A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 21 March to Sunday 27 March 2016.
Monday, 21 March 2016
BTC retiree looks forward to new phase of life/career
Bahamas – A 40-plus year career with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company, (BTC) came to a close for Elias Major last Friday when management and colleagues gave him a rousing send-off party… more
Illegally issued radio, TV, cable licences…Govt. must have clear agenda on tackling corruption under PPP – Dr. Hinds
Guyana – The recent support by certain Government officials for the revocation of radio, television and cable licences arbitrarily granted under the Jagdeo regime, is a positive development in the direction of justice and fairness, said University Professor, Dr. David Hinds… more
Digicel Springs ‘S7 Surprise’
Jamaica – Soca’s power couple, Fayon Lyons and Bunji Garlin, were happy to be the first in the Caribbean to be presented with the all-new, sleek Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone by Digicel… more
C&W Business To Offer Cisco Collaboration As A Service Over Its MPLS Networks
Regional – C&W Business, a division of Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (CWC), today announces that it will offer Cisco® Unified Communications as a Service over its multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network to its customers across the Caribbean and Latin American region… more
Marketing Strategies Today: How to make money with webinars
Regional – Webinar platforms are quite useful in any kind of business, be it big, small or medium… more
Digicel announces new CEO in St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Sean Latty was recently appointed as the new CEO for Digicel St. Kitts and Nevis as part of its efforts to deliver an even better experience for customers across the business, it was announced today… more
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Technology: Edging out the competition
Jamaica – Samsung has released its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge with big focus on the phones’ improved camera capabilities… more
Digicel signs new deal with NBCUniversal
Regional – Digicel Play Tuesday announced that it recently signed a major content deal with NBCUniversal International Distribution enabling Digicel Play to provide its customers with even more of everything they want – premium content through the most attractive home entertainment system in the region… more
FLOW/LIME Merger Still Unsettled but ECTEL Says: NAME CHANGE NOT ILLEGAL
Regional – Yesterday’s change of brand name from ‘LIME’ to ‘FLOW’ on handsets connected to the LIME network is not an illegal act. However, with the merger between the two is not yet complete as negotiations the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Company (ECTEL) have reached a stalemate… more
Smart TV, tablets & cash to be won from Digicel Play!
Saint Kitts and Nevis – With less than two weeks remaining in the month of March, Cable television and Broadband subscribers of Digicel Play in Nevis (formerly Caribbean Cable Communications Network) are grabbing at the opportunity to win a sleek 40” Samsung Flat Screen television, Tablets and $1000 cash in its March Madness Promotion… more
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Telecommunications minister points a finger at ABS employees
Antigua and Barbuda – Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Information Technology Melford Nicholas has accused staff at state -owned ABS Radio & Television of campaigning against governmental changes at the organisation… more
Internet access for Belizeans is a priority
Belize – Internet access continues to be a priority for all Belizeans, considering the tremendous technological advances that have been sweeping across the World… more
Is B.T.L. Actually BPL – Barrow Pinata Limited?
Belize – Musa also turned up the heat on Belize Telemedia Limited, nationalized by the government in 2009… more
Smart Launches The First 4G LTE Network In Belize
Belize – We are happy to officially launch our 4G LTE Network starting with the first phase in Belize City earlier today. Both our showrooms on the Philip Goldson Highway and our downtown showroom on Albert Street are now offering LTE-capable phones and new and affordable Zoom + LTE packages… more
Business email scammers target Cayman
Cayman Islands – There has been an increase in wire transfer frauds by email against Cayman Islands businesses and government entities, the new Cybersecurity Incident Response Team, CIRT-KY, has warned… more
Cyber wire transfer fraud alert issued
Cayman Islands – Cayman’s CIRT-KY (Cybersecurity Incident Response Team) issued a public cybersecurity alert in response to an increase in wire transfer fraud by email against Cayman Islands businesses and government entities… more
Digicel Group acquires TRES Networks in Curacao
Curaçao – Digicel today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire TRES Networks in Curacao, for an undisclosed sum, pending Government approval… more
Selorm Adadevoh appointed new CEO of Digicel Haiti
Haiti – Tuesday, March 22, Digicel announced that Selorm Adadevoh, Chief Operations Officer in Haiti, was appointed CEO of Digicel Haiti… more
FLOW Jamaica To Dole Out $3b Pension Surplus
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ), which trades as FLOW, will pay out nearly $3 billion as pension surplus to be divided equally between members of the superannuation fund and the company… more
Caribbean Nations Sign off on Cyber Crime Action Plan
Regional – Caribbean countries have sign off on a plan of action to strengthen regional co-operation and help governments address cyber security vulnerabilities… more
Digicel releases latest version of ‘My Digicel’
Regional – Digicel today announced the release of the latest version (v5.34) of its ‘My Digicel’ app for Android smartphones, an interactive and user-friendly tool that allows customers to manage their overall mobile experience… more
Digicel Play to offer Bravo Network
Regional – Digicel Play will be offering Bravo to customers across the Caribbean in HD, it was announced today… more
Competition authority law to be ready in April
Sint Maarten – The draft competition law, which will include steps for consumer protection, is slated for completion in April and will begin the rounds in the various advisory bodies before ending up on the floor of Parliament… more
Thursday, 24 March 2016
“One ring” cell phone scam – beware, Belizeans!
