A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 29 April to Sunday 5 May 2019.
Monday, 29 April 2019
Aliv ‘Monitoring’ US/UK Fears On Chinese Supplier
Bahamas – Aliv’s top executive “can’t praise highly enough” its Chinese technology supplier despite the ongoing controversy over whether it should be allowed to build 5G mobile networks in the US and UK… more
Blockchain and technology-driven initiative to completely transform Barbados economy
Barbados – SM@RT, a US blockchain-based sustainable economic development company, announced the prelaunch of SM@RT BARBADOS™. This new strategic initiative has two purposes… more
Broadcasting Authority supports code of conduct
Belize – During today’s workshop on children’s rights and reporting at the Belize Biltmore Plaza, chair of the Belize Broadcasting Authority, Francine Burns, presented on the role of regulator, the Belize Broadcasting Authority in regulating and licensing media content… more
EDITORIAL – Are OfReg’s troubles ‘growing pains’ or something more?
Cayman Islands – Legislators’ narrow vote to provide supplementary funding for the Utilities Regulation and Competition Office this month should be a wake-up call for Cayman’s troubled super-regulator… more
Guyana launches ICT course in Rupununi
Guyana – First Lady of Guyana, H. E. Sandra Granger, on Tuesday, April 23, launched the first ever Information Communication Technology Training course, a Ministry of Social Protection’s Board of Institution workshop, to better prepare students of the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre, (YLC) Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region 9, for the growing world of technology… more
Caribbean internet development receives support from ARIN
Regional – For anyone wondering how internet development is evolving in the Caribbean, an international conference held in Bridgetown, Barbados, hosted by the American Registry for internet Numbers (ARIN), provided more than a few positive clues… more
Experts call for Caribbean to make its voice heard on global Internet governance
Regional – The internet has come to play a vital role in the social and economic development of the Caribbean… more
Tuesday, 30 April 2019
URCA Unveils GB Town Hall Meetings
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is set to hold three meetings on Grand Bahama as part of its ongoing public consultation process… more
NTRC hosts ‘Girls in ICT’ event
Dominica – The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Science, Telecommunications and Technology (MISTT) hosted ‘Girls in ICT’ day under the theme “Expand Horizons and Change Attitudes”… more
Gov’t Internet Access Plan Faces Challenge As USF Revenues Bleed Again
Jamaica – Jamaica’s push to give vulnerable communities access to the Internet could be impacted as revenues for the main driver, the Universal Service Fund (USF), are waning… more
Wednesday, 1 May 2019
BTC & BCPOU sign heads of agreement
Bahamas – BTC officially announced on Tuesday that the company has signed a Heads of Agreement with the leadership of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU)… more
Bitt to partner with Estonian e-gov firm
Barbados – Barbados-based financial technology company, Bitt, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Estonia’s e-Governance Academy (eGA)… more
Government partners with cryptocurrency firm
British Virgin Islands – Premier Andrew Fahie announced last week that government has launched a partnership with LIFElabs.io, a cryptocurrency management company, which he claimed would help provide a “rapid cash response” in the event of emergencies…more
Caricel’s Argument Weak, Says Court Of Appeal
Jamaica – With embattled telecommunications provider Symbiote Investments Limited, which operates as Caricel, pledging to take its grouse to the United Kingdom-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the Jamaican Court of Appeal has unequivocally declared that the company’s appeal will not succeed… more
Digicel launches Samsung Galaxy S10 in Jamaica
Jamaica – Digicel launched the Samsung Galaxy S10 in Jamaica last Thursday, with the communication leader promising customers an amazing experience with the device… more
USF reports decline in service fees
Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) has suffered a plunge in the service fees it collects… more
ECCB Launches Digital Currency
Regional – It’s not often that the Caribbean is first to market in the technology space but in February the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) signed a landmark agreement pioneering the world’s first blockchain-backed currency issued by a central bank… more
Greater Caribbean cooperation needed to combat cyber crimes
Regional – The Caribbean is under virtual siege as incidents of cyber attacks and cyber crimes surge across the region… more
LACNIC Programa FRIDA fund ready to receive applications
Regional – Digital entrepreneurs and innovators working on internet development projects could win a total of US$25,000 through the Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean, called Programa FRIDA… more
Thursday, 2 May 2019
Blockchain technology to be established in A&B
Antigua and Barbuda – The government will be proceeding with plans to establish blockchain technology in the country by enacting the necessary laws in Parliament… more
BTC signs heads of agreement with BCPOU
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) announced yesterday that it has officially signed a heads of agreement (HOA) with the leadership of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), that will form the basis for a new industrial agreement, a press release on the matter revealed… more
Communications Sector Below $400m Revenues – A First In Five Years
Bahamas – Communications sector revenues dipped below $400m for the first time in five years during 2018, with both fixed-line voice and pay TV subscribers falling year-over-year… more
Utilities regulator wants more law enforcement muscle
Cayman Islands – Some of Cayman’s communications providers did not provide information sought by the Utility Competition and Regulation Office for an investigation last year, according to the regulator’s acting CEO, Alee Fa’amoe… more
ICT Access Fundamental To An Information Society – Williams
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Fayval Williams, is reiterating the importance of ICT skills and greater access to ICTs as fundamental components for participating in today’s information society… more
We need to wake up – Reggae artiste encourages people to get educated on technology
Jamaica – Up-and-coming reggae artiste Avaran is encouraging the public to learn how to use technology to their advantage… more
Technology In Focus | Smart Cities A Pipe Dream For Jamaica?
