Roundup: for the week ending 26 March 2017 | ICT Pulse – The leading technology blog in the Caribbean

A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 20 March to Sunday 26 March 2017.

Monday, 20 March 2017

Aliv In ‘Phenomenal Position’ Financially

Bahamas – The Bahamas’ new mobile operator is in “a phenomenal position” financially, having secured $186 million in start-up funding prior to this week’s planned capital raising… more

Dominican Republic to install Wi-Fi in university campuses

Dominican Republic – The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) has announced plans to install a free Wi-Fi network at the headquarters of the country’s Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and its 18 regional campuses. Indotel’s chairman Jose del Castillo Savinon revealed the plans during the presentation of 1,000 computers to the university with a view to improving access to ICT for students, teachers and administrative staff alike… more

Guyana tribe goes hi-tech to protect its land

Guyana – Eleazer Mawasha speaks haltingly. English is not his first language, and Skype not his preferred method of communication… more

Gov’t To Spend US$12 Million On Improving Emergency Communication Systems

Jamaica – The Government is to spend US$12 million to improve the country’s emergency communication systems… more

ECTEL Member States To Introduce New Legislation Aimed At Managing The Telecommunications Sector

Regional – The telecommunications sector in the five Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) countries is expected to be boosted with the introduction of the Electronic Communications Bill, aimed at better managing the sector… more

ECTEL promotes EC Bill

Regional – The new regulations address issues such as consumer protection and retail pricing… more

Flow supports virtual tutoring programme for teachers

Regional – Flow continues to deepen its public sector and community relationships and work towards fulfilling its mission of ‘Connecting Communities and Transforming Lives.’ … more

Beware Of Cybercriminals, Prime Minister Harris Warns

Saint Kitts and Nevis – Prime Minister and Minister of National Security of St. Kitts and Nevis and Chairman of the Regional Security System (RSS) Council of Ministers, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, has warned that people must be on their guard against cybercriminals in what he described as “a new emerging area that is creating a tremendous level of concern.” … more

IRD upgrades e-filing services

Saint Lucia – Tax season is here… more

Tuesday, 21 March 2017

Aliv takes pride in its corporate culture

Bahamas – If you’ve never been in the offices of Google, Aliv’s headquarters might strike you as a scaled down version of what you might have imagined the search engine and email giant’s offices to be… more

BTC continues to evolve and expand its network

Bahamas – Since its launch last year, BTC today announced that more than 5,000 residents have signed up for its Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and FLOW TV services… more

Fraser appeals for phone number portability

British Virgin Islands – While declaring that he is tired of complaining about the relatively poor service being provided by telephone companies in the British Virgin Islands, member of the parliamentary opposition Julian Fraser today called for the introduction of mobile number portability in the territory… more

Dominican Republic delays DTT migration to 2019

Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic is set to finally begin its long-delayed analogue TV switch off in January 2019, reports local daily Diario Libre, citing new Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) president Jose del Castillo Savinon… more

Broadband Satellites to Deliver OTT VOD and Linear TV Channels in Guyana

Guyana – Broadband Satellites has launched a new streaming content service market in Guyana for a potential customer base of around 200,000 active internet subscribers and 450,000 smartphone users across the country… more

BPO employees and owners support govt’s job-creation thrust

Jamaica – When Curtley-Ann Palmer joined the staff of Sutherland Global Services as a customer service representative in 2014, she had no idea that four years later she would become one of the entity’s top-performing managers… more

Cyber-crimes Act And Social Media

Jamaica – … more

Jamaica Coalition For Healthy Society Wants Cybercrimes Act Reviewed

Jamaica – The Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, has joined in the controversy over the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act saying they are vague and may be used to suppress citizens’ right to free speech… more

Barbados To Host CaribNOG 13

Regional – The thirteenth regional meeting of the Caribbean Network Operators Group, or CaribNOG, will take place in Barbados from April 18 to 19, 2017… more

Net Neutrality: How will it affect the Caribbean telecoms industry?

