A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 30 May to Sunday 5 June 2016.
Monday, 30 May 2016
URCA floats scheme to relax regulatory grip
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has proposed to “liberalize” its authority in the electronic communications sector in an effort to promote more competitive behavior among those entities with significant market power (SMP) for mobile services… more
Cable broadcasters have to pay outstanding fees – Craig
Guyana – All cable broadcasters would have to pay outstanding spectrum fees as bad debts might determine whether they are granted licences in the future, says Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Lennox Craig… more
GTT should explain why the internet service is poor
Guyana – Dear Editor, I wish to bring to the attention to GTT the very poor and unreliable internet service that they are providing to the thousands of persons who are subscribing to the DSL service (Bronze plan – $5,000.00). Over the past five months we are being cheated, and are victims of a very weak and slow internet service which GTT claims to be “high speed.” … more
OLPF project… 5,000 laptops stolen or defective – audit
Guyana – Over 5,000 laptops costing more than $300 million from the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project were either stolen or defective, according to an investigation into the initiative which found that the OLPF fell short of its objective, was “grossly overstaffed” and the $4.3 billion spent on it could have been reduced… more
Holness: Internet access could become basic human right
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says in another 10 to 15 years, access to the Internet could be viewed globally as a basic human right… more
Marketing Strategies Today: How do Facebook videos compare to YouTube videos?
Regional – If you are a regular Facebook user, you might have noticed that there are more videos in the newsfeed than there used to be a few months ago… more
SLP creates opportunities for the digital generation
Saint Lucia – Speaking at an SLP press conference today, the Representative for Soufriere and Minister for Social Transformation, Hon. Harold Dalsan, announced one of the central themes of the next Labour Government: the development of the renewable energy, information technology and services sectors to ensure that Saint Lucia has a vibrant, robust and resilient economy…. more
Education Minister gives assurances as another recording emerges warning of attack
Trinidad and Tobago – Education officials were Monday giving students assurances that their security would not be compromised as a second voice note emerged in Trinidad and Tobago warning of an attack on secondary schools here… more
Evolution of Indian Radio Stations in Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – Indian Arrival Day is a national holiday celebrated in various nations of the Caribbean and the island country of Mauritius on different days to acknowledge the first wave of arrival of laborers from the Indian subcontinent by British colonial authorities… more
No change in T&T’s competitiveness Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – T&T’s position in the Global Competitiveness Report remains unchanged from last year at 89 out of 140 countries… more
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
BTC Sale Scandalous–Wells Says Company Sold For $1.2Billion
Bahamas – Former Free National Movement (FNM) Cabinet Minister Tennyson Wells yesterday said that former owners of Bahamas Telecommunications Company ( BTC), Cable and Wireless, sold the company for eight times more than it had bought the company for… more
CIMA to review firms’ cybersecurity plans
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority plans to begin reviewing the cybersecurity plans for banks, financial services companies and its other licensees, according to a notice issued recently by the regulator… more
KeyTech and CellOne complete merger
Cayman Islands – The Bermuda-based parent company of Logic, KeyTech Ltd., and CellOne, a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. have completed the merger of their business operations… more
Over 40 percent of internet users in Jamaica watch at least half of all video online
Jamaica – Ericsson ConsumerLab has published insights from a study called “Networked Consumption,” exploring how the increasing use of the internet and mobile apps is changing user behaviour… more
Vizor Software Regulatory Technology Selected by Bank of Jamaica
Jamaica – Today, Vizor Ltd. announced its financial regulatory technology will be implemented at the Bank of Jamaica where it will be used to consolidate, enhance and support the Central Bank’s Supervisory, Regulatory and Financial Stability oversight responsibilities and monetary policy mandates, whilst improving the data collection methods and enhancing the reporting, analysis and data dissemination processes within the Bank… more
Flow’s advanced video services to be rebranded Horizon
Regional – Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has announced that the Advanced Video Services (AVS) it offers across the Caribbean will now be called Horizon from Flow… more
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
BTC privatization has not yielded competition as expected
Bahamas – Chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) Gowon Bowe said greater liberalization in various sectors would ultimately result in better services and prices for consumers… more
INITIATIVES FOR GROWTH
Barbados – THE creation of Smart Cyber City at Warrens, the introduction of a New Investment Act, and rehabilitation of the Scotland District, have been identified among initiatives that can boost economic growth in Barbados… more
Cayman joins fight against online child porn
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands has joined a global initiative to help stamp out child pornography on the Internet… more
