A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 9 May to Sunday 15 May 2016.
Monday, 9 May 2016
PM: BTC ‘given away for nothing’
Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie said that, given the fact that government’s debt in connection with the legacy pension for workers of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is nearing $100 million, BTC was “given away for nothing”… more
URCA Fires Back At Cable On Regulatory Approach
Bahamas – Regulators have thrown criticism of their approach back at Cable Bahamas, saying they receive “numerous complaints of anti-competitive behaviour” by the two major carriers… more
BREAKING: Final BTL arbitration award may be as much as US$220 million
Belize – Reliable information to Breaking Belize News is that the arbitration tribunal deciding the value of the shares in Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) at the time of the first nationalization by Government in 2009 has set that figure at as much as 220 million US dollars… more
The Staggering Cost of BTL Acquisition Now Being Tallied
Belize – The full bill for the BTL acquisition is coming due and it’s in the hundreds of millions of dollars… more
GTT launches 4G service
Guyana – GTT today unveiled its 4G service… more
GTT launches 4G service; says rates cater for reduced mobile, landline earnings
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), which launched its 4G service on Monday, said its pricing plans cater for declining revenue from other services… more
Easy Money Solutions For Jamaicans
Jamaica – QUISK, a Silicon Valley, San Francisco, mobile-payment company, and Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) – Jamaica’s transaction-processing provider, have partnered to provide mobile money solutions for Jamaica and the Caribbean… more
Parents Urged to Monitor Children’s Use of Social Media
Jamaica – Superintendent of Police, Merrick Watson, is appealing for parents to monitor their children’s activity on social media… more
Sutherland Global aims to transform Mandeville
Jamaica – Sutherland Global Services has already made significant impact with the employment of 800 “professionals” since last October at its business process outsourcing centre on Ward Avenue, in this south central town… more
Affordable access to telecommunications throughout underserved communities in St Lucia – NTRC/ USF
Saint Lucia – The Universal Service Fund (USF) regulations was established in 2008 under the Telecommunications Act (2000)… more
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
URCA to examine regime governing Skype, WhatsApp
Bahamas – By the summer of 2016, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) will be looking at the regulatory environment and framework for over-the-top (OTT) services like Skype and WhatsApp,.. more
Digicel responds to reports of a third player
Barbados – Telecommunications provider Digicel said it was not bothered by the prospect of a third company entering the local market… more
Schools get new computers
Barbados – THREE MORE PRIMARY schools received computers for the Khan Academy Mathematics Initiative this morning… more
Dominican Telecom aims to shield children from Web threats
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Telecom Institute (Indotel) and Justice Ministry work to implement a National Cybersecurity Strategy, with a special section aimed at children and adolescents, to ensure their protection when they use the Web and make them become “true digital citizens.” … more
E-Governance Unit gets boost from India, China training
Guyana – The E-Governance Unit within the Ministry of Public Telecommunications has received a boost from the Governments of India and China… more
BCJ Denies Reports Of Impending Regulations For Internet Protocol TV
Jamaica – Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) professor Hopeton Dunn has denied reports that the commission will soon be regulating Internet Protocol television (IPTV) in Jamaica… more
The future of ICT*
Trinidad and Tobago – Fantastic opportunities await the bold women who choose a career in ICT. Blink | bmobile took the opportunity on International Girls in ICT Day to encourage female pupils to study ICT and aspire to the highest positions in ICT businesses… more
Wednesday, 11 May 2016
Minister promises GATE cadets outstanding stipend
Antigua and Barbuda – Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology Melford Nicholas said the approximately 39 cadets from the Government Assisted Technology Endeavor (GATE) will be paid on Friday… more
B.T.L. Announces Record Earnings
Belize – As we reported earlier, government will have to pay more than two hundred million dollars to Dunkeld in an arbitration award for the expropriation of Telemedia… more
B.T.L. Award, How Much Will G.O.B. Have to Fork Over?
