A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 11 January to Sunday 17 January 2016.
Monday, 11 January 2016
Government strengthens ICT capacity
Antigua and Barbuda – Recently the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) donated over three hundred thousand dollars to the Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS), project… more
B.T.L. Chairman Anwar Barrow Claims That Revenues Will Increase
Belize – The media also took the opportunity to ask Chairman Barrow about several issues including the drop in profits at the government-owned telecommunications company. Barrow says that while the financials have seen a declining profit in the past, this year, the company expects to rebound… more
B.T.L. Signs Memorandum of Understanding With SJCJC
Belize – After sending out the call to several education institutions to make the bid, today, Belize Telemedia Limited signed a memorandum of understanding with Saint John’s College Junior College… more
Dominicans can get a Taiwan visa via the Web
Dominican Republic – The Embassy of Taiwan on Monday announced that the Dominicans who request a Taiwanese visa must do so through the electronic application system (e-Visa) starting Jan. 12… more
GWI says probing sabotage of ICT network
Guyana – The Guyana Water Inc says that Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles and the management of GWI have launched an internal investigation following the discovery by GWI ICT personnel of a device which compromised GWI’s ICT network… more
Cable & Wireless and Huawei test copper-based broadband across Latin America
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications Plc’s (CWC) business unit in Panama, Cable & Wireless Panama SA (CWP) and Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, announced on 6 January the first successful trial of the fastest copper based broadband service across Latin America using leading G.fast technology… more
Digicel Launches Double Talk Promotion
Saint Lucia – As the leader in innovation and delivery of best value to customers, Digicel has commenced the New Year with providing customers with even more value and amazing offers… more
Digicel gives more value to customers with a Double Talk
Saint Lucia – As the leader in innovation and delivery of best value to customers, Digicel has commenced the New Year with providing customers with even more value and amazing offers… more
NOTICE: LIME retail stores to close on Tuesday
Saint Lucia – LIME wishes to advise customers that its retail stores at Blue Coral, the Baywalk Mall, Vieux Fort and Soufriere will be closed to the public on Tuesday, January 12th from 11:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in order to facilitate a general staff activity… more
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
Cable’s USO Late Fee Reduced 74%
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas will introduce a late payment fee of $1.45 for its six-channel universal service (USO) TV package, in a bid to satisfy a condition set by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) for approving its 27 per cent basic pay-TV increase… more
Young Bahamian interns at tech giant Google
Bahamas – Shaquille Hall is different. This 20-year-old is a focused, analytical young man, who has chosen to be unfamiliar with the street life and familiar with his studies instead… more
BTL’s Short Term Plan For LTE
Belize – At the end of November, we told you about you about BTL’s announcement that it intended to upgrade it’s mobile data network to 4G LTE… more
BTL Teams Up With SJC To Create Technology Culture
Belize – A memorandum of understanding was signed today between the Chairman of BTL’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Anwar Barrow and the President of SJC Allis Peralta, to cement a partnership between the two institutions… more
Chairman Barrow Explains Hiccups in 4G Service
Belize – But that is little or no consolation to Telemedia customers who for months now have been experiencing dropped calls, interruptions in data services despite the stabilization of the 4G service offered by B.T.L. Barrow says that the hiccups in the system are caused by demand… more
Dominican Republic delays DSO
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic is not one of the world’s major TV markets (population 10.4 million) but its decision to delay adopting full digital terrestrial TV until 2021 is something of a surprise… more
Free internet looms for Essequibo
Guyana – Initiatives are currently been put in place by senior technical staff of E- Governance Network and the Region Two Administration, who have intentions of rolling off a programme where the accessibility of ascertaining free internet would be soon possible… more
Local talent powers Digicel Play
Jamaica – Technically-skilled and service-oriented persons account for the largest group of almost one thousand persons hired to roll out Digicel Play… more
LIME Takes Steps to Curb Equipment Theft
Saint Lucia – LIME is stepping up measures to combat the theft of equipment at its cell sites… more
