A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 8 December to 14 December 2014.
Monday, 8 December 2014
Cable Bahamas appoints mobile telecommunications leader to board of directors
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas Ltd (BISX: CAB) today announced the appointment of Michele M. Merrell to the company’s board of directors, taking the board to its full complement… more
Keeping children safe online
Cayman Islands – The Optimist Club of George Town says unfiltered internet access can leave children vulnerable, so they’re educating parents and children about the safe use of the World Wide Web… more
Regulator announces new safety guidelines for telecoms
Cayman Islands – The Information Communications Technology Authority has released new safety guidelines for telecommunications workers laying cables on electricity poles in the Cayman Islands… more
Need To Improve Santo Domingo’s Internet Connectivity
Dominican Republic – A total of 8,618,015 mobile phones are in use in the Dominican Republic, which means that 82.69% of the population has a telephone… more
Any licence for Columbus/CWC merger must consider fair competition — ECTEL insists
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says it will ensure that any new licence granted to British telecommunications giant, Cable and Wireless (CWC) to operate in the sub-region will take into account the need for fair competition… more
Business as usual for CWC and Columbus? Not for long, says ECTEL
Regional – So far, it looks like business as usual for telecommunications consumers in Saint Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. But regional regulators say that could soon change… more
Cable and Wireless mega deal sparks regional worries
Regional – Concerns have been expressed that Cable & Wireless Communication’s (CWC) proposed US$3 billion acquisition of regional cable provider Columbus International (also known as FLOW) could lead to a decline in telecommunications competition across the region and anti-competitive behaviour in T&T… more
CWC and Columbus Promise to Protect Consumer Interest
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International today announced plans to launch a series of special “Customer Panels” in 14 markets throughout the region, beginning Monday, December 8, 2014… more
CWC sets up merger ‘hotlines’
Regional – Customers of Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International are being given an outlet to discuss the planned merger of these two companies… more
Digicel CEO says investments hang on CWC/Columbus merger
Regional – The chief executive of international wireless operator Digicel Group has said that the firm could re-examine its investment strategy in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region should Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) be given the regulatory go-ahead for its proposed USD3 billion buyout of another regional operator, Columbus International… more
Digicel demands level playing field in Jamaica
Regional – Mobile telephone giant Digicel has warned that it will re-examine its investment plans in Jamaica and the region if it is not happy with the terms of the buyout of Columbus International by Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC)… more
Protect consumers and competition
Regional – I see that Cable & Wireless’ Miami-based executives have been travelling around the Caribbean trying to sell the benefits of their intended acquisition of Columbus in terms of it being good for consumers, good for the economy and good for staff… more
CFBC student government association organizes first QR Code (Treasure) Hunt powered by LIME
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College exploded with excitement for their first ever QR Code Treasure Hunt. The Student Government Association definitely took advantage of LIME’s #UpgradeChristmas Campaign and facilitated a fun and exciting way for students to win a number of gifts and great prizes for the holiday season… more
Samsung Experience goes to West Mall
Trinidad and Tobago – Samsung Electronics Latin America has deepened its footprint in the T&T market with the opening its second Samsung Experience Store, this one located at Westmoorings, yesterday… more
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Alcatel introduces products at BTC
Bahamas – The cellular market is about to be liberalized in The Bahamas, and IPTV is being tested in Bimini. In this atmosphere of new technology, Alcatel Onetouch has announced its new line up of mobile devices in The Bahamas… more
BTC on schedule with IPTV in Bimini
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has announced that it is on schedule in regards to delivering television services to Bimini before the end of the year… more
Cable Slams ‘Ill-Timed’ Internet, TV Price Caps
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas warned regulators that their decision to impose price caps on its pay-TV and Internet services would be “ill-timed, intrusive and disproportionate”, arguing that these controls were unnecessary due to emerging competition… more
BTL Will Keep Speednet’s Southern Link Going Till End February
Belize – Earlier we told you about the legal showdown in the Caribbean Court of Justice tomorrow. While that fight ensues, a legal dispute with BTL’s competitor, SMART!, came to a temporary resolution yesterday… more
Student allegedly swipes money from cable company
Belize – Twenty-one year old Carlos Echeverria, a student of the University of Belize, was charged with theft when he appeared today before magistrate Dale Cayetano… more
The Wikimedia Foundation and Digicel partner to offer free Wikipedia access
