A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 13 November to Sunday 19 November 2017.
Monday, 13 November 2017
Government of Anguilla Announces World’s First Blockchain Token Offering Registration Process for “Utility Token Offerings”
Anguilla – The Government of Anguilla today announced its plan to enact the first cryptocurrency regulatory regime for registration of initial offerings of specified categories of cryptocurrency… more
Grand Bahama Technology Summit Brings Hope For the Future
Bahamas – Like many Bahamian events the 2017 Grand Bahama Technology Summit began with a prayer and ended with a party. In between a plan started to emerge for the revitalization of Grand Bahama as a hub for technology and innovation… more
Dominican Republic launches AWS spectrum tender
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) has announced the launch of a tender for a 30MHz block of spectrum in the 1700-2100MHz (AWS) band that remained unsold in a previous auction dating back to 2014… more
C&W Networks recognized as best carrier in Latin America
Regional – C&W Networks, a division of C&W Communications (C&W) and a Liberty Global company (LiLAC Group), which owns and operates the largest state-of-the-art subsea multi-ring fibre-optic in the Caribbean and Latin America won two significant awards on October 25 at the 13th Global Carrier Awards in London… more
That cellphone ban
Trinidad and Tobago – The possession of cellphones (camera phones in particular) during school hours has once again come to the fore. The question is, should students be allowed to retain these devices while school is in session? … more
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
Cell phone ban coming
Barbados – Sweeping new regulations are coming that will outlaw the use of cell phones while driving, ban stunts on the roads and those who organize such activities, make it illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and introduce breathalyzer testing for drivers… more
FTC launches surveys on mobile telecoms and hotel industries
Barbados – The Fair Trading Commission has launched two market studies in fulfilment of its mandate under the Fair Trading Commission Act, CAP. 326B. The objective of these studies is to determine the existence of unfair contractual terms, anticompetitive or unfair trade practices within the tourism and telecommunications industries, respectively… more
New family radio launched
Barbados – The Barbados media landscape has expanded with a new player aimed at attracting the family market with wholesome and educational programming… more
Phone number portability one step closer – Vanterpool
British Virgin Islands – Minister with responsibility for telecommunications, Mark Vanterpool has informed that the Government is now in the process of engaging professionals who are capable of making phone number portability a reality for the territory… more
Digicel reports connectivity to 80 percent of customers
Dominica – Telecommunication company, Digicel, has revealed that up to 80 percent of its customers are now connected to its networks since the passage of Hurricane Maria…. more
Discover Dominica Authority launches web page to update on tourism industry progress
Dominica – Hurricane Maria’s impact on Dominica can be seen and felt across the breadth of the Nature Island… more
FLOW restores over fifty percent of cell sites
Dominica – FLOW, one of the islands two telecommunications companies, has to date restored service to over fifty percent of their cell sites… more
November month end date set for launch of new core Tv service from Marpin
Dominica – Stating the company’s intention to not rebuild the old infrastructure of Marpin Telecoms, new owners Cable and Wireless Communications has set the end of November as the launch date for its new core television services… more
NIDS Green Light – Senate Passes Nat’l ID Bill Despite Opposition Resistance
Jamaica – Jamaica will have its National Identification System (NIDS) after all. Hot-tempered exchanges and unkind comments by senators marred the afternoon session of yesterday’s Senate deliberations on the NIDS Bill in the Upper House. However the contentious legislation was passed with 168 amendments at 9:13 p.m… more
Broadband Interruptions St. Kitts & Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Management and Staff of FLOW wish to advise our valued customers that we are currently experiencing network issues which may result in Internet instability… more
Startup Weekend looks to transform public sector
Trinidad and Tobago – National Solutions driven by Citizen Ideas. This is the theme of this year’s Startup Weekend Trinidad and Tobago (SWTT), an entrepreneurial initiative that brings together people with ideas and gives them the opportunity to turn those ideas into an actual business… more
TSTT accuses CWU of ‘misrepresenting’ company’s operations
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is maintaining that the state-owned company demonstrates good corporate governance and accountability… more
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Tough Questions Needed At Cable Bahamas’ AGM
Bahamas – TONIGHT, Cable Bahamas holds its first annual general meeting (AGM) in 16 months. Shareholders should come prepared to ask the tough questions that management is doing its best to avoid… more
Digicel responds to planned FTC crackdown
Barbados – Telecommunications company Digicel says it sees no reason to celebrate a move by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) to bring the hammer down on three local utility companies, including its main competitor Cable & Wireless (C&W), which operates here as FLOW… more
Walwyn rolls out digital textbooks for grades 7 and 8
British Virgin Islands – It’s official. Chalkboards and textbooks which have long been used as instruments of pedagogy inside the territory’s classrooms have been replaced with digital textbooks… more
eGovernment hubs commissioned in Region 10
Guyana – Region 10 developments have now been boosted with the official launching of three Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs to benefit students and residents in Linden, government’s Department of Public Information said… more
Cable & Wireless led gains during Tuesday’s trading
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless (CWJ) led gains of local denominated stocks on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) for Tuesday… more
