A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 7 March to Sunday 13 March 2016.
Monday, 7 March 2016
Mobile gaming operators charge Police harassment
Bahamas – Grand Bahama mobile gaming operators are accusing the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) of harassment… more
Belize getting $20M, nationwide 4G LTE network
Belize – Belize is set to soon be covered by a LTE network being deployed by DigiCell, a subsidiary of Belize Telemedia Limited. Both are owned and controlled by the government of Belize, with privately-owned Smart the only other mobile operator in Belize… more
Cayman mergers and acquisitions activity highest in five years
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands reached a five-year high in the number of local mergers and acquisitions in 2015… more
Dominican Republic ends 2015 with 8.79 mln mobile lines
Dominican Republic – A total of 8.79 million mobile telephone lines were in operation in the Dominican Republic at the end of December 2015, compared with 8.70 million in November, according to data published by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel)… more
Digicel Play’s Broadband Ranked Number One In Jamaica
Jamaica – Following the rollout of its all-fibre home entertainment service, Digicel Play was ranked number one in Jamaica for Internet transfer speed according to Netflix’s latest ISP Speed Index dated January 2016… more
Jamaica to launch electronic business registration system
Jamaica – The Jamaican government said Monday it would soon launch an electronic business registration system to “facilitate a hassle-free and more convenient option to transacting business.” … more
Debunking the myths about Bitcoin
Regional – THERE IS A COMMON IDEA that cash is the easiest and cheapest way to make payments. But this could not be farther from the truth… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Ten digital trends that you need to know
Regional – When it comes to the success of your online business, it is vital for you to keep up with the latest trends… more
Protecting Your Privacy From Windows 10
Regional – Microsoft expects that a billion people will be using Windows 10 by 2017. But for privacy advocates, receiving a device with Windows 10 this Christmas may be the equivalent of coal landing in your holiday stocking… more
FLOW provides advanced services for St. Lucia Jazz 2016
Saint Lucia – Flow , is once again proud Gold Sponsors of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival 2016, with an elevated level of media opportunities, to generate increased revenue and awareness for the festival… more
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
My Wet and Wild Bitcoin Weekend On Richard Branson’s Island Refuge
British Virgin Islands – A young woman waved from a red pier… more
Acquire BPO Sets Up Nearshore Delivery Center in Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic – Australian business process outsourcing company Acquire BPO has expanded into the Dominican Republic with the launch of a delivery center in Santo Domingo… more
Sinclair Promises Improved Flow For Customers
Jamaica – Gary Sinclair, managing director of communications firm FLOW, has set a July deadline for the full repatriation of its customer contact centre service to Jamaica, following yesterday’s contract signing with Advantage Communications Limited… more
Happy International Women’s Day
Regional – With five women on CANTO’s Board of Directors and eight women on CANTO’s staff of nine, CANTO truly celebrates and recognizes WOMEN everyday! … more
Moving numbers
Trinidad and Tobago – On February 16, a small moment in local telecommunications history was marked. The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) announced that local telecoms providers would sign an agreement that day to allow number portability between their services… more
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
Cable Rights Issue Hits 70% Of Target
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas was yesterday said to have raised “about 70 per cent” of its $30.817 million rights issue target, amid concerns from several large shareholders that they did not receive all offering documents… more
Computer technician denies 17 visa fraud charges
Guyana – Dhanraj Raghubir, who is alleged to be behind a massive visa fraud where he received over $1 million from persons for visa application fees, made another appearance before a city court yesterday… more
Digicel Reacts To Customer Frustration
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: In the March 5, 2016 People’s Report section of The Gleaner, customer Garfield Angus expressed frustration at not being able to receive a document outlining his payment history with Digicel in order to complete an important transaction elsewhere… more
Flow says adiós to El Salvador call centre
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Flow has signed a deal with outsourcing communications company, Advantage Communications Inc in fulfilling its promise to create roughly 400 jobs from the repatriation of its call centre service to Jamaica come July… more
‘I feel very positive’
Jamaica – NEWLY appointed Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley says he will not discontinue the policies of the previous People’s National Party Administration, but will focus on improving them while bringing new ideas to ensure that Jamaica realises growth… more
