A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 1 December to 7 December 2014.
Monday, 1 December 2014
Cable Bahamas enhances TV signal quality with $400,000 42-foot mega satellite antenna
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has invested more than $400,000 in a new satellite antenna that enables the company to reduce costs and enhance its REVTV signal quality on all digital and HD signals… more
Yellow Pages Launches 2015 Directory With New Features
Jamaica – The Jamaica Yellow Pages (Jamaica YP) directory you knew is about to change… more
ITU releases development index: Region’s score improves but ranking falls
Regional – On Monday, 25 November, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) published its Measuring the Information Society Report 2014 in which it highlights key technology and developments worldwide and tracks the cost and affordability of telecommunications services as of the end of 2013… more
Telecommute to a new Trinbago
Trinidad and Tobago – “Work is something you do, not something you travel to; work is what we do, not where we are.” … more
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
LIME Antigua & Barbuda launches the Caribbean’s first mobile 4G LTE network
Antigua and Barbuda – LIME Antigua and Barbuda launched the fastest and most advanced 4G network in Antigua & Barbuda and the first AWS mobile LTE network in the Caribbean on Thursday, November 20… more
Be on cyber alert
Barbados – It would be prudent of consumers and companies at the start of one of the heaviest shopping seasons in Barbados to tighten cyber security… more
LIME launches ‘upgraded’ Christmas promotion
Barbados – LIME CUSTOMERS ARE in line to win $200 000 in cash and prizes this Christmas… more
What Was Behind BTL’s System Wide Collapse?
Belize – At least 144,000 thousand customers on BTL’s network experienced interruption of cellular and internet services yesterday from about 2 a.m. until 7:00 a.m. or later in some areas… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Digicel Play offers HBO movie channels to customers as Christmas gift
Dominica – Digicel Play is thanking its customers this Christmas by adding HBO premium movie channels to its line-up for the month of December for free along with the chance to win a shopping spree as part of Digicel Play’s Supermarket Sweep promotion… more
DIGICEL spreading Christmas cheer through social media
Dominica – Digicel is ensuring that the most wonderful time of the year is even more social this festive season with the launch of its “#ChristmasTogether” Facebook campaign… more
Flow From Haemorrhoid
Jamaica – Regular readers remember Haemorrhoid (real name Ernest H. Flower), an articled clerk who wasn’t the type to permit work to kill him… more
LIME reviewing paper billing charge
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) yesterday announced that LIME will defer implementing its planned charge for residential customers who receive paper bills. The decision, the regulator said, follows the telecoms giant’s consultation with the OUR on November 21… more
Minister Reaffirms Commitment to Implement Number Portability By May 31, 2015
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to implement number portability in Jamaica by May 31, next year… more
Senior citizens exempt from paper-bill charges – LIME
Jamaica – Telecommunications company, LIME, says that senior citizens (customers over the age of 65) will be exempt from charges related to receiving paper bills… more
10 keys to improving the Caribbean telecom sector
Regional – For all the very real risks of consolidation taking place in the Caribbean telecommunication sector, equal focus should be placed on the opportunities for the region to accelerate its development agenda… more
Bima Receives a $5 Million Investment from Digicel Group to Bring Microinsurance to Asia Pacific and the Caribbean
Regional – ima, the leading global microinsurance provider, announced a 5 million USD investment from Digicel Group, the leading total communications and entertainment provider in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific regions… more
Cable & Wireless Communications Selects Funambol to Power Caribbean’s Premier Operator Personal Cloud Service
Regional – Funambol, the leading provider of white-label personal cloud solutions, today announced that LIME, the Caribbean’s leading telecom, from Cable & Wireless Communications, is using Funambol to power the region’s premier operator personal cloud service… more
Cable & Wireless Wins the Americas TMT Deal of the Year Award 2014
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has won the TMT Deal of the Year for the Americas Award (2014) for the acquisition of Grupo Sonitel… more
Columbus Networks Awarded “2014 Best Caribbean Wholesale Carrier”
Regional – Columbus International Inc. (Columbus), one of the largest telecommunications service providers in the Caribbean, announced today that its subsidiary Columbus Networks in a joint venture with Cable & Wireless has been awarded for the second year in a row “Best Caribbean Wholesale Carrier” at the 2014 Global Carrier Awards… more
LIME Responds to Customers’ Concerns
Saint Kitts and Nevis – In response to customer feedback, LIME has decided not to implement the paper bill fees, as previously advised… more
CCN CEO: Outstanding
Trinidad and Tobago – Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) chief executive Shida Bolai said yesterday she was pleased with the 2014 MFO survey results which showed the CCN Group maintaining its leadership position in both print and broadcast… more
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
BTC upgrades LTE coverage
Bahamas – As a part of the recently announced $26m in mobile network upgrades, BTC is increasing its LTE coverage, by enhancing sixty-seven existing mobile sites throughout The Bahamas… more
URCA issues its Final Determination on the Assessment of SMP in the Electronic Communications Sector in The Bahamas
Bahamas – Today URCA issues its Final Determination on the Assessment of SMP in the Electronic Communications Sector in The Bahamas… more
URCA rejects Cable’s 19% BTC ‘switch’ find
Bahamas – Regulators have rejected Cable Bahamas’ assertion that the pay-TV market is easily accessible to new competitors, despite a survey showing 56 per cent of broadband Internet subscribers might sign up to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) IPTV product… more
URCA Sponsors Students to Regional Training Workshop
