A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November 2013.
Monday, 28 October 2013
BTC reaches new tech ‘milestone’
Bahamas – BTC’s cellular customers on New Providence are one step closer to enjoying super-fast Long Term Evolution (LTE) this Christmas as a result of the very first LTE data call – commonly referred to as an “Internet download” – on the BTC network early Saturday morning… more
Major telecommunications milestone for BTC
Bahamas – BTC’s cellular customers on New Providence are one step closer to enjoying super-fast Long Term Evolution (LTE) this Christmas as a result of the very first LTE data call – commonly referred to as an “Internet download” – on the BTC network early this morning… more
Necker private island powered by Digicel business
British Virgin Islands – Road Town, British Virgin Islands: Sir Richard Branson’s private island, Necker, is now powered by Digicel Business… more
LACNIC 20 – LACNOG 2013: “Committed To The Future Of The Internet”
Regional – One of the largest annual gatherings of the community of Internet in Latin America and the Caribbean, the next regional event LACNIC / LACNOG, that seeks to create a forum to exchange experiences and discuss key issues for the future of the Internet in the region and globally, will be held from October 28th until November 1st on Curaçao… more
Region urged to tighten online security
Regional – Regional Governments have been told to heighten online security measures due to increasing attacks by cyber-criminals… more
Computer training for disabled persons
St. Kitts & Nevis – The St Kitts-Nevis Association of persons with disabilities is helping to integrate its members into society by providing them with basic computer skills… more
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Library services looking to boost computer literacy
Cayman Islands – The need appears to be significant, and the public library system is trying to meet it – the demand for computer literacy and a working knowledge of computers and the Internet… more
Flamingo TV Reduces Upstream Connectivity Costs With Connection To AMS-IX Caribbean
Curaçao – Flamingo TV, Bonaire’s largest provider of broadband connections for the delivery of cable television as well as optical fiber products, today signed a connection agreement with AMS-IX Caribbean at the 20th LACNIC event in Willemstad, Curaçao… more
Heavy fines for Grenadians using mobile phone use while driving
Grenada – The Grenada government says it will seek to amend legislation making it an offence to use a mobile device while driving… more
Columbus Networks Selects Coriant 100G Solution for Stragetic Network Upgrade
Regional – Coriant, a global supplier of future-proof optical transport solutions, announced today that Columbus Networks, the wholesale telecommunications brand of Columbus International Inc., has selected Coriant’s coherent 100G solution to expand its network and provide the flexible foundation for enhanced broadband service offerings… more
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
BTC makes first LTE data call in Bahamas
Bahamas – Bahamas operator BTC has announced it has made its first LTE data call on its network in New Providence… more
New URCA deadline for number portability
Bahamas – A new December 2 deadline for the implementation of number portability was set yesterday by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), which called on the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Cable Bahamas to meet this deadline or face penalties… more
URCA Investigates BTC Over Portability Mess
Bahamas – Regulators are investigating the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) for preventing the planned September 3 launch of number portability, saying this had resulted from possible anti-competitive behaviour… more
App aimed at analysing suspicious transactions coming in a few months
Jamaica – THERE are over 400,000 suspicious transactions executed each year in Jamaica, according to financial investigators… more
New Dell laptops distributed to high schools
St. Kitts & Nevis – The advancement of technology in schools across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has continued with the much anticipated distribution of laptops on October 29… more
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Cable Bahamas: ‘Pent up demand’ to add to 20 percent fixed-line share
Bahamas – Having added five percent of the total market share to its fixed-line customer base since June 30, for a market share of 20 percent, Cable Bahamas is seeing “pent up demand” for people wanting to shift to the BISX-listed company once number portability comes into effect on December 2, according to the company’s Head of Marketing Dave Burrows… more
Cable ‘Confident’ On Number Portability Market Share Boost
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas yesterday said it was “confident” it can increase its existing 22,000 fixed-line subscriber base with December’s planned number portability launch, given the “pent-up demand” from Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) customers wanting to switch… more
Parcus Group to Deliver Product Development for Bahamas Telecommunications Company
Bahamas – Australian consulting company Parcus Group announced today that it has won a contract with Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to deliver service creation, product development and product management training and consulting… more
