A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October 2020.
Monday, 19 October 2020
Bridging The Gender Gap Critical For Cyber Security
Bahamas – There are arguably two key problems encountered with cyber security governance – the misrepresentation of cyber security risks at executive and Board levels, and the under-representation of women in the industry. Yet the pressure to secure businesses against cyber-related incidents and, more importantly, cyber breaches is immense… more
Gov’t Expands Digital Platform Roll-Out Drive
Bahamas – The Government is developing digital platforms to automate the Cabinet Office’s functions and to handle the planning process at the Ministry of Works… more
Digicel investing half-million to improve internet speeds in BVI
British Virgin Islands – Telecommunication provider Digicel has announced that they will be investing $500,000 to upgrade their local network infrastructure over the next six months… more
Telemedicine: Healing at a distance
Cayman Islands – Telemedicine’s popularity has skyrocketed due to technological advances over the last 20 to 30 years, and most recently due to the necessities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic… more
BCIC preps cyber insurance for businesses
Jamaica – Amid rising cybercrimes and sophisticated digital attacks on companies globally, a British Caribbean Insurance Company (BCIC) executive has said that the underwriting company is in the process of adding cyber insurance as a new line to its already extensive list of products… more
Gov’t moves to criminalise the use of cell phones by prisoners
Jamaica – The ability of inmates to continue to direct their criminal operations from behind prison walls with the use of cellular phones will soon be significantly curtailed… more
Jamaica readies for proliferation of 5G services locally
Jamaica – Jamaica is far advancing its regulatory and monitoring regime for the proliferation of fifth generation (5G) mobile technology services in Jamaica… more
Online learning will be relevant even after COVID passes – Williams
Jamaica – Education, Youth and Information Minister, Fayval Williams, has declared that online learning, which has become prevalent in schools since March, is here to stay, even after the advent of the coronavirus (COVID-19)… more
Schools moving ahead with plans to improve ICT status
Jamaica – SOME public schools are forging ahead with plans to improve their information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure to be able to efficiently deliver distance learning, as institutions continue to operate in a virtual space… more
USF soon to assist students with online classes
Jamaica – CHIEF executive officer (CEO) for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Daniel Dawes says the entity will shortly be embarking on a programme to assist students experiencing challenges accessing the Internet to participate in online classes… more
Huawei launches virtual Seeds for the Future
Trinidad and Tobago – “Initiatives like this are necessary to bridge work in the classroom with work in the field,” said Professor Brian Copeland of the University of the West Indies… more
Tuesday, 20 October 2020
BTC launches nationwide connectivity campaign
Bahamas – BTC has announced that it has kicked off an aggressive national connectivity campaign geared at connecting every home across the country with broadband services… more
BTC Targets 55% Of Nassau, GB For Fibre Linkage
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) operational head yesterday said more than half the homes in Nassau and Grand Bahama will be passed by its latest network technology come year-end 2021 as it launches a national Internet connectivity drive… more
Cloud provider warns up to 90% of organizations at cyber risk
Bahamas – Thousands more interactions and transactions are taking place digitally for companies because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however organizations in The Bahamas and the rest of the region are 80 to 90 percent at risk of information and communication technology (ICT) penetration, revealed a local leader in cloud services.. more
Dominican Republic Telecommunications Market Report 2020-2026, Trends, Top Key Players and more
Dominican Republic – Global Telecommunications market is growing at a rapid pace year over year. “The global Telecommunications industry will grow at a rate of 4.0% in 2019” notes OG Analysis… more
Grenada Telecommunications 2020 Market Size, Status and Forecast to 2026
Grenada – Global Telecommunications market is growing at a rapid pace year over year. “The global Telecommunications industry will grow at a rate of 4.0% in 2019” notes OG Analysis… more
PM: Gov’t actively seeking a viable solution to online learning challenges
Jamaica – PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says having children in low-risk communities return to the classroom is a possible solution for those facing challenges with connectivity and virtual learning… more
Tablets Handed Over to PATH Students at Three Inner-City Primary Schools
Jamaica – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and e-Learning Jamaica have presented tablets to the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) students at three inner-city schools located in the constituency of St. Andrew South… more
Digicel Steps Out As A Digital Operator
Regional – Digicel is today launching itself as a Digital Operator and is marking the occasion by delivering simply more through a suite of eight apps and a promise of powerful digital experiences… more
Statia to obtain faster and cheaper Internet next year
Sint Eustatius – The public entity St. Eustatius and telecom company EUTEL NV have concluded an agreement with Saba Statia Cable System (SSCS) BV for Internet capacity for the coming five years… more
Digicel provides connectivity, devices to 44 more schools
Trinidad and Tobago – The Digicel Foundation continues to support the Ministry of Education’s Adopt-a-School initiative by teaming up with the ministry to bring connectivity to an additional 44 schools across Trinidad and Tobago… more
SME loan facility goes digital
