A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 17 December to Sunday 23 December 2012.
Monday, 17 December 2012
BTC: First Phase Of Upgrade Almost Complete
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company announced yesterday that the initial phase of its mobile network build-out is almost complete… more
BTC mobile network build-out 95% complete nationwide
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) announced today that the initial phase of the mobile network build-out is now substantially complete, bringing The Bahamas on par with other twenty-first century countries enjoying modern mobile technology… more
BTC opens $300K Southwest Plaza store
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) opened one of its biggest retail stores in the capital last weekend at a cost of round $300,000… more
Cable Withdraws ‘Fast Track’ For $24m Florida Deal
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has withdrawn its application to US regulators for ‘fast track’ approval of its latest $24 million Florida acquisition, with the BISX-listed company’s “greater financial strength” expected to improve services yet again… more
The Strategy For Caribbean Islands To Get To 3.0
Regional – The question all Caribbean islands should ask, what is our unique selling proposition? … more
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Digicel injects over US$70M into local market
Guyana – Since its introduction to Guyana in May 2006, Digicel has plugged more than US$70 million into the local telecommunication market… more
Smartphone company announces major deal with Caribbean’s largest distributor
Jamaica – Siendon has announced a major sales and distribution deal with the largest IT and electronics distributor in Latin America and the Caribbean to supply its devices to the region’s mobile phone subscribers… more
The world all around us, online
Trinidad & Tobago – The team from AM-In Motion is enthusiastic. Start them talking about their video solution and it’s easy to begin seeing it as a magic-bullet solution for the country’s moribund international tourism marketing efforts… more
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
BTC talks hit snag
Bahamas – Talks between a government team of negotiators and executives at Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) over the Christie administration’s plans to regain majority shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) are at an impasse, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday… more
PM: No ‘Headway’ In BTC Control Talks
Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday indicated that the Government was making little to no headway in wresting back majority control of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), saying a conclusion had to be reached in talks between itselfand Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) “sooner rather than later”… more
Bandwidth cost drives more customers to cell phone use
Guyana – The high cost of broadband in Guyana is perhaps a key element that drives cell phone usage in Guyana… more
BTV Channel 2 off air after financial fallout
Guyana – BTV Channel 2 “ah we TV” will be off air and it is unclear when the station will be resuming its services. The station, which is owned by Godfrey Washington, was on Monday vacated by lessee Christian Duncan, owner of Brutal Tracks… more
In Haiti, Digicel and Marriott Break Ground on More than Just a Hotel
Haiti – Digicel and Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) today broke ground on the $45 million 175-room Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand hotel in the Turgeau area of Port-au-Prince, with opening expected in early 2015, making it the first four-star branded hotel in Haiti… more
For Xerox, Jamaica key for outsourcing business
Jamaica – Jamaica remains one the most attractive destinations for business process outsourcing (BPO) but the country must focus on improving its competitiveness in a heated industry with low barriers to entry, warns the head of Xerox Corporation… more
LIME Investing $1B On Customer-Service Improvement
Jamaica – Telecoms provider LIME will invest US$12 million (J$1 billion) to improve its customer service across the Caribbean region over three years, in a move aimed at lowering customer attrition or churn… more
Thursday, 20 December 2012
BTC Keeps Majority Share – Takeover Talks Over
Bahamas – Despite the government’s unwavering pledge to recapture a majority stake in BTC, Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that executives have no intention to let go of the lion’s share in the company… more
FNM: BTC Takeover Was A Fool’s Errand
Bahamas – Pleased at the Prime Minister’s admission of difficulties in his government’s BTC takeover bid, the opposition reminded him of their prediction it would go nowhere… more
Microsoft Country Manager to speak on Cloud Computing at Bahamas Business Outlook
Bahamas – George Gobin, Microsoft Corporation’s Country Manager for The Bahamas will address the 22nd Annual Bahamas Outlook on January 10, 2013 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort. Mr. Gobin will discuss the next big thing in business technology: Cloud Computing… more
Belize Telemedia launches 4G
Belize – Over the past couple of weeks, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has been turning on the 4G network in Belmopan, Ladyville and Belize City and on Friday, December 14th, the company held a soft launch to introduce the new super fast mobile speeds… more
LIME welcomes new scrap metal export rule
Jamaica – Telecommunications firm LIME, hard hit by metal thieves, has welcomed the additional scrap metal export regulations outlined Wednesday by Industry Minister Anthony Hylton… more
Alcatel-Lucent to upgrade MAYA-1 submarine cable system covering 4,400 km distance
Regional – Alcatel-Lucent will upgrade the MAYA-1 submarine cable system – which spans 4,400km distance in a collapsed ring from Hollywood, Florida, US, to Tolu in Colombia… more
TSTT acting CEO resigns
Trinidad & Tobago – Acting chief executive officer of State-controlled telecoms provider Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) Dianna de Sousa has resigned the position after just five months on the job… more
Friday, 21 December 2012
Laing: Govt’s options limited on BTC
Bahamas – The only option the government has in its attempt to regain the majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) would be to forcibly take two percent from the new owners, said former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing… more
Events Calendar of Things to Do In Barbados Goes Mobile for the Booming Market of Mobile Travelers using Smartphones to Plan Holidays at Home and on Location
Barbados – The Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia (BTE) has released a mobile app for its WhatsOnInBarbados.com (WOIB), the Calendar of things to do in Barbados… more
Technology services being touted as new BVI economic pillar
British Virgin Islands – BVI Business Outlook Conference organizer, Russell Harrigan has announced that the BVI should try to create other economic pillars, and suggested that technological services be eyed as another leg for the economy… more
CTEX Reaches Critical Milestone
Curacao – Curaçao Technology Exchange (CTEX), N.V., today reached a critical project milestone… more
Govt. reneged on Linden’s TV agreement – Vieira
Guyana – Four months after signing a deal with Lindeners for an independent television station, Government has reportedly reneged on its promise… more
GRA launches online monitoring of Customs Declaration status
Guyana – The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday announced that it has launched its online feature for the monitoring of the status of Customs Declarations by importers or their brokers… more
Saturday, 22 December 2012
Embracing 4G technology in The Bahamas
Bahamas – Undeniably, the upgrade of our cellular network to 4G has been plagued with service disruptions causing much frustration. Dropped calls, delayed email and failed messenger services aggravate both technology savvy and infrequent phone users… more
PM still has hopes for BTC talks
Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he has not given up his government’s fight to regain majority shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)… more
Software Company Hosts International Users’ Conference
Barbados – Process manufacturing software developers Vicinity Manufacturing, hosted FOCUS: Caribbean 2012, the first international customer event of its kind in the company’s twelve year history. FOCUS: Caribbean was hosted by Goddard Enterprises Ltd and convened November 12th – 13th on their corporate campus in Bridgetown, Barbados… more
V.I. Next Generation Network approves $660,266 in contracts
US Virgin Islands – The V.I. Next Generation Network has approved four new contracts totalling $660,266… more
New Call Centre Opened
St. Lucia – 160 jobs are expected from a partnership forged between LIME, Canadian-based TELUS International and 2012 Caribbean Business Awards winner KM2 Solutions, in the opening of LIME St. Lucia’s new call centre… more
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Jamaica Firmly In Xerox’s Cross Hairs – International Firm Optimistic Of A Bright Future Locally
Jamaica – While the name Xerox is synonymous with copying and printing globally, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ursula Burns says resting on their laurels is not a part of their forte as its main priority is to maintain pole position in the industry… more
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