The Internet sales pitch
Trinidad and Tobago – “I went home on maternity leave and when I came back in 1998, the Internet had exploded,” said Sarah Carroll, her face still showing some of the surprise of that life change… more
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
BTC Signals Continued Commitment to Diversity in Leadership with New COO
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company, (BTC) is no stranger to advocating for gender equality in the Information and Communication and Technology (ICT) sector… more
Call waiting
Barbados – The President of the Barbados Economics Society, Jeremy Stephen, has described as a win for consumers, Digicel’s decision to absorb the 4.5 per cent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on cellular phone services… more
Spectrum award: CCT wins court case against TRC
British Virgin Islands – Caribbean Cellular Telephone (CCT) said it was successful in its Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court judicial review that – among other things – challenged its exclusion from the 2015 Spectrum Award process… more
Low digitalisation delays analogue switch-off for Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – After analysing the Dominican Republic’s TV digitalisation situation, the government is delaying the country’s analogue switch-off until August 2021… more
DIGICEL FINAL CASH GRAB AND LAUNCH OF FREEBIES
Grenada – Digicel had its final Cash Grab of the More the Merrier Christmas Promotion in the Melville Street store on Friday 8th January as well as launching a brand new pre-paid campaign… more
Bids opened for IT systems for Deeds & Commercial Registries
Guyana – During yesterday’s session at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, there were bids on behalf of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority for the design, supply, installation and support of a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Dedicated Wide Area Network (DWAN)… more
NCN CEO, ICT and H.R. manager resign
Guyana – Even as the National Communications Network (NCN) continues to run at a major loss, over the last two days the positions of the Chief Executive Officer, Human Resources (H.R.) and ICT Manager, have been voluntarily vacated… more
BPO Sector Gets A Second Incubator At Mbfz … A 300-Seat Facility At A Cost Of Approximately Us$600,000
Jamaica – The Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) sector is set to get yet another boost in its bid to realise the projected 30,000 jobs by 2020 with the construction of its second incubator at the Montego Bay Free Zone (MBFZ)… more
Jamaica’s Port Community System: Enhancing The Status As A Major Trade Hub In The Caribbean
Jamaica – Jamaica’s plans to improve its cargo and trade logistics capabilities have taken a step forward by way of the acquisition of a port community system (PCS)… more
National Cybersecurity Strategy Making an Impact
Jamaica – The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is on track with the implementation of the critical components of the National Cybersecurity Strategy that was launched in January 2015… more
STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Cybersecurity Campaign to Be Launched this Month
Jamaica – The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) will launch its cybersecurity awareness campaign dubbed ‘Stop. Think. Connect.’ this month… more
FLOW St. Kitts & Nevis Opening Hours
Saint Kitts and Nevis – FLOW wishes to advise the general public of changes in our Opening Hours on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th, January, respectively… more
Thursday, 14 January 2016
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company appoints Chief Operating Officer
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company, Limited (BTC) announced Wednesday the appointment of Dr. Bornadata (Bonnie) Bain, another Bahamian as Chief Operating Officer. Effective today, she will report directly to Leon Williams, Chief Executive Officer of BTC… more
Telemedia makes investments in 4G technology
Belize – Executive Committee chairman of BTL, Anwar Barrow, says Tuesday’s announcement at SJCJC is the start of what is expected to be a productive year for the state-run telephone company; he projects an upturn in revenues after several years of decline, due to continuous upgrades to customer service and technology… more
Fibre network being sabotaged, FLOW says
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant FLOW is describing the latest fibre cuts in its network as an act of sabotage by vandals, intent on wreaking havoc on the company’s network and the provision of service to its customers… more
AlphaValue Upgrades Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) to “Reduce”
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) was upgraded by investment analysts at AlphaValue to a “reduce” rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports… more
TelCell SMS Christmas raffle winners collect super prizes.
