Roundup: for the week ending 24 August 2014

A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 18 August to Sunday 24 August 2014.

Monday, 18 August 2014

Telecoms minister plans to introduce e-govt portal

Antigua and Barbuda – The minister with responsibility for information and telecommunication, Melford Nicholas, said he intends to change how residents conduct business with government entities… more

Cable Bahamas in 27% profit decline

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas suffered a 27 percent profit fall for the first six months of 2014, to $6.78 million, as operating expenses increased by 35 percent for the same period… more

REVOICE Snags 27,000 Subscribers

Bahamas – REVOICE telephone services offered by Cable Bahamas have performed “extremely well,” according to the company’s head of marketing David Burrows who told Journal Business recently that so far the phone service has already has 27,000 customers with the numbers increasing daily… more

Is There An App for The Future?

Belize – Last week we told you about Tiffany Simpson’s Mobile App Development course package entitled “Tech it Easy” which is designed to teach students how to create their own mobile applications… more

Youths Converge for the Mobile App Workshop and Competition 2014

Belize – “Inspiring Solutions to Global Challenges through Innovation and Creativity.”  That’s the theme of a seminar being hosted by the Public Utilities Commission in which tech savvy youths are being trained to create their own mobile apps… more

ICT – Lack Of Local Space Stifling Sector Growth

Jamaica – Despite being constantly on the wish list of foreign investors, Jamaica’s failure to construct sufficient business-ready office space is said to stifling growth in the local information and communication technology/business processing outsourcing (ICT/BPO) industry… more

LIME Foundation To Uncover Web Talent

Jamaica – More of Jamaica’s young and talented web designers are expected to be discovered at this year’s edition of the LIME Foundation Web Design Summer Programme… more

Google Must Give Up E-Mails

Trinidad and Tobago – The Integrity Commission has won its legal battle to have Google Inc provide information on three e-mail accounts, believed to be connected to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as part of its investigation into Emailgate… more

Shamika’s CSEC super software

Trinidad and Tobago – A DESIRE to win the war of the “digital divide” is the reason behind establishing the computer mathematics software which blind student Shamika Henry used which saw her securing a Grade 1 in Mathematics last week… more

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

BTC Executive Assists Sector’s Female Push

Bahamas – CANTO, the Caribbean’s information and communications technology (ICT) organisation, highlighted the advance of women as a vital factor in the industry’s development during its 30th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition… more

BTC supports launch of CANTO Caribbean women in ICT initiative

Bahamas – CANTO, the Caribbean’s information and communications technology (ICT) organisation, decided to highlight the advancement of women as a vital factor in the development of the sector at its 30th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition… more

ICTA gives thumbs up for WestStar sale

Cayman Islands – There’s been regulatory approval from industry regulators for the takeover of WestStar by Logic… more

Court Orders LIME To Perform Interconnection Contract

Jamaica – A Supreme Court judge has granted an injunction against Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited, trading as LIME, for refusing to terminate international calls from relatively new telecommunications carrier and service provider, Traille Caribbean Limited, to its mobile numbers pursuant to an interconnection agreement between both companies… more

Creation Of Mega ICT Spaces Not Good Business – Realtor

Jamaica – Carlene Sinclair, president of the Realtors Association of Jamaica, said local developers and investors are apprehensive to support the construction of large enough office spaces to accommodate foreign information and communication technology (ICT) players because it may be bad for business… more

Tablet programme to strengthen innovation among students — Robinson

Jamaica – State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining Julian Robinson said the ministry’s Tablets in School programme will strengthen the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in Jamaica, particularly among students… more

Four mobile licence hopefuls named

Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has revealed the names of four applicants for the country’s third mobile network operating licence, as it continues to review the applications, the Trinidad Express reports… more

Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Laptops for Mora Point

Guyana – A team from the One Laptop per Family (OLPF) unit recently visited the Mora Point area in Region Five and distributed 80 laptops to residents… more

UG’s ICT Network Infrastructure for upgrade

Guyana – Under the Ministry of Education, four bids were submitted yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the purchasing of equipment for ICT Network Infrastructure for the University of Guyana… more

Investors Pitch $Multimillion Call Centre For Naggo Head

Jamaica – A proposal for a US$15-million investment in the information and communication technology/business processing outsourcing (ICT/BPO) sector has been placed on the table by overseas investors seeking to construct 120,000 square feet of office space in Naggo Head in St Catherine… more

Is Viber the problem or the victim?

Jamaica – ARE Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) providers, like Viber, the real issue or are they completely innocent bystanders being singled out to take the blame for someone else’s mistakes? … more

Passing On His Knowledge

Jamaica – Seems Anthony Bryan is taking the mantra ‘each one teach one’ literally. Bryan, now 40, is a regular teacher at LIME Foundation’s Web Design Summer Camp… more

ICT symposium explores Caribbean’s twin challenge

Regional – The Caribbean region is today faced with the twin challenge of the rise in unemployment and a shortage of specific skills, said Ingrid Seerattan, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, yesterday… more

LIME promises big investments

Regional – Telecommunications company Cable and Wireless announced Tuesday that it’s about to make a significant investment in the region… more

It Pays to Use LIME – A big win for consumers

Saint Kitts and Nevis – LIME continues to engage and delight its consumers with the exciting monthly draw of the “It Pays to Use LIME – Activate and Win Promotion”… more

LIME informs PM Douglas of US$10 million investment in St. Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis – LIME is to invest US$10 million in St. Kitts and Nevis… more

St Vincent and the Grenadines Eyes Growth in ICT

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – St Vincent and the Grenadines is expecting to “soar highly in the future” in the field of information and communication technology (ICT), according to Dr Jerrol Thompson, director of special projects in the office of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves… more

Industry more dependent on ICT

Trinidad and Tobago – INDUSTRY and services are becoming more dependent on the effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools, says Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ingrid Seerattan… more

Thursday, 21 August 2014

BTC Chief Addresses Human Resource Chiefs

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC)chief executive, Leon Williams, was one of two headline speakers selected to address the eighth CANTO annual Human Resource Forum at Atlantis… more

PUC hosts App workshop – Next Google Made in Belize?

