A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 7 March to Sunday 13 March 2016.

Monday, 7 March 2016

Mobile gaming operators charge Police harassment

Bahamas – Grand Bahama mobile gaming operators are accusing the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) of harassment… more

Belize getting $20M, nationwide 4G LTE network

Belize – Belize is set to soon be covered by a LTE network being deployed by DigiCell, a subsidiary of Belize Telemedia Limited. Both are owned and controlled by the government of Belize, with privately-owned Smart the only other mobile operator in Belize… more

Cayman mergers and acquisitions activity highest in five years

Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands reached a five-year high in the number of local mergers and acquisitions in 2015… more

Dominican Republic ends 2015 with 8.79 mln mobile lines

Dominican Republic – A total of 8.79 million mobile telephone lines were in operation in the Dominican Republic at the end of December 2015, compared with 8.70 million in November, according to data published by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel)… more

Digicel Play’s Broadband Ranked Number One In Jamaica

Jamaica – Following the rollout of its all-fibre home entertainment service, Digicel Play was ranked number one in Jamaica for Internet transfer speed according to Netflix’s latest ISP Speed Index dated January 2016… more

Jamaica to launch electronic business registration system

Jamaica – The Jamaican government said Monday it would soon launch an electronic business registration system to “facilitate a hassle-free and more convenient option to transacting business.” … more

Debunking the myths about Bitcoin

Regional – THERE IS A COMMON IDEA that cash is the easiest and cheapest way to make payments. But this could not be farther from the truth… more

Marketing Strategies Today: Ten digital trends that you need to know

Regional – When it comes to the success of your online business, it is vital for you to keep up with the latest trends… more

Protecting Your Privacy From Windows 10

Regional – Microsoft expects that a billion people will be using Windows 10 by 2017. But for privacy advocates, receiving a device with Windows 10 this Christmas may be the equivalent of coal landing in your holiday stocking… more

FLOW provides advanced services for St. Lucia Jazz 2016

Saint Lucia – Flow , is once again proud Gold Sponsors of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival 2016, with an elevated level of media opportunities, to generate increased revenue  and awareness for the festival… more

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

My Wet and Wild Bitcoin Weekend On Richard Branson’s Island Refuge

British Virgin Islands – A young woman waved from a red pier… more

Acquire BPO Sets Up Nearshore Delivery Center in Santo Domingo

Dominican Republic – Australian business process outsourcing company Acquire BPO has expanded into the Dominican Republic with the launch of a delivery center in Santo Domingo… more

http://curacaoconnected.com/Sinclair Promises Improved Flow For Customers

Jamaica – Gary Sinclair, managing director of communications firm FLOW, has set a July deadline for the full repatriation of its customer contact centre service to Jamaica, following yesterday’s contract signing with Advantage Communications Limited… more

Happy International Women’s Day

Regional – With five women on CANTO’s Board of Directors and eight women on CANTO’s staff of nine, CANTO truly celebrates and recognizes WOMEN everyday! … more

Moving numbers

Trinidad and Tobago – On February 16, a small moment in local telecommunications history was marked. The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) announced that local telecoms providers would sign an agreement that day to allow number portability between their services… more

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Cable Rights Issue Hits 70% Of Target

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas was yesterday said to have raised “about 70 per cent” of its $30.817 million rights issue target, amid concerns from several large shareholders that they did not receive all offering documents… more

Computer technician denies 17 visa fraud charges

Guyana – Dhanraj Raghubir, who is alleged to be behind a massive visa fraud where he received over $1 million from persons for visa application fees, made another appearance before a city court yesterday… more

Digicel Reacts To Customer Frustration

Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: In the March 5, 2016 People’s Report section of The Gleaner, customer Garfield Angus expressed frustration at not being able to receive a document outlining his payment history with Digicel in order to complete an important transaction elsewhere… more

Flow says adiós to El Salvador call centre

Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Flow has signed a deal with outsourcing communications company, Advantage Communications Inc in fulfilling its promise to create roughly 400 jobs from the repatriation of its call centre service to Jamaica come July… more

‘I feel very positive’

Jamaica – NEWLY appointed Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says he will not discontinue the policies of the previous People’s National Party Administration, but will focus on improving them while bringing new ideas to ensure that Jamaica realises growth… more

