A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 17 August to Sunday 23 August 2015.
Monday, 17 August 2015
Experts hoping to deploy cyber security shield to reduce cyber attacks in Curacao
Curacao – In response to the more than 1,000 cyber security threats that keep tunneling their way daily into Curacao, a network of cyber security experts is expected to deploy an advance cyber shield system that promises to repel and weaken the impact of such attacks on businesses and the ordinary tech users in Curacao… more
BUSINESS BYTE: LIME announces BIG MONEY Winners
Dominica – The LIME BIG Money Every day Giveaway promotion promised customers cash winnings of $250 daily, and LIME’s customers have not been disappointed… more
Incensed At Flow Service
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I must admit that I liked it when things were getting competitive with the major telecommunications companies slashing prices and offering great deals in a bid to keep customers happy, which, in turn, boosted their profits… more
Board Changes
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications Plc today announces the following changes to its Board of Directors… more
Digital Service Vital To Survival Of Post Office
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The upcoming launch of a U.S. Mailbox Service by the General Post Office (GPO) in St. Kitts and Nevis is in keeping with a strategy to incorporate more technology-based services and expand the scope of its operations… more
No WhatsApp on Mobile Phones – St. Lucians Hit Back At Digicel
Saint Lucia – In the space of a few days, the chain reaction stemming from the protest of one Digicel customer has gained enough traction to cause a snowball effect as hundreds step up to show their support and join the protest… more
Flow supports technology camp
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow gave its support to the third annual technology Tech- Camp which continues to warm the hearts of parents by demonstrating that children can become “makers” by experiencing the use of engineering, photography, animation and much more… more
Local animator defends conflict of interest charge
Trinidad and Tobago – Local animator Camille Selvon-Abrahams has denied she used the University of T&T (UTT) software to make a milk advertisement for a company of which she is a director… more
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
BPOs and Employment in Belize
Belize – Employment in Belize has been a hot-button issue for the public and private sector… more
Digicel Haiti Relaunches Mobile Money Service As Mon Cash
Haiti – Telecom giant Digicel is relaunching their mobile money service “Tcho Tcho” under the new name “Mon Cash.” The new service, which was formed through a partnership with Scotiabank, allows Digicel customers to withdraw, transfer and deposit money from the from their mobile phones, without a bank account… more
Digicel Haiti revamps mobile money as ‘Mon Cash’
Haiti – Digicel Haiti has relaunched its mobile money service, previously known as ‘TchoTcho’, under the ‘Mon Cash’ banner, with enhanced features and a wider network of vendors and service points for its cellular transaction facilities… more
Cybercrime boss not aware of report that Facebook account of MP’s daughter being hacked
Jamaica – Cyber-Crime Unit boss Inspector Warren Williams has said that his outfit has not received a report from the daughter of Government MP and People’s National Party (PNP) Region 6 Chairman, Dr DK Duncan that her Facebook account has been hacked… more
Grenada PM wants regional media to understand its role as providers of information
Regional – The Barbados-based Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) began its 46th annual general assembly here Monday with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell urging regional media houses to fully understand their role as providers of information in the public good… more
Social media: handle with care
Trinidad and Tobago – (These helpful tips have been shared with TTUTA courtesy our colleagues at Centrale des syndicats du Quebec) shared with TTUTA courtesy our colleagues at Centrale des syndicats du Quebec) … more
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Name changed but still poor service
Barbados – EVERYONE I have spoken to has been upset by the LIME, Flow merger… more
Social media – the good and bad
Barbados – I had the opportunity last week to listen to a visiting South African scholar and public speaker. His topic was on depression and anxiety, and the fact that more people today are affected by these two maladies… more
Laptops Donated to Belize City Schools
Belize – Last month, we showed you the summer camps being held to train students and teachers at the primary and high school levels on how to better manage financial resources, plan and even open and manage a business… more
Six high schools receive laptops
Belize – Price Waterhouse Coopers has made a donation of laptops through the Ministry of Education to six different high schools in Belize. Price Waterhouse Coopers has been hosting a financial literacy camp in Belize since 2008… more
Complaint suggests LIME may be “throttling” data
Cayman Islands – An official complaint against LIME for “throttling” the data speeds of customers has been filed with the Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) by Sandra Hill and other customers of the telecommunications company… more
