A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 22 September to 28 September 2014.
Monday, 22 September 2014
Gov’t pushes on with data protection
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands government has signaled its intention to proceed with enacting a Data Protection Law, aimed generally at shielding the privacy of individuals’ personal information… more
Indotel signs MoU with Alliance for Affordable Internet
Dominican Republic – The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), a global coalition working to make broadband affordable for all, has signed a formal MoU with Dominican Republic’s telecoms regulator Indotel… more
Digicel, SportsMax Outline Expansion Plans
Jamaica – The recent Digicel-SportsMax merger is expected to foster a period of rapid expansion for the new entity, which could see several new features and offerings added for regional subscribers… more
Gov’t invests billions to provide Jamaicans with Internet access
Jamaica – THE Universal Service Fund (USF) has invested billions of dollars over the last nine years to provide Internet access to Jamaicans across the island…. more
LIME Partners With Jamaica Stock Exchange For Data-Protection Seminar
Jamaica – An expert from telecommunications firm LIME will be the main presenter at a seminar on data protection scheduled for Montego Bay on September 24… more
LIME to Invest $10M to Improve Mobile, Broadband in St Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Regional telecom provider LIME will be investing $10 million to improve networks in St Kitts and Nevis, the government announced this week… more
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
3,000 jobs from web shop regulation
Bahamas – Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said yesterday it is projected that the web shop regularization process will result in the creation of 3,000 jobs… more
BTL Bandwidth Doubling Up
Belize – And, as we mentioned earlier, there will also be lower rates from the state controlled utilities. First, the Prime Minister announced another doubling of internet bandwidth for BTL, as well as changing the tax regime for internet service providers… more
SMEs urge to strengthen data security
Jamaica – As more Jamaican companies turn to Cloud and other electronic solutions for data storage and processing Michael Sutherland LIME’s Regional IT Security Officer is urging small and medium-sized businesses to pay closer attention to the matter of data protection and urgently address potential threats… more
Digicel Offers GATE Students Internships
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Digicel has agreed to offer an internship to at least two graduates from the recent Government Assisted Technology Endeavour (GATE) programme… more
Wednesday, 24 September 2014
LIME’s plan for growth
Barbados – Telecommunications company Cable & Wireless (C&W) wants to grow its mobile services in Barbados and is likely to hold discussions with Government so it can “acquire more spectrum” to facilitate the expansion… more
Flow Wi-Fi Lounge At The Living Expo 2014
Curacao – This weekend the Living Expo 2014 takes place at the World Trade Center Curacao! Flow is proud partner of the event and will provide an opportunity for the visitors to relax at the Flow Wi-Fi Lounge which is available at the Terrace of the exhibition… more
The transition to digital TV could cost $30M…
Haiti – The two-day workshop on the transition to digital television, organized by the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL), which was held on September 22-23 at the Hotel Karibe Convention Center, with the theme “Deployment Plan of Digital Television in Haiti” aimed at presenting once again, to audiovisual operators the deployment plan for infrastructure for digital television in the country… more
182 Information Technology Centres Established
Jamaica – A total of 182 information technology (IT) resource and skills training centres have been established across the country, as the Government continues to provide Jamaicans with access to information technology (IT)… more
Digicel Partners With SchoolSMS
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: Further to my letter titled ‘ Digicel block hurts business’ (Tuesday, September 9, 2014), please see the latest development on the Digicel-SchoolSMS issue… more
Digicel acquires Sportsmax, submarine fiber assets
Regional – Digicel has acquired majority ownership and control of St. Lucia-based International Media Content Ltd., parent company of regional sports broadcaster, SportsMax, and North American broadcaster CEEN-TV… more
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Cable Bahamas to air Bahamian folk opera ‘The Legend of Sammie Swain’ on Cable 12
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has a long-standing history of supporting Bahamian culture and that tradition will continue when the telecommunications company broadcasts the Bahamian folk opera ‘The Legend of Sammie Swain’ on Cable 12 this Sunday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m.… more
Belize Lagging Behind With Internet Bandwidth