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has made it possible for two technical education students to enhance their knowledge of the rapidly developing area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) through a regional workshop… more
Web shops pay $5M in back taxes
Bahamas – The government has collected $5 million in web shop tax arrears as of December 1, according to Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe… more
Regulator gets tough on dropped 911 calls
Cayman Islands – Regulators will compel Cayman Islands telecoms companies to upgrade their networks as a matter of “national security” in the wake of a series of connection failures that prevented emergency 911 calls from getting through… more
Digicel fibre network to help create ‘smart cities’ in Jamaica
Jamaica – DIGICEL yesterday said that its underground fibre network will help create ‘smart cities’ in Jamaica… more
Technology Minister warns telecommunications companies of strong action to come
Jamaica – Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell has warned that strong action will be taken against telecommunications companies which are unable to meet the May 31, 2015 deadline for number portability… more
Telecoms sector developments discussed at forum
Jamaica – Mergers and Acquisitions in the Telecoms Sector: Implications for competition was the theme for a public forum put on by the Mona School of Business and Management at the University of the West Indies, Mona on Thursday November 27… more
Telecoms Triumph In VoIP Stand-Off
Jamaica – The Jamaican Government has signaled that it is preparing to end the free ride for providers of internet calling and data services, known as Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), some of whom have refused to enter into licensing agreement with telecoms on whose networks their services terminate… more
CDB to assist regional businesses with management accounting systems
Regional – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will be hosting a three-day sub-regional train-the-trainer workshop (TTW) on “Management Accounting Systems for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)” from period December 3-5, 2014 in Barbados… more
Telecom consolidation — An opportunity to evolve
Regional – The Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) announcement of its plan to acquire Columbus International (Columbus) signaled a major turning point for the Caribbean telecommunications sector… more
Thursday, 4 December 2014
BTC $26M LTE upgrade ongoing
Bahamas – As part of the $26 million in mobile network upgrades recently announced by Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), the company is increasing its Long Term Evolution (LTE) coverage by enhancing 67 existing mobile sites throughout The Bahamas… more
Miranda Speaks on The Fluctuation of BTL’s Services
Belize – If you are a subscriber of Belize Telemedia Limited, you might have been frustrated on Wednesday when you realize that services such as 4G. 2G, Internet and text messaging services were either down or not functioning properly… more
Digicel expands with new smartphones
British Virgin Islands – Digicel continues its mission to bring the best value to customers this Christmas with the introduction of the new Digicel DL800 and DL900 Smartphones, for less than $100… more
Jamaica to regulate VoIP services
Jamaica – The Jamaican government is drafting regulations to govern the operations of voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) telephony providers in the country, while it will also be looking to collect tax revenue from VoIP operators… more
OECS telecom ministers in emergency talks today
Regional – Telecommunications ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will meet in Castries, St Lucia, today to discuss the planned merger of British telecommunications company, Cable and Wireless (CWC) and Columbus Communications International… more
TATT aims for January completion
Trinidad and Tobago – TELECOMMUNICATIONS Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) chairman Selby Wilson yesterday said the regulatory body is poised to complete its review of the proposal by Cable and Wireless Communications to acquire Columbus International Inc by January… more
Friday, 5 December 2014
FTC wants to hear from you
Barbados – THE FAIR TRADING COMMISSION (FTC) is inviting residents to submit their comments on the proposed merger of two of the telecommunications providers in the Barbadian market… more
The data ‘downfall’
Barbados – Inadequate data is hitting Barbadian businesses where it hurts most – their profits and revenues… more
Futurologist: Digitalization will ‘disrupt healthcare, economy’
Cayman Islands – The world of the future will be fully digitalized. Driven by Moore’s Law which stipulates that computer power doubles every 18 months, computer chips and the Internet will capture and control every facet of life, according to physicist and futurologist Michio Kaku… more
Blog Awards to recognise trendsetters in social media
Jamaica – SOCIAL media company Daily Veritas and telecoms provider Digicel will today host the inaugural Caribbean Blog Awards to recognise companies and individuals who have stood out in their use of social networking… more
eMedia eyes Stock Exchange listing with ad agency launch
Jamaica – Tyrone Wilson, president and chief executive of eMedia Interactive Ltd, said that launching the start-up’s advertising agency, named ‘Branded’, would form part of its growth strategy to eventually list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE)… more
Cable and Wireless/Columbus “monopoly” worries Caribbean telecoms ministers
Regional – Telecommunication ministers from the Eastern Caribbean will work with T&T industry authorities to protect the region’s consumers… more
Cable & Wireless Communications’ Shareholders Vote Overwhelmingly in Favour of Merger with Columbus International
Regional – Shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications plc (“CWC”), the parent company of LIME, today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Columbus International Inc. (“Columbus”), operator of the consumer brand, Flow… more
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Panel discussions coming on CWC, Flow merger
Barbados – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International will, from Monday, embark on a major public relations campaign in the wake of widespread criticism of the deal brokered between the two companies… more
Social media bashing out of bounds
Barbados – WE AGREE with Minister of the Environment and Drainage Dr Denis Lowe that those who use social media must be more responsible… more
OpEd: The Information Revolution is here!