Regional – Net Neutrality was high on the agenda at today’s inter-governmental CTU Executive Council meeting in Antigua with attendees zeroing in on the issue of the impact of Net Neutrality on investment in the region… more

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

The Government of Anguilla and Airbnb Sign Tourism Agreement

Anguilla – The Government of Anguilla (GoA) and Airbnb have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that seeks to promote the island as a premier Caribbean destination, not only for its world class beaches, crystalline waters, top class resorts and restaurants, but also for the unique experience of being part of Anguilla’s identity, cultural heritage and environment… more

BTC approaching $42 million in damage from Hurricane Matthew

Bahamas – CEO of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) Leon Williams revealed yesterday that third-party insurance claims for damage incurred following the passage of Hurricane Matthew have yet to be received; the company is approaching about $42 million in total damage from the Category 4 storm… more

BTC set to unveil ‘limitless’ mobile offers

Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has announced that following a recent customer survey, it will be unveiling an upgraded suite of mobile offers… more

BTC ‘will try its hardest’ to make mobile number portability deadline, says Williams

Bahamas – With mobile number portability (MNP) expected to launch on April 25, despite being delayed by nearly two months, CEO of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) Leon Williams said yesterday the company “will try its hardest” to make the date… more

Web Shops Gaining ‘Unfair Advantage’ In Other Sectors

Bahamas – Opposition politicians yesterday voiced fears that web shop operators may be using pre-legalisation profits to gain “an unfair advantage” over competitors in other Bahamian industries… more

Niall Sheehy parts ways with FLOW

Barbados – THERE HAS BEEN a shake-up in the top leadership of Cable & Wireless (C&W) Barbados… more

Telecoms regulation ‘unfair’ says C&W Caribbean president

Barbados – CABLE & WIRELESS (C&W) is unhappy with how Barbados’ telecommunications sector is being regulated… more

Fahie wants special law, incentive to protect CCT

British Virgin Islands – Leader of the Opposition Andrew Fahie said the government and its Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) should formulate regulations and legislation to protect local companies, adding that a special incentive should be provided to the only telecom company that is fully owned by locals… more

BUSINESS BYTE: Flow’s ‘FREE Internet for Schools’ program celebrates over twenty years of service to educational advancement

Dominica – It’s approximately twenty years since Dominica’s premier telecommunications provider began providing complimentary internet service to the majority of Dominica’s primary and secondary schools… more

GTT partners with US Company for enhanced online top up

Guyana – GTT has launched simpler access to its online top up portal for prepaid mobile customers… more

PAJ concerned about use of new Cybercrimes Act

Jamaica – THE Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) yesterday expressed concern about section 9 of the new Cybercrimes Act, which deals with an offence referred to as “malicious communication”… more

Stephen Price To Head Flow Jamaica

Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica’s parent has announced that Stephen Price, Vice President of Retail Sales and Distribution, is to replace Garfield Sinclair as managing director of the telecom… more

Barbados to host regional meeting of Caribbean Network Operators Group

Regional – The 13th regional meeting of the Caribbean Network Operators Group, or CaribNOG, will take place in Barbados from April 18 to 19, 2017… more

CANTO Launches 11th Annual WTISD – Video Competition

Regional – World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be observed on Wednesday, May 17th 2017… more

Niall Sheehy exits Flow

Regional – Nearly two years after he was appointed managing director of Flow’s Barbados operations, experienced telecommunications executive Niall Sheehy has parted ways with the company… more

A digital tourism education learning series for primary schools here in St. Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis – With Tourism being the main economic pillar of St. Kitts and Nevis and a number of countries throughout the region, the region’s tourism development agency is moving to ensure that tourism education is brought to the grassroots level… more

Digicel: No decision yet on T&T’s operations

Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel has not made a decision with regards to the restructuring of its operations in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)… more

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Aliv’S $30m Offering To Be ‘Well Oversubscribed’