Belize – BTL is holding its annual general meeting right now at the Biltmore Best western in Belize City. The company’s revenue of 136 million dollars was on par with last year, but its profits were down by 2 million dollars from 21 million to 19.5… more
BTL to double Internet speed for same price
Belize – During an address at the 2012’s Business forum, the Prime Minister announced that BTL’s internet cost for 128K speed would go from $49 to $25 per month… more
New Internet Rates/Speeds Take Effect In October
Belize – Last night we told you about the new doubled up internet speeds from BTL. This was outlined in a more official way at last night’s annual general meeting. Here’s the new schedule:… more
NDCs receive $12M in computers and accessories from CRIP
Guyana – During the past week, the Ministry of Housing and Water supplied computers and accessories totalling $12.272M to 12 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six, in an effort to improve efficiency and accountability within the councils… more
Vandalism interrupts GT&T service on East Bank
Guyana – Telephone and data services along the East Bank of Demerara were early this morning disrupted as a result of vandalism and the theft of two spans of fibre optic cable measuring more than 400 feet in Agricola, GT&T said in a release… more
GTECH partners with Women’s Centre Of Jamaica Foundation
Jamaica – Leading global commercial operator and provider of technology in the regulated worldwide gaming markets, GTECH, continues its outreach activities in Jamaica, with an announced partnership with the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation… more
Digicel acquires SportsMax
Regional – DIGICEL yesterday announced that it has acquired the majority ownership and control of St. Lucia-based International Media Content Limited, the parent company of regional sports broadcaster, SportsMax, and North American broadcaster CEEN-TV, for an undisclosed sum… more
ICT Week Launched
Saint Kitts and Nevis – St. Kitts and Nevis is looking at the future of information and communication technology with the launch of ICT week… more
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) will be hosting its 2014 public drive under the Kingstown Post Office tomorrow, September 26 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm… more
Cyber Crime Unit called in
Trinidad and Tobago – Cyber Crime Unit (CCU) police officers have visited the Office of the President of Trinidad and Tobago as part of an on-going investigation into the recently hacked email account of a senior staff member there… more
F1RST.com partners with TT Restaurant Week
Trinidad and Tobago – F1RST.com, a technology company that provides over 90,000 users with beyond-directory data on businesses throughout the region, is partnering with TT Restaurant Week to inspire an appreciation among locals for the rich culinary diversity available in TT… more
Tewarie: T&T short on apps capability
Trinidad and Tobago – T&T needs more software developers, says Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie. In an interview at Digi-Data Systems Ltd’s recent 30th anniversary celebrations at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, the minister said US-based IT consulting firm Medullan had been searching for 40 local software developers, but found less than ten per cent of that number… more
US$2.4 million expenditure for ICT
Trinidad and Tobago – US $2.4 million will be spent on “high impact initiatives” to improve this country’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the World Bank… more
US software firm eyes Trinidadian developers
Trinidad and Tobago – We will love to get more Trinis on board,” says Lawler Kang, director of global people strategy and talent acquisition at Medullan, which describes itself on its website as a digital health innovation lab… more
Friday, 26 September 2014
Cable’s $1.5m Buy Back Fights Value, Market Illiquidity
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has launched its $1.5 million share buy back to support its stock value and create “liquidity in an illiquid market” for investors… more
Twenty-nine BTC customers get bill with VAT
Bahamas – More than two dozen customers of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) recently received bills that include a value-added tax (VAT), The Guardian has learned… more
LIME pleads for time
Barbados – LIME has acknowledged its failure to address customer service issues. But chief executive officer for the Caribbean, Martin Roos, has pledged the telecommunications company is actively addressing the problems and has pleaded with customers to give it some time to get it right… more
Barrow Says Changes are Coming to BTL
Belize – The Belize Telemedia Limited hosted its 8th Annual General Meeting last night at the Biltmore Hotel. A special presentation entitled, “A focus on the Future of BTL” was given by the Chairman of BTL’s Executive Committee, Anwar Barrow… more
BTL holds AGM; profits, dividends lower
Belize – State-run telecommunications company Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) held its eighth Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel Thursday night… more
