A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 May to Sunday 22 May 2016.
Monday, 16 May 2016
Wanted: More women in ICT
Barbados – MORE FEMALE INVOLVEMENT is needed to end the male domination in information and communication technology (ICT)… more
US Payment Processor Sues Visa, Belize Banks
Belize – In international court news, the Belize Supreme Court ruled last year that Belize Bank Limited must pay Evergreen E-Pay Solutions over $3.3 million for abruptly ending the agreement where Evergreen provided online payment services and e-commerce merchant referral program. As of April, the award had not been paid… more
Cybercrimes Up In Jamaica As Social Media Popularity Increases, Say Police
Jamaica – Head of the Cybercrimes Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Inspector Warren Williams is warning Jamaicans to be mindful of the information they post as it can be manipulated by criminal elements online… more
Sutherland Global to open technology centre in Mandeville
Jamaica – Sutherland Global, the business process outsourcing giant which began operations here last October, is planning to open a Mandeville Community Technology Centre (CTC) later this year… more
Flow offers self-help access via new interactive voice response (IVR) System
Regional – Flow has introduced an upgraded state-of-the-art interactive voice response (IVR) system that facilitates self-serve options 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, the company said… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Five ways to use Periscope for your business
Regional – Unless you have been under a rock, you have heard about Periscope. Periscope is the app that will allow you to stream and to also enjoy live broadcasting with anyone anywhere… more
Tuesday, 17 May 2016
Fresh investment likely from C&W take-over
Barbados – BARBADOS IS IN LINE for a fresh injection of investment following yesterday’s US$7.4 billion acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) by Liberty Global plc, the world’s largest cable company… more
BTL has “Record” 2015 Revenue Topping $157 Million
Belize – Belize Telemedia Ltd today announced that its preliminary earnings report for the fiscal year of April 2015 to March 2016 signaled a banner year for the company – with revenues of some $157 million, the highest on record… more
Evergreen E-Pay Solutions Inc. sues Visa and three Belize banks owned by Lord Michael Ashcroft for billions in damages
Belize – Florida-based Evergreen E-Pay Solutions charges it has incurred billions of dollars in damages in a newly filed federal lawsuit against Visa Inc., as well as three Belize banks in which UK businessman Lord Michael Ashcroft is a majority shareholder… more
Flow Study Now ‘In-Session’ – Telecommunications Firm Launches New Study Portal For Customers
Jamaica – As thousands of students across Jamaica prepare for the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics examination, telecommunications firm FLOW has opened access to its newly launched online study portal – FLOW Study… more
IT security guide for your child
Jamaica – In the past, parents were mostly concerned about their child’s physical security, teaching them age-old safety rules such as how to properly cross the street and to never take rides (or anything, for that matter) from strangers… more
John Reid’s Bio
Regional – John Reid’s entire 28 year career, apart from the year he completed his undergraduate degree, has been spent in the cable television and telecommunications industry, where he has developed a record for driving growth, leading complex integrations and introducing a culture of innovation and employee satisfaction, first in Canada, and during the past 11 years, across the Caribbean… more
Liberty Global takes over Cable and Wireless
Regional – The British-based telecommunications giant, Liberty Global (LG) says it has completed the acquisition of the British telecommunications company, Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), in a transaction worth an estimated US$7.4 billion… more
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
In dire need of Freedom of Information Act
Dominica – Dear Editor, In a recent DNO article dated May 9th, 2016, Prime Minister the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, went on the defensive by emphasizing that his government is accountable and transparent… more
Telecom chief promises cheap, fast Internet in 2 years
Dominican Republic – Dominican Telecom Institute (Indotel) executive director Alberty Canela on Tuesday promised cheap and fast Internet in two years, when the optic fiber networks will be installed in the entire country… more
Dehring Nixes ReadyTV Partnership – CWC Okay With Rival Service
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Communications Plc on Monday put to rest any speculation of an uneasy rivalry with cable start-up ReadyTV, led by former CWC executive Christopher Dehring… more
