A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March 2015.
Monday, 2 March 2015
BTC unions mulling voluntary separation package
Bahamas – Members of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) and the Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) have until March 15 to accept a voluntary separation package (VSEP) from the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) which appears to guarantee that employees with seven to 10 years of service will get at least a year’s pay as incentive, among other inducements… more
Mobile business models considered
Bahamas – As Digicel, Cable Bahamas and Virgin Mobile vie for the second mobile license – due to be issued in a matter of months – questions have been expressed about how these companies do business… more
Barbados Flow’s best market
Barbados – BARBADIANS have been going with the Flow so eagerly that the island has become the telecommunications service provider’s best market “ever” … more
…And His Involvement in Telemedia Prior to Nationalization
Belize – In our interview, Ashcroft also spoke about his level of financial involvement, or, as we learnt, his lack of financial involvement, in Telemedia at the time of nationalization… more
Promised tablets to be received before year end – Saint Jean
Dominica – All secondary and Dominica State College (DSC) students have been given the assurance that they will receive tablets promised by the government during the course of this year… more
$24.9 Million for National Identification System
Jamaica – A sum of $24.9 million is to be spent this year on the continued development of a National Identification System (NIDS) for Jamaica… more
Are you raising a digital dunce?
Jamaica – CHILDREN who are exposed to too much television, computer games and other digital devices are prone to paying less attention in class, becoming fat, and becoming more tolerant to violence… more
Start-Up Jamaica To Pick Up Steam
Jamaica – Jamaica’s push to create a local animation industry is to receive a major push under the Youth Employment in Digital and Creative Industries project, which has been allocated $70 million in the 2015/2016 Estimates of Expenditure… more
Cable & Wireless Extends Longstop Date On Columbus Acquisition
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications PLC on Monday said it has agreed to extend the longstop date on the acquisition of Barbados-based telecommunications and technology services group Columbus International Inc… more
Upsurge in porn shared on social media, St Lucia police concerned
Saint Lucia – Police Monday said they are concerned at the upsurge in pornographic videos and photographs posted on the various social websites featuring young St Lucians… more
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
AG: Young Bahamians should focus on ICT
Bahamas – Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson has urged young Bahamians to fully embrace the opportunities in the information and communications technology (ICT) field as The Bahamas makes gradual steps in becoming a regional hub for arbitration… more
BTC Seeks More Time On Facility-Sharing Deals
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is urging the sector regulator to give it more time to both develop a list of its infrastructure facilities, and negotiate facility sharing agreements with rival operators… more
Cable Bahamas wins seven international marketing awards for excellence
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas’ innovative marketing strategies were recently recognised by an international panel of industry professionals, who selected the company as a multiple winner in the 2014 Telly Awards… more
URCA Opens Second Round of Consultation re: Proposed Infrastructure Sharing Regulations
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) today commenced the second round of consultation on its proposed Infrastructure Sharing Regulations… more
$ for “.ky” domain name
Cayman Islands – If you own a ‘.ky’ address for your e-mail or website, you’re going to have to start paying to keep that domain name… more
LIME: Superfast Broadband is here
Cayman Islands – Back in March 2014, LIME announced a $30 million investment in its networks in the Cayman Islands, along with a commitment to residents that everyone would have access to Superfast Broadband by March 2015… more
Digital switchover not likely before 2018
Jamaica – A 2015 date announced previously for the island’s television stations to switch over from analogue to digital broadcast has been shifted for at least another three years… more
Project to Increase Access to ICT Services Receives $123 Million
Jamaica – A project, which aims to provide Jamaicans with increased access to information and communications technology (ICT) services, has received an allotment of $123 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before Parliament… more
CWC partners with Facebook for simple login
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), the parent company of LIME, is partnering with Facebook to provide customers a more simple and personalised way to access free Wi-Fi, starting with LIME Barbados, where the new service will launch in the first quarter of 2015… more
Digicel Limited Announces The Expiration Of Its Tender Offer For Any And All Of Its 8.250% Senior Notes Due 2017
Regional – Digicel Limited (“Digicel”) today announced that its previously announced cash tender offer to purchase any and all of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 8.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (the “Notes”) expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, March 2, 2015 (the “Expiration Time”)… more
