A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 3 June to Sunday 9 June 2013.
Monday, 3 June 2012
Digicel launches nation’s first HSPA+ network
Anguilla – Wireless operator Digicel Anguilla has announced the launch of a nationwide HSPA+ network, which the pan-Caribbean group dubs ‘4G’… more
e-Government to participate in first ever Bahamas Real Estate Inter-island Webinar and Conference
Bahamas – Brokers, agents, appraisers and developers will gather throughout the archipelago to participate in the first ever Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) Inter-island Webinar & Conference scheduled for June 4 at the Balmoral Club… more
Belize to Host Internet Exchange Point Forum
Belize – Internet in Belize is still the most expensive and among the slowest in the entire Caribbean region, according to a 2013 survey of Caribbean Internet Service Providers (ISPs)… more
Telecoms ask Medina to repeal the 10% tax levied since 2004
Dominican Republic – Executives of the country’s major telecoms went Monday to the National Palace to ask the government’s repeal the 10% temporary tax on their services levied since 2004… more
Haiti – Education : Launching of the Unit of Information Technology and Communication in Education
Haiti – Last week, at the Royal Oasis hotel in Petion-ville, in the presence of technical and financial partners, of technical and departmental directors of the ministry, the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) has proceeded to the launching of the Unit of Information Technology and Communication in Education (UTICE) and of Working Group on ICTs, two initiatives that contribute to the implementation of the Operational Plan for the education sector… more
Hats Off To The Our, Paulwell
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir, I applaud the work of the minister of science, technology, energy and mining… more
Jamaica, Lots to be Earned from Mobile Apps
Jamaica – The Hon. Julian Robinson, Jamaica’s State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, said there is room for the island’s young innovators to benefit tremendously from the growing mobile applications market around the globe… more
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Cable Bahamas Gets People Talking With Sigma Systems
Bahamas – Sigma Systems, the leader in catalog-driven service fulfillment solutions, announced today that Cable Bahamas, a leading communications provider and first to offer Triple Play services to the Bahamas, has deployed the Sigma Systems Provisioning Solutions for the fulfillment of its residential voice services throughout Nassau, Grand Bahamas, Abaco and Eleuthera… more
Much to be earned from mobile app — Robinson
Jamaica – MINISTER of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Julian Robinson has said that there is room for the island’s young innovators to benefit tremendously from the growing mobile applications market around the globe… more
ECTEL publishes update regarding release of 700MHz spectrum
Regional – Regional telecoms watchdog the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL), which currently comprises five nations – the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – has published an update on the process for the release of 700MHz spectrum in ECTEL member states… more
Griffith announces new tech-based initiatives
Trinidad & Tobago – Security measures to protect against cyber-crimes, ICT (information and communications technology)-based community access centres located around the nation and the introduction of a third mobile service provider are just a few of the initiatives being spearheaded this year by the Ministry of Science and Technology and its related agencies… more
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
BTC plans aggressive franchise store rollout
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is embarking on an aggressive schedule to expand its retail footprint throughout The Bahamas, with the opening of several franchise stores… more
BTC Targets 12 NP Franchises By Year’s End
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is aiming to have 12 franchise stores in New Providence by year-end, with its projected investment in the nationwide roll-out totalling $2.5-$3 million… more
Cable ‘On Hook’ For $8m Over Us Deals
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas and its shareholders are ‘on the hook’ to lose almost $8 million if the Government refuses to approve the company’s acquisitions of three Florida-based communications providers… more
E-Gov’t Sees 200 User Rise Monthly
Bahamas – INTERNATIONAL clients have been the biggest users of the Government’s on-line real property tax (RPT) payment service, a senior official telling Tribune Business yesterday there were 5,000 registered users of the e-government portal… more
CCT announces layoffs as part of reorganisation
British Virgin Islands – Mobile phone provider CCT Global Communications sent termination letters to an undisclosed number of employees Monday as part of a move to strengthen the company’s prospects in a competitive marketplace, an official said… more
Telecoms, Gangnam Style
British Virgin Islands – Attendees to a presentation marketing the “new and improved” Telecommunications Regulatory Commission last Thursday first had to walk past an archway made of balloons as an event photographer outside the Maria’s by the Sea conference room snapped away… more
Internet access expanded in Cuba
