A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 14 November to Sunday 20 November 2016.
Monday, 14 November 2016
Aliv’s launch speaks to cellular liberation
Bahamas – The opening of the NewCo’s administrative office and call center is a historic event, said Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. Michael Darville, during the company’s launch ceremony and unveiling of its Aliv brand over the weekend… more
NewCo2015’s Freeport Administrative Offices and Call Center Opens with Jobs for 30
Bahamas – An historic initiative, the liberalization of the cellular industry in The Bahamas “is one which has facilitated competition and the creation of more opportunities for Bahamians to benefit from and participate in the communications sector, as well as to provide more affordable and accessible access to mobile and broadband technology for everyone in the country,” said Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville… more
NewCo2015 to facilitate epic cultural and societal shift through mobile tech
Bahamas – Mobile technologies drive the “epic cultural and societal shift” that is happening in today’s world and “that requires affordable internet access,” Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie remarked at the Opening Ceremonies of NewCo2015 Limited’s administrative offices, November 11, 2016… more
FOUNDATION LAUDED FOR TABLET PROJECT
Barbados – The work of the Aron & Christina Foundation has received high praise from parliamentary representative for St Andrew, George Payne… more
ICTA in talks to create Cayman IXPs
Cayman Islands – Cayman Islands’ telecoms regulator ICTA is in talks with internet service providers (ISPs) to create local internet exchange points (IXPs) to route traffic… more
Altice Q3 sales up 3% to EUR 174 mln in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Altice reported third-quarter revenues of EUR 174 million for its Orange Dominicana brand in the Dominican Republic, up 3.0 percent year on year on a constant currency basis and 0.7 percent on a reported basis… more
National District has a virtual Title Registry System
Dominican Republic – Supreme Court chief justice Mariano Germán on Friday cut the ribbon on the National District’s Registry and Reception System… more
Emerging technologies present challenges to anti-money laundering fight
Guyana – Canadian Finance expert Matthew Maguire has said that the emergence of new technology in the area of finance and money transfer is presenting challenges for the global fight against money laundering… more
Illegal granting of licences….Broadcast Authority Chairman hampered attempts to correct wrongs
Guyana – The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has failed to deliver key promises made to the Guyanese people… more
‘Cashy’ FLOW Christmas Starts November 11
Jamaica – Telecommunications firm FLOW is heralding the Yuletide season with a traditional take on Christmas this year… more
Jamaica to sign major agreement with Airbnb
Jamaica – Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett today announced that the Ministry of Tourism is set to sign a major agreement with Airbnb to augment and drive growth within the tourism industry… more
C&W Networks Wins Wholesale Service Provider Of The Year And Service Innovation Of The Year Awards At MEF Excellence Awards 2016
Regional – C&W Networks, a division of C&W Communications (C&W), one of the largest full service communications and entertainment providers in the Caribbean and Latin America region, now part of Liberty Global (LiLAC Group), is excited to announce winning the Wholesale Service Provider of the Year Award (CALA) and Service Innovation of the Year Award (CALA) at the annual MEF Excellence Awards, 2016 Dinner… more
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Social media identified as a factor in teenage suicide
Antigua and Barbuda – Life Coach Janice Huff is implicating social media as a factor in the increasing rate of suicide among youth in Antigua & Barbuda and the wider world… more
No magic ‘WAN’
Barbados – Government is to evaluate the impact of the $2.4 million Wide Area Network (WAN) programme on its operations… more
WIFI IN PARKS COULD BE A REALITY
Barbados – The National Conservation Commission (NCC) is seeking to offer wireless Internet (WIFI) access within the surroundings of its parks… more
Flow responds to TRC, promises better service
British Virgin Islands – While announcing that 200 customers in East End will be migrated onto its “new improved” Super-Fast Broadband Network within the next two weeks, Flow today declared that it is committed to improving the broadband experience for its customers… more
Poor Service – TRC threatens action against Flow
British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) has threatened to take action against Flow if it does not address what is described as the poor service being experienced by some users of the telecom provider’s fixed line broadband internet… more
ICCI students study latest tech during Google visit
Cayman Islands – Twenty International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI) students got an up-close look at the inner workings of Google during a seminar in San Francisco. The trip was part of an ICCI course which focused on technology, business, and society 8-13 November, 2016… more
Eligible recipients of laptops in OLPT initiative clarified
Guyana – The One Laptop Per Teacher (OLPT) initiative introduced by Government in October has been attracting some debate as it relates to who are the eligible recipients. But the Ministry of Education yesterday sought to set the record straight… more
GPL should have found new path for submarine cable – engineer
Guyana – With GPL set to finish replanting its cable to reconnect the Vreed-en-Hoop power station with its Kingston facility, a longtime mechanical and electrical engineer says that the utility should have found a new path as it is at risk of being damaged again… more
Increase in BPO companies wanting to operate in Central Jamaica
Jamaica – Finance Minister Audley Shaw says more companies in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector are seeking to set up operations in Central Jamaica… more