Belize – Smart and Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) have issued alerts, warning customers not to be duped by calls coming from a foreign number with the +8-818 prefix… more
Ruling imminent in multi-million-dollar arbitration dispute over BTL nationalization
Belize – Amandala has been informed by a member of the Government of Belize’s legal team that a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), based in The Hague, Netherlands, could come any time now, in the litigation between Dunkeld International Investment Limited of the Turks and Caicos and the Government of Belize, following the challenge made by the Ashcroft group to the 2009 nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) by the Government of Belize… more
Digicel announces free Easter roaming pass, smartphone deals
British Virgin Islands – Digicel, the BVI’s leading provider of best value roaming, has today announced that its prepaid customers can enjoy a free seven-day Roam Like You’re Home pass… more
Minister blasts telecoms regulator, defends CCT
British Virgin Islands – Minister responsible for the telecoms industry Mark Vanterpool yesterday launched a public broadside against the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), warning that the government will not allow the Commission to overlook the locally owned CCT Global Communications in relation to the allocation of the 700 MHz spectrum, which is necessary to facilitate much faster internet through what is commonly known as 4G LTE… more
Dominicans create events mobile app
Dominica – Two young Dominicans are aiming to innovate the event advertising industry and create an opportunity for others… more
Corporate Hands: IGT Donates Computer Lab To Mustard Seed Homes
Jamaica – International Game Technology (IGT), PLC through its After School Advantage programme, has donated eight computers and one printer to the Mustard Seed Community’s Mary’s Child and St Anthony’s homes that provide support for vulnerable pregnant teenagers… more
Guardsman Alarms Rolls Out Nexedge Digital Technology
Jamaica – Guardsman Alarms Limited has introduced the NEXEDGE range of advanced digital radios using the NXDN protocol with the necessary features, capabilities, and performance to satisfy all the requirements of their clients… more
More competition coming in cable TV industry
Jamaica – Competition in Jamaica’s cable TV industry is about to heat up as businessman Chris Dehring has received an all island cable TV licence for his recently formed Digital Interactive Services… more
No Ban On Streaming In Schools, Gov’t Launches New Intiative To Reform High School
Jamaica – Although launching a new initiative – Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE) geared at serving the needs of all students in high school, the education ministry says that it is not ready to implement a policy banning streaming in schools, which could undermine the new approach… more
Boka Group hails the newly announced Commonwealth and Caribbean states joint action plan to tackle cybercrime
Regional – Boka Group has hailed thenewly announced Commonwealth and Caribbean states joint action plan to tackle escalating cybercrime, following a three-day workshop in Saint Lucia organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security and was attended by ministers, attorneys-general, ICT and telecommunications officials and international experts, Interpol, FBI and the Council of Europe… more
Cable and Wireless Business supports CTU Telecommunications Conference
Regional – C&W Business, the business-to-business unit of Cable & Wireless Communications partnered with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and the Government of St Lucia for the hosting of a telecommunications conference last week… more
CCTV cameras in schools
Trinidad and Tobago – CLOSED-CIRCUIT Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in some “high-risk schools”, says Chief Education Officer in the Education Ministry, Harrilal Seecharan, to monitor for incidents of violence and indiscipline … more
Friday, 25 March 2016
Communication Workers beat TSTT ‘bobolees’
Trinidad and Tobago – THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) yesterday beat ‘bobolees’, representing two executives of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), in their annual Holy Thursday exercise… more
Fire destroys TSTT cables in Macoya facility
Trinidad and Tobago – A FIRE at a Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) facility in Macoya destroyed cable valued thousands of dollars yesterday… more
TSTT cable yard up in flames
Trinidad and Tobago – While an official cause of the flame has not yet been ascertained, Newsday was told that at about 4.45 pm yesterday a bush fire which ignited a bamboo patch on Gladioli Road, Macoya spread to the compound located nearby… more
Saturday, 26 March 2016
Tighter Security Coming For Tablets In Schools
Jamaica – The Ministry of Energy, Science, and Technology is working to strengthen the security of the Tablets in Schools programme before the next phase is rolled out… more
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Digicel Reports Positive Feedback
Barbados – BARBADIANS have responded extremely favourably to the Digicel Play, a new initiative the company launched recently… more
City Council implements software to enhance services
Guyana – The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is rolling out its tax and revenue generating software programme that will assist the entity in making payments more accessible to all… more
New software to enable rate payments online – City Hall
Guyana – Citizens of Georgetown will soon be able to pay their rates online when the Mayor and City Council launches its new Revenue Collection and Financial Management System (RCFMS)… more
Dehring To Launch New Cable Company Next Year
Jamaica – A new privately owned Jamaican cable company, Digital Interactive Services Limited (DISL), says it expects to roll out operations islandwide by the first quarter of 2017… more
Flow To Increase Some International Mobile Calls Rates
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as Flow, will be adjusting international rates for mobile calls for many countries outside of the diaspora, effective May 23, in an effect to cover currency movements… more
Four men arrested for stealing fibre optic cable
Jamaica – Detectives assigned to the Spanish Town Police arrested four men for allegedly stealing fibre optic cables in Spanish Town, St Catherine early Sunday, March 27… more
Gov’t Making It Easier to Do Business in Jamaica
Jamaica – A key component of plans to grow Jamaica’s economy involves strengthening Ministries, Departments and Agencies to administer the nation’s business in the most efficient and effective manner… more
NetLink makes amends
Jamaica – Dear Claudienne, I need your help in regard to a cash refund due to me from NetLink Communications Co Ltd… more
Teacher in midst of explicit cyber images mixup
Jamaica – A teacher from a secondary school in Portmore, St Catherine, has found herself in the midst of an embarrassing maelstrom after explicit images of her were posted on social media last week… more
Image credits: Dennis Skley (flickr); ECTEL; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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