A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 November to Sunday 29 November 2015.
Monday, 23 November 2015
Business Monday: Cell phone tax soon
Barbados – GOVERNMENT has still not given up on its plans to implement its revenue raising measures from the use of cell phones as outlined earlier this year… more
ICTA comes under fire on Internet speeds
Cayman Islands – The only thing more aggravating than a slow Internet speed is paying for a high speed, but getting snail’s pace speed instead… more
Forty secondary school teachers receive training in ICT
Dominica – Forty secondary teachers from various schools on island will be professionally trained and certified at the end of a two-day Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workshop and will form a cadre to train other teachers in the effective use of ICT in classroom instruction… more
OAS partners with gov’t to train 40 IT teachers
Dominica – The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Development Cooperation Fund (DCF) is partnering with the Government of Dominica to train teachers in the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into the curriculum of schools across the country… more
Pressure on FLOW Grenada to back down on price increase
Grenada – Two of Grenada’s leading trade unionists have expressed their total disgust and annoyance with the recent notification of a rise in price for Internet Broadband from Flow… more
Flow Customers to Win Big This Christmas
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Flow has lots to offer both new and existing customers this Christmas season! … more
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
BTC introduces new HDTV service, preps for ‘war’ with Cable
Bahamas – After over a year of beta testing, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will formally launch its FLOW TV service in Bimini next month, making the island the first in the country to have what the industry calls “quad play” – broadband Internet, television, telephone and wireless services from a sole provider… more
BTC To Launch TV Service Next Month In Bimini
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company plans to offer superior television services for less the price than what is offered by Cable Bahamas, BTC CEO Leon Williams said yesterday… more
CWC VP: For now, ‘business as usual’ for BTC after sale
Bahamas – In the wake of news of the $8.5 billion sale of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) to cable magnate John Malone’s Liberty Global PLC (LG), CWC Vice President of Communications Denise Williams has assured that it’s “business as usual” for the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)… more
40 Dominicans to become Microsoft Certified Educators
Dominica – Forty (40) Information Technology secondary schools teachers across the island will soon be able to boast of being Microsoft Certified Educators… more
LIME is now FLOW
Dominica – On Monday 23rd November 2015, LIME Dominica officially became Flow Dominica… more
Digicel cuts 51 expat jobs
Jamaica – DIGICEL has confirmed the release of 51 expatriate members of its team with expectations that the positions will be taken up by locals… more
High Internet And Mobile Data Charges Hampering Business Development – Professor
Jamaica – Professor of Communications Policy and Digital Media at the University of the West Indies, Dr Hopeton Dunn has raised concerns that the high cost of Internet access and mobile data charges may be hampering the ability of Jamaicans to use the Internet for innovation driven activities… more
Limit Personal Information Online
Jamaica – State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, is again appealing to Internet and social media users to protect their personal information in cyberspace… more
Cable & Wireless launches Flow Sports network across Caribbean – the region’s first Caribbean-based HD sports network
Regional – Flow’s sports fans are the winners with the news that Cable & Wireless (C&W) launched its new sports network, Flow Sports, on Monday 23rd November… more
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
LIME Stores Close As Workers Fear Job Loses
Antigua and Barbuda – Labour Minister Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin said he is in the dark regarding what is happening at LIME, as two locations of the company’s stores were closed, yesterday… more
Cable: 3-5 Years To ‘Turn Corner’ On Florida Move
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas is targeting the “three-five year mark” for returns on its $100 million Florida investment, which has increased its contribution to total revenues by seven percentage points year-over-year… more
Dominica to establish an IT Academy
Dominica – An Information Technology academy to facilitate ongoing capacity building on a range of ICT tools is to be established here… more
NTRC donates teaching electronics to Alpha Centre
Dominica – The Alpha Centre, which caters to students who are disabled and/or challenged, is now better equipped to do so following a donation of up to date software and electronic devices… more
Teachers Learn To Incorporate ICT In The Classroom