Trinidad and Tobago – IMPROVED and innovative access to finance and loans for small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is just a click away, as Term Finance Holdings Ltd (TFHL) and 3Stone Ltd have developed a strictly digital platform to assist such businesses. The digital platform, SME TT which has been in beta testing… more
Wednesday, 21 October 2020
The Bahamas launches world’s first CBDC, the ‘Sand Dollar’
Bahamas – The Central Bank of the Bahamas has announced the country’s “Sand Dollar” — a state-backed virtual currency — is now available nationwide… more
Claro Caribbean Q3 sales flat, adds 126,000 Dominican mobile subs
Dominican Republic – America Movil’s Claro units in the Caribbean reported third-quarter revenues of USD 439 million, down 0.6 percent year on year but a vast improvement on the Covid-impacted 10.3 percent annual decline posted in Q2… more
Jamaica: Online schooling by the roadside – Parents struggling to keep children in classes
Jamaica – Parents across Jamaica are making the effort to assist their children get accustomed to the online method of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Beverley Dressikie of Huddersfield, St Mary, is one of them… more
Life’s a tech beach
Jamaica – Kirk-Anthony Hamilton has gone beyond the dream of creating a Silicon Valley in the Caribbean. Hamilton is an architectural designer turned entrepreneur, investor, community curator and co-founder of Infiniti Partnership Inc, TechBeach Retreat, The Destination Experience and the Visionaries’ Summit… more
Managed IT services 101
Jamaica – Managed IT services are any defined set of proactive IT services that are remotely delivered and paid for before use… more
Minister Williams Calls on Jamaicans to Support One Laptop or Tablet Per Child Initiative
Jamaica – Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, is calling on Jamaicans to support the Government’s efforts to put electronic devices in the hands of students through the ‘One Laptop or Tablet per Child’ initiative… more
Tablets to be Used in 2022 Census
Jamaica – The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) will be using tablets to conduct the 2022 Population and Housing Census… more
Digicel launches suite of data-led Prime Bundles
Regional – Caribbean-focused operator Digicel announced the launch of a range of new bundles for heavy data users as part of a rebrand of its operations as a vendor of “digital experiences”… more
Cyber Security Unit to secure Govt’s digitalisation—Young
Trinidad and Tobago – A Cyber Security Unit in the National Security Ministry will be tasked with securing Government’s Digitalisation thrust from hacking and other cyber dangers… more
HACK ATTACK
Trinidad and Tobago – THE CARIBBEAN’S biggest conglomerate, Ansa McAl, is the victim of ransomware hackers holding some of the company’s IT systems hostage… more
PwC: Digital upskilling critical for good paying jobs
Trinidad and Tobago – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) T&T has argued that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated changes in how and where we work, noting that for many organisations the crisis has brought to the fore the discrepancy between the skills people have and those needed for jobs in the digital world… more
Thursday, 22 October 2020
Sand Dollar: The Bahamas Has Released the new Central Bank Digital Currency
Bahamas – The Central Bank of the Bahamas has launched the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) called “Sand Dollar” on October 21, 2020. Like any CBDC, it is state-backed and is now available nationwide. In addition, the Sand Dollar is built using blockchain technology, which rarely happens with CBDCs… more
No data plan needed for several educational websites- GTT
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) on Thursday announced that it has inked a deal with the Ministry of Education that would see Guyanese paying nothing to visit several educational websites… more
Faster, Cheaper Internet Coming To Haiti Via $60 Million Project
Haiti – The International Development Association (IDA) has approved a $60 million project to provide faster, cheaper internet access and other digital services in Haiti, the organization has announced… more
Online learning is here to stay, says JTA president
Jamaica – President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Jasford Gabriel says the dangers to public health as a result of community spread of the novel coronavirus will pose an extreme challenge as thought is given to a limited return to face-to-face school… more
#BTColumn – Closing the digital gap to end poverty
Regional – The digital economy, connectivity and the possibilities offered by remote work have emerged as a shelter from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for many social and economic sectors of Latin America and the Caribbean. But not everyone has access to such protections… more
Cybercrime under-reported
Trinidad and Tobago – THE TTPS does not have definitive data about the prevalence of ransomware and other debilitating cyberattacks in TT because local companies that fall victim often do not make reports to the police… more
TATT to sign MOU to provide devices, data for students
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education to provide much-needed devices and data access for students in need… more
Friday, 23 October 2020
GTT zero rates some educational websites to aid online learning
Guyana – To support online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday said that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to zero rate several educational websites on behalf of students and children in Guyana… more
Guyana must work now to strengthen its anti-trust regulations for telecom sector
Guyana – Dear Editor, Please permit me to render some observations in simple language (not my technology jargon) on what the Government must do to fully leverage its wise decision to liberalize the Telecom/Digital sector… more
IT issues delay salaries for some gov’t agencies – Edghill
Guyana – Works Minister Juan Edghill, who has been performing the duties of Finance Minister, yesterday said the ministry and budget agencies are working to address the delay in the payment of salaries to workers at some government agencies… more
