A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 28 November to Sunday 4 December 2016.
Monday, 28 November 2016
BTC Attracts 3,000 To Black Friday Sale
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) says it recorded “phenomenal” sales on its ‘Black Friday’ promotion, with more than 3,000 customers flocking to its South West Plaza store last Friday… more
Definitions of broadcasting in legislation across the globe are generally consistent with the one crafted for Guyana
Guyana – Dear Editor, I came across a misguided letter in the Stabroek News of November 24, carrying the headline ‘The erroneous definition of broadcasting has not been removed from the Telecommunications Bill’ by Tony Vieira… more
Businesses Urged To Invest In ICT To Modernise HR Functions
Jamaica – Human resources professionals from across the Commonwealth ended two days of discussions and deliberations in Kingston last Wednesday with a clearer understanding of the impact that information and communications technologies (ICT) will have on the management of human capital… more
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
BTC adds value to its mobile product and looks ahead at 5G
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has provided mobile services throughout the length and breadth of the country for almost 20 years now… more
Digicel boss: 2016 has been an extraordinary year
British Virgin Islands – Digicel celebrated its eighth anniversary with the Territory’s most awaited Black Friday sale… more
NTRC continues to contribute to development of ICT in Dominica
Dominica – The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) through the Universal Service Fund (USF) is once again contributing to the development of Information Technology on the island… more
GTT refuses to refund credit
Guyana – Dear Editor, On Wednesday, November 23, 2016, I received a message from GTT at 1.16pm saying “Due to a mobile network system upgrade, customers will be unable to buy data from 6 pm today to 8 pm… more
Take Precautions when Conducting Mobile Money Transactions
Jamaica – Persons utilising their cell phones to conduct money transactions, including banking, paying bills and purchasing goods and services, are being urged to take greater precautions… more
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Antigua gives US new deadline to end gaming dispute
Antigua and Barbuda – The Antigua and Barbuda government has given the United States until the end of the year to settle the long running dispute over internet gaming amid claims in excess of US$200 million… more
CB customers still without services
Bahamas – Nearly seven weeks after the passing of Hurricane Matthew many Cable Bahamas customers, both residential and business, say they are still without service… more
Lightbourn Doubts There Will Ever Be A Report On BTC Sale
Bahamas – MONTAGU MP Richard Lightbourn yesterday expressed doubt that the newly formed select committee to probe the controversial sale of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd will ever produce a report… more
Be Careful With Mobile Transactions – Dunn
Jamaica – Persons utilising their cell phones to conduct money transactions, including banking, paying bills and purchasing goods and services, are being urged to take greater precautions… more
CONEC selected to deliver PATH benefits on mobile platform
Jamaica – Heston Hutto, CEO of JaMobile — the Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union League (JCCUL) subsidiary which manages CONEC Mobile Wallet — indicates that the mobile money service developed by JCCUL with technology partner Mozido, has been selected by the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) to roll out a pilot delivering Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) benefits to beneficiaries across the island… more
Data Protection Act to be tabled in Parliament next year
Jamaica – The Government will be making changes to critical pieces of legislation that will enable a more robust framework in protecting personal information in cyber-space… more
Gov’t to Provide More Free Wi-Fi Hotspots
Jamaica – In a drive to facilitate greater Internet access to Jamaicans, the Government will continue to roll out free secured Wi-Fi hotspots in popular public places across the island… more
Gov’t to Strengthen Legislation to Protect Personal Information in Cyberspace
Jamaica – The Government will be making changes to critical pieces of legislation that will enable a more robust framework in protecting personal information in cyberspace… more
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Dominican Republic: Wireless growth leader
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic is one of the leading growth markets for wireless telephony in Latin America, according to a Latinvex analysis of data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)… more
Jamaica moving to protect personal info in cyberspace
Jamaica – The Government will be making changes to critical pieces of legislation that will enable a more robust framework in protecting personal information in cyberspace… more
Fixing our problem of communication
Trinidad and Tobago – The Diego Martin Public Library (DMPL)—the National Library and Information System Authority (Nalis) being its head office in Port of Spain —has been closed thus far for the year 2016… more
