A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 27 August to Sunday 2 September 2018.
Monday, 27 August 2018
80 Bahamians Buy Into Crypto Start-Up
Bahamas – BAHAMIANS are “eager” to explore cryptocurrency opportunities, a local businessman says, suggesting this was highlighted by 80 locals purchasing tokens from a cryptocurrency start-up’s Australian offering last week… more
BTC In A ‘Fight For Its Survival’
Bahamas – A “yearning for better” Internet and TV services means the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) can reverse recent revenue declines if it deploys its latest infrastructure more rapidly, its past union president believes… more
GTT wants early telecoms liberalization in Guyana
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has assured that it is committed to the earliest conclusion of negotiations with the Guyana Government and discussions with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector… more
Fire of the power plant of Digicel Data Center
Haiti– Early Sunday morning a fire broke out in the power plant that feeds the Data Center of the Digicel, which affected some customer services (Internet services and phone calls)… more
Garth Rattray | FLOW Causing Business Ebb
Jamaica – I am grateful for the enormous advances in information and communications technology… more
Sagicor, Digicel and Mastercard launch new prepaid card, MyCash
Jamaica – With a vision of transforming financial services in Jamaica and breaking down the barriers to financial inclusion, Sagicor Bank, Digicel Group (through its subsidiary Prism Services Jamaica), and Mastercard have teamed up to launch MyCash, a prepaid MasterCard branded card and mobile app that work together to help customers manage their money, make payments and transfer funds both locally and from the USA for less… more
Conferees to discuss improving E-government services, technology
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Improving E-government services, information and communications technology (ICT) will be discussed during the Sept. 24 to 28 ICT Week Conference titled, 21st Century Government – Enhancing Connections…Accelerating Progress, sponsored by the Federation and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)… more
Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Drone Delivery Systems selected to join Antigua and Barbuda Innovation Center
Antigua and Barbuda – Drone Delivery Systems has been officially selected to join the prestigious Antigua and Barbuda Innovation Center… more
Artificial intelligence portal launches in Cayman’s Tech City
Cayman Islands – NeuralStudio SEZC, a technology startup based in Cayman’s special economic zone Cayman Tech City, is offering machine-based learning models to global businesses… more
Battle lines drawn between Digicel, GTT in court challenge over monopoly
Guyana – As Guyana gears towards a year-end conclusion of the telecoms monopoly held by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), there is a major battle brewing in the High Court… more
GTT CEO: Tax evasion accusations baseless
Guyana – Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) Justin Nedd has said that all accusations of the company evading taxes are baseless… more
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Expands Across The Caribbean
Regional – NetCents Technology Incorporated has signed a three-year exclusive enterprise licensing accord with Post Socratic Ventures… more
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Aliv: We’re Gaining What BTC’s Losing
Bahamas – Aliv’s top executive yesterday said it has seized one-third of the Bahamian mobile market by gaining the business its rival is losing, as it switches focus to its “innovation agenda”… more
B.T.L. and UWI Sign M.O.U. that Benefits Students
Belize – The University of the West Indies, Open Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belize Telemedia Limited today… more
Flow to compensate customers for service disruption
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Flow said it will be working with the National Works Agency (NWA) to create a compensation package for customers who have been experiencing disruption in service due to road works in the Corporate Area… more
Flow working on compensation package for some customers
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Flow says it will be working with the National Works Agency (NWA), to work out a compensation package for customers who have been experiencing disruption in service due to road works in the Corporate Area… more
Digicel Group Welcomes Telecoms Industry Veteran Jean-Yves Charlier to the Board
Regional– elecoms industry veteran Jean-Yves Charlier has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Digicel Group, effective 1 st September 2018. Jean-Yves will replace Michael Willner who served on the board from September 2015 and will be stepping down on 1 st September… more
Too much could beharmful
Regional– THE EDITOR: The technological era has brought many benefits to all aspects of holistic educational development… more
Thursday, 30 August 2018
Belize’s BTL rebrands as Digi
Belize– Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has announced that its range of business units will be rebranded under the ‘Digi’ brand, part of a strategy called ‘Destination Greatness’ that has already seen the company launch a new mobile and fibre network, billing system and undersea cable to San Pedro… more
