A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 22 August to Sunday 28 August 2016.
Monday, 22 August 2016
Technology Observations From Belize
Belize – In July, I had the opportunity to join a team of 37 people and spend a week helping the citizens in Progresso, Belize, a remote village of approximately 2,000 people… more
Telecom companies ‘happy’ for spectrum
British Virgin Islands – hile noting that he now expects telecom companies operating in the British Virgin Islands to significantly improve their service by the end of this year, minister responsible for telecommunications Mark Vanterpool said the operators are so far happy with the respective spectrums they are being assigned under delayed spectrum allocation process… more
Govt to start talks with GTT over ending monopoly
Guyana – Guyanese incumbent Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is set to begin negotiations with the government regarding the end of its monopoly on international voice and data services next month, with talks expected to be completed by the end of the year, Demerara Waves reports, citing Lance Hinds, an adviser to the Minister of Public Telecommunications… more
Marketing Strategies Today: Online PR dos and don’ts
Regional – Online PR is considered to be a significant advancement from the traditional PR concepts and practices in the quest to adapt to the new digital landscape… more
Making teachers SMARTer
Trinidad and Tobago – Dozens of teachers from across Mayaro and environs are benefiting from a refresher and feedback session on the use of SMART Board technology hosted at the Mayaro Resource Centre by energy company BP Trinidad and Tobago… more
Tuesday, 23 August 2016
LACNIC On The Move rolls into Dominican Republic, as Santo Domingo hosts internet week
Regional – Tech experts from Latin America and the Caribbean will gather in Santo Domingo this month for an important meeting of the region’s Internet community… more
Suriname Emerges Winner of CANTO CODE 2.0 Hackathon
Regional– CANTO hosted the 32nd Annual Conference & Trade Expo at the Sheraton Puerto Rico with one of its main attraction being the 2nd Annual C.O.D.E Hackathon… more
INNOVATIVE TO DOUBLE INTERNET SPEEDS AUGUST 31
United States Virgin Islands – Innovative, which was recently acquired by ATN International, will double its residential internet speeds on August 31, The Virgin Islands Consortium can confirm… more
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Mansoor says section of Telcoms Bill invasive
Antigua and Barbuda – Former Telecoms Minister Dr Edmund Mansoor has expressed concern over a section of the proposed new Telecoms Bill, accusing the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party Administration of invading people’s privacy… more
BTL and Huawei Connecting San Pedro to the World!
Belize – San Pedro is among the most dynamic and growing communities in Belize with a booming tourism and related services sector… more
Moving data management from paper to electronic
Belize – The Belize Archives and Records Service –BARS held a workshop this week titled “Moving from Paper to an Electronic Records Management System: Benefits, Challenges, Resources and Strategies”… more
DEAL SIGNED: Firms get 3 months to improve internet
British Virgin Islands – The three mobile operators in the local market are said to be elated after they individually signed contracts yesterday (August 23) to formally take over different spectrums to facilitate the provision of much faster internet and better telephone service, starting within the next three months… more
Primary schools to get new laptops
British Virgin Islands – The Ministry of Education and Culture has purchased 248 new laptops for the territory’s Information Communication Technology programme, Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn announced during the Teachers Summer Institute on Monday at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College… more
AT&T signs deal for Cuba roaming and direct interconnection
Cuba – AT&T has reached agreements for Cuba roaming and direct interconnection with Empresa De Telecomunicaciones De Cuba (ETECSA). The deal continues to enhance AT&T’s global coverage for customers – the best of any US wireless provider… more
Minority C&WJ Shareholders Press For Liberty Buyout
Jamaica – A group of shareholders has reached out to the Financial Services Commission seeking to force a buyout offer from Liberty Global for their Cable & Wireless Jamaica shares… more
Thursday, 25 August 2016
Technology alone not at fault
Barbados – THE PRIME MINISTER has now determined that technology is partially to blame for declining standards… more
‘I have no axe to grind’
British Virgin Islands – Fielding questions from BVI News Online at the end of a protracted and controversial Spectrum Award process, Chief Executive Officer at the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Guy Malone declared this week that he has no grievance with any of the telecom companies in the territory… more
Karasabai needs mobile phones for contact to the outside world
Guyana – Dear Editor, Karasabai village sits on the periphery, south of the mighty Pakaraima mountains in a remote area of the Rupununi… more
CWC stake in TSTT up for sale
Trinidad and Tobago – The two top officials at TSTT— the 51-per cent State-owned telecommunications provider—are calling on the regulators to insist that the 49 per cent minority shareholder, Cable & Wireless Communications, sell its 49 per cent stake in the local company… more
Friday, 26 August 2016
Minister: APUA to compete with major telecoms players
Antigua and Barbuda – Telecoms Minister Melford Nicholas said the time has come for Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) to compete with other major telecoms players in the country, when providing high-speed Internet broadband service… more
BTVI Breaks Ground For SMART Classroom Block
Bahamas – The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) has broken ground for a new wing on the school’s campus… more
High school seniors benefit from BPO training
Bahamas – Local High School seniors to be the first in the country to be certified in the Business Process Outsource (BPO) Industry, as the program has been welcomed into the school curriculum for the 2016/2017 school year by, the Principals Association of Grand Bahama… more
Don’t blame technology!
