A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 12 January to 18 January 2015.
Monday, 12 January 2015
BUSINESS MONDAY: LIME reports hefty profit
Barbados – CABLE and Wireless (Barbados) Limited also known as LIME has turned around from a loss of $43.0 million for the half year to September 2013, into a hefty profit for the same period to September last year… more
High school students to receive free tablets
Dominica – The Ministry of Education says government will soon launch a program to promote massive use of technology at all schools on the island… more
OECS seeks public views on CWC/Columbus
Regional – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has launched an initiative aimed at mobilising and sensitising the public of the sub-region to the recent moves by Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) to acquire Columbus International… more
A review of the DL800
Regional – It seems like Digicel is steadily becoming a cellular brand in Jamaica. Since a couple months back, with the introduction of the DL600, there has been a swarm of new phones to the DL series… more
Mobile service interruption
Saint Kitts and Nevis – LIME wishes to advise all of its valued customers in the areas of Boyds and Trinity that we are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our cell site in the vicinity of Ross University… more
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Cuba expanding Wi-Fi
Cuba – Cuba’s telecommunications company says that it will offer Wi-Fi service in a public park in the country’s far east but only for access to the island’s restricted Cuba-only intranet… more
Digicel Modernizes Its Mobile Data Networks With Alepo AAA Solution
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica added Alepo’s Carrier-Grade AAA Server to its mobile network in order to support a rapidly growing subscriber base on 2.5G (GPRS), 3G, and 4G (HSPA+) mobile broadband networks… more
First 1000 Laptops Arrive For Schools
Saint Lucia – THE Government of Saint Lucia has received the first in a shipment of 7,000 computers from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela through the Canaima Educational Project… more
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Cable Bahamas giving away $70,000 in prizes to new REVOICE subscribers
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is welcoming new REVOICE subscribers to the REV family in a major way this season with its Rejoice with REVOICE holiday campaign… more
Cable Bahamas launches “Turn Us On” initiative to show their readiness for mobile license
Bahamas – With the impending award of a second cellular license for mobile telephone and data service coming this year, Cable Bahamas is staking its claim to becoming The Bahamas’ first company to offer an alternative in the market… more
DHL opens $30-m call centre in Jamaica
Jamaica – COURIER service DHL Jamaica has set up a $30-million call centre that employs 20 new staff… more
Google Will Launch Modular Cell Phone In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico – Google has chosen Puerto Rico as the place where it will do a limited pilot launch of its new modular cell phone later this year… more
160,000 New Customers Start 2015 with LIME
Regional – An “Upgraded Network,” revitalised brand identity, newly refurbished retail stores and amazing holiday deals attracted 160,000 new customers to the LIME network in only sixty days… more
ECTEL concerned about re-emergence of monopoly in telecoms sector
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) is concerned about the reemergence of a monopoly in the sector with the recent announcement of by regional telecoms company LIME of its potential acquisition of Columbus Communications, parent company of Flow Cable Networks in the region… more
Thursday, 15 January 2015
MNP to be available from ‘day one’ of mobile competition, says URCA
Bahamas – Bahamian telecoms watchdog the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has set out its draft plan for 2015, marking out the liberalisation of the wireless sector as its primary focus for the year… more
URCA to consider ECS price cap
Bahamas – Within the first quarter of 2015, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) intends to consult on the design and implementation of a price cap for the electronic communications sector (ECS)… more
Cuba denies media reports of WiFi roll out in second largest city
Cuba – Cuba says it will not be offering wireless service in its second largest city Santiago de Cuba, as previously reported… more
Development Bank (DBJ) provides $7.3 million to develop software for deaf students
Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has provided $7.3 million to the University of Technology (UTech) to continue the development of the U-Touch multi-media software, designed to enhance the learning process for deaf and hearing impaired students… more
LIME reports $60m loss due to cable theft
Jamaica – LIME Jamaica has reported a loss of J$60 million in 2014 due to cable theft… more
Minister Hylton expresses disapproval of LIME Cable thefts
Jamaica – The Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. G. Anthony Hylton, has expressed strong disapproval of the recent theft of copper cables from telecommunications firm, LIME… more
Digicel buying Bermuda Telephone Company
Regional – Digicel Group, the mobile phone network provider with operations in 31 markets across the Caribbean, Central America, and Oceania, has struck a deal to acquire Bermuda Telephone Company (BTC) – just six months after it was taken over by Canadian group Barrie OpCo… more
Three OECS tech companies make top 25 startups to watch in 2015
Regional – Two Montserratian startups and one Dominican-based company have been included in SiliconCaribe.com’s Top Caribbean Startups to Watch in 2015… more
Government of Trinidad has its eyes on citizens
Trinidad and Tobago – Posts and opinions from users of Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are being monitored by the Government. This includes comments posted on news sites maintained by media houses… more
TT parents get tools to create high performing children
Trinidad and Tobago – HIGH performing children. Sounds dramatic but a local company has partnered with a local web developer and other experts to provide the tools that parents can use to accomplish just that… more
Unipet launches gas card, mobile app
Trinidad and Tobago – The United Independent Petroleum Marketing Co Ltd (Unipet) has launched the country’s first consumer gas card and mobile app which allow customers to purchase fuel at any Unipet gas station without the use of cash… more
Friday, 16 January 2015
Latest BTC franchise opens on Gladstone Road East
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company, (BTC) is well on its way to achieving its commitment to have more than 60 branded BTC retail stores across The Bahamas by 2016… more
160 000 new customers start the year with LIME
Barbados – An “Upgraded Network”, revitalised brand identity, newly refurbished retail stores and amazing holiday deals attracted 160 000 new customers to the LIME regional network in only sixty days… more
Cuba’s pending tech revolution
Cuba – Cuba is on the threshold of getting, potentially, a massive technology upgrade, thanks to a U.S. decision to ease economic sanctions. But this tiny island nation needs a lot of work… more
Just how big is the Cuban market for US tech?
