A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 15 April to Sunday 21 April 2019.
Monday, 15 April 2019
BTC Expands Product Line-Up
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) introduced the Samsung S10 device to its product line-up with an April 11 launch at its Mall at Marathon retail store… more
BTC Introduces the S10 to its Device Suite
Bahamas – BTC introduced the Samsung S10 device to its device suite on April 11th with an energy filled launch event at its Mall at Marathon retail store… more
2019 Future Of Belize Telecommunications Market- Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Belize – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Belize to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in highly competitive telecom industry… more
Jamaican Supreme Court Strikes Down National Identification Act, Praises Justice DY Chandrachud’s Dissent Judgement in Aadhaar case!
Jamaica – In a far-reaching judgment, the Constitutional Court in Jamaica has unanimously declared the National Identification and Registration Act (NIRA) as ‘unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect’… more
Private sector groups calls for political consensus on national ID system
Jamaica – THREE powerful private sector groups, while respecting last Friday’s court ruling on the proposed National Identification System (NIDS), say the underlying broad policy objectives that were sought to be achieved are still of great significance and urgent in modernising the Jamaican society and ensuring that each citizen is accounted for in our advancement towards the achievement of Vision 2030… more
Web portal for cybercrime reports ready by month-end
Jamaica – A web portal for victims to report cybercrimes or cyber incidents will become operational by month-end… more
2019 Future Of St. Lucia Telecommunications Market-Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities till 2025 of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Saint Lucia – The report presents detailed insights into St. Lucia mobile communication, fixed telephone and fixed broadband markets. Subscriber count and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-sectors including cellular, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2018 and 2019 to 2025… more
T&T’s future with AI
While artificial intelligence (AI) may seem a long way into the future for Trinidad and Tobago, local businesses have been capitalising on the technology to remain competitive and the average consumer, though largely unaware, has multiple interactions with AI daily… more
Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Consumers Reveal Concerns To URCA
Bahamas – Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) executives heard the concerns of Bahamian consumers at its recent New Providence town hall meeting… more
Nassau consumers support and give input at URCA town hall meeting
Bahamas– It was a no holds barred conversation between stakeholders and executives during the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) recent town hall meeting at the Choices Restaurant at the University of The Bahamas… more
Start-up to discuss future of blockchain at GAIMOps
Cayman Islands – Omise Holdings’ founder and CEO Jun Hasegawa will speak on ‘The Real-Life Applications of Blockchain’ in GAIMOps Cayman’s keynote interview alongside Northern Trust at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on April 29… more
THIS TECH SUMMIT CONTINUES TO SPEARHEAD INNOVATION IN HAITI
Haiti – The Haiti Tech Summit is back for its third annual conference and changes are in full effect… more
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus: A pocket-size super computer
Jamaica – After ten years of mobile innovation, Samsung has released what some say is their best mobile device yet, the Galaxy S10… more
Caribbean voices rising in global Internet governance
Regional – If you’re searching for the next wave of Internet development to come from the Caribbean, an international conference recently held in Bridgetown is a good place to start… more
Protecting yourself when using public WiFi
Regional – The rate at which hackers and scammers have been “winning” of late causes me to compare their operations to that of a legitimate and established entity… more
Probe launched into T&T national ID scam
Trinidad and Tobago – National Security Minister Stuart Young says he has requested law enforcement authorities to launch an “urgent investigation” into what appears to be a photograph of a Venezuelan passport and a Trinidad and Tobago identification card belonging to the same person… more
Small grants now available from Digicel Foundation
Trinidad and Tobago – The Digicel Foundation will host an open day for its ‘Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities’ (EPIC)–a small grant initiative–on April 30 from 10AM to 3PM at the Digicel Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain… more
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Flow now offering strictly gigabyte packages for smartphone users
British Virgin Islands – Flow has launched new prepaid plans as they move to offer strictly gigabyte packages for smartphone users… more
St. Martin Secondary receives donation of laptops
Dominica – Students of the St. Martin Secondary School are now better equipped to write this year’s CESC Examination thanks to a donation of seven laptops by the Dominica Secondary Schools Support Association ( DSSSA), a charity organization based in England… more
Expansion for itelbpo in Kingston
Jamaica – As part of its drive to create 1,000 new jobs in 2019, locally owned contact centre and business process outsourcing (BPO) company, itelbpo is adding 20,000 square feet of space to its Kingston-based operations by the end of May… more
JC Robotics team ‘hit the ground roaming’ in Texas for global contest
Jamaica – A group of eleven students from Jamaica College (JC) who were ranked best at building their own robot are now in the USA gearing up to compete against their peers from across the world… more
Technology In Focus | Environmentalist, ICT Expert Call For Urgent Action To Tackle E-Waste
Jamaica – In 2016, Jamaica generated approximately 17,000 tons, or 5.9kg, per inhabitant, of e-waste domestically, according to a Global E-waste Monitor 2017 report done by the United Nations University in association with the International Telecommunication Union and International Solid Waste Association…more
Winning JC robotics team first to access new Digicel roaming plans
Jamaica – Eleven Jamaica College (JC) students who were ranked best at building their own robot are now in the USA gearing up to compete against their peers from across the world… more
