A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 1 February to Sunday 7 February 2016.
Monday, 1 February 2016
BTC launches ‘quad-play’, FLOW TV in Bimini
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has announced that Resorts World Bimini has requested the installation of FLOW IPTV and other BTC broadband Internet products and services throughout its 305-room Hilton hotel and staff quarters… more
BTC Switches On TV Product In Bimini
Bahamas – BAHAMAS Telecommunications Company (BTC) has celebrated a new milestone: the official launch into the market of its new FLOW TV package to residents and businesses in Bimni, along with its internet, voice and mobile services… more
Mobile Liberalisation Like ‘Duck In The Pond’
Bahamas – Mobile liberalisation’s final stages have been compared to “the life of a duck in the pond’, a key adviser explaining that much progress made to-date is not visible to the Bahamian public… more
URCA Rejects Industry’s Spectrum Fee Proposals
Bahamas – Regulators have rejected calls by the Bahamas’ two leading communications providers that radio spectrum fees be based on administrative costs, finding that this would “not maximise” the potential benefits to society… more
Cuba to Introduce Broadband Internet Pilot Program
Cuba – The Cuban government will roll out broadband Internet service in two neighborhoods in Havana, the director of the state telecommunications company ETECSA announced on Sunday night… more
Cuba will test a pilot project to bring internet to first-time home
Cuba – The Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA) will conduct a pilot project to bring fiber optic internet to homes in Old Havana, according to the Cuban News Agency (ACN)… more
An Online Ticket Machine: The Early Stages Of Digital employment In Haiti
Haiti – What if you could book your bus ticket in Haiti in under two minutes instead of four hours? … more
CAP Programme to be reviewed – Minister Paulwell
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says the Ministry will be undertaking a comprehensive review of all 242 Community Access Points (CAPs) across the island… more
FLOW, Digicel Both Terrible
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: Since 1994, I have been actively working on the Web as an Internet tourism marketing consultant. I spend between nine to 15 hours daily uploading or downloading files, posting photos or photo galleries on social media, and uploading videos to YouTube.com… more
Sexual Predators Using Social Media To Lure Children
Jamaica – The Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) has raised alarm about what it says is the increased use of social media to entice children into situations where they are sexually abused… more
Haiti is Home to CANTO’s 32nd AGM
Regional – Amidst the political unrest in Haiti, CANTO and Digicel Haiti forged ahead to co-host the 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of CANTO from the 31st January – 4th February, 2016… more
Marketing Strategies Today: How to advertise on Instagram: A complete Instagram ads guide
Regional – With all of the celebrities and the entire world that is opening on Instagram, is it any wonder that there are currently over 400 million people who are on Instagram… more
Trinity teacher wins ICT competition
Trinidad and Tobago – Recently, the Ministry of Education once again held its yearly ICT in Education Competition. This competition has been held every year since 2011 and recognises excellence in the use of Information and Communication Technology within the realm of education… more
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
G.O.B. Nervous About Pending Telemedia Arbitration Ruling
Belize – According to Waight, a payment of fifty million dollars is due in a few weeks time… more
Business in brief: ITS helps First Baptist stay online
Cayman Islands – Local IT company Information Technology Solutions (ITS) has donated and installed a new wireless network at First Baptist Christian School… more
Digicel launches ad blocker in Cayman with little fanfare
Cayman Islands – Digicel has been rolling out a new network-level ad blocker across the Caribbean over the past couple of months to stop online advertisements from going over its network… more
New Wi-Fi hotspots to open in Cuba
Cuba – Havana will have 30 new Wi-Fi zones in 2016, two more by municipality, which will facilitate access to the service, Odalys Rodriguez del Toro, director of Havana Division of Cuban Telecommunication Company (ETECSA SA), told ACN… more
Jamaica close to awarding third mobile licence
Jamaica – The Jamaican government is close to awarding a new licence for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Jamaica, reports the Jamaica Observer, citing minister of science, technology, energy and mining Phillip Paulwell… more
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
NEW CELL PHONE TAX