Jamaica Gets First Tele-Health Mobile App: Xpress-Health
Jamaica – Trinity Mall Medical Centre and US-based HopSync Technologies have signed an exclusive deal to allow the use of the Xpress-Health mobile app in Jamaica for the purposes of improving access, delivery and coordination of health-care services to patients… more
Liberty looking to hedge against devaluation in Flow deal
Jamaica – CEO of telecommunications company Flow, Garfield Sinclair, has disclosed that Liberty Global, recent acquirer of Cable and Wireless Communications Plc is looking to secure treasury bills in an attempt to hedge against the devaluation of the Jamaican dollar as the transaction draws to a close… more
Choosing the right web designer for your new website
Regional – One of the dilemmas facing business owners when they are ready to outsource their new website to a developer is: how do they know they are choosing the right designer/developer for the task? … more
Status of agreement with Cable & Wireless PLC. on proposed merger with Columbus Communications International
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) wishes to announce that negotiations with Cable & Wireless with respect to the proposed merger between Cable & Wireless and Columbus Communications International have ended, without the parties reaching an amicable agreement… more
Trinidad & Tobago Breaks Through Into Top Tier Of Global Services Destinations
Trinidad and Tobago – The global landscape for service delivery, whether Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) or in-house shared services is never static… more
Thursday, 10 March 2016
Digicel Barbados welcomes new board directors
Barbados – DIGICEL (BARBADOS) LIMITED has today announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors. They are former commercial director, Alex Tasker and former chief executive officer Barry O’Brien… more
Digicel ready to play
Barbados – TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Digicel is bulking up on infrastructure and key employees as it fights for more market share in Barbados… more
Not everything is free
Barbados – IT HAS BEEN an international issue for years, similar to the decades-old question of who owns the national airwaves when it comes to commercial television viewing… more
IT scholarship available at Northern Caribbean University
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Chapter of the Northern Caribbean University Alumni Association is accepting applications for the Matthew Thompson Memorial Scholarship from those who wish to pursue their tertiary education in information technology… more
YipTV Features Programming from El Salvador and Dominican Republic Aimed at Multi-Linguals in U.S.
Dominican Republic – YipTV is expanding its Spanish language line up to include premier channels from the Dominican Republic and El Salvador targeting Hispanics with roots in the Caribbean and Latin America… more
Mico Looking to Establish Smart Classrooms
Jamaica – The Mico University College is seeking to transform its campus into one that is technologically-driven in an effort to remain relevant and equip its graduates to work in modern settings across the world… more
Use of Technology Improving Public Service Operations
Jamaica – Principal Director of the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Programme (PSTMP), Wayne Robertson, says the use of technology is improving the effectiveness and efficiency of operations within public sector entities… more
C&W Business Wins 2015 Top Fortinet Partner Awards
Regional – C&W Business, part of Cable & Wireless Communications, Plc (CWC), today announces it has been named as Fortinet’s Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) of the Year 2015 and the Enhanced Technologies Partner of the Year 2015 for the Caribbean and Latin American region… more
US expert: Beware social media pitfalls
Trinidad and Tobago – SOCIAL media presents many ways for persons to unwittingly give their personal details or information about their employers to cyber-criminals set on ill-gotten gains, warned visiting Dr Darren Hayes, director of cyber- security at Pace University, New York… more
Friday, 11 March 2016
Flow Barbados launches 1 Gbps broadband service
Barbados – Flow Barbados, the local unit of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), has begun offering a 1 Gbps broadband service to all customers connected to its FTTH network, reports local daily The Broad Street Journal, citing Flow Barbados managing director Niall Sheehy… more
BTL Launches 4G AGAIN
Belize – On February 9th, 2012 the state-owned BTL announced a $20m contract signed with Ericsson for the provision of a 4G Network… more
Broadcasting Authority considering new fees for TV, radio operators
Guyana – The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) said it last week successfully hosted a session with television broadcasters to update them of new developments… more
Guyana’s state broadcaster now part of territorial defence mechanism
Guyana – Guyana’s state broadcaster- National Communications Network (NCN)- has taken the first step to begin relaying radio and television programmes across the country via satellite, a move that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said is partly linked to securing the country’s sovereignty… more
CDB Supports Kingstoon 2016
