A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 30 January to Sunday 5 February 2017.
Monday, 30 January 2017
TECHNOLOGY OVERHAUL
Barbados – There will be a technology overhaul in this island of Barbados at all of the educational institutions that are registered with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation… more
Hundreds already connected to Digicel home internet
British Virgin Islands – Digicel is pleased to announce that since the official launch of its Lightning-Fast Home Internet service, hundreds of satisfied customers have been connected to the fast and reliable Internet connection… more
GWI systems hit by malware
Guyana – The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says several of its systems have been hit by malware and other arrangements have to be made for billings and collections as of Saturday… more
Caricel says it will stay in business through legal process
Jamaica – Telecoms provider Symbiote Investments Limited, which trades as Caricel, says it is continuing to offer competitive services as an LTE advanced telecoms provider in Jamaica despite recent developments pertaining to its acquisition of Jamaica’s third spectrum licence… more
BUSINESS MONDAY – C&W BUSINESS HAS BIG PLANS FOR 2017
Regional – CABLE and Wireless Business is coming with some very ambitious and exciting telecommunications solutions to help companies in Barbados and the Caribbean grow their operations, while remaining viable and competitive… more
CTU – Transforming lives of People with Disabilities
Regional – Ms. Bernadette Lewis, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), made a call for strong collaboration among stakeholders to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to empower people with disabilities (PWDs), citing that “it requires the involvement of Governments, People with disabilities and the Organisations that serve them, ICT Service Providers, Network Operators, Regulators and the support of corporate citizens, with whom the CTU is prepared to facilitate.” … more
Flow Expands Access To International News With The Addition Of Sky News Network
Regional – Flow customers will now have even more access to international news with the addition of the Sky News HD network to Flow TV’s channel line-up… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Ten ways to gain traffic and have an audience that pays attention
Regional – Social media is free and it is a great way to reach new customers. But it is important to see that there is more than just posting… more
Tech Times | 11 Tech Predictions For 2017
Regional – Here’s what a handful of executives and analysts see in their crystal balls… more
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Antigua: Digicel gets conditional hike
Antigua and Barbuda – The government has authorised Digicel to proceed with a conditional increase and will give the telecommunications company an opportunity to present a statutory declaration… more
Cayman Enterprise City offers coding workshop
Cayman Islands – Cayman Enterprise City is offering a coding workshop for Caymanians interested in learning computer programming skills… more
How long will GTT be allowed to do as they like?
Guyana – Dear Editor, I have a serious concern with the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph company. Recently they rolled out some gimmick regarding the internet service calling the snail-paced $5000 plan the ‘bronze’ plan and increased the cost by $1000; there is also a ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ plan… more
CANTO Welcomes Delegates at 33rd AGM in Curaçao
Regional – Curaçao, one of the Caribbean’s best kept secret is the location of CANTO’s 33rd Annual General Meeting. The event is co-hosted by United Telecommunication Services and Bureau Telecommunicatie en Post and is being held at the Renaissance Resort & Casino, Curacao… more
CWC’s Flow TV renamed Flow1
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has announced that its Caribbean-wide Flow TV service has been renamed Flow1, joining Flow Sports and Flow Sports Premier as the company’s Flow-branded regional channels… more
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Telecoms companies under fire for poor service
Antigua and Barbuda – Telecommunications providers in Antigua & Barbuda were hauled over the coals by Member of Parliament for St George, Dean Jonas for what he said is poor services at an expensive cost… more
Bahamas Government Launches New Polycarbonate E-Passport System
Bahamas – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially launched its new polycarbonate E-Passport system. The launch of the system took place Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Passport Office on Thompson Boulevard… more
Dominica exploring use of GIS in monitoring and managing diseases
Dominica – Dominica is exploring the feasibility of developing a geographical information system (GIS) in monitoring and managing the black sigatoka disease… more
Lower rates to call the Dominican Republic with LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com
Dominican Republic – Republic becomes more affordable: the rates decrease by 13%, from 7.9 ¢/min. to 6.9¢/min., when calling mobiles and by 12%, from 2.5¢/min. to 2.2¢/min. when calling landlines… more
DIGICEL TO STREAM BOB MARLEY TRIBUTE CONCERT
Jamaica – Among the slate of events to celebrate the 72nd birthday of world reggae icon, Bob Marley, is this year’s Redemption Live concert to be hosted by regional sponsor, Digicel, in partnership with Red Stripe on Sunday 5th February in Kingston Jamaica… more
Digicel Executive Re-Elected As CANTO Chairman
Regional – Julian Wilkins, Digicel Group Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs has been re-elected Chairman of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO), which provides a forum for exchange of information and expertise… more
Health Information System at JNF Hospital is progressing, says Minister Byron
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Honourable Vincent Byron Jr., Minister of Communications, said that the Health Information System (HIS) at the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital is rapidly progressing… more
New Mobile App Linking Restaurants and Customers Launched in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia – Creativity and innovation have joined hands with culinary advances to bring an exciting new development to the Saint Lucian dining, hospitality and perhaps tourism stage – leading food lovers and appetites to restauranteurs and their exciting creations… more