JAMPRO endorses Technology and Innovation forum ‘Tech Beach Retreat’
Jamaica – JAMPRO has pledged its support for the technology and innovation forum ‘Tech Beach Retreat’, which will take place on December 1-3, 2016 in Montego Bay, Jamaica… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Success roadmap for YouTube ads
Regional – A successful business approach is built upon the marketing strategy of the organization. Brand awareness will go far in generating some good amount of revenue for your business… more
C&W celebrates at MovieTowne
Trinidad and Tobago – C&W Business held its annual cocktail reception to celebrate another year with its stakeholders and customers… more
The Digital Media dilemma
Trinidad and Tobago – “You have a vibrant media landscape here in Trinidad,” Vivian Schiller said. “Wonderful.” Vivian Schiller is that rarest of sightings, a professional from the old way of media who’s been along for the turbulent ride that’s characterised the last ten years of journalism transformation… more
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
CWC’s Flow signs British Virgin Islands broadband charter
British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) of the British Virgin Islands has signed a new fixed broadband service customer charter with Flow, the local subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), setting out a number of targets for the operator to meet… more
Cayman internet fraud report sets off worldwide probe
Cayman Islands – Two Cayman Islands residents who thought they were buying a relatively cheap Toyota RAV4 online ended up getting scammed for $3,000… more
Edna Manley College gets upgraded computer lab
Jamaica – Students of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts now have access to a fully equipped computer laboratory… more
Technology Minister Opens Upgraded Computer Lab at Edna Manley College
Jamaica – Students of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts now have access to a fully equipped computer laboratory… more
Much more than a Bitt
Regional – A typical conversation with Oliver Gale about Bitt, the blockchain-based, digital financial company he co-founded with Gabriel Abed in Barbados three years ago, can get very technical… more
Computers donated to 14 community centres
Trinidad and Tobago – Fourteen community centres across Trinidad and Tobago have received a generous donation of computers and computer equipment from the Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute (WAND) and the Price Philanthropies Foundation… more
Thursday, 17 November 2016
Bahamas NewCo operator to offer services under Aliv brand
Bahamas – NewCo2015 Limited, the Bahamas’ second mobile telephony provider, has announced that it will operate under the brand Aliv when it launches its services on 23 November… more
Anwar Says Adios, BTL Looking For New CEO
Belize – The Prime Minister’s son Anwar Barrow has attracted a storm of controversy in his two and a half years as Chairman of BTL’s Executive Committee, effective working as the CEO of the state owned phone company. Well, just as he said he would, Anwar Barrow is leaving that office and said as much in a letter to staff a week ago… more
GIS Technology Deemed a Pivotal Environmental Tool
Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says Geographic Information System (GIS) technology could be used to address environmental issues such as improper garbage disposal… more
Cable & Wireless Partners With Juvo To Open Up Access to Mobile Financial Services in the Caribbean
Regional – Juvo, the pioneer in mobile Identity Scoring, today announced its partnership with Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) to boost access to mobile credit services and drive financial inclusion across 15 Caribbean markets… more
Flow CARIFTA Games 2017
Regional – As Caribbean sports fans gear up for the Flow CARIFTA Games 2017, they have something new to be excited about… more
Flow Customers Enjoy ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’
Saint Lucia – Flow is heralding the Yuletide season with a Christmas campaign designed to be one of the most memorable ever, with lots of giveaways and specials including cash and prizes to be dished out to our customers… more
TelCell announces important information for mobile subscribers in St. Eustatius
Sint Eustatius – St. Maarten-based mobile provider TelCell, today announced an exclusive arrangement with St. Eustatius telecommunication concession holder, Eutel, that will allow subscribers to keep their current mobile numbers when local changes come into effect on December 1… more
Colm: Online taxes stay
Trinidad and Tobago – FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert yesterday said the taxes outlined in the 2016/2017 Budget are all “perfectly legal.” … more
Flow not worried by new players in broadband, fixed line
Trinidad and Tobago – Picture this: The year is 2007. You are about to log onto the Internet using dial up… more
The irony of the ‘information’ age
Trinidad and Tobago – The world is still trying to come to terms with the shock defeat of Hillary Clinton in the race for the presidency of the United States against Republican Donald Trump… more
Friday, 18 November 2016
Union Ready To Fight If BTC Cuts Back On Jobs
Bahamas – PRESIDENT of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union Bernard Evans said yesterday that any job redundancies at BTC linked to projected losses as a result of the entry of mobile competitor Aliv will not be accepted by workers… more
Social media concern
Barbados – A SENIOR LAWMAN HAS decried the practice of posting videos of fatal accidents and death scenes on social media… more
Anwar Barrow to resign as BTL CEO
Belize – Anwar Barrow, son of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, is resigning from his post of Chief Executive Officer of Belize Telemedia Limited… more
Anwar Is Still Around
Belize – Last night, we told you about BTL advertising a vacancy for the post of Chief Executive Officer… more
B.T.L. Begins Search for Successor to Anwar Barrow as C.E.O.
