A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 9 June to Sunday 15 June 2014.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Government explores options on TV channel
Cayman Islands – Two Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly members questioned Friday why the government-run television channel, dubbed CIG-TV, isn’t being offered “for free.” … more
GSMA Collaborates with InterAmerican Development Bank in Establishing Broadband Training Centre for Latin America
Dominican Republic – The GSMA announced that it is collaborating with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) in the development of The Centre for Advanced Studies in Broadband Development, which is based in Managua, Nicaragua and was officially opened today… more
CWC appoints new Chief Financial Officer
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (“CWC”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Perley McBride as Chief Financial Officer (CFO)… more
T&T, region playing catch-up with digital technology
Trinidad and Tobago – As the world careens toward an age of limitless technological possibilities—killer robots, 3D printers, rapid biotechnologies (mobile robotic arms), and Star Trek-inspired inventions, the list of things one can’t do and can’t achieve have been considerably reduced… more
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Geoff Houston to step down as BTC CEO
Bahamas – The Board of Directors of BTC today announces that Geoff Houston has decided to step down as the CEO and will leave the business on 31 August, 2014… more
Internet in Cuba: A Success in Spite of Everything
Cuba – Eight in the morning. On the ground floor of the Focsa building – Cuba’s Empire State – on M between 17 and 19 Vedado, in a shop between the Guiñol theatre and a beaten-up bar at the entrance to the Scherezada club, a queue of about 15 people are waiting to enter the internet room… more
You Can Now Surf, Stream and Share Your Life With Digicel’s Exciting 4G Service
Grenada – This is graduation season and on June 5, 2014 Grenadians will be graduated to a new 4th generation mobile network by Digicel… more
Digicel, LIME join hands to combat bypass fraud
Jamaica – TELECOMS rivals Digicel and LIME have joined forces in an unusual partnership to combat fraudulent bypass calls which are costing the companies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues each year… more
Wheatley gives Paulwell, Robinson failing grades in ICT management
Jamaica – Opposition spokesperson for Science, ICT, Digital Economy Development and the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, today criticised Phillip Paulwell and Julian Robinson for failing “to implement a cohesive ICT strategy for the country”… more
Latin American and Caribbean Countries Agreed to Promote Regional Policies on Science, Innovation and ICT
Regional – Representatives from national science, technology and innovation-related agencies in Latin American and Caribbean countries, gathered in Santiago, Chile, agreed to promote public policies on science, innovation and information and communications technologies (ICT), addressing the challenges the region faces in terms of structural change, social equality and environmental sustainability… more
Press Release: New generation of mobile entrepreneur talents to be unleashed in the Caribbean
Regional – A new partnership to recruit and nurture the next generation of talented mobile entrepreneurs in the Caribbean is being launched today in Jamaica by the World Bank Group, its global entrepreneurship program infoDev, and the University of the West Indies (UWI)… more
608 TSTT employees apply for VSEP
Trinidad and Tobago – THE National Enterprises Limited (NEL) yesterday indicated that it has been advised by way of correspondence dated Mat 22 and May 23, that 608 employees at the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) have applied for Voluntary Separation of Employment (VSEP)… more
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
BTC Callback For Williams
Bahamas – PHIL BENTLEY, Chief Executive Officer of Cable & Wireless Communications, says yesterday’s decision to appoint Leon Williams, a Bahamian, as the new CEO of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was made without government interference… more
BTC Goes ‘Back To The Future’ With Williams
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday confirmed it had gone ‘back to the future’ with the long-awaited return of Leon Williams as its chief executive,… more
BTC Share Deal Close ‘Imminent’
Bahamas – CABLE & Wireless Communications (CWC) chief executive, Phil Bentley, said yesterday that the conclusion of the ‘2 per cent of shares’ in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) deal with the Government was “imminent”… more
BTC union: CEO’s replacement ‘not based on performance’
Bahamas – The head of the union representing BTC employees said the union has “come full circle” in its relationship with current BTC CEO Geoff Houston, and does not feel that his departure is “based on performance”… more
Barbadian businesses should increase online presence
Barbados – According to Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley, too few Barbadian businesses are taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the world wide web… more
Greater telecoms policing coming
Barbados – The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) will soon be in a position to regulate all telecommunications services provided in Barbados regardless of the service provider involved… more
Our phone service sucks!