Bahamas – Advisers to the Bahamas’ second mobile operator yesterday predicted its just-launched $30 million bond offering “will be well oversubscribed”, amid expectations it will start generating a profit by 2019… more

Cable Bahamas working to fix outage issue; 97% of services restored

Bahamas – Interruptions in Cable Bahamas’ television service hit several islands yesterday, causing disruption to its clients’ regularly scheduled programming… more

Mobile number portability expected to boost Aliv’s market share

Bahamas – Chief Financial Officer at BeAliv Barry Williams told Guardian Business yesterday that in less than four months, the second mobile operator has taken approximately 28 percent of the pre-paid market, and that once mobile number portability (MNP) launches on April 25, it expects to see a boost in subscriber numbers… more

C&W: Time to end unfair system

Barbados – CABLE WIRELESS (C) is prepared to continue its major investments in Barbados but wants the current “unfair”and “anachronistic” regulatory environment modernised… more

Flow explains Sheehy’s sudden exit

Barbados – The new man in charge of Flow’s operations in the Caribbean today assured that the local leadership of the telecommunications giant remained in tact, following the sudden departure of Managing Director Niall Sheehy from Flow (Barbados)… more

Not right

Barbados – Communications and entertainment provider Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) is hinting that unless certain “patently unfair” regulations are lifted, it would be forced to give second thoughts to its level of investments here… more

Raw Deal: Outdated Laws in Barbados Hurting C&W’s Bottomline

Barbados – Telecommunications giant Cable and Wireless Communications (C&W) says it has been paying a high price in Barbados because of archaic regulations and it has begun a lobby for a major overhaul to create a level playing field in the competitive market… more

ICT tender: Belize seeks consultancy for UN communications

Belize – The government of Belize, in partnership with the Belizean United Nations country team, is seeking a consultancy to develop a communication… more

Vicetel launches new ride-hailing app in Dominica

Dominica – Vicetel Technologies, a newly established Dominican-born company launched its ride-hailing mobile application Oruh last Friday 21st, September… more

First Cyber Security Centre to be launched in Guyana

Guyana – Crime-fighting in Guyana is about to move to the next level technologically, with the establishment of a Cyber Security Centre, the first of its kind in the country… more

GTT Partners with Prepay Nation for Enhanced Online Top-up

Guyana – – GTT, Guyana’s only full-service telecommunication’s company has launched simpler access to its online top-up portal for prepaid customers. The new platform is supported by Prepay Nation, a United States Company… more

Cybercrimes Act Well Structured, Says Champagnie

Jamaica – Attorney-at-law Peter Champagnie said that not only is the new Cybercrimes Act quite clear in its structure and wording, but it is also well timed for the expanding social media era, where damage caused to reputation by publishing is almost irreversible… more

DPP explains aspects of the Cybercrimes Act

Jamaica – Director of Public Prosecution, Paula Llewellyn has today sought to explain the concept of malicious communications in cyber space and aspects of the Cybercrimes Act… more

FULL TEXT: Cybercrime Law Not Criminalising Libel, Says DPP

Jamaica – The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution has sought to explain the provision of Cybercrimes Act that has triggered controversy since the arrest of Tambourine Army co-founder Latoya Nugent… more

Is Jamaica Preventing Cybercrime or Cyber Activism? The Tambourine Army Goes to Court

Jamaica – The Tambourine Army is a new movement for justice in Jamaica led by sexual violence survivors… more

ONLINE READERS COMMENT: Offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages are potentially unlawful

Jamaica – Lord Anthony Gifford, in his article ‘Human rights and the Tambourine Army’ in another newspaper, shared his views on the prosecution of Latoya Nugent for malicious communication using a computer… more

Price to head FLOW Jamaica; says building on agreed 2017 strategy a major focus

Jamaica – Stephen Price, whose appointment as managing director of Flow Jamaica was announced by the company yesterday, said his immediate focus will be to build on the company’s current agreed 2017 strategy… more

CANTO chairman talks of ‘net neutrality’ trade-off in light of over-the-top operators