BTL reports “solid” year; earns $19.6 mil in profits
Belize – In its 5th consecutive year as a state-owned telecommunications company, the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is announcing a 7% decline in net profits, from $21 million to $19.6 million against a marginal fall in gross revenues from $143.8 million to $142.6 million, for the 12 months ending March 31, 2014… more
BTL Will Leverage Bandwidth
Belize – And while you’ll be getting faster speeds, BTL will also be changing the way they do business with wholesale internet providers. Anwar Barrow explained:… more
Why Does Belize Lag Behind Other Countries In Bandwidth
Belize – And while BTL is ready to work with wholesalers, we asked when will Belize’s status on bandwidth surveys get a wholesale upgrade? As we’ve been reporting, every single survey of Caribbean Bandwidth puts Belize very near the bottom… more
Gov’t reviews suggest different fates for IT
Cayman Islands – In the midst of a review by consultant Ernst & Young that recommends outsourcing most operational information technology services, the Cayman Islands government had a separate review that proposed long-term in-house solutions for the Computer Services Department… more
Power failure knocks out Digicel network
Cayman Islands – The Digicel mobile phone network failed for at least two hours on Wednesday… more
Dominican Republic, Haiti to mitigate border interference
Dominican Republic – The Standing Committee on Transport and Communications of the Senate of the Dominican Republic, along with the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) and the National Telecommunications Council of Haiti (Conatel), have agreed to investigate mobile telephony interference in villages along the border between the two countries… more
LIME, Digicel In Dispute Over Cross-Network Calls
Jamaica – There were indications late yesterday that Digicel Jamaica was rushing to stave off another battle over cross-network calling that has left LIME, its perennial competitor, hopping mad… more
LIME calls in OUR to help settle dispute with Digicel
Jamaica – THE Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) has again been asked to settle an ‘ongoing dispute’ between the island’s two major telecommunications providers, LIME and Digicel… more
Governments Should Lead ICT Adoption In Caribbean Nations
Regional – The use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in the Caribbean countries will work best when Governments take the lead in the transformation, alluded Secretary-General Bernadette Lewis of the CARICOM instituted Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)… more
CWC to spend USD10m on enhancing Saint Kitts & Nevis networks
Saint Kitts and Nevis – UK-based Cable and Wireless Communication (CWC) is said to have outlined plans to invest around USD10 million in upgrading the networks belonging to its Saint Kitts & Nevis subsidiary, which offers services under the LIME banner… more
Technology for the Disabled
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Disabled persons living in St. Kitts and Nevis are this week learning about new technology that’s specifically designed to help them in their daily lives… more
Saturday, 27 September 2014
BTC brings the latest technology to Southern Bahamas
Bahamas – BTC is continuing its commitment to expand its access to high quality service and products to all of the nation’s major islands with the launch of a new flagship store in Deadman’s Cay, Long Island this coming Monday, September 29th… more
LIME plans to invest USD 7 mln in BVI
British Virgin Islands – LIME, the Caribbean business of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), plans to invest USD 7 million to upgrade the operator’s network in British Virgin Islands (BVI)… more
CVM Exclusive Broadcast Rights A Violation Of Viewers’ Rights
Jamaica – There is growing concern among consumers that CVM Television’s rapidly expanding list of exclusive broadcast rights for popular American television programmes will lead to discomfort for viewers, many of whom were long-time fans of those shows… more
ICT for Seniors
Saint Kitts and Nevis – A weeklong series of training workshops in Information and Communication Technology continued on Friday with a special session for seniors at the Mcknight Community Centre… more
Sunday, 28 September 2014
OLPF goes to Linden
Guyana – Hundreds of Lindeners on Saturday flocked the Linden Constabulary Hall to collect laptops from the One Laptop per Family programme… more
Very little space left for more TV, radio station in the city- Broadcasting Authority
Guyana – Applicants for new television licences may find that there are not many left for allocation in the city. That is because there are few frequencies left available… more
$12 billion collected from Universal Service Fund
Jamaica – Over $12 billion has been collected since the establishment of the Universal Service Fund (USF) nine years ago. The money is generated from a levy on inbound international calls… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Belize Web; Marketing Magazine
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