A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 18 November to Sunday 24 November 2013.
Monday, 18 November 2013
BTC Targeting 200,000 Monthly Website Hits
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday said it expected its new, interactive website to double monthly views to next month and achieve 5 per cent growth to 200,000 thereafter… more
BTC Unveils New Website
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has launched a new, and more powerful and highly interactive Website as another option for customers who prefer to meet their service and products needs online instead of in-line or on the ‘phone… more
TelEm Group seeking government assistance to resolve interference issues with St. Kitts and Anguilla.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group has sought the intervention of the Government of St. Maarten, and in particular the Minister of Telecommunication, Mr. Ted Richardson, to resolve an ongoing issue of frequency interference from neighbouring St. Kitts and Anguilla… more
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Cable Bahamas Seeks Pref Share Approval
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is seeking shareholder approval to “pave the way” for the issuance of two new preference share classes, as part of the financing for its $100 million Florida expansion… more
Future teachers encouraged to be proficient in technology
Bahamas – The Government has invested over $4 million to upgrade technology in schools throughout The Bahamas said Education, Science and Technology Minister Jerome Fitzgerald… more
Paulwell hopes LIME will eliminate roaming rates throughout the region
Regional – Phillip Paulwell, Minister with responsibility for the telecommunications sector, is hoping to have LIME join Digicel in eliminating roaming rates throughout the region by the end of the year… more
Digicel T&T not interested in Cable & Wireless stake; formulating LTE plan
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel Trinidad & Tobago’s CEO John Delves said in an interview with the local Guardian newspaper that the pan-Caribbean group is not interested in acquiring Cable & Wireless Communications’ (CWC’s) 49% stake in rival Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago (TSTT)… more
Puerto Rico to head Regulatel from 2014
Dominican Republic – Puerto Rico will chair the Latin American Forum of Telecommunications Regulators (Regulatel) from 2014, after Javier Rua Jovet, Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board of Puerto Rico (JRTPR), was elected to office… more
CWC joins anti-corruption group
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has joined Transparency International’s (TI) Business Integrity Forum, a group of UK companies committed to ensuring that their operations and business dealings are corruption free… more
TelEm Group upgrading Cay Hill underground network Wednesday morning
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians will be cutting over a phone cabinet from an overground network to a more secure underground network Wednesday morning causing some interruption in service to residential and commercial customers in parts of Cay Hill… more
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Antigua and Barbuda Government : Latest meeting with the USTR disappointing
Antigua and Barbuda – A delegation representing Antigua and Barbuda met with representatives from the office of the United States Trade Representative and a number of other federal agencies on 14th November 2013 in Washington, D.C. in another effort to resolve the longstanding dispute between the two countries at the World Trade Organisation involving the cross border supply of remote gaming services… more
BTC offers ‘solutions focused’ products to business customers
Bahamas – Recognizing its enterprise customers as a “very important” part of its business, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is spending millions on network upgrades and the rollout of new products… more
BTC to spend $80 million on new NGN network
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) plans to invest $80 million over a five-year period in the rollout of its Next-Generation Network (NGN), an upgrade which is intended to bring BTC’s infrastructure more up to par with telecommunications standards globally… more
Prison cellphone jamming too expensive
Cayman Islands – Officials with Cayman’s prisons service said they have tried their best to implement cell phone jamming technology at Her Majesty’s Prison, Northward, but funding concerns have blocked their efforts… more
Digicel adds Canada to ‘Roam Like You’re Home’ plan
Jamaica – Ahead of the Christmas season, Digicel has announced the extension of its revolutionary ‘Roam Like You’re Home’ mobile offer to include Canada… more
Techlink Inspiring More Innovative Technology Use
Jamaica – A NEW education initiative is seeking to change how Internet users across the Caribbean take advantage of technology… more
Caribbean needs cyber-emergency response teams, says security expert
Regional – The Caribbean must take definitive steps towards the creation and deployment of cybersecurity emergency response teams (CERTs) or run the risk of being isolated from an international tendency that is already developing at a rapid pace… more
How the Internet is rotting our memories
Regional – SCIENTISTS say they have found that growing reliance on the Internet for fact-checking and other basic information has resulted in increased levels of forgetfulness among people… more
SKN creating an information society
Saint Kitts and Nevis – St Kitts and Nevis has begun its thrust to become a fully technological society… more
Thursday, 21 November 2013
BTC touts Next Generation Network (NGN) during media tour
Bahamas – Members of the Bahamas’ Press Corp recently toured the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) hub of operations to learn about the advancement of the ongoing nation-wide build out of its Next Generation Network (NGN) and the current migration of BTC subscribers from the old 1970’s BaTelCo legacy network to the world-class, cutting edge NGN… more
Satellite Bahamas Chiefs Seek Bank Documents Block
Bahamas – Satellite Bahamas’ principals are seeking further protection from the Florida courts to block DIRECTV’s “simply irrelevant” efforts to obtain information on their bank and personal financial transactions… more
URCA rejects Cable Bahamas’ ‘unsubstantiated’ cost claims
