A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 17 March to Sunday 23 March 2014.
Monday, 17 March 2014
CCT officially makes switch, launches 4G
British Virgin Islands – CCT Global Communications was busy on the weekend as it officially made the switch from its old network to the brand new 4G one… more
CCT stages USD10m re-launch; hits out at ‘hostile’ rivals
British Virgin Islands – British Virgin Islands (BVI) mobile operator CCT Wireless (formerly Caribbean Cellular Telephone) has reportedly overhauled its operations following a USD10 million investment from 1,000 local residents… more
LIME denounces Digicel’s call handling claim as ‘mischief making’
Dominica – LIME’s chief executive officer, Martin Roos has denounced Digicel Dominica’s accusation that it has been involved in call handling… more
Playing it safe with technology
Jamaica – WHILE technology opens new doors for convenient communication, it also exposes us to greater risk in terms of access by unwelcome persons to our personal information and intimate communication… more
Digicel to deliver Microsoft Hosted Solutions across LatAm
Regional – Digicel Business has been named a Microsoft Strategic Services Provider. Digicel Business now has the platform capability to sell and deliver the full suite of Microsoft Hosted Solutions on a regional level in the Caribbean and Central America… more
Regional telecoms provider asks regulators to investigate competitor
Regional – Caribbean wireless telecoms provider Digicel has asked regional regulators to launch an investigation into call handling by its competitor LIME (foermely Cable and Wireless), which Digicel claims results in some consumers being unfairly charged… more
Technology Matters: Rise of wearable technology
Regional – A look at recent start-up and investment trends in the consumer technology market makes it clear that the next wave of innovation is going to be in wearable technology… more
Top ten 2014 Caribbean cyber security predictions for law enforcement
Regional – Caribbean law enforcement must understand that cyber crime has surpassed the international drug trade yet Caribbean businesses, organizations, and governments have done very little to combat this phenomenon… more
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Williams Confirmed As BTC ‘Special Adviser’
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday confirmed its former chief executive, Leon Williams, has been appointed as a special adviser to BTC’s chairman, Phil Bentley… more
Rivalry escalates between telecommunications giants
Cayman Islands – A dispute has ignited between telecommunications companies Digicel and LIME after Digicel accused its rival of overcharging its customers… more
CARCIP Innovation Workshop moves to Grenada
Grenada – A series of workshops rolling out across the Caribbean is intended to spark and harness the power of Caribbean innovation as an engine for technology-enabled development and enterprise… more
Impoverished Haiti manufacturing its own Android tablet
Haiti – Better known for producing third-world poverty and political mayhem – as well as a world-class rum – the Western Hemisphere’s least developed country has made a surprising entry into the high-tech world with its own Android tablet… more
LIME reassured by guilty pleas from men caught by anti-theft system
Jamaica – Telecoms firm, LIME, says that guilty pleas of two men last week for stealing its copper cables has given the company hope its new anti-theft system will fulfil its intended purpose and help reduce metal theft… more
New digital tool launched to assist companies in marketing
Jamaica – A new digital tool that can transform the way businesses advertise and market their products was launched in Kingston, today (March 18)… more
Digicel Business Vouchsafes the Security of its Cloud Platform
Regional – The Caribbean’s leading full service business solutions partner, Digicel Business revealed its new Cloud platform, featuring the latest suite of cloud solutions… more
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Digicel Jamaica To Market Vehicle-Tracking Product
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica’s business division has introduced a new vehicle management solution called f6, building on a market segment in which it already operates under partnership with a security company… more
CTU brings international internet governance school to Caribbean
Regional – The Caribbean faces a number of complex, deep-rooted and interrelated challenges. Human resource development, economic growth, sustainable development and climate change all featured prominently on the agenda for the recently held 25th intersessional meeting of the conference of heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)… more
Government launches education network on Friday
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Preparations are almost complete for Friday’s (March 21) launch of the Education Network (EDUNET) that will significantly change the way classes are delivered in high schools in St. Kitts and Nevis… more
Trinidad to host regional workshop on Internet governance