E-governance project…Ramotar refunds Dax $7M unknown to Technical Advisor
Guyana – While auditors have credited poor management and lack of relevant project outlines as the main reasons for the sad state of the $7.9B E-Governance project, Fazil Mohamed of Dax Engineering blamed errant contractors… more
GTT’s “Free Basic 4G Services” to help stimulate demand for mobile data
Guyana – In a move aimed at triggering increased demand for data services and compensating for an expected decline in revenues from regular telephone calls, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Wednesday launched free 4G access to more than 20 information-based websites… more
OLPF was plagued by broken financial system – Forensic audit
Guyana – A forensic audit into the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project has brought a number of worrying findings to the forefront, especially with regards to the financial systems for the project… more
Telecommunications Agency to be established
Guyana – The Telecommunications Bill No. 15 of 2016 when passed in the National Assembly will see the establishment of a Telecommunications Agency. The Bill was presented to the National Assembly on May 24, 2016 by Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes… more
Cable & Wireless Jamaica Posts First Annual Profit In Nine Years – EBITDA Margin Hits Dividend Trigger Set By Sinclair In 2013
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ), under the helm of Garfield Sinclair, made a net profit of $1.16 billion for the year ending March 2016, its first positive annual results in nearly a decade… more
CARICOM investigates CWC’s acquisition of Columbus International Inc
Regional – The Suriname-based Caribbean Community (Caricom) Competition Commission (CCC) says it has launched an investigation into the multibillion-dollar acquisition of Columbus International Inc (Columbus) by the British telecommunication giant, Cable and Wireless Pls (CWC)… more
Digicel benefits from sun2com solar energy solution
Regional – Steady developments of new technologies as well as an increasing need of staying online and connected on an international level require reliable internet and mobile phone connections – even in the most remote locations… more
Digicel’s growth dented by foreign exchange volatility – FITCH
Regional – Growth at Digicel, the mobile phone operator owned by Denis O’Brien, has been dented by foreign exchange volatility, which may weaken the company’s ability to pay its debts… more
Fitch gives Digicel a ‘B’
Regional – Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ratings of Digicel Group Ltd (DGL) and its subsidiaries Digicel Limited (DL) and Digicel International Finance Ltd (DIFL), collectively referred to as ‘Digicel’, as B or stable… more
Flow rolls out Horizon brand
Regional – Flow has announced the rebranding of its cutting-edge Advanced Video Services (AVS) to Horizon from Flow… more
Flow’s TV Services Reach New Heights
Regional – Revolution has a new name, as Flow announced today the rebranding of its cutting-edge Advanced Video Services (AVS) to Horizon from Flow… more
SSU to get gift of computers
Saint Lucia – A donation of computers to the Vieux Fort Branch of the Special Services Unit (SSU) is expected to significantly impact the work of the law enforcement personnel… more
Thursday, 2 June 2016
Cable Bahamas wins second mobile licence
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has been awarded a second mobile licence, lasting 15 years, by the Bahamian government… more
PUC inspires Innovation through Raspberry Pi
Belize – The first ever Raspberry Pi Jam, organized by the Public Utilities Commission, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, concluded with great success as high schoolers from all across the country embraced computer science and innovation on a scale that has never happened before… more
Social Media as a Malady
Belize – Different social media such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Tumblr are each known to connect people in some creative form. However, the problem that arises with social media is the inability for individuals to disengage themselves from it, which in turn simply forms it into a detestable malady… more
Gov’t now using website to help stop sex images
British Virgin Islands – The government in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) created on its website since yesterday, a portal for residents to report online images and videos of child sexual abuse… more
ICTA inquiry leads to replacement of C&W CEO
Cayman Islands – The Information and Communications Technology Authority (ICTA) has divulged that former Cable & Wireless (Cayman Islands) Ltd (C&W) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Warren Harding was recently replaced… more
Government, GTT announces free access to basic 4G services
Guyana – GTT and the Government of Guyana yesterday held a press conference in GTT’s Fogarty’s outlet to launch GTT’s “Free Basic 4G Services”… more
GTT launches free 4G to 20 educational, news sites for its subscribers
Guyana – GTT yesterday launched free 4G for its subscribers to over 20 educational and news sites and social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp… more
Caricel preparing to bring 4G LTE service to Jamaica
Jamaica – Leading global provider of network infrastructure software solutions for communications, Alepo, has announced a partnership to support plans by new mobile spectrum company, Caricel, to bring 4G LTE service to Jamaica… more
PitchIT Caribbean Challenge for Montego Bay Convention Centre
Jamaica – PitchIT Caribbean will host the region’s largest technology entrepreneurship competition scheduled for the Montego Bay Convention Centre starting tomorrow… more
Zanj Radio: Jamaica’s Online Music Station With a Social Message
Jamaica – “One good thing about music…when it hits, you feel no pain.” … more
