A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 30 November to Sunday 6 December 2015.
Monday, 30 November 2015
Cable Bahamas preference shares listed on BISX
Bahamas – The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) has announced that Cable Bahamas Ltd. (CAB) has successfully completed the process for two preference shares to be listed on the exchange. The two securities will now trade through the exchange’s trading system, the Bahamas Automated Trading System (BATS)… more
No preferential treatment – LIME touts TV service
British Virgin Islands – LIME BVI is forging ahead with plans to introduce its Flow Television service in the British Virgin Islands next year, adding that it does not think any local or international company in the telecoms market should receive any preferential treatment… more
Two workers leaving LIME; new boss plans to hire
British Virgin Islands – At least two persons employed to LIME BVI are doing their last day on the job today as the company continues to restructure, but the firm’s new Country Manager Tim Ringsdore stated that those earlier employee separations were done before he assumed duties, adding that he does not currently have any intention to send workers home… more
It Takes Two: Flowing To Success
Jamaica – They say it takes two to tango, but in the corporate world, sometimes, it takes two to effectively get the job done… more
Chairman Of ECTEL Concerned About Cable And Wireless And Columbus Communications Merger
Regional – Attorney General and Minister of Communications, Honourable Vincent Byron Jr. said the Government is concerned about the effects the merger between telecommunications company Cable and Wireless and Columbus Communications to form FLOW will have on the telecommunications market in St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Eastern Caribbean… more
Marketing Strategies Today: What makes a great infographic?
Regional – Information is very powerful but for the most part it is bland and not very stimulating… more
St Kitts gov’t concerned about telecoms market
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Attorney General and Minister of Communications, Vincent Byron Jr says the Government is concerned about the effects the merger between telecommunications company Cable and Wireless and Columbus Communications will have on the telecommunications market here and the wider Eastern Caribbean… more
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Politicole: Health Questions Over Mobile Liberalisation
Bahamas – We’ve been using mobile phones in The Bahamas for almost 15 years, at least since the time I returned from college and was on my second job in 2000-01… more
New telecoms boss claims industry prices are fair
British Virgin Islands – The new boss at LIME BVI has declared that, based on his early examination of the local telecoms market, the prices of the services being provided are relatively fair… more
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
LIME workers to stay on the job for now
Antigua and Barbuda – The 13 LIME workers who were to be sent home as of November 30, will remain on the job for the time being… more
Digicel marks anniversary with big sale
British Virgin Islands – Digicel celebrated its seventh anniversary at the end of November with its biggest ever Black Friday sale… more
Tasty technology
British Virgin Islands – About three years ago, Virgin Islands resident Jhon Samuel was sitting in a Chicago hotel room when hunger pangs started to strike… more
ICT Centre of Excellence nearing completion
Dominica – Minister for Information, Science, Telecommunications and Technology Kelver Darroux has announced that the Centre of Excellence and Innovation for ICT, which is being housed in the old wing of the Dominica State College (DSC), is nearing completion… more
Technicians/Engineers Trained To Build Better And Stronger
Dominica – A training workshop began on Tuesday December 1st to increase the capacity of 22 technicians and engineers in the use of survey equipment and software… more
Grenada: Cable & Wireless workers restive
Grenada – Workers at Cable & Wireless Grenada are on strike alert… more
GTT, Digicel at odds over use of ‘Money Mobile’ app
Guyana – GTT and Digicel are at odds with each other over a mobile phone app that allows customers to pay their bills… more
Jamaica Gives Up Its Postal Service Headquarters For BPO Firms
Jamaica – The Jamaican government is relocating its postal service employees in the capital of Kingston in order to free up office space for foreign BPO firms looking to expand operations in the country… more
Lottery scammers charged in St Elizabeth
Jamaica – The St Elizabeth police on Sunday, November 29 charged two people for lottery scamming… more
Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) Price Target Increased to GBX 62 by Analysts at Nomura
Regional – Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) had its price target hosited by Nomura from GBX 58 ($0.87) to GBX 62 ($0.93) in a research note released on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the stock… more
