A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 7 July to Sunday 13 July 2014.
Monday, 7 July 2014
Haiti: Digicel blocks Voice over Internet Apps for Illegal Tax
Haiti – Haitians using services such as magicJack and Skype to communicate with loved ones overseas will no longer be able to through Digicel… more
Bmobile ‘okay’ with VoIP
Jamaica – Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an “inescapable” feature of modern telecommunications and comparable to “e-mail and games” on a mobile network, a release from Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) stated yesterday… more
JLP opposed to blocking VOIP
Jamaica – OPPOSITION spokesman on ICT Dr Andrew Wheatley has expressed concern about plans by Digicel and LIME to block voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) applications from their network… more
Regulator to step in over VoIP concerns
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is to meet with mobile operators Digicel and LIME as well as consumer groups to discuss the cellcos’ recent blocking of unlicensed voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services such as Viber and Skype… more
Wheatley knocks govt for Jamaica’s drop in UN ICT ranking
Jamaica – Opposition Spokesperson on ICT, Digital Society Development, Science and the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, is knocking the Government for Jamaica’s decline in ranking, based on the latest UN e-Government Survey… more
Defending An Open Caribbean Internet
Regional – “…we are empowering individuals and businesses to get the best out of the internet when and how they want.” – Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel Jamaica… more
Viber CEO: Digicel block illegal
Trinidad and Tobago – VIBER, one of the VoIP apps blocked by Irish telecom provider Digicel, said yesterday the move would be considered illegal in most countries… more
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
World Cup broadcast rights and wrongs
Cayman Islands – Football fans are crying foul over World Cup coverage issues across the Caribbean… more
E-business workshop launched in Dominica
Dominica – An e-Business workshop which will incorporate an e-Commerce Diagnostic Assessment of participating firms around the OECS member states has been launched in Dominica… more
Digicel’s VoIP Shutout Excuse Is Drivel
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I wish to respond to a guest column (‘Viber, others robbing Jamaica of revenue, Digicel says’, July 5, 2014) by Gail Moss-Solomon, head of legal and regulatory affairs at Digicel Jamaica… more
National authorities examine broadband pricing regulations
Saint Kitts and Nevis – National authorities around the Caribbean are in St. Kitts receiving expert level training in effective broadband pricing by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)… more
No VOIP ban for bmobile
Trinidad and Tobago – The decision on how to treat with customers using VOIP is based on what each local mobile provider knows of the capabilities of its network, TSTT said in a media release yesterday… more
TATT asks Digicel to hold hand on VoIP
Trinidad and Tobago – THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has asked Digicel to hold its hand on blocking certain third-party Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) while an investigation into the matter is ongoing… more
TATT to probe Digicel’s ‘Voice’ block
Trinidad and Tobago – THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has launched an investigation into Digicel’s decision to block certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications from its network… more
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Cable Seeking $15m Over Rubis Gas Leak
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is suing Rubis and the operator of its Robinson Road gas station for up to $15 million in damages, alleging that their “negligence” resulted in its property being contaminated by a 20,000-30,000 gallon-strong gasoline leak… more
VIDEO: Bahamians React to NSA Surveillance
Bahamas – Nearly two months after The Intercept revealed that the National Security Agency has used the Bahamas as a “test bed” for a powerful surveillance system that can collect and store an entire country’s phone calls for up to 30 days, government officials and residents of the Caribbean nation remain conflicted over the spying… more
America Movil selects Alcatel-Lucent for 4G LTE network in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Telecom operator America Movil has selected Alcatel-Lucent to roll out 4G LTE network in the Dominican Republic … more
Dominican Ombudsman wants Indotel to review telecom tariffs
Dominican Republic – The Office of the Ombudsman has requested that the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) work to improve the price of telecommunications services, reports Listin Diario… more
US$33-m BPO projects in the pipeline
Jamaica – EIGHT technology projects valued at $3.7 billion are currently slated for Jamaica… more
Start-Up Jamaica Ready For ‘Tech-Preneur’ Pitches
Jamaica – A new initiative to jump-start Jamaica’s entrepreneurial tech sector is now up and running and is taking lessons from countries as diverse as Chile, Vietnam and Jordan… more
Viber, Nimbuzz, and Other VoIP Apps Are Now Working Again in Jamaica After TATT Investigation Launches
Regional – After being banned by Jamaican carrier Digicel over what can easily be described as mobile carrier greed, it appears that Viber and other VoIP applications that were banned by Digicel are now back online, … more
Digicel returns VoIP services
Trinidad and Tobago – Caribbean mobile provider Digicel yesterday agreed to allow its customers to access popular “free calls” applications Viber, Tango and Nimbuzz once again after the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) started an investigation into complaints made about Digicel’s action… more
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Cybercrime: No Bajan business is safe
Barbados – Barbados businesses are among those who should be wary of the threat from cybercrime… more
Big Story: Tech businesses await IP reform to expand
Cayman Islands – O2 Micro’s technology products are found in laptops, tablets, and TV sets from big name manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG, and Apple… more
Haiti – Social : Blocking of VoIP by Digicel, who is affected ?