Belize – “There is no reason the next Google can’t be started in Belize.” -Dr. Cardinal Warde, Founder of the Caribbean Science Foundation… more

LIME to roll out $7 million investment

British Virgin Islands – When Cable & Wireless rebranded in 2008 to reflect a company that offers more than just traditional telephone service, it chose the abbreviation LIME — landline, Internet, mobile and entertainment — to represent its product offerings… more

Users validate 75% of prepaid lines in Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic – Some 75 percent of prepaid mobile lines in the Dominican Republic have been already validated by users, according to the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel). This figure represents 5.89 million lines… more

 BPO Offers Good Jobs – JAMPRO

Jamaica – Diane Edwards, president of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JAMPRO), said it is a fallacy to think that jobs created within the Information Communication Technology/Business Processing Outsourcing (ICT/BPO) sector are low-paying and temporary… more

Get up, stand up… and call Jamaica at lower rates with TelephoneJamaica.com

Jamaica – Have you heard the news? If not, then now it’s the moment to call Jamaica and find out what’s new… more

Friday, 22 August 2014

BTC CEO Leon Williams addresses regional HR executives at CANTO

Bahamas – BTC CEO Leon Williams was one of two headline speakers selected to address the CANTO 8th Annual Human Resource Forum at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas… more

Cable Bahamas awaiting response from BCPOU

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas today expressed its disappointment and surprise with the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) statement reported to the press today regarding its relationship with the union… more

Union threatens to ‘shut down’ Cable Bahamas

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas expressed “surprise” yesterday after the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) said it is prepared, with the assistance of other unions, to “shut Cable Bahamas down” if no resolution is reached within the next month to a dispute between the two sides… more

PUC presents future of mobile applications

Belize – This week young Belizeans from across the country converged on the Ramada Belize City Princess Hotel to learn about development of mobile applications… more

Virgin Islands media: friend or foe – part 2

British Virgin Islands – The following story is the second of three articles. It states that media exposure of issues that need to be made public knowledge is good for Virgin Islands politics, economy, and society, whether negative or positive… more

OUR triples compensation secured on behalf of utility customers

Jamaica – The Office of  Utilities Regulation (OUR) is reporting that the compensation it secured on behalf  of customers who filed complaints against utility companies has tripled in the past year… more

www.thedaytheInternetbroke

Jamaica – LAST week something big went wrong on the Internet and we were not alerted. I got word by midday UK time from a geek who said, “It’s happened.” Others said, “The Internet full up.” … more

Commentary: Developing capabilities for innovation in the Caribbean: An agenda for action – Part 1

Regional – Part 1 – Reconceptualising innovation and the challenges of Caribbean development… more

LACNIC Caribbean 6 – CaribNOG 8 -The Internet Event Held In The Caribbean

Regional – The Hilton Curaçao Resort Hotel will host the upcoming LACNIC Caribbean 6 – CaribNOG 8 meeting, which will be held from 29 September to 3 October in Willemstad, Curaçao… more

LIME vows increased competition

Regional– Telecoms company Cable and Wireless has confirmed that it is re-positioning itself in the region to be better able to take on the competition… more

CWC Investing US10mil In LIME St. Kitts-Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis – Cable and Wireless Communication announced recently that it plans to invest US $10million in system upgrades for LIME St. Kitts-Nevis… more

IDB Loans Trinidad & Tobago $20M to Bolster its Outsourcing Industry

Trinidad and Tobago – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has reportedly agreed to lend Trinidad & Tobago US$20 million to build ICT infrastructure and promote IT-enabled global services… more

LIME Executives Bring Investment News to TCI

Turks and Caicos Islands – LIME announced major network upgrade investment plans for TCI and the region… more

Saturday, 23 August 2014

Dismantling of international traffic bypass networks

Haiti – These last weeks, the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL), with the help of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the technical support of mobile phone companies, proceeded to the dismantling of several networks of criminals who pirated telephone networks by ending on these networks, voice traffic from abroad without prior authorization… more

Suriname to host CBU 45th annual General Assembly

Regional – The Caribbean Broadcasting Union has concluded its 45th Annual General Assembly in Paramaribo, Suriname on August 18-21… more

E-mail account of President’s staff member hacked

Trinidad and Tobago – An e-mail account belonging to a high-level member of staff in the Office of The President has been hacked… more

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Social media energy push

Barbados – SOCIAL MEDIA IS BEING USED to launch a campaign to have the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) remove the cap placed on alternative energy sales to Barbados Light & Power (BL&P) under the renewable energy rider (RER)… more

Those social media websites

Guyana – While the original purpose of social media is to create an avenue in which people around the globe can connect, interact and share information, the business community has capitalized on the opportunities offered via these websites, particularly Facebook, to market their products… more

No Timeline For VoIP Decision, Says OUR

Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has received the responses it required from telecom providers Digicel Jamaica and LIME Jamaica and is in the process of assessing the blockade of unapproved voice-over internet protocol (VoIP) services… more

 

Image credits:  Stuart Miles (FreeDigitalPhotos.net);  Facebook;  Wikipedia; Bahamas Local;  Wikipedia

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