A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 5 September to Sunday 11 September 2016.
Monday, 5 September 2016
Digicel delivers speed of 100 000Mbps
Barbados – DIGICEL ANNOUNCED ON Wednesday that in tandem with its technology partner Huawei, it had delivered fibre speeds of 100 000 megabits per second (Mbps) or 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) in a real live environment in Barbados… more
Thousands of computers possibly infected after visiting Cuban government website
Cuba – After several weeks of analysis, it has been determined that the Cuban government information website (acn.cu) is dispensing a dangerous clipboard virus that aims to steal information from the computers of unsuspecting visitors to that site… more
Unhappy with GTT customer service
Guyana – Dear Editor, Please permit me to publicly vent my frustration with GTT and their lack of customer service… more
More Than 1,000 Jobs Now Available
Jamaica – Some 1,500 positions are now available at Xerox Jamaica, as human resource (HR) manager, Helen Broomfield, disclosed that they are currently recruiting youngsters from across the island for the vacancies… more
Wheatley Wants Report On Flow Outage
Jamaica – Telecommunications company FLOW is promising a full investigation into the circumstances which led to an islandwide disruption of its Internet and voice services between Friday and Saturday… more
Digicel Launches Play Go Streaming App Across Caribbean
Regional – Bermuda-based telecommunications group Digicel has announced the launch of Play Go, a new live streaming platform with sports and exclusive content, across 19 Caribbean markets… more
Digicel plays everywhere across the Caribbean
Regional – Digicel is launching a TV everywhere streaming platform with sports and premium content, throughout 19 Caribbean markets… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Five ways to build your brand with LinkedIn
Regional – If you are looking to build your visibility with LinkedIn, it is important to know about the features that can help you with the process… more
Tuesday, 6 September 2016
Digicel, Huawei hit 100 Gbps in Barbados fibre trial
Barbados – Telecommunications group Digicel has announced that it reached speeds of 100 Gbps in a live test of its fibre network conducted in Barbados together with technology partner Huawei… more
Customs to upgrade its Asycuda World system
Dominica – The automated systems of customs data, better known as Asycuda, will soon be upgraded to the most recent version available… more
$100M purchase of 50 radio sets…Items cost $300,000 each, but GECOM paid seven times more
Guyana – As state auditors continue to probe the purchase of 50 communication radios last year by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), there are serious concerns about the high acquisition costs… more
Group bringing connectivity to Haiti
Haiti – A rural area in Haiti is one step closer to connecting with the rest of the world thanks to the work of a group of area residents… more
Over 347 illegal FM radio stations out of 697 in Haiti
Haiti – Friday, Jean Marie Altéma the Director General of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL) in a press conference declared “the reality today is that we have lots of radios, many are in a regular and legal situation, but there are many others who are in an irregular and illegal situation,” specifying “all over the country, there are 697 radio stations only on the FM band, of which 347 are illegal.” … more
FLOW to report to OUR on Internet service disruption
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has written to FLOW requesting preliminary information on reports of widespread disruption to its telecommunication services from September 2-3, 2016… more
CABLE & WIRELESS PARTNERS WITH ERICSSON, CISCO TO ENHANCE ITS CARIBBEAN IP NETWORKS
Regional – Ericsson and Cisco yesterday announced an agreement to supply and install IP networks for C&W Communications, which operates the retail brand Flow, in three Caribbean markets… more
Digicel launches Play Go streaming app
Regional – Digicel Play last week announced the launch of Play Go, its all-new live streaming service with premium and exclusive content for sports fans and TV lovers across its markets in the Caribbean… more
SPI targets Caribbean
Regional – SPI International/Filmbox Channels Group is expanding its reach in the Caribbean… more
TECHBYTES: Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7
Regional – Samsung will halt sales of its latest flagship smartphone and recall millions of units after faulty batteries caused some handsets to explode in a massive blow to the South Korean electronics giant’s reputation… more
The Powerful Smartphone
Regional – Your smartphone is a powerful device that is capable of much more than taking photos, browsing social media and playing games. In fact, it is a smaller version of your computer, with just a few limitations… more
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
DIGICEL BLAZES 100,000MBPS FIBRE SPEED IN BARBADOS
Barbados – Digicel today announced that, in tandem with its technology partner Huawei, it had delivered fibre speeds of 100,000Mbps (100Gbps) in a real live environment in Barbados… more
Cuban News Agency refutes accusation of spreading internet virus
Cuba – Edda Diz Garces, director of the Cuban News Agency, described as slander a report published by Caribbean News Now stating the agency’s website was, allegedly, “dispensing a dangerous virus” to steal information… more
PSC worried about media’s access to customers’ banking information
Guyana – The media’s access to citizens’ bank account information has become a cause for concern among members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC)… more
OUR To Overhaul Terms Of Telecoms Customer Contracts
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) will engage a consultant to review telecommunications contracts in a bid to identify areas that are unfair to customers, and will also develop a penalty system for offending telecoms providers… more
New data system boosts inflows to Jamaica Customs
Jamaica – The implementation of the Automated Systems for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) at Jamaica Customs helped to boost inflows to the Government’s coffers during the April to June quarter… more
SMEs Get $150K Tech Boost from Digicel Business
Jamaica – Three small business owners who are winners in the Scotiabank Vision Achievers programme plan to use technology that was once available only to large firms to fulfil their expansion needs… more
ECTEL media clinic moves to Saint Lucia
Regional – The second in the series of ECTEL media clinics for Member States moves to Saint Lucia later this week… more
Why C&W Communications Partnered with Cisco and Ericsson
Regional – On August 30, 2016, Ericsson (ERIC) and Cisco (CSCO) announced that they would install IP networks for Cable & Wireless (or C&W) Communications… more