Haiti – Since 17 June 2014 on the 4G network of the company Digicel, all applications (among others: Viber, Skype, Tango, Nimbuzz, MagicJack), which runs on devices using a SIM card are blocked… more
4 women among 15 lottery scam detainees
Jamaica – The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption (MOCA) task force yesterday started to interrogate 15 people who were detained during anti-lottery scam operations in the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland and Hanover between Thursday and yesterday morning… more
Poor Service From LIME Customer Care Agent
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: Having noticed that each time I added credit to my phone it would mysteriously disappear before I could get the chance to make calls, I decided to seek assistance from LIME in order to stop this from happening… more
Start-Up Jamaica Attracts Tech-Savvy Entrepreneurs
Jamaica – A new initiative to jump-start Jamaica’s entrepreneurial tech sector is now up and running and following the lead of countries as diverse as Chile, Vietnam and Jordan… more
Caribbean elections will be won or lost with social media
Montserrat – Two digital media strategists believe that how political parties use social media in the coming years will impact their chances at the polls come Election Day… more
Cellular providers block ‘free’ call apps in Caribbean angering consumers
Regional – A decision by one of the Caribbean’s largest cell phone companies to block popular Internet call apps from using its network is catching the wrath of consumers… more
Charge your cellphone, laptops before going to airport!
Regional – TRAVELLERS on flights leaving Jamaica’s international airports will soon be required to have charged cellular phones, laptop computers and other devices as part of new security measures being implemented by the United States’s Transport Security Administration (TSA)… more
Free calls could come to an end
Regional – Talking and messaging using apps that offer the service for free, could become a thing of the past… more
TSTT workers walk off the job
Trinidad and Tobago – A number of TSTT employees, at Caroline Building in Scarborough, walked off the job yesterday morning, citing unsafe conditions… more
Friday, 11 July 2014
LIME summer programme launched
Barbados – THIRTY STUDENTS, including two who are differently abled, will take part in the LIME Summer Internship Programme this year… more
Belize Named in Billion Dollar Securities Scam
Belize – The internet and news outlets, including CNN, have been abuzz since Thursday and today about a company called CYNK Technology and its networking site Introbiz whose address was traced to the Matalon building here on Coney Drive… more
PUC launches innovation programme for young entrepreneurs
Belize – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is looking for young aspiring Belizean entrepreneurs and innovators to participate in a competition that may, down the road, make them a lot of money and name recognition… more
Government: IP reform “essential element” to tech industry
Cayman Islands – Government told Cayman 27 they are in the advanced stages of drafting new intellectual property laws… more
BUSINESS BYTE: SAT introduces 50 free music channel to digital line-up
Dominica – SAT Telecommunications today announces the launch of 50 music channels that are now available to customers – free of charge… more
Former Marpin boss demands compensation; threatens lawsuit
Dominica – Past manager of Marpin 2K4 Ltd, Pericson Isidore, has given his former employer 14 days to comply with a letter demanding compensation for “wrongful dismissal” or the matter will be taken to court… more
Government’s Hands Tied In VoIP Blackout
Jamaica – There is nothing the Government can do to provide redress for Jamaican consumers who feel undone by the restriction on voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) applications by telecoms providers Digicel and LIME… more
Airwatch Offers Means To Police Company Data On Mobile Devices
Jamaica – Mobile security firm AirWatch says it is eyeing Jamaica and the wider Caribbean as fresh territory to market its proprietary software which, it says, can discretely monitor use of company infor-mation on mobile devices… more
Multiple arrests in anti-lottery scam operation
Jamaica – Western Jamaica was the focal-point of local and foreign officials yesterday, July 10, as the police move to clamp-down on lottery scamming activities in Jamaica… more
Viber Reports Uptick In Traffic Amid VoIP Blockade – Telecoms Effort Described As Bad For Business, Education Services
Jamaica – A blockade of Internet-calling services, or VoIP, by local telecoms could impact the development of entrepreneurial companies in the technology sector and other services, sector interests say… more
St Kitts Rejects Bitcoin for Citizenship By Investment Programme
Saint Kitts and Nevis – St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment programme does not recognize the software-based currency Bitcoins as a legal investment currency, the government said in a statement issued Thursday… more
Kids excited as CoderDojo comes to TT
Trinidad and Tobago – As the youngsters delve into the electronic age and are eager to conquer the challenges that computers, ipads, kindles and iphones pose to them, a group of 20 students had the opportunity, courtesy Digicel and the University of the West Indies, to participate in the first CoderDojo in the Caribbean… more
Saturday, 12 July 2014
Intellectual property strategy in the works
Barbados – GOVERNMENT, with the assistance of the World Intellectual Property Organization, has formulated a national intellectual property strategic plan with the objective of making our economy more competitive globally… moreproperty
LIME takes on 30 interns
Barbados – Thirty young people will enter the world of work with Barbados’ leading telecommunication provider LIME when the company’s 2014 Summer Internship Programme starts on Monday… more
Forbes: Designing for Mobile Digital Content in the Caribbean
Regional – My desktop is only for traditional work, no Facebooking, Tweeting or Instagraming. Note, though, that I do use these social networks for what I call virtual work. I know, I know, there’s no such thing! Work is work! … more
FLOW Speeds Up The Net
Saint Lucia – THE internet super highway here has become better but only for customers of Columbus Communications St. Lucia Limited operating under the Flow brand… more
3rd Circuit rules on Mount Pleasant cell tower dispute
United States Virgin Islands – The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed in part and reversed in part a District Court decision to dismiss a complaint filed by Mount Pleasant homeowners against InSite Towers and the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources about the construction of a cellular transmission tower in the homeowners’ back yards… more
Sunday, 13 July 2014
VoIP Block Is Not A Net Neutrality Issue, Says Digicel
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica has confirmed that it is still blocking Viber and other VoIP providers, despite reports that many people are still accessing the services via its network… more
Image credits: Mick Baker(rooster)/flickr; Facebook; Wikimedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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