Jamaica Gets First Tele-Health Mobile App: Xpress-Health

Jamaica – Trinity Mall Medical Centre and US-based HopSync Technologies have signed an exclusive deal to allow the use of the Xpress-Health mobile app in Jamaica for the purposes of improving access, delivery and coordination of health-care services to patients… more

Liberty looking to hedge against devaluation in Flow deal

Jamaica – CEO of telecommunications company Flow, Garfield Sinclair, has disclosed that Liberty Global, recent acquirer of Cable and Wireless Communications Plc is looking to secure treasury bills in an attempt to hedge against the devaluation of the Jamaican dollar as the transaction draws to a close… more

Choosing the right web designer for your new website

Regional – One of the dilemmas facing business owners when they are ready to outsource their new website to a developer is: how do they know they are choosing the right designer/developer for the task? … more

Status of agreement with Cable & Wireless PLC. on proposed merger with Columbus Communications International

Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) wishes to announce that negotiations with Cable & Wireless with respect to the proposed merger between Cable & Wireless and Columbus Communications International have ended, without the parties reaching an amicable agreement… more

Trinidad & Tobago Breaks Through Into Top Tier Of Global Services Destinations

Trinidad and Tobago – The global landscape for service delivery, whether Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) or in-house shared services is never static… more

Thursday, 10 March 2016

http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/logo/digicel-1Digicel Barbados welcomes new board directors

Barbados – DIGICEL (BARBADOS) LIMITED has today announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors. They are former commercial director, Alex Tasker and former chief executive officer Barry O’Brien… more

Digicel ready to play

Barbados – TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Digicel is bulking up on infrastructure and key employees as it fights for more market share in Barbados… more

Not everything is free

Barbados – IT HAS BEEN an international issue for years, similar to the decades-old question of who owns the national airwaves when it comes to commercial television viewing… more

IT scholarship available at Northern Caribbean University

Cayman Islands – The Cayman Chapter of the Northern Caribbean University Alumni Association is accepting applications for the Matthew Thompson Memorial Scholarship from those who wish to pursue their tertiary education in information technology… more

YipTV Features Programming from El Salvador and Dominican Republic Aimed at Multi-Linguals in U.S.

Dominican Republic – YipTV is expanding its Spanish language line up to include premier channels from the Dominican Republic and El Salvador targeting Hispanics with roots in the Caribbean and Latin America… more

Mico Looking to Establish Smart Classrooms

Jamaica – The Mico University College is seeking to transform its campus into one that is technologically-driven in an effort to remain relevant and equip its graduates to work in modern settings across the world… more

Use of Technology Improving Public Service Operations

Jamaica – Principal Director of the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Programme (PSTMP), Wayne Robertson, says the use of technology is improving the effectiveness and efficiency of operations within public sector entities… more

C&W Business Wins 2015 Top Fortinet Partner Awards

Regional – C&W Business, part of Cable & Wireless Communications, Plc (CWC), today announces it has been named as Fortinet’s Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) of the Year 2015 and the Enhanced Technologies Partner of the Year 2015 for the Caribbean and Latin American region… more

US expert: Beware social media pitfalls

Trinidad and Tobago – SOCIAL media presents many ways for persons to unwittingly give their personal details or information about their employers to cyber-criminals set on ill-gotten gains, warned visiting Dr Darren Hayes, director of cyber- security at Pace University, New York… more

Friday, 11 March 2016

Flow Barbados launches 1 Gbps broadband service

Barbados – Flow Barbados, the local unit of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), has begun offering a 1 Gbps broadband service to all customers connected to its FTTH network, reports local daily The Broad Street Journal, citing Flow Barbados managing director Niall Sheehy… more

BTL Launches 4G AGAIN

Belize – On February 9th, 2012 the state-owned BTL announced a $20m contract signed with Ericsson for the provision of a 4G Network… more

Broadcasting Authority considering new fees for TV, radio operators

Guyana – The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) said it last week successfully hosted a session with television broadcasters to update them of new developments… more

Guyana’s state broadcaster now part of territorial defence mechanism

Guyana – Guyana’s state broadcaster- National Communications Network (NCN)- has taken the first step to begin relaying radio and television programmes across the country via satellite, a move that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said is partly linked to securing the country’s sovereignty… more

CDB Supports Kingstoon 2016

Jamaica –  Recognising that the creative industries are important for regional economic diversification and employment generation, particularly for youth, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has partnered with the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica to stage KingstOOn 2016… more