Barbados – The Prime Minister has now determined that technology is partially to blame for declining standards… more
Plan being sought from new owners of BVI Cable
British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) said it is interested in knowing where the new owners of BVI Cable TV intend to take the firm over the next five years… more
ADECK And CX Pay Announce New Payment Platform
Curacao – At the first of a new series of Stakeholders meetings organized on Friday, August 26th, ADECK announced its partnership with CX Pay to facilitate an e-commerce service platform for its members… more
BPO sector key in creating more efficient workforce – Holness
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said the government will be moving to create an environment where workers can make better use of their skills… more
FLOW lines damaged by vandals in St. Catherine
Jamaica – Vandals have again targeted infrastructure belonging to telecommunications company, FLOW… more
PM Eyeing BPO Sector For 300,000 Jobs
Jamaica – With seven ‘shovel-ready’ projects in the pipeline, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is optimistic that it is not impossible to see 300,000 Jamaicans employed to the thriving business process outsourcing (BPO) sector… more
Shaw Tells Ict Agency To Fix Issues With New Funds
Jamaica – The Finance Minister, Audley Shaw, says eGov Jamaica Limited should use a $171 million cash injection to make it an immediate priority to address its internal challenges so that it can help to boost productivity in Jamaica’s public sector… more
US$1.4 Million Allocated to eGov Jamaica
Jamaica – A sum of US$1.4 million has been allocated to eGov Jamaica Limited for institutional strengthening, in becoming the implementer of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions for the Government… more
Flow Salutes Caribbean Athletes and Region With Ground Breaking Coverage of the Olympic Games
Regional – “The 2016 Rio Olympic Games was a tremendous success both from the perspective of the performance of Caribbean Olympians, as well as the ground-breaking coverage that transformed how the Caribbean experienced this Olympics.” … more
Digicel Play customers complain about price increase, sticking channels
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Digicel Play cable and Internet customers have been hit with a price increase that some say they knew nothing about… more
Cybercrime Bill And Attacks On Women
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – It is important that our printed press, especially, reflects the current state of SVG under a Unity Labour Party (ULP) scheme, coordinated by ‘Dr. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves’ who loves the alias Comrade Ralph… more
Digital divide between State, private sector
Trinidad and Tobago – THE State’s ICT (information and communications technology) platform is not keeping up with the needs of the local ICT private sector… more
Number portability and WIFI for Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – MOBILE and fixed line telephone operators in Tobago will soon benefit from the provision of service provider number portability… more
TATT: More mobile competition coming
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) is moving ahead with plans to issue a third mobile licence, according to the acting CEO of the local telecommunications regulator, Cynthia Reddock-Downes… more
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Telecom Minister holding talks in China
Guyana – Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, is leading a delegation to China for talks with officials of the Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd that that constructed the US$32 million E-Government network in coastal Guyana… more
Business Access TV goes regional to air in Trinidad, Barbados
Jamaica – Wealth Magazine-owned Business Access Television has entered an agreement with Digicel Play to air its business and lifestyle-focused content in Trinidad and Barbados… more
More Space Coming For Bpo In Montego Bay
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness broke ground for an additional 63,000 square feet of office space to facilitate expansion of the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Montego Bay on Thursday… more
LAPTOP-LESS
Trinidad and Tobago – PUPILS who enter secondary school, for the first time as First Formers in the new term in September, will not be given a personal laptop as was the case when the People’s Partnership (PP) was in power… more
Sunday, 28 August 2016
BIMAP developing e-learning platform
Barbados – THE Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP) is in the process of developing an online platform to deliver a range of courses they offer… more
Parents Need Internet Help!
Jamaica – The Internet is the go-to source for many youngsters seeking information, playing games and socialising, but this also leaves them exposed to several predators who lurk online… more
PM announces seven new BPO projects
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says there are at least seven new Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) projects in the pipeline, which should significantly expand the sector and create many new jobs… more
Image credits: Mars Hill Church (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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