Belize – The decision of an arbitration award for B.T.L. shares is perhaps weeks away, but there is early information suggesting that the value to be paid to Dunkeld International and other former shareholders will be in the range of five dollars and sixty cents per share… more
BTL Reports 10% Spike In Revenue
Belize – But as the major shareholder in BTL, government does have some reason for optimism… more
ICTA probes C&W head’s right to work
Cayman Islands – Allegations that local telecommunications company Cable & Wireless (Cayman Islands) Ltd has been misleading the immigration department over its senior management team were given credibility Wednesday when the Information and Communications Technology Authority issued a statement asking for the current CEO’s replacement with a person who is “legally resident in the country”… more
T-Mobile signs Cuba roaming deal
Cuba – T-Mobile has signed an interconnect and roaming agreement with Empresa De Telecomunicaciones De Cuba, SA (ETECSA), the Cuban telecommunications company… more
Thursday, 12 May 2016
BTC Wants 50% Cut To Cable’s Roaming
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is demanding a 50 per cent cut to the time its new Cable Bahamas-managed mobile rival is allowed to use its network, arguing that 36 months is “too lenient”… more
Cable Shareholders Suffer $14.37m Loss Over Us Writedown
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas shareholders suffered a collective $14.371 million net loss for 2015, driven by a one-off $20.5 million accounting ‘write down’ associated with its US operations… more
BTL reports uptick in revenue
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited’s chair of the executive committee Anwar Barrow and other executives of the state-owned company yesterday afternoon briefed the media on its preliminary earnings for this year… more
BTL valued at 253 million!
Belize – The government of Belize has announced that the Permanent Court of Arbitration Tribunal has issued a draft decision on the valued BTL… more
ICTA pulls rank on Cable & Wireless
Cayman Islands – The Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) has pulled the plug on discussions with senior management at Cable & Wireless (Cayman Islands) Ltd as it says it has “uncovered some troubling irregularities” as it relates to the legal status of employees engaged in licensing discussions with the Authority… more
Landline competition likely
Guyana – As Guyana prepares for formal liberalization of the telecommunications sector, Digicel is eyeing the provision of landline services, prompting the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) to call for a level playing field… more
Friday, 13 May 2016
CBL, BTC respond to proposed national roaming agreement
Bahamas – Bahamian telecoms regulator the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has published industry responses to its proposal to impose a significant market power (SMP) obligation on incumbent Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), forcing it to provide access to its network to newcomer Cable Bahamas Ltd (CBL)-managed NewCo via a national roaming agreement… more
Third suspect charged in BTC store robbery
Bahamas – A third person was charged in a magistrate’s court yesterday afternoon in connection with a break-in at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) store at RND Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive in late April… more
Barrow’s HALF BILLION DOLLAR Bukut!! – “We [taxpayers] must pay,” says PM, six years after BTL takeover
Belize – Prime Minister Dean Barrow returned today after a five-day trip to the United States of America for medical reasons… more
GOB may still owe $168 million for BTL
Belize – The Government of Belize (GOB) may still owe the former owners of the BTL (Belize Telecommunications Ltd.) BZ $168 million as compensation for its acquisition of 45,199,961 BTL shares in August 2009… more
John Briceno attacks BTL compensation award
Belize – The Government of Belize has more or less confirmed the final payment to be made to the former owners of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) for the two nationalizations of the company between 2009 and 2011, subject to a final ruling by the Netherlands’ Permanent Court of International Arbitration… more
Opposition Leader Says Belizeans were Hoodwinked with the BTL Takeover
Belize – Belize stands to pay millions of dollars to Lord Michael Ashcroft following the nationalization of the Belize Telemedia Limited in 2009… more
LIME now changed to Flow BVI
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands (BVI) today joined 14 other Cable & Wireless markets across the Caribbean that have undergone a complete brand transformation as the new Flow replaces the former LIME brand… more
C&W now subject to immigration enquiry
Cayman Islands – Following news this week that the Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) had raised concerns about the legal status of the Cable & Wireless CEO here in Cayman, the immigration department has confirmed that it has opened an investigation… more
