A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 24 March to Sunday 30 March 2014.
Monday, 24 March 2014
BTC Eyes TV Launch ‘Within Next 12 Months’
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive says the launch of its television product is “back on the agenda”, expressing confidence that the company would get it to market within the next 12 months… more
BTC: We’ll Be Broadband Market Leader In 2-3 Years
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is on track to regain market leadership in broadband Internet within the next two-three years, its chief executive revealing its existing customer base had doubled since 2011… more
Leon Williams appointed as Special Adviser to BTC Chairman
Bahamas – BTC today announced that Leon Williams had been appointed as a Special Adviser to the BTC Chairman, Phil Bentley, Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless Communications… more
Technology Matters: The Internet of Things
Regional – “I see the internet of things as a huge transformative development — a way of boosting productivity, of keeping us healthier, making transport more efficient, reducing energy needs, and tackling climate change.” — David Cameron, UK Prime Minister … more
Telecom body urges governments to remove barriers to broadband investment
Regional – UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development has urged governments and international financing bodies to remove current barriers to broadband investment… more
“LIME Partners with Federal Govt & ECTEL to Launch GoSKN EDUNET”
Saint Kitts and Nevis – In what was one of the most unique media launches ever held in the Federation, LIME along with the Federal Government and the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) executed the very first live streaming video-conference (launch) of the “Government of St. Kitts-Nevis Educational Network Project (GoSKN EDUNET)”… more
EduNET launch showcases government’s vision
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Friday’s (March 21) simultaneous launch of the Education Network (EduNET) in several high schools across St. Kitts and Nevis highlights the tremendous potential of the new technology to enhance the education landscape and empower teachers and students… more
LIME to compensate internet customers and upgrade service
Saint Kitts and Nevis – LIME internet customers will be compensated for ongoing issues with slowdowns that see page time outs, and even service drop outs during high traffic times particularly at evenings and on Sundays, this according to General Manager David Lake… more
Digicel celebrates 11th Anniversary
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Digicel St. Vincent Limited, the company that lays claim to having revolutionised the telecommunications market in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, marked its 11th anniversary of market presence in this country, last Monday, March 24… more
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
URCA ‘Cannot Rely On Media Reports’ To Launch Outage Probe
Bahamas – THE Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority is awaiting an official report from the Bahamas Telecommunications Company before it can start an official investigation of this weekend’s island-wide network outage… more
Wells: Need for BTC probe more urgent than ever
Bahamas – Describing parts of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) deal as “egregious”, Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells said yesterday that Prime Minister Perry Christie’s recent revelation on the matter further highlights the need to investigate the 2011 sale… more
ICT Road Show In Corozal
Belize – Important Invitation to all Industry Stakeholders in Corozal – The Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities (MESTPU) in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), is pleased to announce that Belize will be hosting the Caribbean Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Road Show this Friday March – 28th, 2014 Corozal Town commencing from 9:00 a.m. at the Corozal Community College… more
CTU brings Caribbean technology entrepreneurship seminar to Grenada
Grenada – A regional workshop held in Grenada encouraged local entrepreneurs to leverage cutting-edge technology to develop world-class products and services that address challenges facing Caribbean society… more
First Annual ICT Seminar Infotrans big success
Saint Maarten – Communications and Technology Company Infotrans Caribbean N.V., made an impressive showing at its first annual ICT Seminar on March 21st at the Divi Little Bay Beach resort… more
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Cash says govt going on BTC witch hunt
Bahamas – Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash said yesterday the government ought to focus on job creation and improving the economy instead of a “witch hunt” on the 2011 Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) deal… more
Annual Caribbean ICT Show gets on the road
Belize – Today, the annual Caribbean ICT Road Show touched down in Belize City, as part of its countrywide awareness tour… more
Caribbean ICT Roadshow comes to Belize City
Belize – Belize City hosted the second leg of the third annual Caribbean Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Roadshow at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City today… more
The Relevance Of an ICT Roadshow
Belize – The Caribbean information and Technology Roadshow started in 2009 all across the Caribbean – and this week, it is being held in Belize for the third time – more than any other Caribbean Territory. We found out why it’s especially relevant in Belize: … more
Digicel To Build Sophisticated Underground Fibre Network
Jamaica – With modern information and communication technology (ICT) business solutions being a key strategic focus for Digicel Business, the company has announced that it will be building out Jamaica’s most sophisticated underground fibre network in Montego Bay, St James, and Kingston… more
LIME flips on 4G within 2 weeks
Jamaica – LIME plans to commence its 4G mobile service within two weeks… more
Paulwell nudges Digicel towards building outsourcing office space
Jamaica – PHILLIP Paulwell gave Digicel a nudge to establish a Digi City inside Montego Bay to bolster the number call centre and other office space… more
An environmental turn-off
Regional – Across the globe, thousands of people are gearing up to make their stamp on energy conservation… more
Amino juices up LIME pay-TV upgrade