TelEm Group says landline migration complete, now onto mobile migration Thursday night
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group says, but for a very few connections, the company’s major move of residential and business subscribers from an outdated network switch to a brand new Metaswitch is now complete – with work ready to begin Thursday night transferring TelCell pre-paid mobile subscribers…. more
Ancil Antoine: TSTT a standard bearer
Trinidad and Tobago – PUBLIC Utilities Minister Ancil Antoine has praised the Telecommunications Services of TT (TSTT) for being a standard bearer in the country since its inception in 1991… more
bmobile gear up for 4G
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications provider blink I bmobile has expanded its existing 3G mobile network to enhance its existing capacity in response to the growing demand for wireless mobile broadband service… more
‘Internet on the go’ customers win big
Trinidad and Tobago – BEING a blink | bmobile customer comes with many perks… more
Thursday, 8 September 2016
Belize receives US $109,000 from Taiwan for ICT project
Belize – Belize has received US $109,000 from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to play a meaningful role in e-governance in Belize… more
Peter-John Gordon | Telecommunications And Regulation
Jamaica – Today we continue a series of guest columns ahead of the October 26-28 regional regulation conference in Montego Bay, St James. It is being organised by the Organization of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR) and hosted by the local Office of Utility Regulation (OUR)… more
Technology will Boost Delivery of Education Services – Senator Reid
Jamaica – Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has cited the importance of technology in ensuring effective management and delivery of education services… more
Non-profit alliance works to improve access to technology in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico – World Computer Exchange-Puerto Rico and 4GCommunity.org, two not-for-profit corporations, have announced their alliance to improve public school and family access to technology where needed throughout Puerto Rico… more
INTERPOL holds cybercrime training sessions for Latin America and Caribbean countries
Regional – INTERPOL recently conducted a series of cybercrime training sessions in Latin America and the Caribbean seeking to enhance regional law enforcement capacity to respond to and prevent cyberthreats… more
Police Press Release: Use social media responsibly, Commissioner Queeley tells students and the public
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Commissioner of Police Mr. Ian Queeley addressed students returning to school in a recent broadcast about the responsible use of social media… more
Friday, 9 September 2016
BUSINESS MONDAY: STANDARDS OF SERVICE PERFORMANCE – A REVIEW
Barbados – THE Fair Trading Commission recently completed its annual review of the Standards of Service Reports, for both Cable & Wireless (Barbados) Limited (C&W) and the Barbados Light & Power Company Limited (BL&P)… more
Laptops delivered – Walwyn touts ‘progress’ made
British Virgin Islands – Minister of Education Myron Walwyn has expressed joy at what he said was the progress made yesterday when his ministry handed over several laptop computers to the school-related Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programme… more
Customs clearance to be computerised starting November 1
British Virgin Islands – Her Majesty’s Customs is computerising all clearance procedures for goods effective November 1, as the department moves towards full automation using the Customs Automated Processing System (CAPS) where trader declarations can be completed and submitted online… more
Cayman Takes The Next Step In Its IP Reform With Proposed IP Laws
Cayman Islands – In July of this year, Ogier published a briefing on the Cayman Islands’ Government’s first major step in the reform of Intellectual Property (IP) laws in the Cayman Islands… more
Digicel , Ministry of Education push reading on International Literacy Day
Guyana – International Literacy Day 2016- helped to reinforce the importance of reading by providing assistance to the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Nursery School, Mahaica River… more
Social media can force better business practices
Guyana – Public and private organizations in Guyana are learning that the best cure for exposure on social media is transparency and professionalism…more
C&Wj Minority Owners Vote Down Resolution In Protest – Demand Financial Transparency From Company Directors
Jamaica – Minority share-holders of Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ) on Wednesday defied the board of directors and voted against a standard resolution to set pay for auditor KPMG in order to make a wider point on transparency… more
PM Presents Computers to Students
Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, today (September 9), handed over the first nine of 40 laptop computers to high-school and university students, which were donated through a partnership with Lenovo and AMD Inc… more
Telecoms Revenue Tops $20B As Internet Picks Up Speed
Jamaica – Telecoms players earned $20 billion in total revenues split across voice mobile, fixed and Internet segments for the latest September 2015 quarter, or 15 per cent higher year on year, according to newly released regulatory data… more
Digicel Welcomes New Country Manager
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – As of Monday 5th September, the operations of Digicel St. Vincent rested in the hands of a new Country Manager – British national John Davies… more
Saturday, 10 September 2016
CAL bans Note 7 phones on flights
Regional – Caribbean Airlines yesterday enforced a ban on the in-flight use and battery charging of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on all its flights… more
Sunday, 11 September 2016
$100M purchase of 50 radio sets…Manufacturer distances self from GECOM transaction
Guyana – A state audit probe into a suspicious $100M purchase last year of communication radios by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has dragged in the manufacturer who over the weekend, said that it had ceased making the equipment since 2009… more
Damaged Demerara River submarine cable…GPL mulls $160M repair works to same Chinese company that laid it
Guyana – Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) could end up spending up to $160M to repair the damaged submarine cable which links West Demerara to the city… more
Xerox announces 2,500 new jobs for Jamaicans
Jamaica – Xerox will be recruiting 2,500 Jamaicans in its customer care and business process centres in Montego Bay, Kingston and Portmore to support the company’s expanding list of global clients… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wikipedia; Facebook; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
______________
