Roundup: for the week ending 22 November 2015 | ICT Pulse – The leading technology blog in the Caribbean

A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 November to Sunday 22 November 2015.

Monday, 16 November 2015

Data breaches increase 20-fold

Bahamas – The Data Protection Commissioner says there has been a 20-fold increase in complaints to her office since she assumed the post in mid-2013, including allegations illegally-recorded conversations… more

Data commission to ‘retain neutrality’ during FOI consultative process

Bahamas – While it remains unclear when and whether the government will present a revised Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill before Parliament, key stakeholders have reaffirmed their commitment to public education and consultation efforts as the government and Data Protection Commission perform the delicate balancing act between privacy and government accountability… more

URCA CEO welcomes new role as electricity regulator

Bahamas – The decision to make the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) the independent regulator of the electricity sector has been welcomed by URCA Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Riviere-Smith… more

Barbados gets Snapchat Live Story

Barbados – Yesterday, popular social media application Snapchat announced that Barbados would be receiving its own Live Story today, a feature where the platform’s 100 million users across the world, get to see a slice of whatever country is being featured… more

Where are our priorities?

Cayman Islands – A recently released report from the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) revealed that over $1.25 million was essentially wasted on shelved projects… more

The payment of taxes online is now a reality

Haiti – Friday, Ronald Décembre, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Miradin Morlan, Director General of the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) and Reynald Eugène, Deputy Director General of the General Administraton Customs (AGD), proceeded at a press conference at the launch of the new secure website for e-governance and announced “It is now possible for taxpayers, individuals and businesses to make their final tax returns, to fulfill their tax obligations to the DGI, online, without having to physically visit an office.” … more

Government to Implement Co-Location Policy

Jamaica – The Government will shortly implement a co-location policy, aimed at facilitating increased participation by new entrants in Jamaica’s wireless telecommunications industry… more

Policy to reduce entry barriers to Ja’s wireless telecoms industry, says Paulwell

Jamaica – The Government will shortly implement a co-location policy, aimed at facilitating increased participation by new entrants in Jamaica’s wireless telecommunications industry… more

Cable and Wireless Communications Plc PT Raised to GBX 63 at Barclays (CWC)

Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) had its price target upped by analysts at Barclays from GBX 60 ($0.91) to GBX 63 ($0.96) in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat reports… more

Faster Growth and enhanced customer benefits expected from proposed Liberty Global acquisition of CWC

Regional – The Board of Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (“CWC”) today announces that it has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of CWC by Liberty Global (“the Transaction”)… more

FLOW gets a new owner

Regional – John Malone’s Liberty Global Plc has agreed to buy Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), the company which trades here as FLOW, in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at 3.5 billion pounds (US$5.3 billion), extending the US billionaire’s European cable empire deeper into Latin America and the Caribbean with an eye for more deals in the region… more

Liberty Global Announces Recommended Share Acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications

Regional – Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global”) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB, LBTYK, LILA and LILAK) and Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (“CWC”) (LSE: CWC) today announced a recommended offer (the “Offer”) by Liberty Global for all outstanding and to be issued shares of CWC… more

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Liberty’s ‘Future Plans’ For BTC Key To Gov’t

Bahamas – iberty Global’s “future plans” for the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will weigh heavily on the Government’s decision over whether to approve its arrival in this nation, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday… more

Guyana’s border regions need a radio station

Guyana – Dear Editor, Living on the Guyana borders with Brazil and Venezuela one is bombarded on the airwaves with songs and news from those countries on the radio… more

The More The Merrier With Digicel!

Guyana – Digicel kicked off its “The More the Merrier” promotion on Friday, 13th of November at the Digicel store on Melville Street with customer giveaways and a presentation to the media on the exciting elements of the Christmas promotion which runs through to December 31st… more

WikiLeaks revelations…US cable expressed skepticism of plans for national service

Guyana – US diplomatic cables in 1973 on the launch of the Guyana National Service (GNS) expressed reservations about it being sustainable… more

Services of the NATCOM better than those of the DIGICEL

Haiti – Monday, the engineer Jean-Marie Guillaume Director General of the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL), provided an update at a press conference, including on the quality of services offered by mobile operators in Haiti… more

Agreement reached on SALE OF LIME

Regional – Liberty Global PLC has agreed to buy Cable &Wireless in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $5.3 billion… more

Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (Lon:Cwc) Receives Neutral Rating From Citigroup Analysts

Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications PLC (LON:CWC) had its stock rating indicated as ‘Neutral’ in a report released by analysts at Citigroup… more

Caribbean trade unions team up to address C&W changes

Regional – Caribbean trade unions representing employees of Cable & Wireless (C&W) have responded to the challenges relating to the merger with Columbus Communications and the sale of the company to Liberty Global Plc, by teaming under the umbrella of regional trade union federation, UNI Americas… more

Easter Caribbean looking to implement MNP next year

Regional – Representatives of Dominica, Granada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are due to meet on 18 November to discuss the implementation of number portability in the area, reports Telesemana, citing Andrew Millet, technical services director of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL)… more

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

CARIBBEAN: Bahamas Geotourism Website launched

Bahamas – Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in The Bahamas now have access to over 50 million potential customers thanks to an innovative website that maximizes the country’s geotourism potential… more

Laptops Donated To Students By Deputy Prime Minister

Bahamas – DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis donated 12 laptops to the students of the San Salvador Primary School and San Salvador Central High School during a recent visit to the island… more

FTC watching Flow and BL&P

Barbados – Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) Sandra Sealy says that utility regulatory body is keeping a close eye on the developments within the telecommunications and renewable energy sectors to ensure the interest of consumers are protected… more

4th Annual GIS Expo Hosted in Belize

Belize – Across the globe, today is celebrated as World GIS Day and in Belize, following a symposium at the University of Belize last Friday; Total Business Solutions Limited hosted the fourth annual Geographic Information System Expo… more

British Virgin Islands Unveil Cyber Monday Deals to Escape the Winter and Get the Most Bang for Your Buck

British Virgin Islands – Today, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Tourist Board, recently named the 12th Best Island in the World, according to Condé Nast Traveler’s 28th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, unveiled its first ever Cyber Monday deals… more

ICCI students explore how technology impacts business

Cayman Islands – Nine students at the International College of the Cayman Islands returned recently from a week in South Florida examining how technology impacts business and society as part of their academic seminar on technology and society… more

Take Your Number Along

Grenada – Telephone subscribers in Grenada will soon be able to maintain one telephone number when moving from one network to another… more

E-Governance Unit rolls out Wi-Fi in schools

Guyana – The E-Governance Unit has begun rolling out Wi-Fi networks in schools, while hinterland and remote areas are expected to benefit from internet access by the end of the first quarter of 2016… more

Guyana government to roll out Wi-Fi programme for schools in remote areas

Guyana – Guyana government to roll out Wi-Fi programme for schools in remote areas… more

WikiLeaks…Reports of dire woes at GNCB attracted US comment in 1978 – cable

Guyana – Reports of dire problems at the Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) formed the basis of a cable on May 9th, 1978 from the US Embassy here to the State Department and missions in the Caribbean… more

Reactions of the DIGICEL to the results of tests of CONATEL

Haiti – At a press conference, Jean-Marie Guillaume, Director General of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL), announced Monday the results of a series of tests conducted Aug. 4 to 12, 2015 in the Western region, on the quality of mobile phone service… more

Data Protection Act To Be Tabled 2016/17

Jamaica – The draft Data Protection Act, which is being circulated for review and comment from key stakeholders, is expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of the next legislative year… more

Silicon Valley experts explore Jamaica’s tech entrepreneurial ecosystem

Jamaica – Wayne Sutton and Melinda Epler, two entrepreneurial experts from Silicon Valley in California, were in Jamaica on Monday to help boost the island’s progress in developing opportinities for entrepreneurs in a series of talks and meetings… more

CWC CEO: Takeover will make C’bean stronger

Regional – Chief executive of Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) Phil Bentley says the Caribbean will be stronger because of the planned acquisition of the company by Liberty Global… more

Digicel Sportsmax to broadcast Intercol

Regional – IF PRIDE and prestige isn’t reason enough for the country’s teenaged footballers, advancing to the final stages of the Secondary Schools Football League’s Intercol tournament just got an added incentive as the national final will be broadcast live to parts of North America and Europe… more

LIME share price jumps on news of CWC-Liberty Global merger

Regional – There was a 25 per cent increase in the price of LIME shares on Tuesday, following Monday’s announcement that its parent company, Cable & Wireless Communications, is to be acquired by international cable provider Liberty Global… more