Jamaica – Recognising that the creative industries are important for regional economic diversification and employment generation, particularly for youth, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has partnered with the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica to stage KingstOOn 2016… more
FLOW moves call centre to Jamaica, promises more than 350 jobs
Jamaica – A partnership agreement has been signed between FLOW and Advantage Communications Ltd. (ADV) that sets the stage for the telecommunications company’s multi-million dollar investment to repatriate its call centre to Jamaica, and create 350-plus jobs… more
Itel-BPO Expanding In Kingston And Montego Bay As Client Base Grows
Jamaica – Yoni Epstein is investing a billion dollars, the equivalent of US$8.5 million, to expand his company itel-BPO Solutions deeper into Kingston, while also building out additional floor space at his main operating base in Montego Bay… more
Jamaica to host international animation conference
Jamaica – Jamaica will host an international animation conference and the first Afro film festival in the region this weekend… more
JHTA rolls out ‘Our Jamaica’ mobile app
Jamaica – THE Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has launched a new mobile app that will allow users to view the digital editions of ‘Our Jamaica’ a magazine produced annually aimed at showcasing the best in Jamaican culture, entertainment, hotels and cuisine… more
Cable & Wireless and telecoms regulator fail to reach agreement in merger talks
Regional – The Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) says negotiations with Cable & Wireless regarding the company’s proposed merger with Columbus Communications International have ended without the parties coming to an amicable agreement… more
Flow Says “Hello” to the Caribbean
Regional – Cable and Wireless’ residential brand, Flow, is saying “Hello” to the Caribbean… more
New report on cyber security to be released Monday
Regional – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says it will launch the cyber security Report 2016: Are We Ready in Latin America and the Caribbean next week… more
Cable and Wireless – An attempt to deprive local Shareholders of their Fair Share of Profits
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Cable & Wireless’s ownership/share in our public telecommunication system needs to be forceably, if necessary, downsized… more
Republic pushes new e-commerce solution
Trinidad and Tobago – ANTHONY Wong, General Manager, Electronic Channels and Payments Systems at Republic Bank Limited said on Wednesday at the launch of the bank’s new e-commerce solution, Republic EPay, can boost the business of local merchants in the difficult times being experienced by businesses, as the country faces recession… more
US expert: Beware social media pitfalls
Trinidad and Tobago – SOCIAL media presents many ways for persons to unwittingly give their personal details or information about their employers to cyber-criminals set on ill-gotten gains, warned visiting Dr Darren Hayes, director of cyber- security at Pace University, New York… more
Saturday, 12 March 2016
Four years later… Broadcast Authority readies to issue more radio, TV licences
Guyana – More than four years after several radio, television and cable licences were doled out under questionable circumstances to close friends of the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, there appears to be significant moves to correct the situation… more
Animators face off today
Jamaica – ANIMATORS from Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis and Martinique are among 40 filmmakers from 15 countries expected to participate at the KingstOOn International Animation Film Festival at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, today and tomorrow… more
Media Blamed For Suicides
Saint Lucia – A WARNING has been issued to the local media to tread carefully with their methods of disseminating news about tragedies and especially suicides… more
Sunday, 13 March 2016
Sportsmax set on BSSAC action
Barbados – SEEMS SPORTSMAX is still covering inter-school sports… more
Sale of GTT 20% shares…New Govt’s hands tied due to reckless sale contract – Odle
Guyana – From all indications, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL)—under Winston Brassington’s management—was in such a haste to sell Government’s share in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company that it failed terribly to formulate a proper sale agreement… more
Flow adjusts $26,000 postpaid bill to $957
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, On December 18, 2015 I visited the Lime/Flow Store located in Tropical Plaza on Constant Spring Road to convert my prepaid service to postpaid… more
Island Bet To Introduce Mobile Betting App
Jamaica – Sports betting outfit Island Bet will launch its virtual gaming and downloadable application this month amid the groundbreaking performance of its election-betting options… more
PNP Lost The Cyber War – Analysts Not Sure How The ‘Articulate Minority’ Impacted JLP’s Win
Jamaica – The political battle in the lead-up to the February 25 general election reached fever pitch on social media with facts mixed with rumours, innuendos, and dirty lies battling for prominence in cyberspace… more
Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Flow; Brands of the World; Kingstoon; The West Indian News
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