Regional – Caribbean operator LIME has engaged IPTV technology provider Amino to supply enhanced set-top boxes to support the rollout of pay-TV services… more
TT judge warns against the use of social media in murder trial
Trinidad and Tobago – A judge hearing a case in which a prominent Trinidad businesswoman was killed nearly seven years ago, Wednesday, warned the jury to avoid the social media and rely on the evidence unfolding during the trial… more
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Miller slams CWC on BTC outage
Bahamas – Following a blackout that impacted cell phone and landline services in areas across the country on Saturday, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller yesterday accused Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) of “wrecking” the local telecommunications company… more
Satellite Bahamas Chiefs Agree Bar On ‘Signal Piracy’
Bahamas – Satellite Bahamas and its principals, the Garraway brothers, have agreed to a permanent bar on being able to offer DIRECTV’s programming to clients in the Bahamas and other countries, Tribune Business can reveal… more
Phone Book Cover Selected in Facebook Competition book Includes Discount Coupons from 33 Businesses
Belize – In 2014, the Facebook site seems to be the center of the world; therefore, it makes sense that the Belize Telemedia Limited left it up to Facebook users to decide what goes on the cover of its 2014 telephone directory… more
Cyber scammers target Cayman
Cayman Islands – Emails claiming to be from the bank could be from internet fraudsters. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Financial Crime Unit is warning customers to be on the look out for cyber scammers… more
Columbus Brings Cubes In Space(TM), a Global STEM-Based Competition to the Caribbean
Regional – Columbus International Inc. (Columbus), a diversified telecommunications provider in the Caribbean, Central America and Andean region, announced today it has partnered with Cubes In Space™, a no-cost global design competition for students aged 11-14 years old to develop STEM-based experiments for launch into space… more
Flow announces US$1.25bn refinancing plan
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow, the name under which Columbus Communications operates its telephone, internet and cable TV business in the Caribbean, has announced a US$1.25 billion refinancing plan, credit rating agency Moody’s reported in its March 19 ratings review of the Barbados-incorporated company… more
Internet safety for youth a priority
Trinidad and Tobago – “It is true that the Internet is part of our everyday lives, however, we must be mindful of the harm that can result if misused.” … more
Friday, 28 March 2014
BTC offers ‘thanks and recognition’
Bahamas – In October last year, Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) launched its ‘Special Thanks and Recognition’ Programme – STAR – to motivate and reward outstanding employees with an above average work ethic … more
Environment, ICTs focus at Statistics workshops
Bahamas – The Environment and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will be the focus of separate workshops that will be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in early April… more
Digicel promises quality service to SAT customers
Dominica – Manager of SAT Telecoms and Country manager of Digicel, Richard Stanton has assured customers of SAT that they are in for “bigger, better service.” … more
LIME To Roll Out New 4G Network – 5G Being Developed By UK, Germany
Jamaica – LIME will be launching its new 4G mobile service in the next two weeks to bring faster data speeds, improved voice quality and expanded service to its Jamaican customer base… more
Environment, ICTs Focus At Statistics Workshops
Regional – The Environment and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will be the focus of separate workshops that will be held in St.Vincent and the Grenadines in early April… more
LIME emergency repairs
Saint Kitts and Nevis – LIME wishes to advise all our valued customers that there will be a scheduled service interruption to both Land-line and Internet service on Friday March 28th, from 9:00am – 4:00pm… more
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Digicel lifts ‘Sun’ Centre
Barbados – DIGICEL Business has enhanced the learning experience of students of the Sunshine Early Stimulation Centre and the John Payne School for Exceptional Children by outfitting a fully integrated multi-sensory room to the establishment… more
UDP privatizing BTL
Belize – On the Wednesday night news the nation was lulled by the launch of the BTL phone book cover but the mess at BTL is bubbling. Inside sources within the telecommunications company have leaked information to the BELIZE TIMES… more
Digicel Disruption
Jamaica – One of the country’s major telecommunications providers, Digicel, says it is aware that some of its valued prepaid customers experienced a disruption in phone and Top Up services yesterday around midday… more
Surveying the region: Changing the game for data collection in the Caribbean
Regional – A mobile SMS-based survey service from a Caribbean-based company could change the way data is collected and analysed in the region… more
Samsung Galaxy S5 arrives in T&T soon
Trinidad and Tobago – Waterproof, dustproof, a better camera, brighter screen, functional Apps, enhanced security, faster processor and increased download speed, the new Samsung Galaxy S5 has focused on what users want… more
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Local companies ready to remit funds over mobile phones, but await BOJ approval
Jamaica – At least two local companies are ready to offer remittance service through mobile phones in Jamaica, but they await the go ahead from the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)… more
Blink- bmobile helps bridge digital divide
Trinidad and Tobago – blink-bmobile has renewed its commitment to assist the Government by becoming the communications technology partner in the recently unveiled Star.tt ICT Access Centre in Cumana, Toco… more
Star.tt Project in Cumana
Trinidad and Tobago – On March 26, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the second installment of the Star.tt Project; an initiative that embodies the Ministry’s mandate to facilitate the uptake and use of ICTs in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Image credits: Yon Garin (freedigitalphotos.net); Wikipedia; The Eleutheran; Wikipedia
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