Flow changing cable, internet rates
Trinidad and Tobago – Consumers of telecommunications services are expected to see the benefit of the Government’s decision to reduce Value-Added Tax rates to 12.5 per cent from 15 per cent in January 2016… more
TSTT invests $2b in capital expenditure
Trinidad and Tobago – Majority state-owned Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) has invested more than $2 billion in capital expenditure over the last five years to ensure this country’s digital communication platform is world class… more
Thursday, 3 December 2015
FLOW preparing for cell tax
Barbados – FLOW Barbados is working to meet the January 1, 2016 implementation date for the 22 per cent value added tax on cellular phone us… more
Report: Barbados ranks high for Internet coverage
Barbados – Barbados currently ranks third in the Americas and 29th in the world in terms of its Internet coverage… more
Belize Ends Telecom And Electricity Investor Suits For $67M
Belize – The government of Belize has agreed to pay $67.5 million to local and international investors of its nationalized telecoms and electricity providers ending a long running dispute over the validity of the nationalization, with further compensation expected as additional investor claims are considered in UNCITRAL arbitration… more
BTL Attorney Confident of Victory in Swasey vs. Mek Mi Rich Case
Belize – Arguments were heard today in the case of Entrepreneur Curtis Swasey from Corozal versus Belize Telemedia and MMR Belize Limited… more
Mek Mi Rich Trial Concludes in Supreme Court
Belize – Corozal businessman Curtis Dale Swasey is accusing Belize Telemedia Limited of breaching a non disclosure agreement making it possible for the owners of Mek Mi Rich to use his idea and making themselves rich… more
Smart Goes 4G LTE in December
Belize – The first 4G LTE network will be launched in Belize on December fifteenth when Smart plans to roll out a new and innovative system countrywide… more
ICTA boss: Internet providers need to face fines for bad behavior
Cayman Islands – The head of Cayman’s telecommunications regulatory authority, Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA), said the country’s internet customers are not getting what they’re paying for… more
Customer takes umbrage at GT&T’s attitude
Guyana – Dear Editor, It is with deep rage that I write to you today about an incident with GT&T that occurred to me today (Wednesday November 2)… more
Head In The Cloud, Bodies on the Ground
Saint Lucia – WHAT do you think of other people who walk down the road while engaged in a lively phone conversation? … more
ICT technicians not paid two months
Trinidad and Tobago – FOR the past two months Information and Communication Technology (ICT) technicians on contract at the nation’s secondary school have not received their salaries — according to one disgruntled technician, up to yesterday, no answers were forthcoming from the Ministry of Education, as to when they will be paid either… more
Technology offers bright future for services sector
Trinidad and Tobago – “Ready, set, grow!” is the theme of this year’s services sector week of activities and service providers gained some insight into how they could grow their businesses at the T&T Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) awards Monday evening… more
TSTT VP: TT’s services sector critical
Trinidad and Tobago – RAKESH Goswami, Executive Vice-President, Strategic Alliance, Enterprise and Tobago Operations at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) says that with the global fall in oil prices the value of this country’s Services sector has never been more important… more
Friday, 4 December 2015
No major fallout from cell phone tax
Barbados – With a 4.5 per cent rise in Value Added Tax (VAT) on cell phone use due to take effect from January 1, 2016, local provider FLOW is not expecting any decline in business… more
Sheehy: VAT will cut revenue
Barbados – FLOW BARBADOS anticipates that the January 1 implementation of 22 per cent value added tax (VAT) on cellular phone use will impact on the company’s revenue… more
Higher speed internet on the way, says BTL
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) announced it is in the final stages of selecting a mobile network vendor to build and launch its Mobile Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network in 2016, expected to be among the fastest, most robust mobile data networks in Central America… more
SMART Launch New 4GLTE Service
Belize – Tonight there is great news for Smart customers… more
ICTA aims to ensure telecom customers aren’t given shaft
Cayman Islands – A pledge from the watchdog group that oversees Cayman’s TV and internet providers. The customer will always come first… more
Law Reform Commission calls for consumer protection law
Cayman Islands – A new report from the Law Reform Commission calls for new rules to protect consumers in the Cayman Islands… more
