This is a roundup of the ICT/technology news across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 10 October to Sunday 16 October 2011.
Monday, 10 October 2011
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Tuesday, 11 October 2011
BTC promises lower cell rates by the end of year
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will introduce lower cell phone rates sometime before Christmas, BTC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Houston revealed yesterday… more
BTC to create more jobs
Bahamas – When the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) voluntary separation exercise (VSEP) is completed within the next few months, it is expected that around 400 employees would have accepted offers to leave the company… more
BTC: Up to 8 Mbps broadband by Christmas
Bahamas – Come Christmas, New Providence and Grand Bahama residents will be able to access mobile broadband speeds of up to 8 Megabytes per second (MBps) for post-paid service and 2 MBps for pre-paid service, according to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)… more
Central SMEs involved in Cariri ICT Forum
Trinidad & Tobago – In its drive to build technological capability and enhance the operational efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) recently hosted an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Awareness forum, for businesses in Central Trinidad… more
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Antigua minister says introduce 4G or else
Antigua & Barbuda – Government has threatened to introduce new competition to the telecommunications market if the country’s four established companies fail to indicate by next month, their intention to introduce 4G technology here… more
Building Caribbean mobile apps one youth at a time
Antigua & Barbuda – “When you go to a group of youngsters in St John’s and say, ‘Do you want to write mobile apps?’ They will probably run the other way… more
BTC Optimistic on Labour Negotiations
Bahamas – In response to the demonstration today in front of BTC Headquarters regarding the Union’s position on management’s contract proposal to the Company’s non-management Bargaining unit – the BCPOU, BTC’s CEO Geoff Houston indicated that he remains optimistic that the Company will continue to work with its union partners to “shape a way forward” that will benefit all stakeholders… more
The social way to sell
Jamaica – Facebook and Twitter may seem to be just the latest ‘fad’ for young people, for companies, the social media sites are an opportunity to get cheap and effective advertising. “Social media is a strategy on its own,” said David Walton, Appleton Rum’s brand manager… more
Thursday, 13 October 2011
BTC responds to BCPOU protest
Bahamas – Following a demonstration at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday, its chief executive officer is charging that a change in its business conduct is essential for success in a competitive environment… more
Industrial tension reignited at BTC
Bahamas – Industrial tension is once again brewing between Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and the union that represents line staff at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)… more
Efficient Internet is key
Barbados –Good Internet connectivity is necessary in order to facilitate research and educational development, says Minister of Education Ronald Jones… more
Wireless provider wins award for scaling mobile money in Haiti
Haiti – On the eve of celebrating its 12th anniversary in Haiti, Trilogy International Partners’ Haitian subsidiary, Voila, was recognized on Tuesday for its leadership role in launching mobile money services throughout Haiti… more
Panel subpoenas corrective action plan for broadband project
US Virgin Islands – Members of the Senate Economic Development, Technology and Agriculture Committee on Wednesday voted to subpoena the corrective action plan for the territory’s broadband project recently submitted to the federal government… more
Friday, 14 October 2011
New type of home phone service offered
Antigua & Barbuda – While the telecom companies have revolutionised the way everyone uses phones by having them carried around away from home or office, Digicel is now seemingly putting a different twist on the effort by making a new type of phone available for use in the home and office… more
More effort needed to reap benefits from technology investment
Antigua & Barbuda – Grassroots efforts, education, incentives and government backing are crucial if the country is to transform its investment in information and communication technology (ICT) into tangible and lucrative benefits for the economy… more
SMEs to access MIIC centralised ICT system soon
Jamaica – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Jamaica will soon be able to utilise a centralised information and communication technology (ICT) system, provided by the Ministry of Industry, Investments and Commerce (MIIC), if all goes according to plan… more
Nevis repeals cable communications ordinance
Nevis – The Nevis Island Assembly passed The Nevis Cable Communications Corporation Repeal Ordinance 2011 on Monday. The Repeal Ordinance was brought to the legislature by Minister of Communications, Robelto Hector… more
A Chance to Get Involved and to Shape your own Future
St. Martin – Coming soon, the St. Martin grassroots nation building movement, through its soon to be launched, new Virtual St. Martin Nation platform, will be offering very interesting challenges to persons interested in providing alternative forms of journalism, making use of the latest internet technologies… more
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Money to ‘Flow’ this Christmas
Jamaica – Telecommunications Company Flow on Thursday officially launched its Christmas campaign that will give new and existing customers opportunities for greater savings as well as a chance to win more than $5 million in prizes… more
Sunday, 16 October 2011
BlackBerry blackout spreads to Caribbean
Jamaica – Arguably as frightening as an electricity blackout, the BlackBerry service outage in Europe — which affected e-mail, internet services and the all-important BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) — spread to North America and the Caribbean last week, but with less impact there, due to quick communication by the mobile providers to customers… more
Flow Owners Could Sell Company In Three Years
Jamaica – Owners of the Pan Caribbean fibre- optic cable and telecommunications firm Columbus Communications, which trades in Jamaica as Flow, will within three years decide whether to sell the regional company or raise additional capital to launch a new business plan, according to AIC Global Holdings Inc. executive director Robert Almeida… more
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