No time line for cryptocurrency regulations
Cayman Islands – With some US$4.2 billion raised by Cayman-registered blockchain companies, this jurisdiction has raised more funds from initial coin offerings – the crypto version of initial public offerings – than any other places in the world… more
Dominican schools must advance toward the digital age
Dominican Republic – The co-founder and creator of the Cincinnatus Institute of Craftsmanship on Wed. urged to rebuild the schools in the Dominican Republic, and updating them by taking into account the technological advances and the digital economy… more
Over 80% of Guyana’s public telecoms ministry’s work program completed
Guyana – At the half-year mark, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications had completed over eighty percent of its 2018 work programme. This was disclosed by subject minister, Catherine Hughes during a recent mid-year interview… more
Itelbpo partners with UWI Open
Jamaica – Itelbpo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies Open Campus (UWIOC) with hopes of securing middle and senior managers for its call centre operations… more
CIBC FirstCaribbean ‘from bricks to clicks’
Regional – Call it a case of out with the old and in with the new… more
CITEL Addresses Telecommunications Initiatives Prior to ITU Plenipotentiary Conference
Regional – The Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL), through its Permanent Consultative Committee 1 (PCC.1), met last week (August 20 – 24) at Organization of the American States (OAS) headquarters in Washington, DC… more
Friday, 31 August 2018
Web shop owners sue
Bahamas – Attorneys for four major web shop operators yesterday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking leave for judicial review of the government’s stamp tax on gaming patrons and the new sliding scale gaming tax and will be seeking leave for a stay on both taxes, The Nassau Guardian can confirm…more
Mobile Money Providers Seek Booster Shot From Gov’t
Jamaica – Five years since the first mobile money product was launched in Jamaica, providers of epayment services can’t seem to excite the market, so they want the State to do it for them in the name of financial inclusion… more
Road Works Costing FLOW Millions
Jamaica – A preliminary $42 million tab for damage to its underground network caused by contractors carrying out road improvement work on behalf of the National Works Agency (NWA) is part of the financial toll telecommunications giant FLOW is facing… more
ARIN Elects Former Secretary General of CANTO to Board
Regional – We wish our former Secretary General Ms. Regenie Fraser all the best with her recent appointment! Ms. Fraser was CANTO’s Secretary General for approximately 11 years (2004-2015)… more
Digicel Group Limited Announces Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations
Regional – Digicel Group Limited (“Digicel”) today announced that two of its subsidiaries have commenced, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a confidential offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Offering Memorandum”), offers to exchange (the “Exchange Offers”)…more
IDB Study Says Artificial Intelligence Can Boost Caribbean Economies
Regional – A study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says artificial intelligence can facilitate trade negotiations and add one additional percentage point of growth to Latin American and the Caribbean economies… more
Taiwan ICT Experts Visit SVG
Saint Vincent and Grenadines – Two Taiwanese ICT experts, Director Tsu-Wei Kao and Senior Engineer Yu-Che Huang of the ‘Institute for Information Industry’ in Taiwan, visited St. Vincent and Grenadines from July 26 to August 23, 2018, to complete the installation, testing and training of the Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) of the Government of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines… more
Saturday, 1 September 2018
Digicel moves to refinance debt
Regional – Digicel has announced debt- refinancing plans which will see its repayment deadlines extended. The Denis O’Brien telecommunications company is focused on emerging markets… more
Sunday, 2 September 2018
GB Port Authority launches free digital library
Bahamas – As part of its continued effort to digitize key business processes and customer-related information, Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has launched GBPA Library, a virtual document library of information relevant to the company, its licensees, and the community… more
FLOW says vandals burn its cables
Jamaica – Telecommunications company FLOW has stated that over 8,000 of its customers in St Catherine have been affected, after vandals set fire to its in the Central Village area… more
Digicel bonds rise on prospect of action to tackle debt
Regional – Digicel bonds rose last night, after Denis O’Brien’s telecoms and communications group told bondholders to expect action in the “near term” aimed at addressing its $6.8bn (€5.8bn) debt burden… more
Denis, Digicel and debt
Regional – Three years ago, Digicel was preparing for a €10 billion flotation, but Denis O’Brien pulled the plug at the last minute… more
Image credits: Mars Hill Church (flickr); Wikipedia; Brands of the World; Wikimedia; Wikipedia
