A roundup of the ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 17 September to Sunday 23 September 2012.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Cable Bahamas Needs Competition
Bahamas – I would like to take some time to address the issue of Cable fees being raised… more
Telecoms welcome Traffic Law changes
Cayman Islands – When the new Traffic Law comes into effect on 21 September it will introduce severe restrictions on the use of mobile electronic devices while driving… more
Haiti: Digicel Announces Closing of Voila
Haiti – Six month’s after Digicel acquired Voila, it announced that the Voila network and company will be closing on October 15… more
Jamaica is Digicel’s most profitable marketJamaica is Digicel’s most profitable market
Jamaica – Digicel’s recent bond offer document, shows Jamaica remains the company’s most profitable market, even though it lags behind Haiti, in subscriber numbers… more
USVI authorises USD14m worth of construction contracts for NGN
US Virgin Islands – The Virgin Islands Next Generation Network (VINGN), a project wholly owned by the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority, has awarded a series of contracts to local firms to begin the process of rolling out the Virgin Islands’ broadband infrastructure… more
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Jones: Hurdles to ICT in our schools
Barbados – Minister of Education Ronald Jones said yesterday that people’s attitudes and money were two main things standing in the way of Barbados’ using more modern technology in schools… more
Telemedia net profit drops by millions
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited is holding its annual general meeting on September twenty-eighth and some bad news is going to be delivered to its shareholders. A peak at the financial statement of the nationalized company for fiscal year ending March thirty-first, 2012 shows a huge decrease in revenue… more
Digicel Set to Complete Integration of Haiti’s Voila Mobile Network
Haiti – Digicel, which acquired Haiti’s Voila network earlier this year, will complete the integration of the network by Oct. 15, the company announced… more
Digicel Haiti completes Voila integration
Haiti – The pan-Caribbean mobile operator Digicel has announced the completion of a project to integrate the network of recently acquired Haitian cellco Voila, which is also known as Comcel, with its local unit… more
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Govt begins talks with CWC
Bahamas – High-level negotiations have commenced between the government and executives at Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC), Guardian Business can confirm… more
A move to block issuance of Telemedia dividends
Belize – The B.T.L. Employees Trust has applied to the Caribbean Court of Justice to stop the payment of dividends to shareholders at the upcoming annual general meeting or that alternatively government put the money in escrow pending cases before the courts that seek to return the telephone company to its former owners… more
Digicel Group Limited Completes US$1.5 Billion Corporate Bond Offering
Jamaica – Digicel Group Limited (“DGL”) today announced it has successfully completed a US$1.5 billion corporate bond offering… more
Internet Income Up 138% As … Telecoms Revenue Hits $14b Mark
Jamaica – Combined revenues from Jamaica’s telecommunications companies hit $14 billion in the June 2011 quarter, up 13 per cent over year-earlier levels, according to just-released data by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR)… more
Thursday, 20 September 2012
APUA hit by copper thieves again
Antigua & Barbuda – Two weeks to the day after a major theft of copper wire from one of its facilities, Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) is again counting losses from thieves… more
URCA told that Cable Bahamas has not lived up to their commitments to their commitments to Family Islands
Bahamas – In a letter addressed to the Bahamas’ Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), the reality of many Bahamian in Eleuthera without access to basic cable service has been outlined… more
Digicel’s €1.5bn bond move slashes its borrowing costs
Jamaica – Irish-owned Digicel has completed a major €1.5bn refinancing and cut its borrowing costs after tapping the global bond markets, in one of the largest deals of its kind for a company based in the Caribbean or Latin America… more
Multi-million dollar BPO sector forms industry association
Jamaica – Players in the burgeoning domestic Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)/ICT sector, which is currently valued at well over US$200 million (J$18 billion), have banded together to form the Business Processing Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) with the support of JAMPRO – the national investment and export promotion agency… more
Montserrat launches national ICT strategy and implementation plan
Montserrat – Montserrat can lead the Caribbean in the development of service delivery to citizens with the use of ICT, says Premier Reuben Meade… more
Friday, 21 September 2012
ICT Fest 2012 Launched
Antigua & Barbuda – With the ability to boost the tourism sector, create next generation jobs and ultimately redefine the business sector, Antigua is once again poised to unveil a series of new technologies through the 2012 ICT Fest set to be staged between November 13 to 15… more
BTC Fearing $1.5m Foreign Revenue Loss
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) fears proposals to lower its mobile call termination rate will slash its international revenues by up to $1.5 million annually, reducing its ability to invest in infrastructure and benefit Bahamians… more
BTC fixes roadworks mess – again
Bahamas – BTC crews were working around the clock to restore service to more than 2,000 customers affected when heavy equipment operated by the Jose Cartellone Construction Company for the New Providence Road Improvement Project cut through a major cable on Wulff Road Tuesday afternoon… more
GT&T launches new data service for Smartphones, Tablets
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company today officially launched its GTTI service, a provision of internet services for Smartphones, IOS and Android devices… more
Montserrat working to fill gaps in ICT laws
Montserrat – Montserrat’s Attorney General’s Chambers under the leadership of Attorney General Esco Henry are working on new E-legislation that would help to solidify the island’s move towards a modern and innovative nation as outlined in its new National ICT Strategy and Implementation Plan… more
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Public should participate in other URCA consultations
Bahamas – Dear Editor, While I have not closely followed all of URCA’s public consultation meetings on the various matters for which they have sought public input, I believe I am correct in saying that Cable Bahamas’ application for price increases has by far received the widest public interest and participation to date… more
More pickings from LIME
Barbados – LIME could leave a sweet taste in the mouths of its employees after all. That’s because the telecommunications giant will eventually increase its employment of Barbadians, and not the other way around… more
GT&T unveils Ipad, smart phone services
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday repeated calls for Government to open the spectrum that will pave the way for more modern services to be added… more
More Jamaicans to Have Access to Computer Technology
Jamaica – By the end of the year, thousands of Jamaicans across the country should have easier access to information technology as Government continues to roll out its Community Access Points (CAP) and broadband initiative… more
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Charting Jamaica And Social Media Experience
Jamaica – University OF the West Indies (UWI) lecturer Dr Lloyd Waller says the book “STREAMING: Social Media, Mobile Lifestyles “captures the interconnected configurations of youth, social media and social life”… more
ICT Business Owners Form Lobby
Jamaica – Local call centre and technology firms on September 20 formed the Business Processing Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) aimed at lobbying the interests of the US$200-million (J$18b) industry… more
Cyber-Sex crimes surface in Jamaica and St. Kitts
St. Kitts & Nevis – Jamaican Police recently arrested a man whom they believe is responsible for a website which featured naked photographs and videos of local women in sexual positions. According to yardflex.com Ronald Oates, a 27-year-old Kinston resident is the main suspect behind a major cyber crime offence involving the posting of nude photographs of women on a local website… more
Image credits: RambergMediaImages (flickr); BrandsoftheWorld; JAMPRO; Belize Web; The Eleutheran; The West Indian News
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