Jamaica – Last year, the Government gave a commitment to establish Jamaica’s first smart city, with the business district of New Kingston named the pioneer…more
C&W/Flow Moving the Region into the Digital Future
Regional – “Why are we not further along in our path to digitally transform the region?” was the question posed by Liberty Latin America’s (LLA) Chief Legal Officer, John Winter, to a packed audience that included Caribbean Government Ministers and Telecommunications policymakers and operators at the Opening Ceremony of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) 30th Anniversary celebration on Monday, April 29th… more
CTU: Govt must champion technology
Regional – The long and tedious lines at Government offices to apply for documents such as birth papers and driver’s permits can be avoided if the State has the will power to adopt a more technological approach to governance… more
TSTT’s role in TT tech transformation
Trinidad and Tobago – Imagine being able to renew your driver’s license online, or better yet, being able to use the internet to get your first driver’s permit. Many who have gone through the Wrightson Road experience of driver’s permit certification would describe it as long, drawn-out and mentally tiring… more
Friday, 3 May 2019
BTC Touts Doubling Of Internet Speeds
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) says it has doubled Internet speeds for all customers on its newly-extended Fibre to the Home (FTTH) residential network infrastructure… more
Nat’l ID program would reduce risks of digital payment services
Bahamas – The Bahamas is treading cautiously in the area of digital payment services because of the inherent risks involved, Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBOB) John Rolle said yesterday… more
URCA Releases Internet Exchange Oversight Regime
Bahamas – Regulators yesterday moved to create the supervisory framework for Bahamas-based Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in a bid to lower local access costs… 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. It provides unmatched depth and breadth into drivers, challenges, tariffs, competition, subscriber behaviour, infrastructure, regulatory support and others… more
BTL and Ministry of Education promote technology in schools
Belize – The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) have worked together to organize a new and exciting venture for education in Belize… more
Yello launches phone directory under ‘Go Green’ Theme
Belize – On Thursday, April 25, the Yello Media Group launched its latest edition of the Belize Telemedia Telephone Directory… more
British Virgin Islands: Getting Ready For The Crypto Spring
British Virgin Islands – With flexible and commercially minded legislation, an innovative approach to anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, political stability and an internationally recognised securities regulatory regime, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has established itself as the jurisdiction of choice for a number of initial coin offerings (ICOs)… more
Airbnb Spurs Jamaica’s Homeshare Market
Jamaica – Jamaica’s homeshare market grew by two-thirds in 2018… more
Funding Crunch Stalls Tablets In Schools Rollout
Jamaica – Funding problems hampered the rollout of the much-touted Tablets in School project spearheaded by e-Learning Jamaica for reporting year April 2017 to March 2018 as the entity continues to grapple with cash-injection woes from supporting government ministries… more
Sprint Financial enters fintech arena
Jamaica – Jamaica -based micro-financier Sprint Financial has entered the local fintech arena with the introduction of its new online B2B product SprintFinx.com… more
Internet of humans rising in Caribbean
Regional – It’s easy to overlook but hard to overstate that the internet really is a network of humans… 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 theCaribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), held from April 10 to 12 at the Hilton in Bridgetown, Barbados… more
Seven technology pioneers honoured for contribution to Caribbean Internet governance
Regional – Seven of the region’s leading technology advocates were formally recognised for their outstanding service to the Caribbean at a special awards ceremony to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF)… more
Flow Customers Now Connect Faster and Easier
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Flow customers can now share life’s special moments faster and easier with access to increased data plans. The new plans give customers up to 15GBS of data which is a massive upgrade to the existing prepaid data packages… more
Saturday, 4 May 2019
FLOW replacing cables destroyed by Corporate Area road works
Jamaica – Telecommunications firm FLOW says it will be replacing its cable infrastructure over the weekend following extensive damage as a result of ongoing road works in the Corporate Area… more
Sunday, 5 May 2019
Hackers Siphon $4m From Jamaican Banks Monthly As Cyber Theft Grows
Jamaica – Jamaica’s banks experience nearly two cyberattacks per week on average, and in one extreme month, hackers made off with $10 million, according to the latest official data… more
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