A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 14 December to Sunday 20 December 2015.
Monday, 14 December 2015
Why Cuba’s economy could stay trapped in the Stone Age
Cuba – Google (GOOGL) wants to help the Cuban government roll out broadband Internet across the country. The Cuban government appears to prefer dial-up service… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Digicel gives cash, trips in first Christmas draw
Dominica – Digicel has held its first draw of the Christmas Season thrilling customers with cash and trips among other prizes… more
Cyber crime victims seek police intervention
Guyana – Every time she meets someone, Emma (not her real name) wonders if they’ve seen her naked… more
Girls Who Code – Students At Clan Carthy Primary Learn To Master The Craft Through Tablets-In-Schools Programme
Jamaica – TWENTY-FIVE GRADE-SIX students at Clan Carthy Primary School in Kingston on Friday gave Julian Robinson, state minister for science, technology, energy and ministry, some insight into the different ways they use Internet access to do research for homework, play educational and other games, as well as keep in touch with friends and relatives in Jamaica and across the world… more
Digicel adds the DL1000 to its suite of best value smartphones
Regional – With Christmas just around the corner, telecommunications company, Digicel, is adding the sleek, sexy DL1000 handset to its suite of DL smartphones… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Instagram explained for you
Regional – Hear the word Instagram every day but haven’t a clue as to what it means? … more
Tech Times: Twitter Is Now Delivering Ads To Users Without Accounts
Regional – Tech Term of the Week: VoIP – Voice over internet protocol is a service by which telephone calls can be made via the internet through the combined use of hardware and software that delivers voice information in digital form… more
Fujitsu, Veritas relaunch strategic partnership
Trinidad and Tobago – Fujitsu Caribbean and its global strategic partner, Veritas, one of the world leaders in backup and information management, on Thursday relaunched their partnership in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Turks and Caicos government writes off $12 million in uncollected telecoms taxes
Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Islands government on Friday passed a motion in the House of Assembly for the write-off of $12 million in penalties for late payment of telecommunications taxes that was inadvertently overlooked for some four year… more
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
App Founders Target Full Mobile Commerce
Bahamas – The founders of a recently-launched mobile application which provides one-click access to commercial, Government and non-profit organisation communication channels, aim to eventually offer full mobile commerce… more
Fans pack BTC for LG launch
Bahamas – Dozens packed a BTC flagship store December 5 for a peak at LG, a new line of mobile phones never before offered in this cell-savvy market hungry for the latest in the devices they treasure, the cell phones and tablets that seem to accompany them everywhere but the shower… more
Government of The Bahamas with URCA Hosts Important ITU Conference
Bahamas – The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas along with the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) is hosting the 5th ITU symposium from December 14th – 18th at Atlantis, Paradise Island… more
ICTs Cited As ‘Enabler’ For Sustainable Cities
Bahamas – Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) can be used as ‘enablers’ to tackle environmental challenges and build sustainable cities, an adviser to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) said yesterday… more
ICTs Have ‘Key Role’ In Sustainable Development
Bahamas – Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have a “critical role” to play in ensuring sustainable development, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) policy director believes… more
Flow unveils Multi Island Tech Kids Project this weekend in the City
Barbados – Children between the ages of five and nine will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the exciting world of technology as telecommunications provider Flow hosts its inaugural Tech Kids Project… more
Free music streaming for Digicel prepaid customers
Barbados – DIGICEL Barbados’ prepaid customers are now able to stream music from their favourite apps on select plans without affecting their quota… more
Smart gets ready for 4G
Belize – Today, December 15, was expected to be the start date for SMARTs 4G LTE internet service, which it has touted as revolutionizing Belize’s telecom industry… more
Digicel Takes Control of Jamaica’s Paymaster, Hopes To Launch Mobile Wallet
Regional – Telecom firm Digicel has acquired a majority stake in Jamaica’s first payments company Paymaster for an undisclosed sum. Founded by a former ambassador, the payment service provider has over 170 locations in the Caribbean country… more
