A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 28 December 2020  to Sunday 3 January 2021.

 

Monday, 28 December 2020

One laptop per family project to be reintroduced – President

Guyana – President Irfaan Ali  last week announced the re-introduction of the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative… more

 

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Early 2021 Study For Third Mobile Operator ‘Feasibility’

Bahamas – Regulators will in early 2021 initiate studies to help the Government assess the “feasibility” of allowing a third operator to enter the Bahamian mobile communications market… more

Local cryptocurrency traders lament Investment Currency Market restrictions

Bahamas – Local cryptocurrency buyers and traders say they are being stymied by the inability to purchase investment currency because the Central Bank suspended access to the Investment Currency Market in May, in order to protect the country’s external reserves, but that that is only part of their ongoing struggle for the freedom to buy and trade cryptoassets… more

ANSA donates 100 tablets to Jamaican schools

Jamaica – The ANSA McAL Group has donated 100 electronic tablets to 10 schools in Jamaica… more

TSTT building 5G for new industrial park

Trinidad and Tobago – MAJORITY State-owned telecommunications provider, TSTT, is undertaking a “limited deployment” of 5G at the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate in central Trinidad, but is not yet ready to roll out mobile 5G nationally, according to the local telecommunication provider’s chief executive, Lisa Agard… more

 

Wednesday, 30 December 2020

11-year-old girl launches initiative to teach kids how to code

Bahamas – A pre-teen Bahamian girl has launched a non-profit initiative to empower other children to “unlock” their power by learning how to code… more

Enterprise computing: digital governance

Regional – WE have been taking an intense look at critical components on the digital transformation journey for the past six weeks or so… more

Gritty reality of online school

Trinidad and Tobago – ONE characteristic of the first school term of 2020-2021 was how very different it was for almost everyone who was involved in it… more

 

Thursday, 31 December 2020

Bitt Inc and National Bank of Belize form partnership

Belize – The Barbados-based financial technology firm Bitt Inc. has entered into a partnership with the National Bank of Belize Limited (NBB) as Belmopan adds an eWallet to its existing mobile banking services and seeks to extend financial inclusion to its population… more

Dominican Republic prepares for 5G tender in January

Dominican Republic – The Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) has presented the plans for a public tender of the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands for mobile services… more

Government putting fight to cyber criminals

Jamaica – Project portfolio manager in the Ministry of National Security, Thaddeti Tulloch, says the ministry will, as of next month, start to roll out a programme on cybersecurity as part of efforts to further protect citizens from the evolving threat of cybercrime… more

Electronic tracking bracelets being considered for high risk travellers

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Electronic bracelets are being considered by local health authorities as part of the effort to keep track of persons in quarantine… more

Ramps Logistics: Business Technology champion 2020

Trinidad and Tobago – The recent Champions of Business awards programme, hosted each year by the TT Chamber, recognises outstanding achievement in the sphere of business in four categories… more

 

Friday, 1 January 2021

GTT selected as telecommunications provider to Maraiko Bay Megaproject

Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telecommunications Company (GTT) has been selected as the preferred telecoms provider to the billion dollar real estate, megaproject being built in Maraiko Bay, Mahaica which involves a major golf course… more

 

Saturday, 2 January 2021

Big BPO boost

Jamaica – OUTGOING United States Ambassador to Jamaica Donald Tapia has initiated discussions with two American firms which could see hundreds of new jobs being created in the island’s business processing outsourcing (BPO) sector… more

 

Sunday, 3 January 2021

BOJ Moving To Regulate, Grow $4 Billion E-Payment Business

Jamaica – It is expected that for the year just ended, there were more than the 134 million electronic retail payment transactions worth in excess of $4 billion, which the Bank of Jamaica, BOJ, recorded for 2019… more

Chinese Spying On Jamaicans, Says Tapia – Not True, Says Digicel

Jamaica – Chinese operatives are eavesdropping on mobile telephone calls being made by Jamaicans on the Digicel network, the departing top American diplomat here has alleged, opening the door for speculation on what Jamaican authorities may know… more

Web-Service Firm Pivots To E-Commerce

Jamaica – Another company has joined the growing list of firms seeking to cash in on the local electronic payment solutions business… more

 

 

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