LIME launches Unwrap Christmas campaign

Saint Lucia – For LIME customers eagerly awaiting the launch of LIME’s Christmas offers, the suspense is now over… more

blink | bmobile and PAVI Promote Smartphone Accessibility for the Visually Impaired

Trinidad and Tobago – Most people who have grown accustomed to the everyday use of smartphones and the internet in general, cannot fathom life without their devices… more

Govt should consider advertising in more local programmes

Trinidad and Tobago – The State should commit itself to putting a substantial share of its advertising dollars into programmes with local content… more

Huawei signs MOU with UWI

Trinidad and Tobago – Huawei general manager for T&T Jason Deng, left, and UWI St Augustine campus principal Professor Clement Sankat display the MOU… more

Union warns: Job losses with CWC/Liberty acquisition

Trinidad and Tobago – Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Joseph Remy is warning of job losses throughout the region as a result of the planned acquisition of Cable and Wireless Communication (CWC) by Liberty Global… more

Thursday, 19 November 2015

URCA has approval role of multi-billion dollar CWC merger

Bahamas – The combined business of Liberty Global’s Liberty Latin America and the Caribbean (LiLAC) group and Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) would have generated $3.5 billion in revenue in the 12-month period ending September 30 2015, according to Liberty, which is hoping its shareholders and those of CWC approve the US$8.5 billion acquisition of CWC by Liberty… more

Seminar focuses on mobile payment

Barbados – REPRESENTATIVES from local financial institutions were this morning brought up to speed on how mobile technology can be used for various transactions… more

Digicel Santa goes all in this Christmas

British Virgin Islands – Digicel has announced that it has partnered with local businesses to make this Christmas extraordinary for over 5,000 lucky residents of the Virgin Islands… more

TRC levels playing field for overseas connection

British Virgin Islands – In a major step aimed at cutting the cost of phone calls and other means of international communication, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) today announced that it is now in better position to ensure a level playing field among providers of international connectivity services… more

Former Guyana minister launches defence in face of Wikileaks defamation lawsuit

Guyana – Former Minister of Home Affairs Gail Teixeira is defending her actions in the wake of a multimillion dollar lawsuit filed by her predecessor Ronald Gajraj, following the release of incriminating US diplomatic cable by Wikileaks… more

Samsung launches US$40,000 e-learning school pilot project

Guyana – Samsung Electronics yesterday rolled out its Samsung Smart School Programme at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary school. This programme will see some 120 students benefiting from an e-learning experience in the Maths, English and Science… more

BPO Sector Says No To New Tax – Players Say Proposed CIT Could Set Back Economic Projections

Jamaica – Despite being warned of the irreparable harm that could be done, the Government appears set to table a bill to affix a 12.5 per cent corporate income tax (CIT) on the fast-growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector… more

Businessman Joe Issa Says Online Shopping in Jamaica Could Save Lives This Christmas, Urges Business Community to Help

Jamaica – As Jamaica continues to grapple with its high murder rate, which has already seen the number of murders increase by 24% in the first 10 months of 2015, with the expectation that it will peak during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, member of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Past President Advisory Committee, Joe Issa, has suggested in an interview that online shopping could keep more people at home and save lives this Christmas, urging public libraries and the business community to increase Internet access to the public… more

STEM curriculum to roll out in schools next year

Jamaica – THE incorporation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) methodologies in the curriculum of schools will be rolled out in the 2016 academic year… more

UTech Partners with Sutherland Global for Student Training and Job Placement

Jamaica – The University of Technology (UTech) has entered into a partnership with Sutherland Global Services (SGS) that will lead to training and job placement for students of the institution… more

Call For Decisive Telecoms Action

Regional – DIRECTOR General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, Dr.Didacus Jules yesterday called on governments of the subregion to move fast to strengthen their institutional capacity to act more strategically and decisively in the public interest in energy, broadband and telecommunications, food security, poverty elimination and other areas… more

Digicel ad blocker delayed

Regional – A network-level ad blocker for Digicel’s data customers has been delayed in the Cayman Islands as regulators in the region reject the program that will block Internet ads from reaching Digicel smartphones and other data plans… more