St Vincent teachers’ union upset over treatment of teacher arrested for posts on Facebook
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) Tuesday expressed “serious concern” about the manner in which a teacher was treated by law enforcement authorities after being arrested on Monday for posting statements on a social network site… more
Sint Maarten government reiterates desire to swap UTS stake for Eastern Caribbean assets
Sint Maarten – Sint Maarten Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson, in his capacity as the country’s shareholder representative in Curacao-based joint venture United Telecommunication Services (UTS), has reiterated the government’s desire to swap its minority stake in the UTS group for the company’s Eastern Caribbean assets, describing the move as a ‘win-win situation’ for both Sint Maarten and Curacao… more
The e-mails are here
Trinidad and Tobago – One day after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on authorities to wrap up the investigation into emailgate, Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has announced that multinational Internet service provider Google has provided the information that was sourced and the Police Service (TTPS) is analysing it… more
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
BTC Bahamas and FLOW Jamaica Recognized at 2015 Stevie® Awards for Sales and Customer Service
Bahamas – Caribbean-based companies FLOW Jamaica and BTC Bahamas have each received silver and bronze awards for their performance in the area of Sales and Customer Service… more
Cable: URCA Regulations ‘Impede’ Mobile Roll-Out
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has warned that the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) own infrastructure sharing regulations will prevent the winning mobile bidder from meeting the Government’s “ambitious” network roll-out targets… more
URCA consulting again on infrastructure sharing
Bahamas – After receiving responses during its first round of consultations on proposed infrastructure sharing regulations from JazzTel Bahamas Limited, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Cable Bahamas Limited, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has opened a second round of consultations as three companies have moved to the next stage of the cellular liberalization process… more
Free up phone numbers, says Symmonds
Barbados – The Opposition spokesman on commerce and international business, Kerrie Symmonds, wants cell phone number portability for Barbadians, insisting the issue needs to be addressed urgently to improve the local business environment… more
CCT considers overseas operation – Penn
British Virgin Islands – Other countries in the Caribbean are likely to be served by CCT Global Communications if the management of the British Virgin Islands-based telecoms provider makes good on its promise to further explore the viability of such expansion… more
Cuba Tech Startups: Big Potential
Cuba – Growing up in Cuba, Jose Pimienta didn’t see the Internet until 2006… more
Indotel plans to deploy national fibre optic network
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Institute for Telecommunications (Indotel) announced a plan to deploy a national fibre optic network to boost internet access across the country… more
Local software developers ready for DevCa 2015
Jamaica – TWENTY-FIVE local software developers are primed and ready to create products for local and regional markets following participation in a two-day bootcamp hosted by Caribbean Mobile Innovation Programme (CMIP) and Developing the Caribbean (DevCa), a regional technology development conference and Code Sprint scheduled for Tomorrow and Friday at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona… more
Technology revolutionising education, says Thwaites
Jamaica – Minister of Education, Rev Hon Ronald Thwaites, says steps are being taken to revolutionise the country’s education sector through the incorporation of technology… more
CWC and Facebook Collaborate to Offer Free Wi-Fi in the Caribbean
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) today announced a unique partnership with Facebook that will offer customers a simple, personalized way to access free Wi-Fi… more
Facebook fends off Digicel’s complaints
Regional – Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on Monday fended off complaints that the hugely popular social network was getting a free ride out of telecom operators who host its service on smartphones… more
Merger danger: Warning from former Canto boss on CWC/Columbus
Regional – If Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) acquires Columbus International and becomes a monopoly that could hurt the region’s economic diversification, Felipe Noguera, communications specialist and one time secretary general of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (Canto) warned yesterday… more
Sandvine Powers Service Innovation for Digicel Group
Regional – Sandvine, (TSX:SVC) a leading provider of intelligent broadband network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today announced that Digicel Group, the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean is a long time Sandvine customer that is using Sandvine’s Network Policy Control solutions to offer their subscribers innovative service plans… more
SMCU calls on Government and other Government Entities to deal with TELEM Illegal hiring of Foreign Contractors.
