A roundup of ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 March to Sunday 29 March 2015.
Monday, 23 March 2015
Cable Bahamas could create 250 jobs if it wins second mobile license
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas Limited could create as many as 250 new jobs, if it is awarded the country’s second cellular license, according to Vice President of Marketing David Burrows… more
Ward Avenue ICT facility almost ready
Jamaica – A large information, communication and technology (ICT) facility now nearing completion at Ward Avenue in this south central town could begin its employment phase in “summer” (mid-year), says Member of Parliament for Central Manchester Peter Bunting… more
ANTO, ITU & SIPOS Celebrate Girls in ICT Day 2015 – 23rd April 2015, Theme: “Girls and Women and Innovation”
Regional – Dear Members and ICT Stakeholders, CANTO has partnered with the ITU to ensure that the Girls in ICT Day event is widely celebrated in the Caribbean region… more
Winn Tech Report: SKN Download Speed Ranks Amongst The Lowest
Saint Kitts and Nevis – For years nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis have been proud to boast of our internet connectivity penetration rates, with around 28% of households having “broadband” internet… more
“Make sure!” – Digicel urges Trinidad & Tobago telecoms regulator
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel Trinidad & Tobago is calling for regulators in the twin-island republic to insist that Cable & Wireless shows binding agreements to sell its stake in Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago (TSTT) before giving approval for the merger of LIME and Flow in that country… more
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Columbus Business Solutions offers Cyber Security for Schools
Barbados – Schools are under attack both from internal and external vices… more
BrightPath hosts AppMaster Initiative in Grenada
Grenada – With so much digital media consumption now taking place on mobile apps, it’s no surprise that many tech innovators are focusing not on desktop computers but on smaller, do-it-all, handheld devices. You could say small is the new big… more
LIME Apologises To Users, Voice And Data Service Issues
Jamaica – Telecommunications giant LIME says actions have been taken to resolve problems experienced by some customers in making and receiving calls… more
Austerity Measures Lead to Stability and IT/ BPO Growth For Jamaica
Jamaica – Jamaica’s BPO Sector appears to be gaining strength with strong signs indicating that the country is on track to recover from a serious financial crisis in 2013… more
Caribbean needs to strengthen its Internet infrastructure
Regional – Electronic security threats levels are on the rise globally, and the stakes are getting higher… more
Websites in 2015 and beyond — what is really important?
Regional – THERE is a common misconception among website owners that once they have a visually appealing website with details about their products or services and information on how prospects can contact or make a purchase from their business, all is well… more
TelEm Group Data and internet services restored at approximately 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group’s Technical Department has confirmed that internet and mobile data services were restored at approximately 10:00 am Tuesday morning following a second outage of service at the start of the business day… more
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
COB marks Business Week with focus on innovation and technology
Bahamas – Using a signature platform designed to expose students to the professional diversity and dynamism within the field of business, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) Mr. Leon Williams recently challenged students at The College of The Bahamas to be imaginative and resourceful in the pursuit of their dreams… more
URCA finds BTC in Breach of its Individual Operating License (IOL)
Bahamas – On March 20, 2015, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) issued its Final Determination and Order to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd. (BTC) regarding BTC’s March 22, 2014 Network Outage… more
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: The virtual existence
Barbados – I CERTAINLY AGREE with the concept of business executives in certain fields using modern communication technology to avoid travel to offices on a daily basis, and, in fact, I think this needs to be utilised more often here in Barbados, especially in the present economic environment… more
Technology key to improving business facilitation, says Inniss
Barbados – MINISTER OF INDUSTRY Donville Inniss says a greater employment and deployment of technology across the public sector will help to drive down the cost of doing business in the island… more
Guyana’s mobile marketing, news delivery get boost
Guyana – Mobile marketing and the delivery of information and entertainment in Guyana have been given another significant boost with the launching of a new mobile app called “SmartSure Guyana”… more
Business Process Outsourcing Sub-Industry To Drive Growth