Regulator tells telecom company to get new CEO
Cayman Islands – Difficulties regarding legal residency status with at least one senior executive at Cable & Wireless (Cayman Islands) Ltd. have led to a formal inquiry by Cayman’s telecommunications regulator, the agency announced late Wednesday… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Digicel launches 10th anniversary promotions in Dominica
Dominica – Digicel is giving its customers a chance to win thousands of dollars in cash and prizes as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations… more
Digicel celebrates 10 years; over US$50-million invested in Dominica
Dominica – As Digicel celebrates its 10th year of operations on the island, Country Manager of the company, Richard Stanton has revealed that the company has invested over US$50 million in the last decade in Dominica… more
Dominican Republic’s leading online realtor launches redesigned website
Dominican Republic – The online realtor indominicana.com specialized in Dominican Republic real estate on Thursday launched a redesigned website, with features that allow easy access to properties across the country… more
Guyana taps FCC for better spectrum management, telecoms regulation
Guyana – The Guyana government hopes that expertise recently shared by top officials of the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will help create a better regulatory environment… more
ECTEL to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day –
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority, ECTEL, will join the world to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2016, on Monday, May 17th… more
Flow Gives Customers More Self Help Access via New State-of-the-Art Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System
Regional – In its continuing effort to give customers more ways to access its services and transform its customer experience, Flow has introduced an upgraded state-of-the-art Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system which facilitates self-serve options 24 hours per day, 7 days per week… more
Saturday, 14 May 2016
New mindset needed
Barbados – The manufacturing sector is poised to play a significant role in the future growth of Barbados’ economy. However, some key changes must be made in order for this to be achieved, officials say… more
DirectoryGY launched as official jubilee app
Guyana – A new application developed by local entrepreneurs – DirectoryGY was last evening declared the official app for Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebration by Telecommunication and Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes at its official launching… more
Local animated TV series for September launch
Guyana – Tinniben Animation and E-Networks are set to launch Guyana’s first episodic animated television series, Nancy’s School Daze, which will begin airing in September… more
U.S. telecoms authority offers Govt. help in developing sector
Guyana – US telecommunication authorities have offered Guyana help in managing the country’s spectrum and regulatory practices… more
ECTEL Woos Girls To ICT
Regional – THE Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority, ECTEL, will join the world to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on Monday. ECTEL is also at the same time recognizing girls in ICT Day which was observed on April 28, 2016… more
FLOW contributes to success of Jazz
Saint Lucia – Flow has congratulated the St. Lucia Tourist Board on the staging of yet another successful St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival… more
FLOW notice to customers
Saint Lucia – Flow wishes to advise all customers that we have incurred significant damage to our Reduit Cabinet 8 located in the Windjammer junction due to a vehicular accident… more
Sunday, 15 May 2016
Digicel Barbados Gives Prepaid Customers Even More Data
Barbados – Digicel Barbados has announced the launch of its new suite of best value data plans which give prepaid customers even more data, plus greater freedom to use their data the way they want… more
Local company launches ‘everything Guyana’ app
Guyana – Thanks to a team of local technological developers and entrepreneurs, access to a full service directory for ‘everything Guyana’ can now be in the palm of your hands with Directory.gy, a new software application that was launched on Friday evening at the Pegasus hotel… more
Intermittent dial tone a constant annoyance
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, For many years my landline LIME phone has had an intermittent dial tone. Service is out for hours, days or weeks, and calls are often cut off… more
Local companies take advantage of recession
Trinidad and Tobago – US-based Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information technology, was in T&T recently where they partnered with their only local authorised distributor, Warren-ECM of Charlieville, Chaguanas, to train key people from various industries to improve competitiveness… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wikipedia; Belize Web; Wikipedia; Wikipedia;
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