Govt scraps controversial cable repair deal
Guyana – Guyana’s new government has scrapped a controversial deal with a local firm for the repair and maintenance of the fibre-optic network connecting the nation to Brazil, Demerara Waves reports… more
C&W grows mobile business while cutting losses
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&W), which trades as the telecom LIME, more than halved its net loss to $303 million in the June first-quarter 2015 as its customer base and usage grew, unaudited financials indicate… more
Telecoms Out To Control Mass Media
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I would not go so far as to say the proposed RJR-Gleaner merger is good for Jamaica, as it will take time for all of the upsides and downsides of the merger to be played out… more
Digicel files for IPO on New York Stock Exchange
Regional – Digicel Group Ltd. has filed for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. The company has built a subscriber base of more than 13.6 million by island hopping through the Caribbean and South Pacific, selling mainly prepaid cellphone services… more
ECTEL investigating complaints against Digicel
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says it is aware of allegations in the media that telecommunication provider Digicel is blocking on its network calls made using voice over Internet protocols (VOIPs) such as WhatsApp… more
Roam like you’re home with Digicel
Regional – Passport, check! Airline ticket, check! Digicel phone, check! Traveling to a myriad of Caribbean destinations has become easier thanks to the Global Telecoms Business Innovation award-winning product from Digicel – “Roam Like You’re Home”… more
Thursday, 20 August 2015
Concern expressed about change in cellphone policy in schools
Barbados – The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), is currently reviewing the Education Ministry’s draft document on cellphones and other mobile technologies in nursery, primary and secondary schools… more
FLOW’s on it
Barbados – THE FLOOD OF complaints from hundreds of customers about poor service from FLOW has the attention of the managing director… more
Right back to where we started
Barbados – THEY SAY THAT the more things change, the more they remain the same. Seems that we in Barbados have very short memories… more
Cayo Welcome Center now has free Wi Fi
Belize – Free Wi Fi was activated last week at the Cayo Welcome Center in San Ignacio Town… more
Local IT professionals invited to put Curacao’s cyber security software to the test
Curacao – Facing more than a thousand verified cyber attacks daily, and totally reliant on the mercies of foreign functioning security software, an independent IT project by a group of developers seem all set to go through a spate of independent tests by locals before its beta deployment in Curacao in late September… more
We should be more conscious of cybercrime
Guyana – I am most enthused by the renewed interest which is being placed on the issue of cyber security, and moreso, the recognition of the need for relevant mechanisms to tackle the growing cyber-threats in Guyana… more
Raw Deal For Jamaican Consumers
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I notice the recent developments in the US regarding the Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger, and the situation in Jamaica with LIME and FLOW immediately comes to mind… more
15 urban innovators that improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean
Regional – These calls for startups, entrepreneurs and innovators have brought to light two points: first, that there is much talent and creativity in our region; and second, that there are still many unresolved challenges that can be addressed with new models and innovative solutions through technology, collaboration and open data… more
Flow Football App Scores Big With Caribbean Football Fans
Regional – Since the start of the Barclays Premier League (BPL) season earlier this month, Caribbean fans have been downloading the new Flow Football App to access audio streaming of matches, commentaries and other football news live and direct at their convenience… more
Express paywall hands digital audience to Guardian
Trinidad and Tobago – “Do you think the UK Guardian is going to survive?” somebody asked me last weekend and I gave them the blunt answer… more
Friday, 21 August 2015
Protocol to govern mobile device use in schools
Barbados – WHILE THE MOBILE device ban will be lifted in schools, the Ministry of Education plans to institute protocols governing their use… more
Another jail sentence for phone thief
Guyana – A convicted thief, who has an eye for popular brands of cell phones, was once again jailed – this time for two years – after he pleaded guilty to a charge of simple larceny, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts… more
Digicel Business expands fibre network to Elegant Corridor Fibre expansion to be completed by October
Jamaica – By the end of October 2015, hotels and other businesses along Montego Bay’s Elegant Corridor will be able to benefit from high speed Dedicated Internet Access, powered by underground fibre from Digicel Business… more
Spectrum allocation a major concern for regional broadcasters
Jamaica – Regional broadcasters are raising concerns about the allocation of spectrum for broadcasting by their respective governments… more
C’bean broadcasters concerned about Olympic coverage
