A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 4 February to Sunday 10 February 2013.
Monday, 4 February 2012
Campaign to ban texting while driving
Antigua & Barbuda – Reckless motorists who send text messages while driving could soon face the wrath of the law if a campaign by one telecoms firm is successful… more
Cable Expecting Gov’t Approval ‘In 30 Days’ On $89m Us Deals
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is expecting to receive Bahamian government approval for its $89 million worth of US acquisitions within the next 30 days, Tribune Business can reveal… more
LIME call tax takes effect today
Jamaica – Starting today, customers of telecommunications company LIME will begin paying the special consumption tax on telephone calls… more
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Web Shop: Suppliers, Workers Fear ‘Harm’
Bahamas – A Web shop operator yesterday alleged that his suppliers and employees fear “their commercial interests will be harmed” if the Government shuts his business down, disclosing that the company pays $36,000 per month in rent to various landlords and $21,000 to Cable Bahamas for Internet services… more
AccessData® Unveils Business Social Network for its Global Channel
Cayman Islands – AccessData Group, a leader in digital forensics, cyber security and e-discovery software, today launched a new mobile app for channel communications at its global partner summit in Grand Cayman… more
Computer hacker breaks into DPP’s files
Jamaica – The Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) is probing the extent to which a computer hacker may have gained access to vital information of some of the country’s major institutions, including the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), government agencies and financial institutions… more
Gov’t Looking at Regulating Electronic Billboards
Jamaica – Regulation of electronic billboards is among proposals being considered by Government as it looks to make changes to the Broadcasting Radio Re-diffusion Act… more
JAMPRO, M-STEM Teams Up to Attract More ICT/BPO Investments out of India to Jamaica
Jamaica – JAMPRO will be seeking to generate more foreign direct investments and jobs in the growing ICT/BPO sector now valued at some J$18billion employing over 13,000 workers, by joining forces with the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (M-STEM) to mount another mission to India’s highly influential NASSCOM Leadership Forum… more
LIME Celebrates Safer Internet with Irish Town Primary School
St. Kitts & Nevis– Tuesday 5th February was observed as ‘Safer Internet Day’ (SID). Safer Internet Day is organised each year to promote responsible use of online technologies and mobile phones especially among children and young people across the world… more
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
LIME Wants to Outlaw Texting While Driving
Antigua & Barbuda – Telecommunications provider LIME has been stressing road safety through its “Don’t Text & Drive” campaign. Now, the company wants the government to make texting while driving illegal… more
FCC Grants Cable Its ‘Fast Track’ Extension
Bahamas – US regulators yesterday granted a one-month ‘fast track’ authority extension for Cable Bahamas’ proposed acquisition of Summit Broadband, one of its three $89 million US purchases… more
Gibson intervenes in case of fired BTC manager
Bahamas – Minister of Labour Shane Gibson said yesterday he has put in a formal recommendation to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) on behalf of fired employee Elizabeth Thompson, who was a senior manger in the company’s legal department for more than four years… more
UK Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Trade Mission to Visit Barbados and St Lucia
Barbados – The British High Commission is pleased to announce that a trade mission showcasing Information & Communication Technology and expertise will visit Barbados (6 to 7 February) and St Lucia (8 February)… more
Logic set to acquire TeleCayman
Cayman Islands – The board of WestTel Limited, which trades as Logic, approved a share purchase agreement to acquire TeleCayman Limited. At the moment, TeleCayman is 100 per cent owned by Bermuda-based Javelin Connections Bermuda Ltd… more
E-money set to roll out in April
Jamaica – The path now appears clearer for firms wanting to offer electronic retail payment services, which includes e-money stored in a device such as a mobile phone and SIM card… more
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism ‘stepping up’ with new strategic plan and communication strategy for 2013
Regional – The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has a new and improved Communication Strategy, incorporating international best practices, as well as a new 8-year Strategic Plan, both of which were finalised last week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, at meetings attended by key fisheries stakeholders… more
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Web Shops: Technology Puts Us Outside Law
Bahamas – The web shop industry is arguing that the sector’s “development of technology and business methods” have taken it outside the regulatory purview of the Lotteries & Gaming Act… more
Digicel Barbados celebrates 9th anniversary with promotion
Barbados – Digicel is celebrating its ninth anniversary in Barbados. The operator started a promotion, enabling customers to win BBD 9,000 in cash each week… more
Final Countdown To The Largest Telecommunications Conference Of The Region To Be Held In Curaçao
Curacao – On February 14th and 15th the event will bring to Curaçao over 250 C-level executives from more than 110 major telecommunications carriers… more
Jamaica To Get Additional Area Code
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) has begun the process of acquiring an additional area code for Jamaica… more
LIME Foundation takes Internet safety message to Kingston High School
Jamaica – Several Grade 7 and 9 students at Kingston High School were engaged in a rap session on safe Internet practices by LIME Foundation officials on Tuesday… more
Observe Age Ratings On Radio And Tv Programmes – Cordel Green
Jamaica – The Broadcasting Commission (BCJ) is appealing to young people to adhere to the age ratings on radio and television programmes as this will prevent them from seeing or hearing content that could be harmful… more
Shaw to step down as LIME CEO
Regional– LIME announced today that its chief executive officer for the Caribbean, David Shaw, will step down after four years leading the company… more
V.I. Next Generation Network offering free computer literacy class
US Virgin Islands – The free basic computer course offered as part of the territory’s broadband expansion project can now be completed on any computer, but the opportunity will expire at the end of March… more
Friday, 8 February 2013
BTC Calling – Neighbourhood Outreach Connects
Bahamas – Residents of Coral Harbour where certainly at home when BTC came calling over the weekend with big savings on Internet and VIBE phone services as part of BTC’s Neighbourhood Connect Programme… more
Online registration of business names now possible
Barbados – Persons seeking to register business names, and make inquiries and reports about companies through the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office may now do so online… more
Home Ministry urging greater use of online crime reporting
Guyana – The police have so far made seven arrests from 51 reports made by citizens via the Online Crime Reporting System which came on stream last July… more
Accused hacker charged
Jamaica – Paula Llewellyn, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) says her office is taking steps to safeguard computer systems in her office against hackers… more
C&W Communications rolls out fibre network after disposals
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC.L) said it had started to roll out a fibre network in its Barbados and Cayman markets as part of its new strategy to focus on the pan American region… more
CWC says on track for stable FY EBITDA
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications said its on track to meet its forecast for stable EBITDA in the year to March 2013. In a trading update, the company said mobile data revenue grew strongly across the group during the third quarter, driven by increasing smartphone adoption and usage… more
Saturday, 9 February 2013
China TV launched in Guyana
Guyana – The government last evening cemented its agreement to have China Central TV (CCTV) broadcast in Guyana on a 24/7 basis… more
Students of Knox High School Participate in Broadcasting Commission’s Media Literacy Project
Jamaica – Over 300 Grade 9 and 10 students at Knox High School in Spaldings on Thursday (February 7) participated in a media literacy project of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ)… more
Sunday, 10 February 2013
– nil –
Image credits: FreeDigitalPhotos.net (Salvatore Vuono); Bahamas Local; Facebook; Marketing Magazine
_____________