CARCIP Grenada to issue second call for applicants for EC$150,000 in grant funding
Dominica – Up to EC$150,000 in grant funding is available to Grenadians with businesses or business ideas, through the Caribbean Regional Communication Infrastructure Program (CARCIP)… more
Digicel Acquires Prism In A More Serious Play For Mobile Money Market
Jamaica – Telecoms provider Digicel Group has bought controlling stake in a financial-services firm that it intends to use as a platform for its entry into the mobile money market in Jamaica… more
Digicel Business launches Asset Tracking
Jamaica – – A simple and powerful tracking solution that closely monitors mobile and fixed assets; providing peace of mind by ensuring assets are safe and where they should be… more
Digicel Play targets 150,000 homes
Jamaica – Group CEO Digicel Cable and Broadband John Suranyi says there is a “mad rush on”‘ for customers signing up for its latest high definition home entertainment — Digicel Play… more
FLOW’s Christmas winner grabs $1.2 million
Jamaica – THE first set of words from 35-year-old Dwayne Haughton were “ham can eat this Christmas”, after he finished grabbing from the vault Wednesday as the first winner in Flow’s ‘Merry Up’ Christmas promotion… more
Technology firm tTech prepares December IPO
Jamaica – NINE-YEAR-OLD information technology service providers tTech Limited is seeking to raise $50.2 million with an initial public offering of 15.47 per cent of the company to the public, and a further 8.73 per cent of shares for selected applicants including employees… more
TTech Looks To Raise $50m Through IPO
Jamaica – Managed IT services company tTech aims to raise at least $50 million in an initial public offering (IPO), the first for a tech firm on the junior exchange, which opens in less than two weeks… more
Cable and Wireless Communications Plc’s (CWC) “Sell” Rating Reaffirmed at AlphaValue
Regional – AlphaValue restated their sell rating on shares of Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (LON:CWC) in a research note released on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. AlphaValue currently has a GBX 67 ($1.01) price objective on the stock… more
Changing The Game: Cable & Wireless Launches Flow Sports Network Across The 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… more
Government ICT Division Gets Final Boost
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The final signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and the handing over of a cheque in the amount of US $39,000.00 in relation to the ICT Technical Cooperation Project, took place Friday, November 27, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs… more
Saturday, 5 December 2015
Barbados Advocate Remains Offline After Hacking
Barbados – The web version of Barbados’ oldest running daily continues to be offline after a mid morning hack on 3rd December… more
Testimonies conclude in Mek Mi Rich trial
Belize – Almost one year after he first filed his lawsuit, Curtis Dale Swasey, a Corozal businessman, had his day in court when he took the witness stand to testify in the claim that he brought against Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and Mek Mi Rich (MMR) Belize Limited, alleging that the two companies stole his idea for lottery by text messaging, using BTL’s network… more
Digicel unveils Christmas promotions
Dominica – Customers and potential customers of telecommunications company, Digicel, have been told, that there are great prizes to be won this Christmas season… more
Symposium ponders greater use of ICT in education
Guyana – The National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) hosted a two-day symposium for stakeholders to lay the foundation for the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) “as a key driver in re-tooling the education system.” … more
That Wretched LinkedIn
Saint Lucia – The Editor: So, I joined LinkedIn a few days ago. Have never ever wanted to, never had the remotest interest in such a line-up. .. more
Sunday, 6 December 2015
First Lady’s ICT Programme produces 27 graduates
Guyana – The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Programme which was started in September by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger saw twenty-seven Buxton residents graduate from the programme… more
Digicel sees a profit in Prism
Jamaica – DIGICEL, Denis O’Brien’s Caribbean mobile phone company, has taken a majority stake in a mobile payments and financial transactions company headquartered in Barbados… more
Profiting from social media
Trinidad and Tobago – When Paula Drakes created a YouTube channel three years ago and started posting videos about how to crochet baby hats and socks, she never imagined that this would one day evolve into a viable business… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Flow; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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