Sint Maarten – The St. Maarten Communication Union (SMCU) headed by Ludson Evers along with his other board members told reporters at a press conference held on Wednesday that he would like for the Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs (Shareholder representative of TELEM) and other entities they contacted to deal with an illegal situation that TELEM another government owned company has engaged in… more
TELEM Negotiating with LIME — Negotiations with Digicel still Open – Reliable Sources
Sint Maarten – The St. Maarten Telecommunication Company is busy negotiating with LIME USA as they continue to seek partnership with an another company… more
Emailgate probe still on
Trinidad and Tobago – EVEN as both sides of the political divide called for urgent action to resolve the Emailgate affair, the police yesterday said more time is needed to process all information received. Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams vowed the results of the police probe would by made public… more
‘Google file voluminous’
Trinidad and Tobago – Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams has confirmed the police have received “voluminous” information from Internet service provider Google on the Emailgate issue and the alleged e-mails in the matter are being analysed to determine their authenticity… more
TSTT signs partnership with YuppTV to offer Bollywood Content over Internet in Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – YuppTV – the world’s leading over-the-top (OTT) content player for South Asian Content and Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) – a full telecommunications service provider, have signed an agreement to deliver OTT Bollywood Content to subscribers in Trinidad & Tobago… more
Thursday, 5 March 2015
The Ministry Of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications And Information Technology Will Be Signing A Milestone Agreement With Microsoft On Monday 2nd March 2015
Antigua and Barbuda – The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Information Technology will be signing a milestone agreement with Microsoft on Monday 2nd March 2015… more
LIME makes magic this March
Barbados – LIME, expected to merge with FLOW later this month, will offer $25,000 in cash and prizes to 1000 lucky customers in an exciting ‘March Magic‘ campaign… more
Launch Of Elearning Platform Hailed
Jamaica – From four students under a tree to more than 300 students today in classrooms, Ricardo Allen on Tuesday took the next step in education by launching a four-course eLearning platform called “MyLocker”… more
LIME, Digicel preparing for number portability
Jamaica – TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS LIME and Digicel say they are working towards implementing the number portability system amidst optimism by the Government about meeting the May deadline… more
Wheatley warns of likely increase in telephone call taxes
Jamaica – OPPOSITION spokesman on science, ICT and digital society development Dr Andrew Wheatley has expressed concerns over the Government’s apparent intention to levy additional taxes on the telecommunications sector… more
Grassroots perspectives on the Caribbean telecoms landscape
Regional – If weaving dreams is a Caribbean past-time, selling them is more than a livelihood, it’s an industry… more
Digicel talks fruitless, TelEm talking to another company
Sint Maarten – The TelEm Group is currently engaged in partnership talks with a new prospective partner as talks with Digicel bore no fruit… more
Blink/bmobile scores big at 2015 Caribbean ADDY Awards but TT was the real winner
Trinidad and Tobago – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S blink/bmobile was once again in winner’s row at the Caribbean Advertising Federation (CAF)/American Advertising ADDY Awards which was held in US Virgin Islands last month… more
Invocab launches in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – On February 25, Niherst launched the Improving Innovation Capacities in the Caribbean (Invocab) Project at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Couva… more
Friday, 6 March 2015
BTC Wins Silver and Bronze in 2015 Stevie® Awards
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) Corporate and Enterprise Sales Team won silver and bronze at the prestigious ninth annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service held in Las Vegas, at the Bellagio Hotel, on February 27th… more
URCA and ITU meet with Bahamas AG on ICT Development
Bahamas – Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) executives and the Former US Ambassador to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Ambassador Bradley Holmes paid a courtesy call and met with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Senator the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson on ICT Development in The Bahamas, March 4, at the Ministry of Legal Affairs… more