Belize – Chief Executive Officer of the state-owned Belize Telemedia Limited, Anwar Barrow, is on his way out of that post. But he has not yet formally stepped down, according to a statement issued by B.T.L… more
BTL clarifies CEO status
Belize – Belize Telemedia Ltd (BTL) offered clarity on a report that Chairman of the Executive Committee, Anwar Barrow, who functions as CEO at BTL, had resigned… more
Chinese company green-lighted to conduct assessment of E-Government Unit
Guyana – Cabinet has given the go-ahead for Huawei Technologies to undertake a new assessment of the E- Government Unit… more
Telecoms Ministry, Huawei to study feasibility of national broadband network
Guyana – Cabinet has approved a request by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications to enter into an agreement with the Huawei Technologies Company of China to conduct a feasibility study for a countrywide internet connection project… more
Chang stresses importance of GIS technology as environmental tool
Jamaica – MINISTER without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr Horace Chang, says Geographic Information System (GIS) technology could be used to address environmental issues such as improper garbage disposal… more
Dehring says Ready TV is in keeping with ‘5 in 4’ growth plan
Jamaica – Late last year when Chris Dehring left his post as chairman of telecommunications company LIME Jamaica and moved to, of all places, a similar position at the Caribbean Cement Company, it seemed like his telecom journey was about to end… more
Technology Minister Says Greater Focus Must be Placed on Innovation
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says greater focus must be placed on innovation and science, as those areas have great potential to deliver economic growth for Jamaicans… more
Caribbean Telecommunications Report Q4 2016
Regional – We have not made significant revisions to our Caribbean outlook in the Q416 report. We retain the view that increasing competition in the Caribbean telecoms markets has potential to enhance innovation and improve customer choice… more
ECTEL Continues To Work Towards Regularizing Telecommunication Services In Member Countries
Regional – Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) recently concluded two important engagements in St. Kitts and Nevis, namely, a Consultative Forum and the seventy-seventh meeting of the ECTEL Board of Directors, in an aim to discuss current issues relating to telecommunications in Member Countries… more
ECTEL Member States to introduce new Electronic Communications Bill
Regional – The new Electronic Communications (EC) Bill that is designed to serve the public’s interest, while at the same time offering service providers the opportunities to do business in the telecommunication markets is expected to be introduced in the five member states of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) in the near future… more
Digicel Customers to Get Gifted This Christmas
Saint Lucia – The Pearl on Thursday November 17th, was the setting of yet another historic Christmas Launch for the region’s leading telecommunications and entertainment provider, Digicel… more
Emergency number operational again
Sint Maarten – Police announced on Wednesday that they had received word that emergency number 911 was out of service. They immediately contacted the telephone providers about the issue… more
10 IETV workers get the axe
Trinidad and Tobago – Ten employees of IETV Channel 1’s newsroom have received notices of retrenchment, as the television station moves to downsize its operations… more
Bmoblie, Huawei launch new smartphone
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago’s mobile business bmobile and Chinese device manufacturer Huawei (pronounced wah-way) on Thursday evening at Queen’s Park West, Port of Spain, launched the P9, a new smartphone with an “amazing camera, co-engineered with Leica Camera AG,” acting TSTT vice-president for mobile Chevon Wilson said… more
TT deep with tech innovation
Trinidad and Tobago – THERE is innovation in the software and web development industry in Trinidad and Tobago after all, says Robert Martinez, policy analyst at the National Institute of Higher Education Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) on Wednesday… more
Saturday, 19 November 2016
Social media hampering death notification process in Barbados
Barbados – The indiscriminate use of social media to display harrowing images of fatalities is posing serious challenges to the Royal Barbados Police Force (RPBF) as it pertains to the delicate task of notifying relatives of victims… more
GTT launches new customer experience store
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday morning opened the doors of its third customer experience store on Brickdam… more
FLOW Getting On My Nerves
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I wish to share with your readers my recent experiences with FLOW, made all the more distressing as I am a disabled octogenarian relying very much on my access to communication services provided by them… more
Learie Hercules – Tech Beach Q & A
Jamaica – Learie Hercules is the founder of Octavia Technologies, a company that aims to collaboratively quantify the quality of wireless connectivity across every device and a Sr Technical Director of Big Data at AT&T… more
Huawei’s flagship P9s arrive in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Huawei Technologies (T&T) Limited launched its smartphones in the T&T market only last year, but according to general manager Jason Deng, interest in the devices is growing… more
Phone photography reinvented
Trinidad and Tobago – The Huawei P9, the first smartphone co-engineered with iconic camera brand Leica, is the result of the tech giant’s mission to “reinvent smartphone photography.” … more
Sunday, 20 November 2016
IPhone tracker helps police arrest suspected bandit
Guyana – A tracking device in a stolen IPhone has led police to the arrest of a deportee who allegedly stole two phones and cash from two Bangladeshis as they were about to enter their West Bank Demerara home, the law enforcement agency said… more
Outstanding US$5M on GTT shares…Nagamootoo to press Harmon for ‘mystery’ documents from China
Guyana – The outstanding US$5M to be paid on the sale of Government’s shares in GTT to a Chinese company remains an unsolved mystery… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Belize Web; West Indian News
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