Jamaica – Today Digicel and the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation that operates Wikipedia and its sister projects, announced a partnership to offer free access to Wikipedia to all Digicel customers, whether they are subscribed to a data plan or not… more
CWC deal good for customers
Regional – I was pleased to read that Mark Linehan, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Digicel Jamaica and current CEO of Digicel Barbados, has taken note of our recent visits to various Caribbean states, and acknowledged the importance of engaging with key stakeholders. I couldn’t agree more… more
Digicel could scale back Caribbean investment
Regional – Colm Delves, who runs Denis O’Brien’s Caribbean telco Digicel, gave a most interesting interview over the weekend in its main market of Jamaica… more
ECTEL to analyse acquisition
Regional – THE Eastern Caribbean Telecommunication Authority (ECTEL) will closely analyse the impact of a proposed US$ 3 billion acquisition of Columbus by Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC). ECTEL stated this intention as part of the closing statement it issued following a special meeting of its Council of Ministers in St Lucia last Thursday… more
Regional Company Registrars Consider Integrated Online Registry
Regional – A meeting to discuss the development of a complete online registry among 12 Member States participating in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) will be held in Saint Lucia from 8 – 10 December 2014… more
TATT, ECTEL to collaborate on analysis of mega merger’s impact
Regional – Eastern Caribbean ministers with responsibility for telecommunications, meeting in St Lucia last week, have resolved to undertake their analysis of the impact of the proposed acquisition of Columbus International by Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) in conjunction with the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT)… more
Learning programme embraces ICT
Trinidad and Tobago – Students are taking responsibility for their own education with ICT learning programmes, says Director of the I Can Learn Programme (ICLP) in Trinidad, Araceli Marchan. Technology, she added, it is also helping to bridge learning gaps… more
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Cell phone ban outdated, says principal
Barbados – THE BAN ON cell phones in schools is outdated… more
B.T.L. & B.E.L. Nationalizations Heard at CCJ
Belize – Hearings started today at the Caribbean Court of Justice in Trinidad, which will determine the fate of B.T.L. and B.E.L., the two utility companies that were acquired from their owners by the government… more
BTL offers economy phone promotion
Belize – Belize Telemedia is today offering a special promotion of phone devices and Belizeans are lining up to take advantage of what is being offered… more
Cable & Wireless shareholders approve Columbus merger
Cayman Islands – Shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications plc, the parent company of LIME, voted in favor of a merger with Columbus International Inc., operator of Flow in Jamaica, at a general meeting in London last week… more
Employee emails easy entry point for hackers, expert says
Cayman Islands – Almost 90 percent of all hacker attacks start with an email, and not the kind from your long-lost “Nigerian prince cousin.” … more
New safety guidelines for telecoms industry
Cayman Islands – The Information Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) has published guidelines for telecommunications workers working on electricity poles in the Cayman Islands to ensure that proper safety standards are being adhered to at all times… more
No legal protections in case of data theft
Cayman Islands – Cayman’s financial institutions face the same threats as any other financial centers around the globe, but local cybersecurity experts say people in Cayman may never find out if their personal information is stolen from a local bank… more
Brazil/Guyana fibre optic cable project collapses
Guyana – More than four years after an agreement was signed between Guyana and Brazil for a fibre optic cable to link Government facilities, the project appears to have collapsed because of technical issues… more
CWC Company Acquires Small Wifi Rival DEKAL
Jamaica – LIME Jamaica announced the acquisition of DEKAL Wireless, an Internet service provider whose services are mainly focused on rural Jamaicans, but declined to identify the specific buyer, said only to be “a member of the CWC Group”… more
UTech Seminar highlights need for transformation of ICT Regulatory Framework
Jamaica – The School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 hosted a public seminar on “Regulating the ICT Industry and its Effects on Growth and Development,” which highlighted the urgent need for transformation of Jamaica’s ICT regulatory framework… more
CWC-Columbus To Set Up Customer Panels In Caribbean Markets
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International have announced plans to launch a series of special ‘customer panels’ in 14 markets throughout the region… more
Cable & Wireless shareholders approve Columbus merger
Regional – Shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications plc, the parent company of LIME, voted in favor of a merger with Columbus International Inc., operator of Flow in Jamaica, at a general meeting in London last week… more
Dec. 10, 2014 Proposed merger of Cable And Wireless and Flow discussed by…
Regional – The ECTEL Council of Ministers met in St Lucia on Thursday, December 4, 2014 to discuss the proposed merger between Cable and Wireless Communications PLC, and Columbus Communication Ltd… more
Digicel hammers it out with Cable & Wireless, Columbus
Regional – Top executives of the region’s three major telecommunications players hammered out their differences in a five-hour meeting hosted by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in Port-of-Spain… more