Belize – The history of the world has been marked by great revolutions… more
Digicel Charging For Inconvenience?
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: Since Friday, November 29, about 5 p.m., I have been greeted by this recording on my Digicel phone: “Your call is being made through an invalid route. Please contact your service provider. You are being charged for this call.” … more
Running Out Of Radio Room?
Jamaica – A few days ago, I was in the parking lot of a supermarket, about to turn off the car’s engine and the radio along with it, when a news item caused me to pause… more
C&W-FLOW GLITCH – ECTEL says They Must Have Joint Licence
Regional – SAINT LUCIA and two other countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), for the time being, will continue to enjoy the services of Flow and LIME as they currently exist despite the acquisition of the former by the latter, announced last month… more
C&W shareholders give proposed merger the nod
Regional – Shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Columbus International, C&W representatives say… more
Columbus Points to Merger Benefits
Regional – THE recent acquisition of Columbus Communications by Cable and Wireless will ensure a place in history for Caribbean people, Columbus said yesterday… more
Regional regulators worried about monopoly
Regional – Telecommunication ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) say the proposed acquisition by British telecommunications company, Cable and Wireless (CWC) of Columbus Communications International, would result in the formation of a monopoly in the sub-region… more
Sunday, 7 December 2014
LIME-Flow committed to customer service
Barbados – The acquisition of Columbus’ Caribbean operations, if approved, would create a hybrid entity in which residential and business customers would enjoy the best of both worlds when it comes to customer service says LIME Barbados Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Chatten… more
Advertisers Lobby Demands Apology From EMedia
Jamaica – The Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica (AAAJ) has taken umbrage at a comment from a young agency, in business now for six years, suggesting that ad services are too costly… more
Jamaica in this age of unified information
Jamaica – ON any given day we observe our younger population developing crick necks as they sit tweeting, googling, IMing, posting, tagging, liking, blocking, downloading and uploading, editing, updating, gaming, Skyping, Face Timing, Instasizing, picstitching, flipgraming, tindering, transferring, trading, shopping, dating, studying, researching, learning and yes, still old-school texting on platforms we older folk don’t even know about… more
Cable & Wireless Communications’ CEO, Phil Bentley: ECTEL will not hold back deal
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) chief executive, Phil Bentley, has given a commitment to Caribbean governments and regulators that if the company’s US$3 billion acquisition of Columbus International is approved, the enlarged CWC will not negatively impact competition in the cable and broadband markets… more
Cellphone-use linked to brain tumours
Regional – A new study has concluded that long-term use of both mobile and cordless phones is associated with an increased risk of developing a glioma, the most common form of brain tumour… more
Digicel Enters Microinsurance Market With Swedish Partner
Regional – Mobile insurance product provider Milvik, a Swedish company which trades as Bima Mobile, is seeking a country manager for operations in Jamaica amid plans to roll out a mobile platform for microinsurance products… more
We’re not peeved, all we want is a level playing field, says Digicel Group CEO
Regional – SURPRISINGLY, Colm Delves didn’t bristle when the Jamaica Observer asked him why is Digicel so peeved at Cable and Wireless Communications’ (CWC’s) acquisition of Columbus Communications… more
Image credits: NS Newsflash (flickr); Belize Web; St Lucia News Online; The Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; ECTEL
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