Barbados – A senior member of the House of Assembly has taken the major telecommunication providers to task for the quality of service they provide… more
Gov’t withholds reports on IT systems
Cayman Islands – Two audit reports completed over the past year revealing significant problems with separate government data management systems were withheld from public release for fear that disclosing them might reveal security weaknesses in the information technology systems… more
Government partners with LIME for ‘Start-up Jamaica’
Jamaica – THE Government has partnered with telecommunications company, LIME, to provide Internet connectivity, furniture and equipment for the ‘Start-up Jamaica’ initiative… more
IPv4 addresses now EXHAUSTED in Latin America and the Caribbean
Regional – The allocation of internet addresses using the IPv4 protocol in Latin America and the Caribbean has hit a critical stage, the region’s registry (LACNIC) warned on Tuesday… more
St. Kitts and Nevis represented at OECS Media Clinic
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Four representatives from St. Kitts and Nevis are presently in St. Lucia attending a media clinic, to sensitize themselves and the public at large on the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States’ (OECS) Economic Affairs Council… more
Communications Workers’ Union slams TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – “DECEPTION and trickery” were the words used by John Julien, Secretary General of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), to describe the $505 million loss reported by Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) for the financial year ended March 31, 2014… more
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Bahamians Urged: ‘Pull Hard For Leon’s Success’
Bahamas – Bahamians employed by multinational companies were yesterday urged to “pull hard for Leon Williams to succeed” at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), a leading businessman suggesting this could pave the way for them to take top executive posts… more
BTC ‘annihilation’ without service improvement
Bahamas – A leading businessman has argued that BTC will suffer a “gut wrenching annihilation” unless newly-appointed chief executive officer Leon Williams is able to improve its “downright awful” service levels… more
Columbus making island up to date in area of ICT
Barbados – Barbados may one day be the home of one of Columbus Communications Data Centres… more
Ex-ICTA boss faced no repercussions
Cayman Islands – The Infrastructure Minister has revealed the former boss at the Information, Communication and Technology Authority (ICTA) faced no repercussions for questionable hiring practices… more
FLOW MaxPak customers get free access to World Cup content
Jamaica – FLOW, Jamaica’s leading cable service provider, yesterday announced that it will offer its MaxPak sports package customers free access to all matches for the 2014 World Cup tournament… more
MSTEM Rolls Out Broadband in Over 300 Public Institutions
Jamaica – A total of 371 public institutions have been connected to the broadband communications network, being rolled out across the island by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining (MSTEM)… more
Friday, 13 June 2014
Cable Bahamas statement on carriage of the World Cup
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas would like to update our subscribers about our World Cup coverage… more
Own Goal For Cable Bahamas
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas incurred the wrath of sports fans yesterday after they cut all basic channels providing coverage of the opening FIFA World Cup football match… more
Digicel launches exciting summer campaign
British Virgin Islands – To celebrate the arrival of summer and the BVI 60th Emancipation Festival, Digicel has launched an exciting new campaign to show appreciation to all of its valued customers… more
No answers on missing police data
Cayman Islands – More than a week after the Cayman Compass revealed that a massive amount of police data had been corrupted and may have been lost in a hard drive crash, no answers were forthcoming from government regarding the situation… more
LIME offers special roaming rates for Brazil
Jamaica – LIME mobile customers who travel to Brazil from June 11 to July 31 will benefit from roaming discounts of up to 50 per cent… more
Technology Minister to attend crucial telecoms meetings
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon Phillip Paulwell, will attend the Commonwealth Domain Name Systems Forum and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 50 meeting in London, England, June 19-20, 2014… more
Hackers Beware
Trinidad and Tobago – Government has moved to clamp down on computer “hacking” and what National Security Minister Gary Griffith described as “mailbox politics”… more
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Digicel Takes Home Best Booth Award at BMEX
Barbados – Barbados’ fastest growing full service telecommunications company, Digicel (Barbados) Limited, showcased its extraordinary prowess recently by taking home the award for the Best Services Booth at the 2014 Barbados Manufacturers’ Expo (BMEX)… more
Gov’t extends deadline for number portability
Jamaica – THE Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining has delayed the introduction of number portability by a further 12 months, junior minister Julian Robinson said Wednesday… more
Win $10,000 Cash in “It Pays to Use LIME!” Promotion
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Since its launch, LIME’s “It Pays to Use LIME. Activate & Win” promotion has seen over 90 winners of its $100 daily cash prize and some 8 winners of its $1,000 weekly cash prize; all from simply activating and using a LIME talk, text or data plan… more
TelEm/UTS meeting now set for Monday
Sint Maarten – Members of Parliament (MPs) will now continue their discussions with Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams on the possible merger of St. Maarten Telephone Group of Companies TelEm and United Telecommunications Services (UTS) on Monday, starting at 2:00pm in Parliament House… more
Marketers get training in digital content
Trinidad and Tobago – To help marketers and corporate communicators master content strategy and social media copywriting, Livewired Group, a communications training agency, will host Branded Conversations: Writing and Creating Content for Social Media Marketing on July 1-2 at the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce… more
Online bullying a major cyber-crime
Trinidad and Tobago – CYBER-crimes such as cyber-bullying are on the rise, Minister of National Security Gary Griffith said as he unveiled legislation to tackle a range of cyber offences yesterday… more
Sunday, 15 June 2014
New lobby group wants economic reform to embrace technology
Jamaica – Recently-formed lobby group, Jamaica Information Technology and Services Alliance (JITSA) warns that the island’s low technology ranking could negatively impact its growth potential… more
Some phones can’t handle too many apps
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, On Saturday, January 25, 2014 I bought a Samsung phone which began to present challenges as soon as I got home… more
Broadband technology ‘far behind’
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications providers in Trinidad and Tobago might boast the latest in broadband technology, but the country scores only 4.14 on the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Broadband Development Index… more
image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wilipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Telem
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