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Mobile number portability will force fair pricing, minister says
Antigua and Barbuda – The ability to switch telecommunications service providers and keep one’s mobile number is soon to become the standard in Antigua & Barbuda…. more
Editorial
Belize – Twelve years ago, in 2005 the then Prime Minister of Belize entered into a secret accommodation agreement with the owners of Belize Telemedia Limited… more
GTT says to absorb 14% VAT on DSL -mobile data now attracts VAT
Guyana – GTT on Tuesday said that the prices for DSL internet service will not change because of the 2017 budget measures but mobile data plans will now attract 14% VAT… more
Geospatial Technology a Critical Tool in Crime Fighting
Jamaica – Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Dianne McIntosh, says geospatial technology is a critical tool in gathering data to plan, develop and make decisions for crime fighting… more
Telecoms Infrastructure Sharing Rules On The Horizon
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is now working with a deadline of June for the development of infrastructure-sharing rules for telecommunication operators… more
Tourism can benefit from trillions in BPO revenue
Jamaica – A US$15-trillion shift in global revenue across the business process outsourcing industry over the next 10 years should have a great impact on Jamaica’s tourism sector, according to a study conducted by Tholons Inc, a strategic advisory firm for global outsourcing and research… more
A Sound Solution
Regional – THE term ‘solution provider’ is a useful description used by those trained in the field of information and communications to explain in simple terms what they do and what skills they bring to bear… more
Fitch: Digicel needs cash recovery
Regional – INTERNATIONAL telecoms provider Digicel needs free cash flow (FCF) recovery to avoid potential refinancing risk, according to the latest report in Fitch’s Spotlight series released on Monday… more
bmobile’s Technology Conference and Expo connects with business
Trinidad and Tobago – “Data is a big part of what is happening now. Infrastructure and solutions as services, the internet of things, 5G, robotics, artificial intelligence and the like, all are here today and a big part of how we go forward.” … more
GT&T Elected to CANTO Board of Directors
Regional – All good things must come to an end and CANTO’s 33rd AGM is no exception. The last day of the event concluded with conference sessions and the statutory obligations in the form of AGM proceedings… more
Orange to build Caribbean cable and connect homes to fibre
Regional – Orange is to build a 1,900km subsea cable connecting French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe as part of an investment programme that will also see the company expand its fibre and 4G plan… more
St Kitts police force gets technology boost to fight crime
Saint Kitts and Nevis – New technological equipment is being brought to bear on law enforcement in St Kitts and Nevis, as government seeks to consolidate gains in 2016 in reducing crime… more
Friday, 3 February 2017
BTL warns customers of scam alert
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited issued a statement informing its customers that the company investigated the recently reported issue of random international calls to DigiCell Numbers… more
OfReg opens for complaints at GT office
Cayman Islands – The new Utility Regulation and Competition Office, now known as OfReg, is up and running. The Ministry of Planning, Lands and Agriculture announced Friday that the doors were open at the new overarching regulator, which is designed to protect consumers and promote competition… more
TV regulator rejects blame over commercial failings
Cayman Islands – Following the news that Cayman 27 is dropping its costly ‘Daybreak’ local morning magazine TV show, the TV arm of the new regulator OfReg has stated that this issue is entirely commercial and not a regulatory matter… more
BPO Sector Now Wants To Be Known As BPM
Jamaica – Jampro president Diane Edwards is calling for a rethink of how Jamaica views the business process outsourcing, or BPO sector, starting with a name change… more
Expansion Of CCTV Technology Is Just One Development In St. Kitts And Nevis’ National Security Landscape
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said yesterday, Wednesday, February 1st, that joint operations involving all agencies of law enforcement are to be intensified this year in St. Kitts and Nevis… more
Saturday, 4 February 2016
GTT wants increased landline rates before liberalisation
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company’s (GTT) Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd hopes that long requested landline rates will be increased ahead of liberalization of the telecommunications sector… more
Digicel sticks with same leaders for Caribbean telecom association
Regional – The leading authority for shaping information and communication in the Caribbean will focus this year on ICT as a tool for national growth and development… more
Sunday, 5 February 2017
EDITORIAL: WITH USE OF TECHNOLOGY COMES HUGE RESPONSIBILITY
Barbados – There is much to be said about the level of sensitivity (or lack thereof) that we are exhibiting to our fellow man in this day and age… more
GTT CEO promises faster internet by June
Guyana – In the face of frequent complaints about its slower than advertised DSL internet service, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd is guaranteeing that the problem would be rectified by the end of June… more
GTT ties telecoms liberalization to higher landline rates
Guyana – US-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has again signaled high interest in its landline rates being increased before the telecoms market is opened to new players… more
BPO rebranding to attract more university graduates
Jamaica – The Government led by Jamaica Trade and Invest (Jampro) is moving to rebrand Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) sector to reflect more valued services under the name business process management (BPM)… more
Image credits: Mars Hill Church (flickr); Wikipedia; Facebook; Facebook; Wikipedia
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