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has rejected calls by Cable Bahamas to bear only 18 to 20 percent of an estimated $10,000 in monthly common costs associated with the implementation of fixed number portability (FNP)… more
Legal proceedings ongoing against Indotel, telcos for breaching consumer rights
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic’s Supreme Administrative Court (Second Chamber) has held the third hearing of the appeal brought by the Fundacion Prensa y Derecho (FPD – Press and Law Foundation) against the country’s telecoms watchdog the Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (Indotel) and a number of telecoms companies… more
Satellite broadband to be offered in French West Indies and French Guiana
Regional – Eutelsat Communications and CaribSat, an internet service provider, has announced the signature of a distribution agreement for the IP Easy satellite broadband service provided through the Caribbean footprint of the EUTELSAT 8 West A satellite… more
Digicel Gives Free 4G Data for Christmas
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Do you like free? How about free from Digicel? We know you do, and that’s why this Christmas, Digicel St. Kitts & Nevis is giving its Smartphone customers up to five months free 4G Data! … more
Blink Vigilance teams with Aimetis offering intelligent video technology
Trinidad and Tobago – THE fast-paced and complex nature of today’s sophisticated work environment also creates growing concerns for business risks. According to the 25th Annual Retail Theft Survey by Jack L Hayes International, there has been an increase in theft in companies across the US… more
Digicel spends $52 million on free credit
Trinidad and Tobago – CEO of Digicel TT, John Delves, says the company spends $52 million a year on its free credit offer (“freebies”), plus unspecified millions more on its matching $30 top-up offer at the start of each month, because it wants to make “telecommunications affordable and accessible” while growing its business… more
New bmobile iPhones for Christmas
Trinidad and Tobago – FINANCE Minister Larry Howai says Government wants to double the number of companies listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange in the next five years… more
Friday, 22 November 2013
BTC ‘meeting targets’ for new phone product
Bahamas – Officials at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) are confident it will meet its sale targets with its Home Phone Plus product, averaging more than 200 new customers every week… more
ICT and Innovation as Drivers of Economic Growth
Belize – The Government of Belize has hired consultants from the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in an effort to develop and implement a National Information Communication Technology and Innovation Policy and Strategy as well as an E-Government Strategy and Plan of Action… more
Telecommunications company in hot water with DOMLEC
Dominica – A local telecommunications company could have its electricity plug pulled at any moment, after failure to pay what Dominica News Online understands is a whopping $1.7 million electricity bill to DOMLEC… more
Orange expects higher-than-forecast Dominican sale within days-CEO
Dominican Republic – France’s Orange expects to announce a sale of its Dominican Republic business in the next few days for a price “significantly over” 1 billion euros, Chief Executive Stephane Richard said on Friday… more
Microsoft bats for data privacy reform
Jamaica – MICROSOFT Corporation is investigating how icons and rating systems could complement lengthy individual consent forms presented to users in the digital space… more
Digital Jam goes regional
Regional – Digital Jam 3.0 “Caribbean Edition”, which builds on the success of last year’s Digital Jam 2.0, is announcing today the opening of its new App competition and a series of hands-on training and workshops to link Caribbean youth with digital work opportunities around the globe… more
Digicel Postpaid Customers Geared to Win $5,000 USD This Christmas
Saint Kitts and Nevis – What a bright Christmas Postpaid customers are going to have this year from Digicel! With many ways to win tons of cash, Smartphones and 5 months free 4G Data, the next several weeks promise to be more extraordinary than previous years… more
Saturday, 23 November 2013
Telecoms giant launches ‘Digicel Business’
British Virgin Islands – Digicel BVI officially launched its business solutions arm, Digicel Business, during a grand event at Oil Nut Bay Resort in Virgin Gorda on Friday (November 22)… more
Orange Dominicana to be sold for over 1.35 bln dollars
Dominican Republic – French telecommunications company Orange is putting the finishing touches on a deal to sell its subsidiary in the Dominican Republic, a transaction that could be worth more than US$1.35 billion, CEO Stephane Richard said Friday at an investor conference… more
Jamaica Sets Eyes On Digital Future
Jamaica – Representatives from various sponsors, supporters and information and communication technology stakeholders gathered at King’s House yesterday to launch Digital Jam 3.0 – Caribbean Edition… more
Local internet business expanding
Trinidad and Tobago – A Port of Spain-based restaurant food delivery business, that started about a year ago on the Internet, is now expanding to South Trinidad, hiring more drivers, and estimating potential revenue at over $700,000 per month… more
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Musings: The uses of technology II
Barbados – So, rather than fight the trend of kids coming to school carrying their own powerful learning devices – which they have already paid for – why not use the opportunity to their educational advantage? – M. Prensky, What can you learn from a cell phone? Almost anything! (2004) 9(1) Language, Learning and Technology… more
Heist of media, telecoms industry…Secret deal gives cable TV operators free ride on GPL poles
Guyana – Not only did the administration of former President Bharrat Jagdeo facilitate granting his friends cable TV licences, but there may have been some concessions too… more
Columbus founder shares success secrets
Trinidad and Tobago – Brendan Paddick, the Canadian who started a Caribbean-headquartered telecommunications company that now operates in 42 countries in the region, shared the secrets to his success recently… more
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