A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November 2013.

Monday, 28 October 2013

BTC reaches new tech ‘milestone’

Bahamas – BTC’s cellular customers on New Providence are one step closer to enjoying super-fast Long Term Evolution (LTE) this Christmas as a result of the very first LTE data call – commonly referred to as an “Internet download” – on the BTC network early Saturday morning… more

Major telecommunications milestone for BTC

Bahamas – BTC’s cellular customers on New Providence are one step closer to enjoying super-fast Long Term Evolution (LTE) this Christmas as a result of the very first LTE data call – commonly referred to as an “Internet download” – on the BTC network early this morning… more

Necker private island powered by Digicel business

British Virgin Islands – Road Town, British Virgin Islands: Sir Richard Branson’s private island, Necker, is now powered by Digicel Business… more

LACNIC 20 – LACNOG 2013: “Committed To The Future Of The Internet”

Regional – One of the largest annual gatherings of the community of Internet in Latin America and the Caribbean, the next regional event LACNIC / LACNOG, that seeks to create a forum to exchange experiences and discuss key issues for the future of the Internet in the region and globally, will be held from October 28th until November 1st on Curaçao… more

Region urged to tighten online security

Regional – Regional Governments have been told to heighten online security measures due to increasing attacks by cyber-criminals… more

Computer training for disabled persons

St. Kitts & Nevis – The St Kitts-Nevis Association of persons with disabilities is helping to integrate its members into society by providing them with basic computer skills… more

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Library services looking to boost computer literacy

Cayman Islands – The need appears to be significant, and the public library system is trying to meet it – the demand for computer literacy and a working knowledge of computers and the Internet… more

Flamingo TV Reduces Upstream Connectivity Costs With Connection To AMS-IX Caribbean

Curaçao – Flamingo TV, Bonaire’s largest provider of broadband connections for the delivery of cable television as well as optical fiber products, today signed a connection agreement with AMS-IX Caribbean at the 20th LACNIC event in Willemstad, Curaçao… more

Heavy fines for Grenadians using mobile phone use while driving

Grenada – The Grenada government says it will seek to amend legislation making it an offence to use a mobile device while driving… more

Columbus Networks Selects Coriant 100G Solution for Stragetic Network Upgrade

Regional – Coriant, a global supplier of future-proof optical transport solutions, announced today that Columbus Networks, the wholesale telecommunications brand of Columbus International Inc., has selected Coriant’s coherent 100G solution to expand its network and provide the flexible foundation for enhanced broadband service offerings… more

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

BTC makes first LTE data call in Bahamas

Bahamas – Bahamas operator BTC has announced it has made its first LTE data call on its network in New Providence… more

http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/local/URCA_Public_Consultation_on_Universal_Service21909.shtmlNew URCA deadline for number portability

Bahamas – A new December 2 deadline for the implementation of number portability was set yesterday by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), which called on the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Cable Bahamas to meet this deadline or face penalties… more

URCA Investigates BTC Over Portability Mess

Bahamas – Regulators are investigating the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) for preventing the planned September 3 launch of number portability, saying this had resulted from possible anti-competitive behaviour… more

App aimed at analysing suspicious transactions coming in a few months

Jamaica – THERE are over 400,000 suspicious transactions executed each year in Jamaica, according to financial investigators… more

New Dell laptops distributed to high schools

St. Kitts & Nevis – The advancement of technology in schools across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has continued with the much anticipated distribution of laptops on October 29… more

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Cable Bahamas: ‘Pent up demand’ to add to 20 percent fixed-line share

Bahamas – Having added five percent of the total market share to its fixed-line customer base since June 30, for a market share of 20 percent, Cable Bahamas is seeing “pent up demand” for people wanting to shift to the BISX-listed company once number portability comes into effect on December 2, according to the company’s Head of Marketing Dave Burrows… more

Cable ‘Confident’ On Number Portability Market Share Boost

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas yesterday said it was “confident” it can increase its existing 22,000 fixed-line subscriber base with December’s planned number portability launch, given the “pent-up demand” from Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) customers wanting to switch… more

Parcus Group to Deliver Product Development for Bahamas Telecommunications Company

Bahamas – Australian consulting company Parcus Group announced today that it has won a contract with Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to deliver service creation, product development and product management training and consulting… more

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/LIME_Logo.gifSick out at LIME