Dominica – Students across Dominica will soon be better prepared for 21st century employment in the Eastern Caribbean when their teachers apply what they have learnt from a two-day Information Communication Technology (ICT) workshop… more
BPO/call centres to move into CSO
Jamaica – The Jamaican Government has set aside space at Central Sorting Office (CSO) – a key point of service in the country’s postal system – for business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centre operations… more
Call for responsible use of social media
Jamaica – STATE Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson, is again appealing to Internet and social media users to protect their personal information in cyberspace… more
Choosing a cable TV/internet provider
Jamaica – JAMAICANS have reaped remarkable benefits from the competitive t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s environment since 2001 and are currently witnessing the same players squaring off in the arena of internet, cable TV, landline, and cellular (collectively referred to as “broadband” services)… more
Give Local MSMEs Piece Of IT Pie
Jamaica – Immediate past president of the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS) Dean Smith is concerned that local information technology (IT) companies are not being given a fair chance to partake in the provision of IT-related services and products… more
Using Social Media To Promote Children’s Rights
Jamaica – On Thursday, November 19, the eve of Universal Children’s Day, Do Good Jamaica partnered with UNICEF Jamaica and The Gleaner to host a Twitter Chat under the theme: “Getting it Right for Jamaican Children’s Rights”… more
Mobile Broadband Enabled Globally in the 694-790 MHz Frequency Band
Regional – The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15), currently in session 2-27 November, has taken a key decision that will provide enhanced capacity for mobile broadband in the 694-790 MHz frequency band in ITU Region-1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia) and a globally harmonized solution for the implementation of the digital dividend… more
ON THE LEFT: Mergers and acquisitions in the Caribbean
Regional – GROWTH IN GLOBAL DEMAND for services, escalating costs and search for new markets give rise to both organic and inorganic expansion of outsourcing across the globe. Latin America and the Caribbean offers mergers and acquisition (M&A) opportunities in a wide range of niche capabilities across the region… more
Thursday, 26 November 2015
LIME axes almost 20 employees
Antigua and Barbuda – Almost 20 retail employees of telecommunications company, LIME, have suddenly found themselves on the breadline after they were reportedly notified that their services would no longer be required after November 30… more
BTC launches FLOW TV – the competitive option
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has increased its product offerings to four with the addition of FLOW Television to its line-up of broadband, mobile and land lines to become the country’s first quad player… more
Internet issues impacting economy
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands is losing millions of dollars in investment because of inadequate telecoms infrastructure, regulators have warned… more
Be Extraordinary!
Jamaica – Applaud It! – A week-long initiative that provides a unique opportunity for the country’s powerful leaders of industry to meet the next generation exactly where they are and guide them through a formidable dining experience, exposing them to social and dining skills – a veritable master class… more
Girls Coding Clubs To Be Established In Schools
Jamaica – Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining is moving to establish coding clubs for girls at institutions that are involved in the Tablet in Schools programme… more
OECS Authority issues communique following meeting in Dominica
Regional – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has issued a communiqué following the 62nd meeting of the OECS Authority in Roseau, Dominica, under the Chairmanship of Dr Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada from November 18 to 19, 2015… more
Cybercrime is everyone’s business
Trinidad and Tobago – Once upon a time, organisations needed physical protection for their assets. Now they face the challenge of how to protect precious information, whether it be their own or their clients… more
Real and imminent cyber security threat
Trinidad and Tobago – Along with Russian and Chinese hackers, jihadists like Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are the major perpetrators of cybercrime in the world today, says American cyber security expert Dr Darren Hayes… more
Friday, 27 November 2015
BTC to introduce “Quad Play”
Bahamas – Declaring “war” on the competition in the new era of telecommunications liberalization, Chief Execute Officer of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) Leon Williams announced on Monday that BTC is set to introduce a suite of new communication products dubbed “Quad Play” beginning with the launch of its Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service with Flow ToGo features in Bimini on December 10… more