Jamaica – The business process outsourcing (BPO) sub-industry has been identified as an area which will drive significant economic growth and employment generation… more
Lima to host gathering of Latin American, Caribbean Internet community
Regional – Lima will host a highly anticipated meeting of the regional Internet community from May 18 to 22… more
TELEM and SMCU meet on Suriname contractors
Sint Maarten – On March 15,2015 the group of illegal workers of Surinam whom was working for Telem left the island without being deported from the island… more
Cable & Wireless Agrees To Sell Trinidad Asset
Trinidad and Tobago – Facing regulatory hurdles in Trinidad, Cable & Wireless Communications Plc says it is willing to sell its stake in that country’s largest telecoms within the timeline laid down… more
Thursday, 26 March 2015
BTC Slammed With $1.581m Fine Over Network Outage
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was last night hit with a $1.581 million fine for last March’s network outage, the sector regulator finding it did not take action to maintain a “functioning” communications system… more
Government’s high school computer lab upgrades continue in Belmopan
Belize – In Prime Minister Barrow’s New Years Address to the people of Belize he said, “If 2014 was a year of infrastructure, 2015 will be a year of technology.” … more
Infotel’s Success a Beacon for BPO Industry
Belize – Infotel started operating in Belize in September of 2006 as a call center with only nine employees. This was a time when the industry was still new, unkown and stigmatized in the country… more
Digicel Wants to Promote Jamaica as an Investment Destination
Jamaica – Digicel is offering to promote Jamaica as an investment destination… more
400 OECS youths to benefit from animation and software development training
Regional – Four hundred young men and women in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean will be equipped to participate in the global multi-billion dollar mobile application and animation industries… more
Digicel Reportedly Downsizing In Caribbean And Central America
Regional – Digicel is reportedly downsizing in the Caribbean and Central America… more
End of the password era?
Regional – Cybersecurity breaches are now a regular headliner in today’s news cycle. Behind the headlines, lies an unfortunate truth… more
Bitt Begins Caribbean Bitcoin Expansion in Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – The United States is just now getting its first Bitcoin exchanges via Bitcoin merchant leader Coinbase… more
C&W gets green light to sell TSTT shares
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has given Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) the greenlight to go ahead and sell its 49 per cent stake in majority State-owned TSTT… more
CWU: TATT has failed Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – Contacted last night, the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) general secretary John Julien said it was the first time he was hearing of TATT’s latest decision… more
TSTT inks deal with YuppTV
Trinidad and Tobago – State-controlled telecoms company Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has inked a deal with YuppTV to deliver OTT internet television services in the country, NexTV Latam reports… more
Friday, 27 March 2015
BTC Responds to Regulator’s Findings on March 2014 Outage
Bahamas – Following their network outage on March 22nd 2014, The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) proved sensitive to their customers’ frustrations and acted quickly to apologize for service disruption and promptly awarded financial compensation to customers affected… more
IT expert urges standardized cybercrime framework
Bahamas – The Bahamas needs to adopt a standardized framework for preventing and reporting local cybercrime activity to prevent further security breaches in its financial services and healthcare industries, according to Dr. Raymond Wells, deputy director of Information Technology for the National Insurance Board (NIB)… more
URCA fines BTC $1.5M over March 2014 outage
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority has fined the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC) $1.5 million for breaching its Individual Operating License (IOL) in March 2014… more
Cops byte-ing into cyber-crime
Barbados – THE LOCAL POLICE FORCE is working with international agencies to establish a cybercrime lab on the island… more
Cyber Security requires vigilance
Barbados – Employing simple common sense and an extra dose of vigilance are key in helping to ensure that one does not become a victim of cyber crime… more
FTC approves LIME, FLOW merger; sets out conditions
Barbados – THE FAIR TRADING Commission has approved the merger of Cable and Wireless Communications Plc which trades as LIME and Columbus International Inc. which operates as FLOW in Barbados… more
Non-Profits must have an online presence
Barbados – In 2015, there is no reason why some non-profit organisations in Barbados are absent from the internet… more
Belize Telemedia Ltd. Issues Alert After Robbers Pose as Company Technicians in City