Dominica – Some 28 employees of LIME’s technical department called in sick on Thursday to express their disgust in the way the telecommunication giant is handling its outsourcing arrangements with Sweden-based Ericsson… more

C&W joins race for Orange Dominicana acquisition – report

Dominican Republic – Cable & Wireless Communications and Digicel plan to bid for Orange’s Dominican Republic unit, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter… more

Cell phone use now allowed on US flights

Regional – Passengers on US flights will be allowed to use electronic devices during take-off and landing following a ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday… more

Telecoms slash roaming rates

Regional – It looks as though mobile customers will be getting some relief from roaming charges when they travel, as both Digicel and LIME have announced in quick succession that they are cutting rates significantly, effective immediately… more

Time for Caribbean-wide telecom reform

Regional – “We need business models based not on yesterday’s rip-offs, but on tomorrow’s digital opportunities: with revenues not from outrageous margins on roaming, but from new innovative services that people will want to pay for.” … more

New DELL Laptops Distributed to High Schools

St. Kitts & Nevis – The advancement of technology in schools across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has continued with the much anticipated distribution of laptops on October 29… more

Bmobile supplies Police Service with latest mobile technology

Trinidad & Tobago – OVER 300 officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service are now able to use the latest mobile technology via the BlackBerry Q5 to help them in the fight against crime… more

Friday, 1 November 2013

Bahamas Government Focuses on Data Protection

Bahamas – As new forms of communication continue to pervade every society in the world, countries have to ensure that personal data is protected… more

Cyber crimes ‘a growing threat’

Bahamas – The country is under threat by the growing incidence of cyber crimes, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said yesterday… more

Court of Appeal rule in favour of Dunkeld International Investments

Belize – The Court of Appeal handed down a number of decisions today. This afternoon, it ruled in favour of Dunkeld International Investments Limited, one of the beneficiaries of the Telemedia shares that were acquired by the Government in 2009… more

Digicel opens new store at Countryside Shopping Village

Cayman Islands – In anticipation of the upcoming launch of its LTE service in Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands, Digicel opened a new store at Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah on 24 October… more

Telecom companies, regulators discuss wiretapping issue

Cayman Islands – The first in what is likely to be a series of private meetings concerning the expansion and enhancement of communications interception facilities between Cayman Islands telecommunications companies and their government regulator was held Wednesday… more

Cayman_Islands flag (Wikipedia)Wiretapping furor: Who’s listening?

Cayman Islands – The timing could not be worse for an idea that would be bad enough at any time, namely enabling increased telephone wiretapping, texting interceptions and e-mail surveillance by local police… more

Digicel Invests In Epayment Systems Developer – Swipe-Free Card App Not Intended For Jamaica

Regional ­– Digicel Group is now a lead investor in Flint Mobile, and now has a seat on the American technology company’s board… more

LIME slashes USA roaming rates

Regional – LIME, has announced today plans to dramatically cut data roaming costs for customers traveling to the USA, new rates will be as low as just $4.99 per MB… more

Saturday, 2 November 2013

BYOD solutions creating smarter workplaces — Digicel

Jamaica – CISCO Gold partner Digicel Business says it is helping to create more flexible and efficient workplaces through ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) technologies that are being provided by the multinational networking solutions giant… more

T&T team wins global app challenge

Trinidad & Tobago – T&T innovators Ade Inniss-King and Madonna Corrian were among three teams from around the world who won US$10,000 in seed funding and mentorship to launch their companies after their apps got the approval of a judging panel at the World Bank’s VentureOut Challenge yesterday in Chisinau, Moldova … more

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Alliance Between Telecarrier – Cable Onda, S.A. And Ctex To Deliver High-End Datacenter And Cloud Services

Curaçao – TELECARRIER a brand of  Cable Onda, S.A (CO) and Curaçao Technology Exchange N.V. (CTEX) today announced that they have reached an alliance agreement to deliver high-end communications, cloud, datacenter, managed services and disaster recovery services to customers throughout Central America… more

Trini innovator promotes Caribbean with an app

Trinidad & Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago-born Anthony Phills has entered the world of publishing in an unconventional way. His Caricom Commerce Magazine, launched almost a year ago, is not in a traditional print format but is an app that can be downloaded on iPad and Android tablets… more

 

Image credits:  Bahamas Weekly;  Wikipedia; Wikipedia

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