Digicel’s O’Brien flies in
Regional – Digicel founder and executive chairman, Denis O’ Brien, is due to fly into Trinidad on his private jet this morning as continues his attempt to drum up support among regional politicians and regulators for his position that the proposed acquisition of Columbus International by Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) would be detrimental to Caribbean telecommunications competition… more
No monopoly of telecom market, say OECS ministers
Regional – Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) telecommunications ministers have taken a decision to prevent the return to a telecommunications monopoly following a proposed merger between Cable and Wireless Communications and Columbus Communications International… more
Open Letter On Flow’s Proposed Acquisition By CWC, From Digicel Barbados Boss; “Start Telling The Truth Cable & Wireless”
Regional – I was initially pleased to see that a Cable & Wireless representative took the time to respond to my letter on the proposed acquisition of Columbus by Cable and Wireless but after reading his response I was disappointed to see that Chris Dehring didn’t take on board my comments nor did he take the opportunity to ease the concerns of the public… more
Proposed Merger Of Cable And Wireless And Flow Discussed By ECTEL Ministers
Regional – The ECTEL Council of Ministers met in St Lucia on Thursday, December 4, 2014 to discuss the proposed merger between Cable and Wireless Communications PLC, and Columbus Communication Ltd… more
Sinclair points to benefits of CWC/Columbus merger
Regional – LIME Jamaica CEO Garfield Sinclair has said that the proposed merger of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International will be good for customers, Jamaica, and for shareholders… more
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Digicel Launches New Additions To Its Smartphone Range – Perfect Gift For Christmas!
Barbados – Digicel continues its mission to bring the best value to customers this Christmas with the latest additions to its own brand smartphone range – the all-new DL 800 and DL 900… more
Time for Smart Customers in the South to Make the Switch
Belize – After February 28, 2015 the Belize Telemedia Limited will no longer provide Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) Lines to Speednet; therefore, Smart customers in Southern Belize should start switching to the company owned by the Government and people of Belize… more
GPL loses $$millions annually through cable operators, GT&T
Guyana – Guyana Power and Light (GPL), in addition to the billions of dollars lost through technical and commercial losses, continue to lose millions of dollars each year as a result of cable operators and the Guyana Telephone and Telephone (GT&T) Company utilizing its poles countrywide without paying a dime… more
Changes at the head of Digicel
Haiti – Wednesday, Digicel Haiti CEO, Maarten Boute, has been promoted to the role of Chairman for Digicel Haiti with immediate effect… more
$1 million ‘bonus’ for 5 schools in tablet project
Jamaica – GOVERNMENT has set aside $1 million to reward five schools that are showing academic improvements from utilisation of the tablet computers provided under the Tablets in Schools Pilot project… more
LIME Jamaica acquires Dekal Wireless.
Jamaica – LIME Jamaica has acquired rival Wi-Fi operator Dekal Wireless for an undisclosed amount, The Gleaner reports… more
ONLINE READERS COMMENT: Mr Sinclair, how will the merger benefit consumers?
Jamaica – Dear Editor, I read an article that was published in the Jamaica Observer on December 10, 2014, where LIME’s head, Mr Garfield Sinclair, pointed out the benefits of the proposed merger between his company and Columbus Communications… more
Digicel boss wary of regional CWC monopoly
Regional – Digicel executive chairman Denis O’Brien said yesterday that to preserve competition and protect consumers in the Caribbean, regional regulators should insist that the combination of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International be required to sell assets… more
O’Brien: Telecoms at crossroads
Regional – DIGICEL Executive Chairman Denis O’Brien yesterday declared the proposed US$3 billion acquisition of Columbus by Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) has essentially placed the telecommunications industry at a crossroads… more
O’Brien wants regulators to look at CWC
Regional – Denis O’Brien, the chairman of Digicel, has hinted he will ask regulators in the Caribbean to force rival Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) to sell off chunks of the business created through its $3 billion purchase of cable operator Columbus Communications… more
Not a case of sour grapes
Regional – Irish billionaire and chairman of mobile provider Digicel Denis O’Brien, says his company’s complaints about the acquisition of Columbus Communications by Cable & Wireless are not “sour grapes”… more
Carnival launches Sugar Mas app, sashes Carnival Queen Contestants
Saint Kitts and Nevis – THE Sugar Mas product continues to evolve to incorporate more technology, and the latest in this advancement is the launch of its innovative, yet easy to use, mobile application… more
TelEm Group re-routes international voice and data traffic following outage in Miami.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group last night re-route international voice and data traffic from its SS7 link operated through SMITCOMS N.V. to provide continuity of telecommunication service on St. Maarten after an important communication node in Miami became faulty… more
Bmobile and SAMSUNG raising the bar on technology and service