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) issued a press release late Thursday, March 26, 2015, with serious concerns of a home invasion in Belize City that was alleged to have involved two individuals who were disguised as BTL employees… more
Telemedia’s Claim on Channel 5 Struck Out
Belize – The Court of Appeal delivered a significant judgment ruling in favour of Great Belize Productions/Channel Five, Channel Overseas Investments Limited, Katalyst Developments Limited and Thames Ventures Limited along with several former directors of Belize Telemedia Limited… more
US officials in Cuba on telecoms follow-up
Cuba – A US delegation was in Cuba, following up on the reestablishment of normal telecommunications links as part of their bid to normalise relations, authorities said Wednesday… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Digicel launches its Easter Smartphone Data Promotion
Dominica – Digicel is giving the best value this Easter with the launch of its exciting ‘Easter Smartphone Data Promotion which gives customers who purchase selected 4G enabled smartphones with 500 megabytes of data an additional 500 megabytes of data for free… more
Digicel Business delivers safe and secure cloud storage solution for eCARIB
Jamaica – Digicel Business revolutionised eCarib Marketing with its cloud storage solution which offered the highest level of protection and access for its design files and improved the turnaround time on its projects… more
Government recruits CIO for e-Gov
Jamaica – THE Government has recruited the services of a top information technology executive to oversee the administration of its e-Government (e-Gov) agency… more
Jamaican animators shouldn’t migrate
Jamaica – STATE Minister of Technology Julian Robinson wants animators to set up studios rather than contribute to the brain drain… more
UPDATE: Digicel Confirms Employee Separation Plan
Jamaica – Telecoms company Digicel has confirmed that it is re-organising its business in the Caribbean and Latin America which will result in the separation of some its employees… more
CARICOM looking to Cuba to strengthen ICT sector
Regional – Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Science, Technology and Innovation Committee Professor Harold Ramkissoon is to lead a delegation to Cuba as the region seeks to strengthen its technology links with Havana… more
Facebook saga continues
Saint Kitts and Nevis – THE two individuals who received letters from former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas concerning posts on their Facebook pages, have reportedly responded… more
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Merger go-ahead
Barbados – THE CABLE AND WIRELESS Communications and Columbus merger will go ahead but not without certain demands from regulator, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC)… more
Mixed reaction to FTC’s decision
Barbados – A sad day for Barbados! … more
Gleaner Profit Improves In Challenging Media Environment
Jamaica – Like the rest of the world, Jamaica is an increasingly difficult place to be in the media business. In this environment, The Gleaner group, with the strength of its balance sheet, has remained profitable as it responds to challenges posed by rapidly changing media technologies… more
Digicel Calls On ECTEL To Clarify Status Of LIME/Flow Deal Review
Regional – Digicel is calling on the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (‘ECTEL’) to clarify the status of the regulatory approvals process in relation to the proposed merger between Cable and Wireless Communications (‘CWC’) and FLOW/Columbus Communications… more
TelEm Group internet service affected for two hours Thursday
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group’s internet service was again affected Thursday with the loss of mobile data and internet service to customers throughout St. Maarten… more
World press body calls for action by T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – The International Press Institute (IPI) has expressed concern over reports of an escalation in online harassment of journalists in Trinidad and Tobago, ahead of elections scheduled later this year… more
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Cyber crime lab on the cards
Barbados – AS technological crimes become more advanced, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Erwin Boyce, has revealed that a cyber crime lab is to be set up in this country… more
PETER WICKHAM: I ‘fraid monopolies
Barbados – IT IS DIFFICULT to see how the Fair Trading Commission’s approval of the merger of Columbus and Cable & Wireless does not represent a backward step in the ongoing effort to p.rovide best telecommunications deal for Barbadians… more
Tech entrepreneurs head for training in Jordan
Jamaica – Three local start-up technology companies have been selected to benefit from a US$90,000 ($10.3 million)-investment and a trip to Jordan-based accelerator company Oasis500… more
Image credits: filipe ferreira (flickr); The Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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