Be Wary Of Commercial Dominance Of Media – Kay Osborne
Jamaica – Kay Osborne, former general manager of TVJ, is warning Jamaicans to be on guard against the risk of “economic colonisation” arising from recent super mergers that have radically transformed the local media landscape… more
FLOW St. Kitts & Nevis Improves Broadband Network Capacity
Saint Kitts and Nevis – FLOW to increase Internet networkcapacity tenfold. Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager at FLOW Kevin Edwards disclosed that the company plans to upgrade its off-island data links servicing both St. Kitts & Nevis… more
FLOW St. Kitts & Nevis Service Outage
Saint Kitts and Nevis – FLOW wishes to advise all of its valued customers on St. Kitts & Nevis that we are currently experiencing technical issues with our Landline and Broadband Internet service. Both mobile voice and data services are unaffected by this current outage… more
FLOW St. Kitts & Nevis Service Restored
Saint Kitts and Nevis – FLOW wishes to advise all of its valued customers on St. Kitts & Nevis that we have resolved the technical issues which were affecting our Landline and Broadband Internet service… more
FLOW St. Kitts & Nevis Service Upgrade
Saint Kitts and Nevis – FLOW is upgrading its fixed line network in the areas of New Road, Lower and Upper Monkey Hill on Friday November 27th, 2015… more
LIME appreciates customers
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Customer Appreciation Week at LIME culminated last Friday with General Manager’s Day… more
Saturday, 28 November 2015
URCA delegation meets Bahamas’ Ambassador to United Nations in Geneva
Bahamas – The Bahamas’ delegation to the World Radio Communication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) met with Bahamas Ambassador to the United Nations’ Office in Geneva H.E. Rhoda M. Jackson, as a way of introduction, for the purpose of exploring opportunities where the Permanent Mission can assist the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) in advancing its work in the International Telecommunication Union located in Geneva, Switzerland… more
CID Gets $5m IT donation from US-based Guyanese group
Guyana – Crime fighting in Guyana is about to be moved to the next level technologically through the generosity of the US-based Guyana-owned Zara Realty… more
Committee set up to review legality of radio licences
Guyana – The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has set up a special committee to review all issues relating to broadcasting licences as well as examine the validity of some licences… more
GTT opening branch stores ahead of expected faster mobile data speeds
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Saturday opened the first of several stores countrywide, ahead of much anticipated liberalisation of the telecommunications sector that would see subscribers getting faster mobile data speeds in the coming months… more
In Jamaica, a Look at Modern Media
Jamaica – The Press Association of Jamaica recently hosted a week of activities in celebration of Journalism Week… more
Sunday, 29 November 2015
Economists suggest small Bitcoin reserve
Barbados – NO MORE THAN a “relatively small” amount of digital currencies such as Bitcoin should be used if the Central Bank decides to include them in Barbados’ foreign reserves… more
GTT banks on 2016 for faster bandwidth
Guyana – Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company is in negotiations with the government for the liberalization of the sector. Once permission is granted by next year Guyana will have 3G and 4G services for faster internet browsing etc… more
GTT opens new store at Giftland Mall
Guyana – As part of its promise to ‘do more’ telecommunication provider GTT opened a new retail store at the Giftland Mall yesterday… more
Clarification
Jamaica – The story published in the Caribbean Business Report last Friday on Digicel releasing 51 expatriate members of its team and filling those positions with Jamaicans gave the impression that the individuals named in the story are among those affected… more
FLOW Fighting To Fix Faults – ‘Give Us Until Next March To Rectify All The Problems’ – Sinclair
Jamaica – One month after the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) instructed telecommunications giant FLOW to remedy a slew of problems facing its customers, Garry Sinclair, the company’s managing director, has announced that every effort is being made to comply and some improvement should already be visible… more
Cable and Wireless Communications Plc Receives GBX 65 Consensus PT from Analysts
Regional – Shares of Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) have earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the company… more
Attorney General underscores importance of intellectual property rights
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Attorney General and Minister of Communications, Honourable Vincent Byron Jr., has underscored the importance of artistes to have their creative and original works protected by the law… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Brands of the World; Wikimedia; The Eleutheran; Wikipedia
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