Region urged to address cyber-security and information security issues
Regional – Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie says the region needs to address issues related to cyber-security and information security to build confidence in investors and citizens… more
Moving into the future with ICT
Trinidad and Tobago – The development of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector constitutes an integral part of the mandate of the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) which is to enhance industrial capability and competitiveness, both locally and regionally, by providing a range of technical and technology-based support services to a plethora of organizations… more
blink | bmobile salutes excellence in media
Trinidad and Tobago – The T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA), in collaboration with blink | bmobile, hosted its 12th annual Dinner and Awards for Media Excellence recently at the Jaffa at the Oval restaurant in Port-of-Spain… more
RBC ‘marrying technology with customer convenience’
Trinidad and Tobago – The RBC Royal Bank Trinidad and Tobago Limited has scored another first in digital banking. For the first time in the country, RBC Business and Personal Banking clients can use their Android tablets and mobile devices to conduct transactions online, including paying bills and moving money between their accounts… more
T&T to use US help in tracking voice notes
Trinidad and Tobago – Police are investigating the origin of the voice notes circulating, warning of threats to schools yesterday as well as threats to bomb malls over last weekend and if need be will be using the assistance of the United States in tracking the criminal/s responsible for the voice notes… more
Friday, 3 June 2016
YUH GAWH BE KIDDIN’: Gi de cellphone li’l rest
Barbados – TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED the way we keep in touch with each other on a daily basis, whether we are countries apart or next to each other… more
BUSINESS BYTE: TecHeads Computers & Electronics Launches Website
Dominica – TecHeads Computers & Electronics recently launched its website offering an exceptional, quick and easy online shopping experience… more
GNBA ignites plan to nullify existing broadcast licences – Chairman
Guyana – The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has finally set in motion a plan that will see all broadcasters having to reapply for licences to operate… more
GT&T Guyana to offer free access to Facebook, WhatsApp
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has teamed up with Facebook to launch a “Free Basics” platform designed to reduce the digital divide in the country by giving users free 4G access to Facebook and WhatsApp… more
No 4G LTE concession in Haiti
Haiti – In a note, of the Directorate of the Executive Body of the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) signed by its Director General, Jean Marie Altema “Informs the general public, users of mobile telephony services in particular as well as telecommunications services operator, that the Haitian State, to date has not granted to anyone a concession for the operation and marketing of mobile phone service 4G LTE… more
US company to assist Caricel in 4G LTE launch
Jamaica – New Mobile phone company Caricel has selected U.S. based telecom company, Alepo, to help it launch 4-G L.T.E. broadband services across the island… more
Liberty Global facing challenges to its acquisition C&W
Regional – The Seychelles’ government has announced that it is putting conditions on the acquisition of Cable & Wireless by Liberty Global to protect local customers… more
SLASPA seaports to implement streamlined automated operations
Saint Lucia – The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) has announced that within the next few weeks it will be implementing an innovative, automated system for processing, tallying, reconciling and releasing cargo at the Castries Seaport… more
TelEm, Indigo sign accord for fibre optic technology to homes
Sint Maarten – TelEm Fibre and Indigo Green Development signed an agreement on Thursday, for the phone company to install state-of-the-art fibre optic technology to luxury Green Homes in Indigo Bay… more
Hindu- and Indian-formatted music radio stations in Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago – Did you know, there are are 39 registered local FM radio stations in Trinidad and Tobago? … more
Minister: Cyber security attracts investors
Trinidad and Tobago – MINISTER of Public Administration Maxie Cuffie has vowed that TT will become the financial hub of the region, but said that firstly, cyber-security must ensure the integrity of financial transactions and so protect investors, as he addressed an international workshop at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s. Such measures will boost investor confidence, he explained… more
Saturday, 4 June 2016
Cuba to expand internet access in public areas, private businesses
Cuba – Cuba seeks to expand internet access throughout the island, particularly with public Wi-Fi spots and selected private businesses… more
Sunday, 5 June 2016
Directory.gy wins PitchIT Caribbean Challenge in Jamaica
Guyana – If the launch of Directory.gy last month was not exciting enough, local IT solutions company Intellect Storm (IS) is now one of five winners of the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge, which wrapped up on yesterday in Montego Bay, Jamaica… more
J’can mobile app developers among PitchIT winners
Jamaica – Jamaica mobile app developers, Same Logic and Bookfusion, were two of five winners at the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project’s (CMIP) PitchIT Caribbean tech-entrepreneurship competition, which ended yesterday… more
Image credits: filipe ferreira (flickr); Wikipedia; Facebook; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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