Huawei: T&T regional hub for its Eastern Caribbean operations
Regional – TRINIDAD and Tobago stands to increase its GDP by 1.38 per cent and create more job opportunities if it increases its broadband penetration… more
FLOW St. Kitts & Nevis Early Closure
Saint Kitts and Nevis – FLOW wishes to notify its customers and the general public that its offices on St. Kitts and Nevis will be closed at 2:00 pm on Thursday 17th December… more
‘But I see it on the Internet’
Trinidad and Tobago – There were two key pieces of news last week and not a Trinidadian I know had anything to say to me about them. Instead all I got were emails from friends and acquaintances about Muslim refugees from Syria “invading” Europe and supposedly breaking down the place… more
New TSTT, WASA boards get mandate to cut losses
Trinidad and Tobago – The new boards of State-owned TSTT (Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago) and WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority) have been given a mandate to cut losses and ensure citizens get value for money… more
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
LIME WORKERS WIN ROUND TWO
Antigua and Barbuda – The 13 employees of telecommunications company LIME, who were fired and then reinstated will remain on the job, at least until month end, when their employer and bargaining agent will be heading back to court… more
Upgrades in the cards for building that houses state media
Antigua and Barbuda – Staff at the Antigua Broadcasting Services (ABS) Television and Radio will soon have their prayers answered, as Minister of Broadcast and Telecommunications Melford Nicholas said within a few months’ time a number the Cross Street facility will be upgraded… more
Digicel wins Government contract
Barbados – Government has entered into a contract with telecommunications company Digicel that will cut its telephone costs in half… more
Government hopes to raise millions from taxes on cell phone use
Barbados – The Barbados government has introduced legislation amending the Value Added Tax (VAT0 to allow for a 22 per cent tax on voice and other transmissions from cell phones… more
Digicel launches asset-tracking service
Jamaica – MARTIN Carroll, group COO for business solutions/ICT at Digicel said the company has introduced a new product, Digicel Asset Tracking that tracks geolocation and monitors assets such as vehicles, equipment, and machines for companies and individuals… more
Digicel Play chief has vast experience
Jamaica – John Suranyi, the man leading Digicel’s charge into the lucrative cable market, is no neophyte in the highly competitive industry… more
FLOW opens new-look customer experience centre in Portmore
Jamaica – TELECOMMUNICATIONS firm, FLOW, has launched its second Customer Experience Centre in Jamaica; this time in the municipality of Portmore, St Catherine… more
Phone snatcher gets nine months in jail
Jamaica – A man who pleaded guilty to robbing a woman of her cellular phone in New Kingston was slapped with a nine-month prison sentence when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court… more
tTech closes IPO in one minute following oversubscription
Jamaica – Technology firm tTech Ltd, aiming to raise $50.2 million on the Junior Market through an IPO, says the offer, which opened this morning, was three times oversubscribed in one minute… more
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Digicel Barbados offers zero rating music access
Barbados – Digicel Barbados has announced the launch of a new initiative giving prepay users zero rating access to a number of music streaming platforms, reports local daily Nation News… more
TRC now set to regulate broadband market
British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) said it has officially determined that telecommunication company LIME is the dominant provider of fixed line broadband services in the territory, and that the development has now paved the way for it to be able to regulate the market… more
Tech City To Be Built In Fairbanks Area
Cayman Islands – Well over four years after promising a campus to transform Cayman into a technological centre of excellence, the current management team of Cayman Enterprise City has settled on a site in the Fairbanks area of George Town for the tech zone’s actual campus… more
Wheel And Come Again, Digicel
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I do not know if it’s a case of bad management, sheer impatience or someone not paying attention to details, but Digicel seems to have jumped the gun in rolling out its new Digiplay service… more
Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Brokerages
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the eleven research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have issued a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company… more
Flow ‘well set’ for growth
Regional – TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Flow is poised for major growth in 2016 as it moves to capitalise on this year’s merger of Cable & Wireless and Columbus operations in Barbados… more
Liberty song!