Gov’t Must Ensure Liberty-Cable & Wireless Deal Does Not Affect Competition – Paulwell
Jamaica – The Opposition Spokesman on Technology, Phillip Paulwell, says the government must ensure that the buyout of the parent company of Flow Jamaica, Cable & Wireless Communications Plc, does not affect competition in the Jamaican telecommunication market… more
Digicel Play launches ‘Catch and Catch 2′
Regional – Digicel Play, through its partnership with International Media Content Ltd (IMC) and SportsMax, is pleased to announce the launch of two new exciting entertainment channels this week, Catch and Catch 2 – jam-packed with even more great content for customers to enjoy… more
Liberty Global Completed the Acquisition of CWC For USD 5 Billion
Regional – US telecommunications company Liberty Global completed the acquisition of telco Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) from the UK for USD 5 billion… more
Reid takes helm at CWC
Regional – Now that US-owned cable operator Liberty Global has officially taken control, Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) is part of Liberty Globals Latin American and Caribbean (LiLAC) group tripling the size of that entity from US$1.2 billion revenue to US$3.6 billion…. more
Telecoms company primed for competition
Regional – The American telecommunications and television company Liberty Global has promised to tackle the competition head-on… more
UTS to give eight Catholic schools high-speed Internet
Sint Maarten – United Telecommunications Services (UTS) marked World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on Tuesday by committing to support eight Catholic schools with high-speed broadband Internet through its CaribServe Internet service… more
Thursday, 19 May 2016
Consumer advocate reacts to CWC takeover
Barbados – Consumer rights advocate Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt is hoping that the new owners of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) will do better than the “pathetic” service that CWC provided to its customers… more
Mobile penetration in Dominica drops by 34 percent
Dominica – Director of Telecommunications, Bennet Thomas, has announced a drop in mobile penetration rate in Dominica from 143 percent in 2013 to 107 percent in 2015… more
Bringing 911 Service to the Developing World With Smartphones and Motorcycles
Dominican Republic – While driving along the winding dirt roads of El Copey in the Dominican Republic, you’ve crashed headlong into a cow… more
FLOW reaches 1 million subscribers
Jamaica – Telecommunications firm FLOW has announced elaborate plans to celebrate the achievement of its one million mobile subscriber milestone… more
Flow responds to Business Observer story
Jamaica – The following is Flow Jamaica’s statement in response to yesterday’s story in the Business Observer, titled: ‘No regulatory approval yet for Liberty Global’s acquisition of CWC — Wheatley’… more
CXC to complete e-test phase in by 2018
Regional – The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced that it will be introducing electronic testing (e-testing) in January 2017 beginning with Caribbean Secondary Education Certification (CSEC) multiple choice (Paper 01) exams only… more
No Flow In FLOW
Regional – FLOW is really not flowing. In fact many are complaining that they are slowing. I sure hope that Flow has a social media manager to gather and analyze all the complaints being made about their services… more
Friday, 20 May 2016
PM Slams Predecessor On $99M BTC Deficit
Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie has again slammed the former Ingraham administration for failing to provide the $39 million needed to cover the Bahamas Telecommunication Company’s (BTC) original pension fund deficit, arguing that this had caused the shortfall to balloon to $99 million… more
THE ISSUE: Progress made but more effort needed
Barbados – Ordinary citizens use digital and social media daily in the region. But is its potential as a major benefit to business and the overall economy being fully exploited? … more
BUSINESS BYTE: Laura Smith is TecHeads Computers & Electronics first major giveaway winner
Dominica – Computers & Electronics store has bestowed upon Ms. Laura Smith from Boetica (residing in Portsmouth) a brand new LG Smart TV as the winner of the Mama’s TecHeads TV Giveaway… more
Jamaica Takes Lead in Regional Telecoms Talks, after Liberty Global Announces CWC Acquisition
Grenada – A multi billion-dollar telecommunications deal, touted as a significant growth opportunity for the Caribbean information and communication technology sector, has come under the scrutiny of the Jamaican government… more
Digicel And Huawei Technologies Successfully Test 10 Gbps Broadband In Jamaica
Jamaica – Digicel Group and Huawei Technologies have successfully showcased the real power of Jamaica’s only true fibre to the home network by deploying a technology known as XG-PON on the new fibre network which delivers speeds of up to 10,000Mbps… more