Huawei launches new P9 in exciting deal with bmobile
Trinidad and Tobago – Postpaid customers, who sign up for or upgrade to a bmobile ‘Postpaid Everything’ plan, as well as purchase the new Huawei P9 or Huawei P9 Lite smartphone, will enjoy great deals of bundled data and minutes, as well as vastly reduced prices on the leading-edge smartphones… more
TSTT to roll out $3.7b strategic plan
Trinidad and Tobago – REPUBLIC Bank Ltd (RBL) and majority State-owned telecoms provider Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) will today share details of a $2 billion financing package to partially fund TSTT’s $3.7 billion strategic plan to invest in new technology and infrastructure… more
The evolution of media
Trinidad and Tobago – Usually, the media bring you the news and current events. When the media becomes a news and current event, that’s another story… more
Friday, 2 December 2016
Aliv promises to answer GB mobile needs
Bahamas – Aliv will reveal its products and services to thousands of eager Grand Bahamians this morning (Friday, December 2) at 8:00 a.m. with the opening of its flagship store in the Seahorse Shopping Plaza… more
Flow to refund fuming customers – TRC called out
British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) has been challenged to put an end to the practice of some telecom providers adding customers to certain programmes or packages and then telling those customers to opt out if they are not interested in paying the additional costs… more
GTT customers receive cash back in Christmas Promotion
Guyana – Seven customers on Wednesday received their cash back in GTT’s Win More Christmas promotion at the GTT’s Fogarty’s Store, Water Street… more
The CATV system using a cable is generally viewed on UHF channels
Guyana – Dear Editor, I am constrained to respond to Tony Vieira for the last time on this issue (out of necessity) so that the public is not unwittingly misled (‘Craig’s letter contained numerous areas of misinformation’ SN, Nov 30)… more
Tax change…GTT to reclaim US$6M loss from consumers
Guyana – “Is ole house pon ole house.” That is an adage older folk would use in giving a synopsis of Budget 2017 as seen through the eyes of the Private Sector Commission (PSC)… more
CONATEL calls to order
Haiti – In a note, the General Direction of the Executive Body of the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL) notes that at the end of the election day of 20 November 2016, some broadcasting stations in violation of the provisions of the Penal Code , Telecommunications laws and regulations, systematically disseminate information likely to disturb public order, incite the population to violence and undermine the integrity of many citizens… more
Digicel Foundation Launches Phase Three Of Mobile Science Lab Initiative
Jamaica – Nine more of the island’s high schools will receive a major boost to their science programmes with the gift of state-of-the-art Mobile Science Labs from the Digicel Foundation… more
Telecoms row
Jamaica – PRIME Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that the Jamaican Government intends to hold dialogue with the United States Embassy following public statements by an embassy representative on the controversial domestic mobile spectrum licence (DMSL) issued to Symbiote Investments in September… more
TSTT promises better quality as it rebrands
Trinidad and Tobago – STATE-controlled telecoms provider Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is promising customers an improved quality of service as it rebrands its products and services and rolls out a $3.7 billion strategic plan to upgrade technology and infrastructure… more
Saturday, 3 December 2016
Taiwan commits millions for CCTV expansion in St. Kitts-Nevis, signs police cooperation agreement
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The Governments of St. Kitts-Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have entered into a formal arrangement that would see police cooperation between the two countries. This cooperation agreement provides for a law enforcement personnel exchange, to include a technical component and study opportunities in Taiwan… more
Confusion abounds with emergency calls after UTS numbering transition
Sint Eustatius – The transition of United Telecommunication Services (UTS) Chippie mobile service from the 318 to the 319 number range as of Thursday, December 1, at 1:00pm did not go completely unnoticed… more
TSTT rebrands its Blink products
Trinidad and Tobago – LOCAL telecommunications giant, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), has decided to drop the Blink brand name for some of its products and, from now on, its marketing of these products will be done simply under the “bmobile,” name according to Dr Ronald Walcott, the company’s Chief Executive Officer… more
TSTT unveils $3.7b plan
Trinidad and Tobago – Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says the Telecommunications services company of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) is an example of how a state run company can be run efficiently… more
Sunday, 4 December 2016
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