Cuba – The 118 new locations now available in Cuba for public access to the Internet were ready to offer services as of Tuesday, an official of the Telecommunications Company of Cuba SA (ETECSA) said… more
Jamaican in Wisconsin pleads guilty to involvement in Lottery Scam
Jamaica – A Jamaican national pleaded guilty in the US state of Wisconsin, to a federal charge that he swindled at least US$35 thousand from more than 50 people, as part of the Jamaica Lottery Scam… more
LIME to make ‘major announcement’ via social media
Jamaica – LIME Jamaica says CEO Gary Sinclair will make a “major announcement” tomorrow, June 6, during an online broadcast via the company’s Facebook and Livestream pages… more
Thursday, 6 June 2013
Fight Continues Against Cyber Crime
Barbados – Barbados is determined to win the fight against Cyber Crime! … more
Old phones wanted to give women in crisis a new voice
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the islands’ only refuge for women in abusive situations, where they can find safety and sanctuary, is calling on the community to help give its clients a new voice with their old phones… more
‘Cybercrimes Act Hard To Understand’
Jamaica – AGREEING with fellow legislators and some legal technicians that the Cybercrimes Act is complex and can be difficult for persons to understand, Julian Robinson yesterday said it might be necessary to simplify the legislation… more
Digicel promises big announcement after LIME call rate cut
Jamaica – Telecommunications company, Digicel has responded to today’s announcement of new mobile call rates by it’s competitor LIME… more
Hackers, beware! – Higher fines coming for cybercrime
Jamaica – SUGGESTIONS for an increase in the fines and penalties under the 2010 Cybercrimes Act, now being reviewed by a joint parliamentary committee, are to be taken on board… more
LIME reduces rates to $2.99 per minute
Jamaica – Telecommunications company LIME Jamaica has announced a new Talk EZ plan at $2.99 per minute for calls to all local networks and to Canada, US and UK landlines… more
Digicel Launches the New Blackberry Q10 Smartphone in the Caribbean, El Salvador and Panama
Regional – Digicel today launched the new BlackBerry® Q10 smartphone powered by BlackBerry® 10 in the Caribbean, El Salvador and Panama… more
Friday, 7 June 2013
Possible solution to Antigua gaming dispute may be in sight – Spencer
Antigua & Barbuda – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is encouraged by talks with United States Vice President Joe Biden about the prospects in the cross border gaming dispute between the two countries… more
Building Bandwidth In Belize?
Belize – Last night 7News showed you that forum which the Public Utilities Commission organized in collaboration with the international, Non-Profit organization Packet Clearing House… more
How to Produce Internet Bandwidth In House
Belize – And while Mexico and Belize foster better trade ties, the PUC wants to create an ICT environment where internet based companies can thrive in Belize… more
CCT announces layoffs as part of ‘reorganisation’; minister slams cellcos’ attitudes
British Virgin Islands – CCT Global Communications, a telecoms operator based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), has sent termination letters to an undisclosed number of employees this week as part of a move to strengthen the company’s prospects in a competitive marketplace, an official has confirmed… more
Digicel achieves Cisco Gold certification in the Caribbean, Panama and El Salvador
Jamaica – TELECOMS giant Digicel announced this week that it has received Cisco Gold Certification, meeting rigorous standards set by the technology company in networking competency, service, support and customer satisfaction… more
It’s $2.99 From LIME – Telecoms Company Rolls Out New Flat Calling Rate Ahead Of Competitor
Jamaica – LIME has fired the first salvo in the latest price war gripping the telecommunications sector, announcing yesterday a sharp 60 per cent cut in its call rate, or $2.99 for prepaid mobile customers calling any network in Jamaica, the United States, Canada, and landlines in the United Kingdom… more
LIME slashes prepaid calling rates
Jamaica – LIME slashed the rate it charges prepaid customers to make calls to other networks from $6.99 to $2.99 a minute Wednesday at midnight… more
Saturday, 8 June 2013
– nil –
Sunday, 9 June 2013
ICT as an enabler of growth and development
Jamaica – ABOUT two weeks ago, I delivered my contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament. It was my second such presentation as minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, at which time, I presented Jamaica’s first National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Roadmap… more
LIME, Red River touts PBX system as cost saver
Jamaica – LIME has a solution to reduce communication costs for businesses: its PBX system… more
Microsoft’s thrust in T&T
Trinidad & Tobago – In the last calendar year, Hernán Rincón, president of Microsoft Latin America, estimates that he has spent 148 nights in hotels and 30 nights on airplanes… more
TSTT staff come up with big ideas
Trinidad & Tobago – Great ideas can come from anywhere and that was the approach used by TSTT when the company launched its Ideation Challenge for employees and announced the results of winners recently… more
Image credit: RambergMediaImages (flickr)
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