Govt grants spectrum licence to third cellphone provider
Jamaica – Government has granted a mobile spectrum licence to Symbiote Investments Limited… more
Symbiote Gets Mobile Spectrum Licence In Jamaica
Jamaica – The Cabinet has now given approval for Symbiote Investments Limited to be granted a mobile spectrum licence… more
Former energy whipping boy who has transformed CWC is gun for hire again
Regional – I feel like Mrs Merton with Debbie McGee. “So, tell me, Phil, what made you leave your job as the most vilified businessman in Britain to take up a well-paid CEO post in the Caribbean?” … more
Global Internet Content Providers Turn Attention To Caribbean Facebook, Google, Akamai Coming For CarPIF 2
Regional – Much ink has been spilt and many hands wrung over how slow and expensive the Internet is in the Caribbean. The latest snapshot from ICT Pulse, for example, is a reminder of the price paid and pain felt by those subscribing to regional service providers’ fixed Internet broadband packages… more
THE ISSUE (ON THE LEFT): Get serious about social media
Regional – When customers need help, they expect companies to offer it quickly and through multiple social media channels – but most companies aren’t set up to do that… more
THE ISSUE (ON THE RIGHT): More digital focus driving business
Regional – We’ve looked at the ebb and flow of the local/regional markets over the past year, and as reflected in our 2015 Digital Marketing Manifesto, we were able to pinpoint the core sales and marketing challenges that hampered the progress of many Caribbean brands… more
Digicel Launches ‘Free After Three’ Promotion
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Living up to its name, The Extraordinary Network, Digicel, is giving its customers a dose of excitement today… more
SLP launches mobile app
Saint Lucia – The Saint Lucia Labour Party launched its Mobile App on the Castries Market Steps on Thursday, May 19, 2016… more
CWC hangs up on TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – In announcing the completion of its acquisition of Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC), Liberty Global signaled its clear intent to fortify its regional presence in Latin America and the Caribbean… more
Saturday, 21 May 2016
TABLETS FOR 81 WEST TERRACE PRIMARY STUDENTS
Barbados – Yesterday, the Aron & Christina Foundation continued its Tablet Project at West Terrace Primary School… more
ICT Centre of Excellence at UG for August month end completion
Guyana – Work is moving apace for the establishment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre of Excellence for which a Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the Governments of Guyana and India… more
NFMU used earnings illegally to fund One Laptop, E-Government projects
Guyana – More than GYD$1 billion in licence fees paid to the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) have been illegally used to help finance the People’s Progressive Party Civic-led administration’s two flagship projects- One Laptop Per Family and E-Government, a special probe has found… more
Up to 40% lower rates to call Jamaica from abroad, announced by TelephoneJamaica.com
Jamaica – TelephoneJamaica.com encourages family and friends relationships, which should remain strong no matter the distance that may separate people as years go by… more
Ultra-Fast Internet Could Be Coming to Jamaica
Jamaica – Will Jamaica soon to be home to ultra-fast Internet? … more
An Open Letter To The Manager Of Cable T.V.
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your paper for this article… more
Trinidad to host regional digital media conference
Trinidad and Tobago – Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie will deliver the feature address at the two-day conference aimed at building awareness of intellectual property challenges facing regional broadcasters… more
Sunday, 22 May 2016
Digicel Tops Jamaica Chamber Awards
Jamaica – Telecoms giant Digicel Jamaica walked away with the big prize, Best of Chamber – Extra Large Enterprise, at the 34th annual Jamaica Chamber of Commerce awards on Thursday night… more
Scotiabank recognized for Best Digital Strategy
Regional – Scotiabank has been recognized by Retail Banker International as the Global Bank with the Best Digital Strategy for 2016… more
CARIBBEAT: Chutney queen Drupatee branches out with exclusive digital deal
Trinidad and Tobago – Internationally-renowned Trinidad-born singer Drupatee, the queen of Indo-Caribbean chutney music, is expanding her territory through an exclusive deal with Fox Fuse, the world’s largest digital music label for chutney and soca music… more
Image credit: (Mick Baker)rooster (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia; Google+
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