Regional – It will be business as usual for Flow operations in Barbados, following the agreement by the board of the parent company, Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), to sell its operations to Liberty Global in a deal worth a whopping US$8.2 billion, including debt… more
Site Your Trust On First Impressions
Regional – Your website is the single most important aspect of your business. It is a crucial first impression and determines whether people hire you for your services or products. It should tell visitors what you have got, what it will do for them and what they need to do next… more
$350m BACKPAY
Trinidad and Tobago – While public service workers have been told there’s no money to pay them now, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) workers are to receive $350 million in backpay… more
‘TSTT must have 4G licence’
Trinidad and Tobago – The new chairman of TSTT, Emile Elias, says the company’s current board and its senior management is determined that the majority state-owned telecommunications provider will have a 4G LTE, despite reports that the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) has made a recommendation to its line minister that the two 4G licences be granted to Digicel and Flow…. more
Friday, 18 December 2015
LIME workers off the job again
Antigua and Barbuda – LIME retail staff, who have been in limbo for more than three weeks, are off the job again… more
Department of Labour Cautions Against Seeking Cruise Ship Jobs Via Internet
Bahamas – The Bahamas Department of Labour advises the public to exercise caution if seeking cruise ship jobs via the Internet in order to avoid falling victim to online scams… more
Barbados To Raise Millions From Tax On Cell Phone Use
Barbados – Barbados to raise millions from tax on cell phone use… more
CCT, regulator in court over spectrum allocation
British Virgin Islands – CCT Global Communications wants a fair shake at the impending allocation of broadband spectrum, but feels the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission denied its application without a proper review, the High Court heard this week… more
BUSINESS BYTE: FLOW unveils Tech Kids Project
Dominica – Children between the ages of four and six will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the exciting world of technology, as telecommunications provider Flow hosts its inaugural Tech Kids Project… more
Computer malware damage important govt data; Guyanese warned
Guyana – The Guyana National Computer Incident Response Team (GNCIRT) wishes to alert the general public of the sudden surge in ransomware attacks being experienced globally… more
Gov’t got good deal on GTT shares – Brassington
Guyana – Amidst the controversy that has arisen over the disposal of government’s 20 per cent shares in the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GTT), Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington has told Stabroek Business that government got more than it might have otherwise expected for the sale of its shares to the Chinese technology company Datang… more
Barbados chosen as regional human resources base
Regional – BARBADOS LOST OUT to Jamaica as the location of Cable & Wireless’ (C&W) new Caribbean call centre, but the island has been chosen as the regional base for C&W’s human resources services… more
Frost & Sullivan Confers C&W Business With the Company of the Year Award for Its Robust Product Portfolio Backed by Outstanding Customer Service
Regional – Based on its recent analysis of the data communications services market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes C&W Business, part of C&W Communications, with the 2015 Central American and Caribbean Frost & Sullivan Award for Company of the Year. In an environment where technological change is rapid and constant, and businesses require specialized support to address specific needs, C&W Business has created a solid and unique position in the market through its high-quality, one-stop-shop solutions… more
Digicel Ad Control now Live in St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Digicel today announced that its ad control technology is now live in St. Kitts and Nevis… more
St Lucians vie for world record with Alcatel Onetouch Christmas Promotion
Saint Lucia – Last weekend, the Blue Coral Mall, Rodney Bay Mall and Bay Walk Mall saw over 300 persons participating in the recently launched ALCATEL ONETOUCH Christmas promotion ‘Let’s Sing Together’ online at http://www.letssingtogether2015.com/ … more
Mixed reactions to cut in subventions
Trinidad and Tobago – THERE have been mixed reactions to yesterday’s announcement of an approximately 50 percent cut in Government’s contributions to the National Chutney Soca Monarch (NCSM) and International Soca Monarch (ISM) competitions… more
TSTT cash reserves almost depleted
Trinidad and Tobago – THE cash reserves of state owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) will soon be depleted, following a $350 million payment of arrears to staff, and a recent payment of $450 million in other arrears… more
TSTT settles 10% wage pact
Trinidad and Tobago – Majority state-owned telecommunications provider, TSTT, yesterday signed a three-year collective agreement with the trade union representing its 2,000 junior and senior staff that gives the employees a 10 per cent wage increase for the period January 2011 to December 2013… more
Saturday, 19 December 2015
Bahamians warned about cruise ship jobs via Internet
Bahamas – Bahamians are being warned against seeking employment on cruise liners after indicating that a listing of job vacancies for the Costa Cruise Line Australia is possibly an Internet hoax… more
Retired public officers say they want money that rightfully belongs to them
Belize – An ad hoc committee representing approximately 600 public servants, most of whom are retired, has filed a claim in court in a bid to get their share of money that had been allotted by the Belize Telecommunications Limited to the Public Sector Workers Trust… more
Guyana warns of ransomware attacks
Guyana – Guyanese officials have told nationals whose computers have come under attack from “ransomware” not to pay any ransom, noting that a government agency has suffered “irreparable damage to important data files”… more
Ministry warns of malicious software attack, gov’t agency affected
Guyana – The Ministry of Public Security yesterday issued a press release from its Computer Incident Response Team on a malicious software attack that has surged in recent weeks and one government agency here has been affected… more
Productivity hot button too long avoided by Govt
Trinidad and Tobago – AS retrenchment moves on, and is expected to continue apace in response to a new normal of making do economically with less, some home truths about the T&T world of work and business should finally get the attention they deserve… more
Sunday, 20 December 2015
CARIBBEAN: Alcatel OneTouch projects smarter mobile phone production and consumer purchases in 2016
Regional – According to ALCATEL ONETOUCH, Latin America and the Caribbean face major challenges with a slowdown in purchases in the market for mobile devices due to present economic climate… more
Image credits: (Mick Baker)rooster (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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