Cuba – People love the image of Cuba with its vintage 1950s cars, but unfortunately it’s tech infrastructure is not much newer. And that’s why U.S. tech companies are eyeing eased trade regulations with interest… more
Expedia group announces Caribbean expansion with Dominican Republic office
Dominican Republic – The Expedia group, one of the world’s largest online travel companies, has announced the opening of offices in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, the company’s first local offices in the Dominican Republic… more
No internet connection for two days
Guyana – Dear Editor, I am at my wits end right now… more
DBJ, UTech sign pact for phase two of U-Touch software
Jamaica – THE Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has provided $7.3 million to the University of Technology (UTech) to continue the development of the U-Touch multimedia software designed to enhance the learning process for deaf and hearing-impaired students… more
No Hand-Held Devices For Police While Driving
Jamaica – MEMBERS OF a joint select committee of Parliament reviewing the new Road Traffic Act on Wednesday shot down a request by the police to allow lawmen to use hand-held devices such as cellular phones or radio communication instruments while driving a motor vehicle or motorcycle, despite appeals from senior officers for an exemption for cops… more
Bell launches new Travel Data Passes with double the data
Regional – Bell has announced new Travel Data Passes with up to double the data for customers travelling internationally… more
Gov’t gives green light to CWC’s control of Columbus Int’l
Jamaica – TECHNOLOGY Minister Phillip Paulwell yesterday approved the transfer of control of Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited (Flow) and Columbus Networks Jamaica Limited (CNJL) from their parent company Columbus International Inc to Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) Plc… more
BTPSXM Calls on Government to set the record straight on Fraud Allegations
Sint Maarten – The Supervisory Board of the BTP SXM, after prior consultation with the Minister TEATT, has decided on this press release as it is evident that crucial available information within Government is not made available to all or considered which leads to the continued unfounded allegation of fraud at the BTP SXM… more
TelEm Group 2013 financial statements, 2015 budget approved at Annual General Shareholders Meeting Thursday
Sint Maarten – Prime Minister, The Hon. Marcel Gumbs, officially introduced himself and members of the Council of Ministers to members of the Supervisory Board of Directors and Management of the Sint Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company N.V. (SMTHC) for the company’s Annual General Shareholder’s meeting in the A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall, Thursday… more
Govt owes US$3m for licences
Trinidad and Tobago – Government ministries owe about US$3 million in outstanding license fees for using services from providers such as Microsoft… more
T&T AG claims court ruled against Rowley in emailgate scandal
Trinidad and Tobago – Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said yesterday a legal victory was scored against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley for what he said was his failure to file a defence in a defamation case against him, involving the allegations made in the emailgate fiasco… more
Saturday, 17 January 2015
West Terrace students receive tablets
Barbados – THE Class 3 students of the West Terrace Primary school were recently elated, when they and members of the school’s staff received a donation of roughly 120 Samsung galaxy Tablets… more
Internet service restored
Guyana – Dear Editor, We thank you for the opportunity to respond to Mr Leon Suseran’s letter published in Stabroek News on January 16, 2015 (No internet service for two days’)… more
US$22M EBD four lane extension…GT&T refuses to be drawn in quarrel over delays
Guyana – Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has denied that it is to be blamed for the delays on a critical section of the US$22M East Bank Demerara four-lane highway extension… more
Digicel fails to block rival’s Jamaica deal
Regional – Attempts by Denis O’Brien’s Digicel telecoms company to stymie Cable &Wireless’s $1.85 billion acquisition of Columbus International in Caribbean markets on competition grounds received a blow this week when Jamaica’s minister of science, technology, energy and mining Phillip Paulwell gave the deal the green light… more
Divided and Ruled
Regional – Somebody better be misquoting Phillip Paulwell… more
Eastern Caribbean responds to evolving telecoms landscape
Regional – Officials from across the Eastern Caribbean are working on a joint response to major changes in the region’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape… more
Jamaica approves CWC/Columbus merger
Regional – Jamaica is the first country in the region to approved acquisition of Columbus Communications by Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC). Approval was granted by that island’s Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell… more
MAS2 TV takes Caribbean culture to the world
Regional – Millions of people around the world will soon have access to the unique culture of T&T and the Caribbean on any media platform they choose through a new channel called MAS2 TV… more
Digicel: Roam like you’re home
Saint Lucia – PREPAID and postpaid customers from the region’s leading telecommunications provider Digicel are benefitting from truly great value when roaming with Digicel’s new “Roam Like You’re Home” Service… more
Sunday, 18 January 2015
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Image credits; NS Newsflash (flickr); Bahamas Local; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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