Trinidad and Tobago – SCORES of customers eagerly awaited the opening of two new Bmobile / Samsung Experience Stores on Thursday December 4, at the Falls West Mall, Westmoorings and at Trincity Mall… more
Cable Bahamas, HBO bring best of Hollywood films this December
Trinidad and Tobago – Cable Bahamas and HBO are committed to providing viewers with premium programming, films and television specials and this December, the longtime partners will bring some of Hollywood’s biggest films to television once again… more
Friday, 12 December 2014
Flow-ing as usual
Barbados – It is business as usual at Columbus Barbados, despite the acquisition of the company by Cable & Wireless. And while Columbus is pushing ahead with its plans, it is also moving to assuage public concern about the deal… more
CCJ sets nationalization decision for January 23
Belize – This morning the five-judge panel of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago wrapped up a three-day session of arguments over the nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited and Belize Electricity Limited… more
Authority seeks to preserve public service television in Cayman
Cayman Islands – Certain types of programming – deemed to be public service broadcasting – will be retained in any new formula for ensuring viewers have access to local content on television… more
ICTA: New guidelines for telecom workers
Cayman Islands – The Information Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) has announced that a guideline document for telecommunications workers who work on electricity poles in the Cayman Islands has been published… more
Cuba says it’s committed to expanding computerization, Internet access
Cuba – Computerizing daily activities and expanding Internet access are priorities for Cuba, according to Communist party daily Granma, which said the island is making progress in those areas “steadily but unhurriedly.” … more
18,000 Tablets to be Distributed By December 18
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says that 18,000 of the targeted 25,000 tablet computers will be delivered to students before the end of the Christmas school term on December 18… more
SOS To LIME, Digicel From St Thomas
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir:I note with interest the ongoing competition between the two major telecommunications providers, Digicel and LIME. There have been mergers, acquisitions and all sorts of announcements in the press… more
‘500 news jobs’ from CWC-Columbus merger
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International Inc have announced the formation of a new company that will create 500 jobs following CWC’s acquisition of Columbus… more
CWC/Columbus new company will invest US$400m in broadband expansion
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International Inc. (Columbus) today announced a customer charter that they say will guide how the new company would operate following the approval and closing of their merger… more
FLOW’s Niall Sheehy peels open LIME deal – staff did not know until night before
Regional – Niall Sheehy may have married into the Caribbean and forged a new generation of Sheehy’s for the region, but he’s lost none of the Corkish charm from his hometown of Ireland… more
Saturday, 13 December 2014
Let Telecoms Minn
ows Swim With Sharks
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: The recent acquisitions by LIME and Digicel have sent a mixture of excitement and concern to consumers and technology interests alike about the future of mobile, Internet and cable in Jamaica and the Caribbean… more
CWC/Columbus to form new company
Regional – TELECOMS companies Cable and Wireless Communications and Columbus International Inc have announced the pending formation of NewCo, a new company that they say will revolutionise telecommunications in the Caribbean by “putting customers at the heart” of their business… more
Regional competition commission looking into CWC/Columbus merger
Regional – The controversial merger of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), which trades here as LIME, with Columbus International Inc, which operates as Flow, has been taken up by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Competition Commission… more
Slaves to digital devices
Trinidad and Tobago – Some nights ago, a television news reporter covering one of the Prime Minister’s toys distribution functions asked eight children what they would like to get as Christmas presents… more
Sunday, 14 December 2014
500 New Jobs Coming – Cable And Wireless Promises More Employment Despite Initial Indications Of US$24m Saving In Staff Cost After Buyout Of Flow
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International (Columbus) have promised to create more than 500 new jobs between now and 2019 if the planned merger of the two entities is approved… more
CWC/Columbus forming new company to transform customer experience
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International Inc. (Columbus) have announced a ground-breaking customer charter that will guide how the new company would operate following the approval and closing of their merger… more
CWC To Invest US$400m In Broadband Expansion
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International Inc are rolling out new plans for customer and broadband services even while still awaiting regulatory approval for their planned merger… more
Embrace the healthy competition, Digicel
Regional – In 2001, when Digicel arrived in Jamaica it had the body of a skinny little kid who had an eagerness to prove that it could discover the lay of the land and make its name felt throughout the tropical paradise… more
Image credits: filipe ferreira (flickr); Marketing Magazine; Belize Web; Wikipedia; SKN Vibes; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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