Antigua and Barbuda – The government has announced its intention to tax telecommunications companies after it ended two agreements entered into by the previous administration… more
Video: Dr Dexter James on ICT in the healthcare sector
Barbados – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dr Dexter James speaks about the use of information and communications technology at the QEH and polyclinics… more
ICT Council Established to Spearhead Re-Organisation of Government Operations
Jamaica – An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Council has been established by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining to spearhead the re-organization of Government operations, to further improve service delivery through greater use of ICT… more
Three positions filled at C&W Business
Jamaica – C&W Business has announced the appointment of three women to senior roles within the company’s structure… more
CANTO Focuses on Positioning the Caribbean Telecom Landscape at 32ND AGM
Regional – CANTO, the leading telecommunications association with a global focus is currently on day three of its 32nd Annual General (AGM)… more
C&W Business Launches its Cloud Solutions
Saint Lucia – C&W Business, the business-to-business unit of Cable & Wireless Communications, has officially unveiled a suite of its cloud-based technological solutions in St Lucia… more
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Former information minister calls for consultation on new telecoms tax
Antigua and Barbuda – The former minister of state with responsibility for Information, Science and Technology is calling out government on its decision to impose a 3 per cent tax on telecommunications companies, pointing out that before assuming office the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) administration promised less taxes… more
Technology upgrades at Oakes Field and Northern Bahamas COB campuses
Bahamas – A $2.6 million dollar technology upgrade is boosting connectivity and technology access on the Northern Bahamas and Oakes Field campuses… more
Barbados ranks low for innovation – Byer-Suckoo
Barbados – Despite its high level of education, Barbados has “an inefficient capacity to innovate”, says Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo… more
BEL’s Arbitration Settled; BTL’s Pending
Belize – Following the nationalization of the electric and telephone companies in Belize, the Government of Belize have since concluded the arbitration settlement for the Belize Electricity Limited while the arbitration settlement for the Belize Telemedia Limited remains outstanding, as explained by Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight… more
BTL Working Through Its Difficulties
Belize – Just a couple weeks after BTL slashed its calling rates, hitting an all-time low of 47 cents…bam! There entire short code system went down… more
Cable & Wireless and WhatsApp sign partnership
Regional – Cable & Wireless (C&W) and WhatsApp have entered into a strategic marketing partnership. A first for the Caribbean, this exciting deal offers C&W customers access to the full range of WhatsApp features across the company’s networks… more
CANTO Re-elects Four Directors to its Board
Regional – CANTO a non-profit association made up of operators, organizations, companies and individuals in the ICT (telecommunications) sector ended its Annual General Meeting proceedings on Tuesday (02/02/16)… more
CARCIP hosts successful two-day IXP Stakeholder’s Workshop
Regional – A two-day Internet Exchange Point (IXP) Stakeholder’s Workshop which took place in Saint Lucia on January 28th and 29th, 2016, has been dubbed a success… more
“A Skills Development Program for Nationals,”
Saint Kitts and Nevis – When it comes to opportunity, SKN nationals must be educated and prepared to join a workforce that is aligned to our national brand and development agenda… more
TT gets good BPO rating
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago, in its move to diversify its economy by establishing a robust financial services sector, would benefit significantly from the recently released global services location index report by London consulting firm A T Kearney… more
HELLO FROM THE INSIDE
Trinidad and Tobago – PRISONERS can now legally make telephone calls from behind bars to their relatives, friends and associates via a new telecommunications system installed at the Remand Section of the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca… more
Mobile Revolution
Trinidad and Tobago – The market for mobile applications is already extensive and it exhibits no evidence of slowing down… more
Friday, 5 February 2016
Antigua-Barbuda ‘changes the game’ in spectrum regulation
Antigua and Barbuda – In the rapidly changing world of telecommunications, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has “changed the game” by implementing a telecommunications management system that now allows their regulatory authority, the Antigua and Barbuda Telecommunications Division (ABTD), to automate the oversight required in the constantly evolving telecommunications sector… more