Government’s IT Infrastructure to be Upgraded
Jamaica – More than 70 per cent of the US$68 million projected for implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) will be used to upgrade the Government’s information and technology (IT) infrastructure… more
Canadian Company Targets Region With Block-Chain Remittance Solution
Regional – Cuba Ventures Corp (CVC), a Canadian company, indicated last Thursday that it plans to develop a blockchain-based mobile application called Revolupay with its own cryptocurrency to target Cuba’s US$3.4-billion remittance market… more
C&W Business Launches Hospitality IPTV In Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia – The face of television is changing with Cable & Wireless Business, as the region’s leading telecommunications service provider has unveiled a new product specifically geared towards Saint Lucia’s leading industry…more
CWU willing to work with new TSTT chairman
Trinidad and Tobago – The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has given Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley one week to intervene in the situation at the Telecommunication Services of T&T (TSTT)… more
Thursday, 16 November 2017
Barbados: QEH goes digital
Barbados – Timely and accurate record keeping can save lives, and the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) today officially opened its newly refurbished Medical Records Department (MRD), with Director of Support Services Louise Bobb hailing the development as “a new paradigm in the implementation of the core modules of a national health information management system”… more
B.T.L. Still a Bee in P.U.P. Bonnet
Belize – On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied, without explanation, a review of the Government of Belize’s case against the Belize Bank Limited in a long-standing arbitration settlement dating back to 2004… more
Govt. launches another ICT Hub in East Berbice
Guyana – As the Government pushes forward with its aim to make the country internet-ready, another ICT Hub was opened in the East Berbice Corentyne region… more
Minister Bartlett visits Digicel’s Tech Lab
Jamaica – Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett earlier Thursday called in on Digicel’s Tech Lab to view the company’s state –of-the-art products including high speed fiber… more
bmobile partners with Unicomer for world-class data centre and business security solutions
Trinidad and Tobago – “The new data centre and business security solutions installed by bmobile are on par with any major global communications provider and have helped us to revolutionise the way we do business… more
Leveraging the power of Facebook
Trinidad and Tobago – What’s the one thing entrepreneurs should know in order to leverage their presence on Facebook? … more
Local producers hope to cash in on Math game app
Trinidad and Tobago – When some people hear the word mathematics they get an instant headache… more
TSTT Closing Nine Retail Stores. Company Dismayed by CWU’s Misrepresentations.
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago says its decision to commission an independent Audit Report of the Oracle Universal License Agreement negotiations and present a full report to the company’s Board of Directors is a firm demonstration of good corporate governance and accountability… more
Friday, 17 November 2017
EDITORIAL: E-questions continue
Antigua and Barbuda – On hearing the appeal from the Ministry of Education to parents to collect over 1,000 E-Book tablets, we have to ask the question: if the students require the tablets to get access to their e-books and they are still at the ministry, how are the students functioning? … more
‘70% of IDB loan to finance digital expansion’
Jamaica – THE Government has denied claims that it will be spending $9 billion (US$68 million) to finance the proposed national identification system (NIDS)…more
Global Tech Heavyweights Confirmed For Tech Beach Retreat
Jamaica – Following on the success of the 2016 staging, Tech Beach Retreat will again be hosted this year in Montego Bay, St James, on November 30, 2017… more
Management Changes At TTech Come March
Jamaica – Listed IT company tTech Limited has announced that Chris Reckord will lead the company as its new chief executive officer next year along with other board changes… more
Cable & Wireless Core Earning Grow 38 Per Cent Despite Net Loss
Regional – Telecommunication provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ), which trades as FLOW, said it remains on track to hit “key metrics” with core earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) up 38 per cent, despite recording a $378-million net loss… more
CANTO’s 34th AGM to Discuss Digital Adoption and Disaster Risk Management
Regional – Theme: “Guiding Digital Adoption to Lead the Global Market” CANTO and co-host TSTT invite you to join 200 industry professionals as we discuss “Guiding Digital Adoption to Lead the Global Market”… more
Saturday, 18 November 2017
Caribbean hurricanes lead to flat Digicel earnings
Regional – Denis O’Brien’s telecommunications group Digicel posted flat earnings in its second financial quarter as the impact of two hurricanes that hit several Caribbean islands in September weighed, according to sources… more
Trini honoured for ICT initiative
Trinidad and Tobago – Long before Dr Didacus Jules was Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, he’d already decided to get in touch with Bevil Wooding… more
Sunday, 19 November 2017
Hackathon 2017 Commences… -teams expected to work for 48 hours
Guyana – “Hack to the future” is the theme the Ministry of Telecommunication’s annual Hackathon competition 2017…more
NIDS Data Concerns – Cybersecurity Expert Supports Proposed System But Warns About Hackers
Jamaica – As public debate continues over the proposed National Identification System (NIDS), an international cybersecurity expert is expressing concern about the ability of the Government to protect the data it will capture from Jamaicans… more
The Young Entrepreneur’s Error
Jamaica – Recently one of my young readers wrote for help with his idea for a product he was working on. Let’s call him George, to keep his identity confidential. The conversation went like this… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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