ICTA braces for registrant loss
Cayman Islands – Before .ky goes to the world in September, those at the Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) believes they will lose about 40% of their existing registrants… more
Telecommunications in Cuba and the U.S. Embargo: History, Opportunities, and Challenges
Cuba – Since President Obama announced the United States’ new policy to normalize relations with Cuba, talk about opportunities for U.S. telecommunications companies has flourished… more
LIME Provides Tech Support For E-Learning Platform
Jamaica – LIME has taken on a key role to support MyLocker, an interactive video-based learning platform delivered to subscribers over the Internet. As title sponsors, LIME invested J$350,000 along with Internet-enabled handsets… more
Tech Guru Overwhelmed By Draper University Opportunity
Jamaica – He always had a knack for computer applications and software creations, but if 25-year-old Dwayne Samuels, from a humble community in suburban Manchester, were told a few years ago that he would be the first Jamaican to be accepted at Draper University of Heroes (Draper U) and travel to Silicon Valley, there’s a possibility he would have laughed in disbelief… more
SAMSUNG expects new Galaxy phones to ‘mash up’ the Caribbean market
Regional – SAMSUNG aims to launch its newest smartphones — the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge — into the Caribbean market next month… more
TelEm Group Management reports on fruitful meeting with labour representatives to clear up Foreign labour complaint
Sint Maarten – Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mr. Brian Mingo says a fruitful meeting was held with representatives of the Inspectorate of Labour, Friday, during which TelEm Goup’s use of five overseas workers was explained along with information about pending applications for work permits for these workers… more
Police review 500 emails sent by Google
Trinidad and Tobago – Legal advisers to the Police Service are reviewing close to 500 emails sent to investigators by Google International as a probe of an alleged Government conspiracy to murder and pervert the course of justice continues… more
Saturday, 7 March 2015
BTC to lose millions from reduced roaming rates, CEO says
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was forced to cut its roaming rate in half after two international mobile phone companies threatened to pull their customers, BTC CEO Leon Williams said… more
ICT key to enhancing customer experience in hospitality sector, says expert
Jamaica – AVAYA information communication technology expert Dennis Müllert says that the survival of Jamaica’s tourism sector depends on its use of more effective customer experience management… more
‘Digicel Eye’ Launched
Regional – DIGICEL Business this week revealed details of its latest business solutions product, Digicel Eye, which sees customers across the region benefitting from always-on surveillance accessible from any mobile device and delivering peace of mind for their businesses… more
Carpet Media Goes ‘Over The Top’
Saint Lucia – ST. LUCIA’S online media company Carpet Media SLU has launched the latest addition to its line of online services, The SLOTT Network… more
Lift this e-mail shadow of shame
Trinidad and Tobago – IN the nearly two years since Opposition Leader Keith Rowley released e-mails that he identified as messages circulated among highest government leaders, a shadow of shame has remained over T&T… more
Sunday, 8 March 2015
New technologies, new audience
Jamaica – COMMUNICATION specialist Marcia Forbes addressed the importance of technologies in engaging new audiences at the recently concluded International Reggae Conference held at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus… more
BPO Sector Warns Government Against New 10% Charges
Jamaica – Several stakeholders in the fast-growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector are warning that a proposed new tax could do irreparable harm to the still fragile industry… more
E-Book programme roll out for new school year
Jamaica – Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says the government will be rolling out its e-book programme in the new school year… more
Denis O’Brien
Regional – Twenty years ago, entrepreneur Denis O’Brien’s Esat won Ireland’s second mobile phone licence, backed by a group of investors including Dermot Desmond and Norwegian telco Telenor… more
Don’t fight the pull of the TV
Trinidad and Tobago – The second Sunday of Lent and the New Year’s resolution of cable & DirecTV to show great films remains strong… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia
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