FLOW moves call centre to Jamaica, promises more than 350 jobs

Jamaica – A partnership agreement has been signed between FLOW and Advantage Communications Ltd. (ADV) that sets the stage for the telecommunications company’s multi-million dollar investment to repatriate its call centre to Jamaica, and create 350-plus jobs… more

Itel-BPO Expanding In Kingston And Montego Bay As Client Base Grows

Jamaica – Yoni Epstein is investing a billion dollars, the equivalent of US$8.5 million, to expand his company itel-BPO Solutions deeper into Kingston, while also building out additional floor space at his main operating base in Montego Bay… more

Kingstoon logo (Kingstoon website)Jamaica to host international animation conference

Jamaica – Jamaica will host an international animation conference and the first Afro film festival in the region this weekend… more

JHTA rolls out ‘Our Jamaica’ mobile app

Jamaica – THE Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has launched a new mobile app that will allow users to view the digital editions of ‘Our Jamaica’ a magazine produced annually aimed at showcasing the best in Jamaican culture, entertainment, hotels and cuisine… more

Cable & Wireless and telecoms regulator fail to reach agreement in merger talks

Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says negotiations with Cable & Wireless regarding the company’s proposed merger with Columbus Communications International have ended without the parties coming to an amicable agreement… more

Flow Says “Hello” to the Caribbean

Regional – Cable and Wireless’ residential brand, Flow, is saying “Hello” to the Caribbean… more

New report on cyber security to be released Monday

Regional – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says it will launch the cyber security Report 2016: Are We Ready in Latin America and the Caribbean next week… more

Cable and Wireless – An attempt to deprive local Shareholders of their Fair Share of Profits

Saint Kitts and Nevis – Cable & Wireless’s ownership/share in our public telecommunication system needs to be forceably, if necessary, downsized… more

Republic pushes new e-commerce solution

Trinidad and Tobago – ANTHONY Wong, General Manager, Electronic Channels and Payments Systems at Republic Bank Limited said on Wednesday at the launch of the bank’s new e-commerce solution, Republic EPay, can boost the business of local merchants in the difficult times being experienced by businesses, as the country faces recession… more

US expert: Beware social media pitfalls

Trinidad and Tobago – SOCIAL media presents many ways for persons to unwittingly give their personal details or information about their employers to cyber-criminals set on ill-gotten gains, warned visiting Dr Darren Hayes, director of cyber- security at Pace University, New York… more

Saturday, 12 March 2016

Four years later… Broadcast Authority readies to issue more radio, TV licences

Guyana – More than four years after several radio, television and cable licences were doled out under questionable circumstances to close friends of the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, there appears to be significant moves to correct the situation… more

Animators face off today

Jamaica – ANIMATORS from Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis and Martinique are among 40 filmmakers from 15 countries expected to participate at the KingstOOn International Animation Film Festival at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, today and tomorrow… more

Media Blamed For Suicides

Saint Lucia – A WARNING has been issued to the local media to tread carefully with their methods of disseminating news about tragedies and especially suicides… more

Sunday, 13 March 2016

Sportsmax set on BSSAC action

Barbados – SEEMS SPORTSMAX is still covering inter-school sports… more

http://www.thewestindiannews.com/Sale of GTT 20% shares…New Govt’s hands tied due to reckless sale contract – Odle

Guyana – From all indications, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL)—under Winston Brassington’s management—was in such a haste to sell Government’s share in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company that it failed terribly to formulate a proper sale agreement… more

Flow adjusts $26,000 postpaid bill to $957

Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, On December 18, 2015 I visited the Lime/Flow Store located in Tropical Plaza on Constant Spring Road to convert my prepaid service to postpaid… more

Island Bet To Introduce Mobile Betting App

Jamaica – Sports betting outfit Island Bet will launch its virtual gaming and downloadable application this month amid the groundbreaking performance of its election-betting options… more

PNP Lost The Cyber War – Analysts Not Sure How The ‘Articulate Minority’ Impacted JLP’s Win

Jamaica – The political battle in the lead-up to the February 25 general election reached fever pitch on social media with facts mixed with rumours, innuendos, and dirty lies battling for prominence in cyberspace… more

 

Image credits:  journalismthatmatters (flickr);  Flow;  Brands of the World;  Kingstoon;  The West Indian News

_______________