A roundup of the ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 19 November to Sunday 25 November 2012.
Monday, 19 November 2012
We Are Footing the Bill – Digicel
Antigua & Barbuda – Approximately EC$9 million is said to have been invested in the procurement of “LTE compatible tablets” for school children, according to the latest figures reaching Caribarena regarding the proposed iPads-for-students initiative… more
BTC Opens New Marsh Harbour Retail Experience Centre
Bahamas – Marsh Harbour is home to the newest location in BTC’s retail experience. The new store had its official ribbon cutting and opening ceremony on Saturday November 17th giving Abaco customers access to a much larger location with a sophisticated, bright new look and feel… more
TSTT needs speed
Trinidad & Tobago – Science and Technology Minister Dr Rupert Griffith has said customers are experiencing problems with mobile services because State telecoms provider TSTT cannot access the required speed on its 4G spectrum… more
Digicel Announces Network Upgrade To 4G
Turks & Caicos Islands – Although it was not the first network in the country to announce going 4G, Digicel TCI certainly made its entrance grand, parading its multimillion-dollar Ericson equipment in front of media, staff and other representatives in the industry… more
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Digicel to foot bill for school iPad programme
Antigua & Barbuda – After weeks of speculation and very little official verification, Digicel has confirmed that it will be footing the entire bill for government’s free-iPads-for-students initiative… more
BTC Unveils Marsh Harbour Upgrades
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) latest revamped retail store opened in Marsh Harbour on Saturday… more
GT&T collecting rent from phone which has not been fixed for 20 months
Guyana – Dear Editor, Since February last year and up until today after some 20 months, GT&T has been unable to rectify a fault to my landline phone located just by the roadside at Adventure Village in Region 2… more
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Guyana’s Broadcasting Authority ready for new radio license applications
Guyana – Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA), Bibi Shadick on Wednesday said all previous applicants for broadcast licenses, no matter how long ago, will have to reapply now that the regulatory body has been established… more
1,000 jobs on the line
Jamaica – Multinational outsourcing company Convergys Corporation has put plans to open a call centre in Jamaica on hold, leaving 1,000 jobs hanging in the balance… more
Education ministry to pilot teaching through IPTV
Jamaica – The Ministry of Education will pilot live, on demand, content in 50 schools via Internet Protocol Television (IP TV) and 10 schools through free to air television… more
JIS Showcases Technology in Media
Jamaica – ‘Technology in Media’ was the focus of a presentation by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) at the first Information Technology (IT) Exposition hosted on Friday, (November 16), by the Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha”… more
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Digicel Secretive About Concession Package
Antigua & Barbuda – Digicel Antigua CEO Victor Corcoran says his private company is not at liberty to discuss the terms of agreement behind the GATE Program, and as such would neither confirm nor deny that Digicel has indeed managed to secure a concession package with government worth EC$60 million over 16 years… more
Visit Aruba Launches Free Mobile App For Android And iPhone
Aruba – Local web development company CaribMedia has launched the Visit Aruba Guide mobile app as the official app for the popular www.VisitAruba.com website… more
BTC To ‘Ramp Up’ Retail Franchise In Early 2013
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) expects to “ramp up” its franchise initiative in the 2013 first quarter, its vice-president of branding and marketing telling Tribune Business it would be looking at more than 35 franchise opportunities over the next 18-24 months… more
Govt negotiating with Digicel, GT&T ahead of liberalization laws
Guyana – Digicel, a Pan-Caribbean mobile phone service provider, on Thursday said the Guyana government has assured that the country’s telecommunications sector would soon be liberalized, paving the way for lower rates… more
GT&T’s 20% sale…No decision yet on how US$25M will be spent-govt.
Guyana – Almost $5B (US$25M) received by government for the sale of its 20 per cent stakes in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has been placed into the accounts of the Privatization Unit (PU)/National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) but no decisions have been made as yet how it will be spent… more
NTRC Initiative To Enhance Productivity
St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Sean Roache, a student of the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies, is appreciative of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission’s (NTRC) links with two of this country’s telecommunications service providers… more
Friday, 23 November 2012
Cable Endures ‘Painful’ 50% Energy Increase
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has been forced to endure a “painful” 50 per cent year-over-year increase in electricity costs, a senior executive yesterday saying 2012 revenue and profit growth had been driven largely by its broadband Internet and new products… more
Centaur Cable Introduces Cheaper Internet Rates for Belize
Belize – Earlier this year on September 27, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities, Joy Grant unveiled the ministry’s strategic plan. In essence, the information presented was that Belize is behind other countries in the region when it comes to Science and Technology and there was a call for more to be done in this fast pace sector of development… more
Grenada hosts successful CaribNOG meeting
Grenada – Grenada played host to the latest gathering of Caribbean techies and computer network engineers this past week, staging the fourth regional gathering of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG)… more
Government resurrects abandoned reforms
Guyana – Long awaited reforms to Guyana’s telecoms sector are back on the table, after draft legislation was dropped at the last-minute in September 2011… more
Beware! Cigarette companies luring kids into smoking with technology
Jamaica – The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is warning parents to be even more vigilant, as cigarette and tobacco companies have stepped up their use of technology and mobile applications to entice individuals to smoke… more
Guardsman Accelerates Investments In Tech Devices, HQ
Jamaica – The Guardsman Group says it is accelerating the pace of investments, despite the sluggish economy, with new technology-based products already introduced and a timetable of mid-2013 now set to begin construction of its new J$500-million headquarters… more
Senior executive to leave Digicel
Jamaica – One of Digicel’s most powerful executives has decided to leave the telecommunications group after 10 years. Kevin White, Digicel Group’s chief operating officer, has tendered his resignation and will return to his native Ireland for “family reasons”, the company said… more
SMEs urged to make use of cloud technology
Jamaica – Small businesses stand to save between 30 per cent and 50 per cent with cloud technology, says Digicel… more
Top Jamaican schools create buzz in new TV series
Jamaica – The innovative use of technology in Jamaican schools is the focus of a new original television series on Flow TV, Channel 100… more
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Turks and Caicos Government, Digicel Sign Contract for IT Upgrade
Turks & Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Islands government has announced that Digicel TCI will be performing a $1.76 million upgrade of its IT systems… more
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Innovative use of technology to enhance education
Jamaica – There is no question that education today is not the same as it was 50 years ago when Jamaica gained Independence. Technology has dramatically changed the way children can learn and the pace at which they can learn… more
Image credits: Gary Thomson (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia;
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