Internet of Humans arising in the Caribbean
Regional – The global Internet is a network of networks. Some are physical but some, human… more
The power of digital
Regional – The Digital Revolution and Information Age are providing great opportunities and changing the way we communicate, live, and work around the world… more
Digicel celebrates 13 years in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – The total communications and entertainment provider, Digicel celebrated its 13th anniversary in Trinidad and Tobago on April 6… more
TATT threatens TV Jaagriti over Sat’s ‘derogatory’ statements
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) is threatening to take action against TV Jaagriti and the Central Broadcasting Services Limited, after statements made during the “Maha Sabha Strikes Back” programme hosted by Satnaryan Maharaj…more
Thursday, 18 April 2019
Cyber crimes on the rise; Bahamians warned to protect banking info
Bahamas – With the potential for cyber harm constantly evolving, Bahamian consumers are being cautioned to be particularly attentive to their cyber activity in regards to their personal banking information… more
Claro had problems with its mobile network
Dominican Republic – The telephone company Claro restored its mobile network this Wednesday (April 17, 2019) after experiencing inconveniences with this service during the afternoon and evening of that day… more
Several TV, radio stations broadcasting illegally – GNBA
Guyana – The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) on Thursday indicated that several television and radio stations were broadcasting illegally and threatened to take legal action which could see operators being fined, imprisoned and their equipment seized… more
Antigua to host CaribNOG 18 Internet conference in September
Regional – Antigua and Barbuda will host the eighteenth regional meeting of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG) from September 25 to 27… more
Huawei, diamond sponsor of CTU’s 30th anniversary celebrations
Regional – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) is pleased to announce that one of the leading global providers of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei, is the diamond sponsor for the CTU’s 30th Anniversary Celebration… more
Ministry of Public Administration and Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) to highlight digital transformation with FutureScape
Regional – Do it. is the theme chosen by the CTU to highlight the achievement of digital transformation within the Caribbean Region, as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a technological immersive experience that demonstrates the speed, efficiency, transparency, resilience, faculty and simplicity of life in a fully integrate digital Caribbean… more
NANOG’s Edward McNair delivers keynote address at CaribNOG 17
Regional – Edward Mc Nair, executive director of the North American Network Operators Group (NANOG), delivered the keynote at the seventeenth regional meeting of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), held from April 10 to 12 at the Hilton in Bridgetown, Barbados… more
RETRENCHED TSTT WORKERS PROTEST
Trinidad and Tobago – Protest for pension; it’s a predicament retrenched TSTT workers have found themselves in. What is making the situation worse, is the uncertainty as to what is happening and why… more
Social media can facilitate human trafficking
Trinidad and Tobago – The advent of the Internet has opened the world to endless possibilities and connectivity. However, unscrupulous persons have been using social media to facilitate human trafficking… more
Friday, 19 April 2019
YotaPhone Maker declared bankrupt by Cayman Islands Court
Cayman Islands – Yota – a dual display smartphone manufacturer, goes bankrupt as declared the Cayman Islands Supreme Court in a recent ruling… more
Development Bank of Jamaica offers support to BPO sector
Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) is offering financial support to players in the business process outsourcing sector to help develop the industry…more
Tech Exec: Artificial Intelligence Won’t Lead To Wide-Scale Job Cuts – Tech Exec
Jamaica – A top executive of a leading outsourcing firm has rubbished the popular notion that the imminent implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in commercial operations would result in a mass loss of jobs… more
Saturday, 20 April 2019
GTT has disconnected my internet service without just cause
Guyana – Dear Editor, The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, due to its monopoly, treats its customers with great disdain… more
Two In Custody For Lottery Scam-Related Offences
Jamaica – A St James man has been arrested and charged for possession of identity information with intent… more
CARICOM to observe Girls in ICT Day
Regional –The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat says it will join the rest of the world on Thursday in celebrating “Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day… more
Flow Customers Now Connect Faster and Easier
Saint Lucia – Flow customers can now share life’s special moments faster and easier with access to increased data plans… more
TATT holds firm on warning to Sat Maharaj
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) says it is holding firm on its warning to Central Broadcasting Services Limited with regard to its breach of Clause D9 of their Concession to operate a Public Broadcasting Service… more
Sunday, 21 April 2019
GTT’s customer service is poor, bill payment outlets should meet demands of public
Guyana – Dear Editor, I refer to a letter in the Sunday Stabroek captioned, `GTT has disconnected my internet service without just cause’, in which Ms. Narissa Deokarran bemoans the horrible way we are being treated by GTT… more
Hughes introduces ‘Farmer’s App’ at Region 6 outreach
Guyana– As part of the ‘Government comes to you’ outreach, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, on Tuesday met with Berbice farmers at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, Berbice, to introduce her ministry’s new initiative… more
Minister Hughes has been convincing
Guyana – Dear Editor, The Hon. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Ms. Cathy Hughes, MP, has come before the public…more
Minister Hughes in clear breach of Integrity Act – Goolsarran
Guyana – Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes is in clear breach of the Integrity Act and should immediately relinquish all ties to her company which recently received a government contract, or resign if she wants to keep it, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran says… more
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