoms watchdog the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), which currently comprises five nations – the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – has published an update on the process for the release of 700MHz spectrum in ECTEL member states… more

Griffith announces new tech-based initiatives

Trinidad & Tobago – Security measures to protect against cyber-crimes, ICT (information and communications technology)-based community access centres located around the nation and the introduction of a third mobile service provider are just a few of the initiatives being spearheaded this year by the Ministry of Science and Technology and its related agencies… more

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

BTC plans aggressive franchise store rollout

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is embarking on an aggressive schedule to expand its retail footprint throughout The Bahamas, with the opening of several franchise stores… more

BTC Targets 12 NP Franchises By Year’s End

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is aiming to have 12 franchise stores in New Providence by year-end, with its projected investment in the nationwide roll-out totalling $2.5-$3 million… more

Cable ‘On Hook’ For $8m Over Us Deals

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas and its shareholders are ‘on the hook’ to lose almost $8 million if the Government refuses to approve the company’s acquisitions of three Florida-based communications providers… more

E-Gov’t Sees 200 User Rise Monthly

Bahamas – INTERNATIONAL clients have been the biggest users of the Government’s on-line real property tax (RPT) payment service, a senior official telling Tribune Business yesterday there were 5,000 registered users of the e-government portal… more

CCT announces layoffs as part of reorganisation

British Virgin Islands – Mobile phone provider CCT Global Communications sent termination letters to an undisclosed number of employees Monday as part of a move to strengthen the company’s prospects in a competitive marketplace, an official said… more

Telecoms, Gangnam Style

British Virgin Islands – Attendees to a presentation marketing the “new and improved” Telecommunications Regulatory Commission last Thursday first had to walk past an archway made of balloons as an event photographer outside the Maria’s by the Sea conference room snapped away… more

Internet access expanded in Cuba

Cuba – The 118 new locations now available in Cuba for public access to the Internet were ready to offer services as of Tuesday, an official of the Telecommunications Company of Cuba SA (ETECSA) said… more

Jamaican in Wisconsin pleads guilty to involvement in Lottery Scam

Jamaica – A Jamaican national pleaded guilty  in the US state of Wisconsin, to a federal charge that he swindled at least US$35 thousand  from more than 50 people, as part of the Jamaica Lottery Scam… more

LIME to make ‘major announcement’ via social media

Jamaica – LIME Jamaica says CEO Gary Sinclair will make a “major announcement” tomorrow, June 6, during an online broadcast via the company’s Facebook and Livestream pages… more

Thursday, 6 June 2013

Fight Continues Against Cyber Crime

Barbados – Barbados is determined to win the fight against Cyber Crime! … more

Old phones wanted to give women in crisis a new voice

Cayman Islands  – The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the islands’ only refuge for women in abusive situations, where they can find safety and sanctuary, is calling on the community to help give its clients a new voice with their old phones… more

‘Cybercrimes Act Hard To Understand’

Jamaica – AGREEING with fellow legislators and some legal technicians that the Cybercrimes Act is complex and can be difficult for persons to understand, Julian Robinson yesterday said it might be necessary to simplify the legislation… more

Digicel promises big announcement after LIME call rate cut

Jamaica – Telecommunications company, Digicel has responded to today’s announcement of new mobile call rates by it’s competitor LIME… more

Hackers, beware! – Higher fines coming for cybercrime

Jamaica – SUGGESTIONS for an increase in the fines and penalties under the 2010 Cybercrimes Act, now being reviewed by a joint parliamentary committee, are to be taken on board… more

LIME reduces rates to $2.99 per minute

Jamaica – Telecommunications company LIME Jamaica has announced a new Talk EZ plan at $2.99 per minute for calls to all local networks and to Canada, US and UK landlines… more

Digicel Launches the New Blackberry Q10 Smartphone in the Caribbean, El Salvador and Panama

Regional – Digicel today launched the new BlackBerry® Q10 smartphone powered by BlackBerry® 10 in the Caribbean, El Salvador and Panama… more

Friday, 7 June 2013

Possible solution to Antigua gaming dispute may be in sight – Spencer

Antigua & Barbuda – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is encouraged by talks with United States Vice President Joe Biden about the prospects in the cross border gaming dispute between the two countries… more

Building Bandwidth In Belize?

Belize – Last night 7News showed you that forum which the Public Utilities Commission organized in collaboration with the international, Non-Profit organization Packet Clearing House… more

How to Produce Internet Bandwidth In House

Belize – And while Mexico and Belize foster better trade ties, the PUC wants to create an ICT environment where internet based companies can thrive in Belize… more

CCT announces layoffs as part of ‘reorganisation’; minister slams cellcos’ attitudes

British Virgin Islands – CCT Global Communications, a telecoms operator based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), has sent termination letters to an undisclosed number of employees this week as part of a move to strengthen the company’s prospects in a competitive marketplace, an official has confirmed… more

Digicel achieves Cisco Gold certification in the Caribbean, Panama and El Salvador

Jamaica – TELECOMS giant Digicel announced this week that it has received Cisco Gold Certification, meeting rigorous standards set by the technology company in networking competency, service, support and customer satisfaction… more

It’s $2.99 From LIME – Telecoms Company Rolls Out New Flat Calling Rate Ahead Of Competitor

Jamaica – LIME has fired the first salvo in the latest price war gripping the telecommunications sector, announcing yesterday a sharp 60 per cent cut in its call rate, or $2.99 for prepaid mobile customers calling any network in Jamaica, the United States, Canada, and landlines in the United Kingdom… more

LIME slashes prepaid calling rates

Jamaica – LIME slashed the rate it charges prepaid customers to make calls to other networks from $6.99 to $2.99 a minute Wednesday at midnight… more

Saturday, 8 June 2013

– nil –

Sunday, 9 June 2013

ICT as an enabler of growth and development

Jamaica – ABOUT two weeks ago, I delivered my contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament. It was my second such presentation as minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, at which time, I presented Jamaica’s first National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Roadmap… more

LIME, Red River touts PBX system as cost saver

Jamaica – LIME has a solution to reduce communication costs for businesses: its PBX system… more

Microsoft’s thrust in T&T

Trinidad & Tobago – In the last calendar year, Hernán Rincón, president of Microsoft Latin America, estimates that he has spent 148 nights in hotels and 30 nights on airplanes… more

TSTT staff come up with big ideas

Trinidad & Tobago – Great ideas can come from anywhere and that was the approach used by TSTT when the company launched its Ideation Challenge for employees and announced the results of winners recently… more

 

Image credit:  RambergMediaImages (flickr)

___________