Copyright laws: Changing the channel in Cayman
Cayman Islands – The ringing in of the New Year signaled an adieu to one of the minor quirks of popular culture in the Cayman Islands: Our local television station’s arrangement to air content from U.S. network CBS… more
“Cuban Twitter” Might Hold Key to Cuba’s Reluctance in Telecom Talks
Cuba – Shortly after President Obama announced the normalization of relations with Cuba in December 2014, his administration created exemptions around the embargo for U.S. telecommunications companies to invest in Cuba… more
Digicel calls for a Digital Marshall Plan in Haiti
Haiti – A bold, progressive plan of action to empower and employ more Haitians through greater access to the Internet and e-services is being put forward by Digicel… more
Flow Sports delivers Super Bowl build-up
Jamaica – In yet another exciting move for sports fans, Flow announced yesterday that it is now a designated International Broadcaster for the 2016 NFL Super Bowl… more
Call for regional tech startups to attend regional boot camp and investment matching
Regional – The World Bank Group, in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank and OECS Commission, along with local and regional implementing partners, have all come together to offer a pioneering coding “boot camp” for tech startups in the Caribbean… more
CWC’s Flow Sports to broadcast 50th Super Bowl
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has announced that its newly-launched Caribbean sports network, Flow Sports, will be giving American football fans special access to reports and updates from Super Bowl Week as a designated International Broadcaster for the 2016 NFL Super Bowl… more
Five sure-fire ways to fail at social media marketing
Regional – Social media seems to have taken the world by storm. Where once to play in the game one needed big advertising dollars, TV ads and radio airplay, both small and large businesses can now access a large base of clients online at comparably more affordable rates — all thanks to social media… more
Online chatting -Crime prevention tips
Regional – Crime prevention means being aware of your environment and remaining alert to situations that could make you vulnerable to crime. We cannot list specific measures that will protect you from every threatening situation, which may arise… more
Why the need for e-Government
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Technology is a mainstay in our way of life. Much is desired of automaticity… more
LIME supports child literacy
Saint Lucia – LIME has teamed up with the American NGO Hands Across the Sea to support child literacy in St. Lucia by establishing a lending library of new top-quality fiction, non-fiction, and reference books for the 200 students of Choiseul Secondary School… more
Saturday, 6 February 2016
Bahamas Social Media Summit coming to Freeport April 5th, 2016
Bahamas – Bahamas Social Media Summit 2016 has just been announced during a rotary tour by experienced speaker and seminar promoter Mitch Carson and David Mackey, creative director and president of Mackey Media Ltd… more
Internet in Cuba: promises progress
Cuba – After more than half year of the opening of the first public points wifi in Cuba , expanding access to the Internet is a pending issue for the Caribbean island, although some progress andgovernment promises to extend the service… more
Digicel releases “48 hours of Bob”
Regional – Total communications and entertainment provider, Digicel, will this year celebrate music legend, Bob Marley’s 71st birthday with a 48-hour live stream… more
Cyber cops now hold key to case
Trinidad and Tobago – The police search for child sex predator Franklyn Chea Callender ended yesterday when he was found hanging by his neck from a rope tied to a mango tree near Cemetery Street, Princes Town… more
Sunday, 7 February 2016
‘Untouchable’ cybercrime
Barbados – LOCAL POLICE investigators are reaching into cyberspace but are finding it difficult to take a byte out of some of the alleged crimes being committed… more
Breaking Belize News Socks It To Belize Telemedia Limited
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited hasn’t been doing so well. In its latest report to shareholders, the company admitted to investors that it was all but completely incompetent and disconnected from the world… more
Digicel play passes 10,000 subscribers in Jamaica
Jamaica – Digicel Play has announced that it has surpassed the 10,000 subscriber mark in Jamaica just a few months after launch… more
Transport Ministry’s website hacked
Jamaica – The Cyber Emergency Response Team is conducting an investigation to determine who is responsible for hacking the website of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing on Saturday… more
Image credits: NS Newsflash (flickr); Facebook; Wikipedia; Marketing Magazine; Wikipedia
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