Trinidad and Tobago – Caribbean countries will seek to consolidate their positions as it relate to Internet governance issues during a five-day meeting that begins in Trinidad and Tobago next month… more
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Digicel Business Upgrades Barbados’ Club Resort & Spa Communications Platform
Barbados – Elite Island Resort is a privately held group of companies comprising an impressive collection of all-inclusive Caribbean resorts… more
How to rebuild quake-struck Haiti, one computer at a time
Haiti – Warren McGuffin, a retired Silicon Valley entrepreneur, was on a volunteer mission to Haiti shortly after the devastating January 2010 earthquake when he saw hungry children in the town of Thomas eating mud pies… more
Digicel to borrow US$865m in bond sale
Regional – In its second highest bond sale, Digicel is returning to market to borrow US$865 million in senior notes, a statement from the company’s Jamaica head office said yesterday. In immediate reaction, both Fitch Ratings and Moody’s, two of the world’s top three credit rating agencies, rated the bonds below non-investment grade or “junk.” … more
St Lucia, Taiwan Sign Cooperation Agreement on ICT
Saint Lucia – The government of St Lucia has signed an agreement with the government of Taiwan in the area of information and communication technology… more
Digicel Business-Strategic services provider
Trinidad and Tobago – DIGICEL Business further cemented its position as the region’s leading full service business solutions partner with the news today that it has been named a Microsoft Strategic Services Provider… more
McCann boss: Digital advertising revenue doubles in five years
Trinidad and Tobago – The advertising media market is a competitive one which attracts revenue of more than $0.5 billion a year, said James Smith, managing director of advertising firm McCann Port-of-Spain… more
Tobago defying distance with Video Collaboration from TSTT and Polycom
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT is a proud partner with the Tobago Information Technology Limited (TITL), to establish the first of its kind Video Collaborative Suite in Tobago. The Service was launched at the TITL headquarters at Signal Hill Tobago and the innovation was made possible by TSTT’s collaboration with technology partner Polycom… more
Friday, 21 March 2014
Digicel Business breaks ground on $600 million fibre network in MoBay
Jamaica – Digicel Business has broken ground on a $600 million next generation underground fibre network, starting with Montego Bay… more
OAS helps Ja with development of cyber security strategy
Jamaica – The Organisation of American States (OAS) has been working with officials in Jamaica in an effort to develop a national cyber security strategy… more
Paulwell Finalising New Sale Strategy For 700MHz Spectrum
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell says he is determined to allocate licences for the 700MHz band, five months after the initial sale effort fizzled… more
Vandals disrupt Flow’s services in St Catherine
Jamaica – COLUMBUS Communications, operator of Flow, complained yesterday that vandals again caused disruption in telecommunications services for residents and businesses in Twickenham Park and surrounding areas of St Catherine… more
C@ribNET – A crucial layer of the CARICOM single ICT space
Regional – The next two years can be very significant for the regional research and education network, C@ribNET, as the Caribbean moves towards a single information communication technology (ICT) space as the digital layer of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)… more
Digicel to raise US$865 million in private placement
Regional – THE Digicel Group intends to raise US$865 million ($94.3 b) in a private placement for financing and working capital purposes, the company indicated… more
EDUNET Launch Showcases Government’s Vision
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Friday’s (March 21) simultaneous launch of the Education Network (EduNET) in several high schools across St. Kitts and Nevis highlights the tremendous potential of the new technology to enhance the education landscape and empower teachers and students… more
Saturday, 22 March 2014
BTC Service Disruption Saturday March 22nd.
Bahamas – At about 1:30 a.m., BTC began to witness disruptions across all the network platforms – Land line, Internet and Mobile – due to technical failures. Teams were immediately deployed to try and determine the cause and to begin repairs and restoration… more
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Digicel To Repurchase Bond Debt
Regional – Digicel Group Limited will use the proceeds of a new bond to buy back senior notes due in 2018, the company said Wednesday… more
TSTT launches graduate programme
Trinidad and Tobago – More than 1,000 people responded to an advertisement from TSTT last November for graduates interested in a career training initiative as the company sought to restart its Graduate In Training (GIT) Programme… more
Images credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