$50,000 up for grabs in Digicel’s ‘Feel the Difference’ promo

Saint Kitts and Nevis – PRINCES STREET was transformed into Excitement Street yesterday afternoon (Nov. 18) when telecommunications provider Digicel launched its ‘Feel the Difference’ Christmas promotion, where a whopping $50,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs… more

Bridging the intergeneration information gap

Trinidad and Tobago – Once, I was among the youth voices in Caribbean feminist inter-generational conversations… more

Incentives stifling entrepreneurial innovation

Trinidad and Tobago – Two panellists discussing the findings of the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report on Trinidad and Tobago, have suggested that it may be necessary to dispense with all the incentives and programmes supporting entrepreneurs if this country is to get the innovative entrepreneurs who will develop new products and lead to the diversification of the economy… more

Intellectual Property Rights & the benefits for SMEs

Trinidad and Tobago – Along with human creativity and inventiveness, intellectual property is all around us… more

TSTT pledges continued support for Ministries

Trinidad and Tobago – Permanent Secretaries are the principal accounting officers for Ministries and can play a key role in getting the most out of budgetary allocations… more

Friday, 20 November 2015

Cable Says Q3 Loss No Trend

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas yesterday said the $587,000 net loss suffered in the 2015 third quarter was unlikely to develop into a trend, as it blamed the ‘red ink’ on unanticipated delays in the mobile licence bidding process… more

Cyber bullying could become a crime — Robinson

Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson announced a short while ago that the House of Representatives has approved the amendment of the Cyber Crimes Act to make cyber bullying a crime in Jamaica… more

Digicel Making Weekly Millionaires For Christmas – More Than 42,000 Winners Of J$20 M In Cash And Prizes

Jamaica – Digicel is promising to make six customers millionaires this Christmas through its ‘Merry Millions’ promotion… more

Cable and Wireless Communications Plc Rating Reiterated by Jefferies Group (CWC)

Regional – Jefferies Group reiterated their buy rating on shares of Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) in a report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 76 ($1.16) price target on the stock… more

Cable & Wireless faces its final curtain

Regional – Liberty Global this week agreed to acquire Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) in a cash and stock transaction worth approximately US$8.2 billion… more

OECS Signs Memorandum to Advance Public Sector Innovation

Regional – The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and The Service Research and Innovation Institute (SRII) recently signed an MOU focused on catalyzing the sub-region’s efforts in the development of a innovation-based ecosystem… more

Saturday, 21 November 2015

Promoting mobile financial services

Barbados – With Barbados and most Caribbean countries struggling to experience favourable economic growth, regional governments are being told that the development of a mobile financial service system has the potential to impact positively on their Gross Domestic Product (GDP)… more

Regional media analysis company launches operations here

Guyana – Media InSite Ltd has launched its regional media monitoring company in Guyana… more

T&T selected for Huawei ICT Roadshow

Trinidad and Tobago – Over 20 live demo exhibits showcasing ICT solutions for various sectors will be presented at the Huawei Better Connected ICT Innovation Exhibition… more

Sunday, 22 November 2015

Using Internet To Expand Barbados’ Retail Sector

Barbados – There is a claim that video platforms can reach the Caribbean market sought by both Barbadian entrepreneurs and upscale corporate entities, who can tap into regional markets without denting their pockets… more

39 hinterland ICT hubs by December

Jamaica – Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has confirmed that 39 Information Communication Technology (ICT) hubs in hinterland communities will be fully equipped with computers and internet connection by next month… more

Digicel invests US $100-million in fibre technology, new services

Jamaica – Since September Digicel has been rolling out Digicel Cable and Digicel Play — the latter being a package including cable TV, fixed line and Internet services — as part of a US$100-million investment in “next-generation” fibre network… more

Mobile Ads A Valuable Tool For Marketers, Annoyance For Customers

Jamaica – Several Digicel customers can attest to receiving a plethora of text messages on their mobile phones advertising countless products and services. But while the marketing tool may be valuable to promoters, some customers seem annoyed by what increasingly feels like an intrusion… more

Women freed of assault after showing court Facebook post

Jamaica – A woman who used her cellular phone to hit her former friend in her forehead was freed of an assault charge after she showed the court a Facebook post in which the complainant vowed to have her arrested… more

Telecoms Minister Reports On 32nd ECTEL Meeting

Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) is charting a way forward as it relates to pertinent issues within the telecommunications sector… more