213 Tablets Handed Over to Students in Portland
Jamaica – More than 200 students from four primary schools in Portland were presented with tablets on Thursday (October 22) as the Government continued the distribution of devices under the Tablets in Schools Programme… more
Groups Call For Tax Relief On Digital Devices
Jamaica – A call is being made by private sector groups and a non-government organisation for the Government to remove duties and taxes on mobile and digital equipment for least 24 months… more
JFB Going Virtual for Fire Safety Week
Jamaica – The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will be using a virtual format to get the message of fire safety and prevention across to Jamaicans during Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week 2020… more
Remove Duty On Computers
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Madam: The Gleaner editorial on Saturday, October 17, ‘Digital divide and struggles with schooling’, highlights very important issues… more
Digicel Launched Turkcell’s BiP, TV+, Lifebox and Fast Login in 32 Countries
Regional – In an important step forward towards becoming a Digital Operator, Digicel launched the life and communication platform BiP, TV platform PlayGO (TV+), the personal cloud storage platform Billo (lifebox) and Fast Login in 32 countries, in partnership with Lifecell Ventures, subsidiary of the digital operator Turkcell (NYSE: TKC) (BIST: TCELL)… more
NTRC iCode784 competition finalists named
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The finalists in the three categories of the 2020 National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission’s (NTRC) iCode784 competition have been decided… more
Build a Future ready business
Trinidad and Tobago – Is your business structured to thrive despite – or even because of – today’s business environment and tomorrow’s new challenges… more
Internet issues postpone Express case
Trinidad and Tobago – The virtual trial of a lawsuit, in which the publishers of a daily newspaper are challenging the constitutionality of two recent raids on their organization, had to be postponed yesterday due to technical issues… more
More glitch woes for judge
Trinidad and Tobago – A SUDDEN crash in either the Judiciary’s computer system that allows for virtual court hearings or a disruption in Internet service yesterday resulted in several court matters being adjourned… more
Ministry should help the many pupils without online access
Trinidad and Tobago – Mere weeks into the Ministry of Education’s (MoEd) online teaching programme, there are very disturbing reports that an alarming number of pupils throughout T&T are in fact NOT accessing their education via this forum… more
Responding to the cybersecurity threat
Trinidad and Tobago – For years, conversations about cybersecurity in Trinidad and Tobago have surfaced. Seminars have been held. Consultants have spoken. Minor hacks have been reported… more
TATT donates 10,000 devices to students
Trinidad and Tobago – The donation of 10,000 devices to school children by the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) will not only allow those children access to online learning but will change their lives… more
Saturday, 24 October 2020
Barbados Now Has Uber-Type App For Registered Taxis, Only Not Cheap.
Barbados – Registered taxi operators across Barbados now have an additional option through which to ply their trade – the Pick Up Barbados app… more
GTT donates phones to keep Region 4 Health Dep’t in contact with COVID-19 patients
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has gifted phones with SIM cards and special mobile plans to the Region Four Health Department to ensure it remains in contact with COVID-19 patients… more
GTT must return to detailed paper bills – PUC
Guyana – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is contending that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) must revert to giving consumers detailed paper bills instead of the electronic billing format currently being used… more
Gov’t To Develop COVID Response Technology Plan
Jamaica – The Government is working on a COVID response technology plan, which will provide Jamaicans with Internet connectivity while a national broadband plan is being developed… more
Private sector groups want 2-year tax relief on digital devices
Jamaica – SOME of the country’s major private sector groups yesterday jointly urged the Government to remove “all duties and taxes” on digital devices for at least two years… more
JMMB Group eyes digitisation as a key to boost profitability
Regional – The JMMB Group believes that increased focus on digitisation, improved operational efficiency and inorganic growth are key imperatives to drive its profitability in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and T&T over this financial year and beyond… more
Sunday, 25 October 2020
5G offer from America
Jamaica – The Jamaican Government is now studying a proposal from its American counterpart for a Fifth-Generation (5G) mobile technology service being rolled out here that would spare the island any costs associated with the investment… more
Educator warns colleagues of online stress
Jamaica – AN educator is urging her colleagues to adapt to the new modality of online learning or suffer if they continue to deliver lessons as if they are in a physical face-to-face setting… more
CXC creates online portal for CSEC and CAPE reviews, queries
Regional – Following the recommendation of the independent review team, the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has created an online portal to expedite the handling of reviews and queries from students who wrote the 2020 July/August Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)… more
Dead cell phone bandits identified: Laventille and Point Fortin youths
Trinidad and Tobago – THE two criminal suspects shot dead by police in Longdenville last Thursday after robbing a man of cash and a cellular phone, have been identified… more
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