Sick out at LIME
Dominica – Some 28 employees of LIME’s technical department called in sick on Thursday to express their disgust in the way the telecommunication giant is handling its outsourcing arrangements with Sweden-based Ericsson… more
C&W joins race for Orange Dominicana acquisition – report
Dominican Republic – Cable & Wireless Communications and Digicel plan to bid for Orange’s Dominican Republic unit, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter… more
Cell phone use now allowed on US flights
Regional – Passengers on US flights will be allowed to use electronic devices during take-off and landing following a ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday… more
Telecoms slash roaming rates
Regional – It looks as though mobile customers will be getting some relief from roaming charges when they travel, as both Digicel and LIME have announced in quick succession that they are cutting rates significantly, effective immediately… more
Time for Caribbean-wide telecom reform
Regional – “We need business models based not on yesterday’s rip-offs, but on tomorrow’s digital opportunities: with revenues not from outrageous margins on roaming, but from new innovative services that people will want to pay for.” … more
New DELL Laptops Distributed to High Schools
St. Kitts & Nevis – The advancement of technology in schools across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has continued with the much anticipated distribution of laptops on October 29… more
Bmobile supplies Police Service with latest mobile technology
Trinidad & Tobago – OVER 300 officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service are now able to use the latest mobile technology via the BlackBerry Q5 to help them in the fight against crime… more
Friday, 1 November 2013
Bahamas Government Focuses on Data Protection
Bahamas – As new forms of communication continue to pervade every society in the world, countries have to ensure that personal data is protected… more
Cyber crimes ‘a growing threat’
Bahamas – The country is under threat by the growing incidence of cyber crimes, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said yesterday… more
Court of Appeal rule in favour of Dunkeld International Investments
Belize – The Court of Appeal handed down a number of decisions today. This afternoon, it ruled in favour of Dunkeld International Investments Limited, one of the beneficiaries of the Telemedia shares that were acquired by the Government in 2009… more
Digicel opens new store at Countryside Shopping Village
Cayman Islands – In anticipation of the upcoming launch of its LTE service in Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands, Digicel opened a new store at Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah on 24 October… more
Telecom companies, regulators discuss wiretapping issue
Cayman Islands – The first in what is likely to be a series of private meetings concerning the expansion and enhancement of communications interception facilities between Cayman Islands telecommunications companies and their government regulator was held Wednesday… more
Wiretapping furor: Who’s listening?
Cayman Islands – The timing could not be worse for an idea that would be bad enough at any time, namely enabling increased telephone wiretapping, texting interceptions and e-mail surveillance by local police… more
Digicel Invests In Epayment Systems Developer – Swipe-Free Card App Not Intended For Jamaica
Regional – Digicel Group is now a lead investor in Flint Mobile, and now has a seat on the American technology company’s board… more
LIME slashes USA roaming rates
Regional – LIME, has announced today plans to dramatically cut data roaming costs for customers traveling to the USA, new rates will be as low as just $4.99 per MB… more
Saturday, 2 November 2013
BYOD solutions creating smarter workplaces — Digicel
Jamaica – CISCO Gold partner Digicel Business says it is helping to create more flexible and efficient workplaces through ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) technologies that are being provided by the multinational networking solutions giant… more
T&T team wins global app challenge
Trinidad & Tobago – T&T innovators Ade Inniss-King and Madonna Corrian were among three teams from around the world who won US$10,000 in seed funding and mentorship to launch their companies after their apps got the approval of a judging panel at the World Bank’s VentureOut Challenge yesterday in Chisinau, Moldova … more
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Alliance Between Telecarrier – Cable Onda, S.A. And Ctex To Deliver High-End Datacenter And Cloud Services
Curaçao – TELECARRIER a brand of Cable Onda, S.A (CO) and Curaçao Technology Exchange N.V. (CTEX) today announced that they have reached an alliance agreement to deliver high-end communications, cloud, datacenter, managed services and disaster recovery services to customers throughout Central America… more
Trini innovator promotes Caribbean with an app
Trinidad & Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago-born Anthony Phills has entered the world of publishing in an unconventional way. His Caricom Commerce Magazine, launched almost a year ago, is not in a traditional print format but is an app that can be downloaded on iPad and Android tablets… more
Image credits: Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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