Sint Maarten – Lucky SMS texting champs Ruby Wilson, Elaine Joseph-Carty and Sabine Bayliss visited TelEm Group’s main office on Pond Island Wednesday to collect prizes they won in TelCell’s Christmas SMS contest… more
Friday, 15 January 2016
BTC touting gender diversity
Bahamas – With a staff complement that is 57 percent women, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is touting its commitment to diversity, focusing on gender equality in the wake of announcing a new chief operating officer (COO) — Dr. Bornadata Bain — to run its daily operations… more
Barbados Fire Service Uses Digicel Play for New Numbers
Barbados – Members of the public are asked to note that the telephone numbers for the Barbados Fire Service will change with effect from Friday, January 22… more
Open wi-fi networks, Govt urged
Barbados – GOVERNMENT IS BEING urged to remove the pad locks from its wi-fi routers so that the general public can have access…. more
Phone hike
Barbados – Digicel has made adjustments to some of its rates and data packages for prepaid customers, in the face of its January 7 announcement that it would be absorbing the 4.5 per cent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on cell phone use, which took effect at the start of the year… more
Job losses may result from outsourcing, O’Neal warns
British Virgin Islands – Businessman and attorney-at-law Colin O’Neal has warned that a number of high-paying jobs especially in the financial services industry are likely to be outsourced to foreigners in the near future unless strong action is taken by educators to equip the next generation of workers to compete on a global scale… more
CID gets direct CCTV feed from Harbour Bridge
Guyana – Crime fighting locally has received a technological boost through the connection of a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) live feed from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters… more
7 steps to achieving inbox zero | Sacha Cabral
Regional – Technology has been an amazing revolution in the world of business. Before the internet rolled around, business correspondence was typed or hand written and sent by post… more
Flow TV Now Offering Bravo Media Content in Its Network Lineup
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications, (CWC) the parent company of the Flow and LIME brands in the Caribbean, has signed a deal with Bravo Media, the premiere lifestyle and entertainment brand that drives the cultural conversation around its high-quality, interactive original content… more
Carib gets in the Loop with mobile platform
Trinidad and Tobago – Carib and Trend Media, also known as Loop, have joined hands to launch a mobile platform to increase their client base locally, regionally and internationally… more
Carib launches app
Trinidad and Tobago – CARIB Brewery yesterday launched a mobile application platform in an effort to better engage with its consumers. Speaking at the launch at the Ansa McAl Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Carib’s Marketing Manager Antron Forte, said the world was changing and consumers were much more informed… more
Microsoft goes after online fraudsters
Trinidad and Tobago – Edison Stephen public sector director at Microsoft, Marcelo Tozin security architect with Microsoft, Marlon Fetzner director of Legal and Corporate Affairs for Latam New Markets at Microsoft… more
Saturday, 16 January 2016
Digitisation threatened by lack of security
Antigua and Barbuda – Business manager and IT specialist Yves Ephraim said that government needs to ensure that its planned digitisation of public records is sufficiently secured in order to prevent cyber attacks and theft of personal information… more
Telemedia makes investments in schools and technology
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited is planning a leap forward in two areas: computer training for the next wave of professionals both inside and outside the company; and a revamped national network that will see the state-run company take the lead again in service to customers… more
Frustrated by lack of customer service by GT&T
Guyana – Dear Editor, I am frustrated at the lack of proper customer service by the so-called telecommunications giant of Guyana that treats its customers like beggars rather than valued people whose payments feed the day-to-day operations of the company… more
Guyana: Destination Digital Detox
Guyana – It is true that on any given day you never know where your life will take you–all you have to do is wake up. This truth was proven to me when a 24-hour notice for a trip to discover Guyana changed my life, forever… more
Criminals leave 3,000 Flow customers without service
Jamaica – ABOUT 3,000 Flowcustomers in the parishes of St Catherine, Clarendon and Manchester were yesterday left without telephone and Internet service after criminals stole more than 1,000 metres of cable from the telecommunications company near Old Harbour, St Catherine… more
FLOW set to launch ‘LTE’ in Jamaica
Jamaica – FLOW has announced another first – the telecommunications firm is now carrying out work on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrade to sections of its network that will introduce advanced next-generation mobile internet speeds to Jamaica… more
Jamaicans choose Huawei Smartphones
Jamaica – Huawei announced, that it is the world’s No.3 smartphone maker, with 9.7% worldwide market share… more
Flow Brings Bravo to Caribbean Market
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications announced Friday it has signed a deal with Bravo Media to bring Bravo programming to its Flow TV subsidiary in Caribbean markets… more
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Digicel Secures Major I.C.T Contract With Barbados Government
Barbados – In making the announcement at the recent House of Assembly, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart described this as a “giant step in the direction of e-Government.” … more
Digicel offers up to 99% discount on calls
Haiti – Friday, January 15, 2016, Digicel has announced the launch of “ZònDigi”, a new service that offers discounts on the price of calls intra network, from 10% to 99%, depending on the area and time of the call is started… more
Code of Conduct underway for broadcasters
Guyana – Given the widely perceived biased coverage and “unhealthy content” of some of the stories reported by radio broadcasters during the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is pursuing a Code of Conduct for broadcasters… more
Teleperformance Guyana complements Government’s telecommunication sector plan – says Minister Cathy Hughes
Guyana – The launch of Teleperformance is being dubbed a complement to Government’s plan to enhance the telecommunications sector by Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes… more
FLOW announces upgrade to LTE
Jamaica – Telecommunications company FLOW has announced that it is carrying out work on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrade to sections of its network that will introduce advanced next-generation mobile internet speeds to Jamaica… more
Flow + Lime = Minus Zero
Jamaica – On Christmas morning, a telephone call woke me up at 5 a.m. It was FLOW reminding me that payment of my monthly bill was overdue. It must have been a robocall from a very badly programmed robot… more
Image credits: Dennis Skley (flickr); Belize Web; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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