Regional – The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) has expressed concern about the state of a deal with the CANOC Broadcasting Incorporated (CBI) for the coverage of next year’s Olympic games in Brazil… more
ECTEL investigating VOIP blocking complaints
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says it is aware of allegations in the media that telecommunication provider Digicel is blocking calls made using voice over Internet protocols (VOIPs) such as Whatsapp Calling on its network… more
Two Win Samsung Smartphones From LIME
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – “Thank you very, very much, Ms Williams. You think is now I want my daughter to have a LIME phone like me? … more
16 popular cable TV channels to get axe
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) is calling on cable television providers to remove 16 channels for which they have not acquired Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) from local channel line-ups… more
Digital Media Team addresses addition of Paywall to Express Online
Trinidad and Tobago – To our Digital Express Family, It must have certainly come as a surprise, that some of our content is only available to persons who have subscribed to our E-Paper… more
Turks and Caicos government evades debate on freedom of information
Turks and Caicos Islands – Debate on a private member’s motion calling for the introduction of a Freedom of Information Ordinance in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), submitted about a month ago by leader of the opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, was evaded by the government during a two-day sitting of the House of Assembly on Monday and Tuesday… more
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Eastern Caribbean telecoms authority investigating VOIP blocking complaints
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says it is aware of allegations in the media that regional wireless Digicel is blocking calls made using voice over internet protocol (VOIP) such as Whatsapp calling on its network… more
Ark Teleservice Responds To Dismissals
Saint Lucia – ARK Teleservice Ltd. of Bisee yesterday responded to a story in the VOICE on Thursday indicating that six of its employees had been fired without notice… more
Minister Hails ICT Fair
Saint Lucia – MINISTER for the Public Service, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Senator James Fletcher has congratulated the Caribbean Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme (CARCIP) on the success of the ICT fair recently held here… more
Cable TV hit by TATT stop order
Trinidad and Tobago – DirecTV has assured its subscribers that they have nothing to worry about following published orders by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) that Cable Television providers must stop broadcasting channels for which they do not have Intellectual Property Rights from the owners of the channels… more
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Cuba’s Low Level of Internet Use: Not a Policy of Restricting the Flow of Information
Cuba – If you want to find examples of governments restricting the flow of information on the internet for political purposes, look to the United States and its allies, and not to the low-level of internet use in Cuba, which, notwithstanding press reports to the contrary, is a consequence of Cuba’s comparatively low-level of economic development, not communist ‘totalitarianism.’ … more
BE PREPARED: Cell phones – packed with potential
Regional – IT HAS QUICKLY BECOME A TREND in the 21st century for people to be in the possession of a cell phone or other mobile device than it is for them to have a library card… more
Image credits: (Mick Baker)rooster (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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“Digital Service Vital To Survival Of Post Office” caught my attention.
In many countries The Postal service is one area of ( often public ) service that has been terribly shaken by the explosion of technology.
My opinion though is that often it is because strategy in this sector often revolves around ‘tradition’: that is, “our traditional customers”, “our traditional services”, “our traditional products” etc. Even when introducing new services, the ‘tradition’ factor is always there.
I think, what the Postal service needs is radically shift this tradition. Rather than thinking “attract more customers”, think creating a completely whole new set of customers. Rather than thinking of “our services”, think our strength: what do we have which others don’t have.
I have in mind here, the Postal service in many areas is one of the most widely-distributed including in remote areas. That’s a strength.
Kamatula, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Post offices, like many longstanding operations, can get caught In the trap of not changing and adapting their business to serve current customer needs, attitudes and behaviors.
In many instances, they choose to computerize their existing and very traditional processes and say that they are ‘using technology’. However, they are really not prepared to do the work and make the hard choices about how relevant those traditional services still are, and be prepared to make the requisite changes. Ultimately, they may be required to rebuild the business from the ground up, and that can be a bitter pill to take.