Regional – The Chairman of the Caribbean Association of National Telecoms Operators (CANTO) has argued that there must be a trade-off of “strict net neutrality” rules if telecommunications service providers are to continue to operate alongside over-the-top (OTT) applications… more

Disabled Caribbeans Find Freedom in Technology

Regional – There is still need for better educational opportunities, housing, medical care, and everything that is extended to other citizens in the Caribbean… more

Executive says the region must move faster toward e-currency

Regional – The President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Barbados based e-payment firm, Bitt Inc, has warned that the Caribbean region is falling behind the globe in the use of e-money and in the use of cryptocurrencies… more

Increased enrolment in Science and Technology at UWI

Trinidad and Tobago – THE Faculty of Science and Technology at the UWI St Augustine Campus has recorded a 25 percent increase intake in undergraduates boding well for the Caribbean which is currently experiencing low levels of innovation says University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles… more

TSTT unveils technology for boosting business

Trinidad and Tobago – “Data is a big part of what is happening now. Infrastructure and solutions as services, the Internet of things, 5G, robotics, artificial intelligence and the like, all are here today and a big part of how TSTT goes forward,” said Dr Ronald Walcott Chief Executive Officer, TSTT… more

Friday, 24 March 2017

Airbnb Caribbean Reach Expanding: Anguilla Now on the List

Anguilla – Anguilla has now been added to the list of Caribbean countries partnering with home sharing network Airbnb… more

Aliv Targets January 2018 For ‘Break Even’

Bahamas – The Bahamas’ new mobile operator yesterday said it expects to “break even” around January 2018, having gained 50,000 subscribers to-date despite not penetrating 45 per cent of the potential market… more

Exporters Urged To Register For Bahamas Trade Information Portal

Bahamas – The highly anticipated Bahamas Trade Information Portal will officially be launched online April 6, and is expected to facilitate trade exports from the Bahamas to potential international buyers… more

New Operator: ‘Big Questions’ If Further Mobile Porting Miss

Bahamas – The Bahamas’ new mobile operator yesterday said there would be “big questions” if the sector failed to meet the latest deadline for number portability’s launch… more

Over 5,000 customers migrate to FTTH and Flow TV

Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) recently announced that more than 5,000 residents have signed up for its Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and Flow TV services since they launched last year… more

Flow launches 4G LTE

Barbados – Barbados is now flowing with 4G LTE technology… more

Broadband Satellites preps OTT for Guyana

Guyana – Broadband Satellites has launched a new streaming content service targeting Guyana’s 200,000 active Internet subscribers and 450,000 smartphone users with a mix of video-on-demand (VOD) and linear TV channels… more

Cybercrimes Act Is Necessary – ODPP

Jamaica – Before last month, the charge of using a computer for malicious communication was an obscure criminal offence included in Jamaica’s Cybercrimes Act 2015 – the legal framework enacted by lawmakers two years ago to regulate activities in cyberspace… more

Digicel records high traffic on free Gov’t websites

Jamaica – DIGICEL says that following the signing of an agreement with the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology and its telecommunications counterpart to formalise the arrangement to provide free access to Government websites, there has been a heavy volume of traffic from customers accessing the service… more

JAMPRO expands international network to attract more BPO investments

Jamaica – Jamaica’s Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (JAMPRO) has expanded its international network by contracting management-consulting firm Avasant to market Jamaica as a destination for BPO investments internationally… more

Montague heads delegation to Antigua Cybercrime meeting

Jamaica – National Security Minister Robert Montague is now in Antigua where he is attending the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Caribbean Stakeholders Meeting focusing on Cyber Security and Cybercrime… more

More Space For BPO Operations

Jamaica – Work is under way by the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Factories Corporation to construct more than 250,000 square feet of new purpose-built space and to retrofit an additional 50,000 square feet of existing buildings for outsourcing service… more

Sinclair Heads To Miami As Price Takes Over Jamaica

Jamaica – A two-month leadership transition has been set in motion at Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as FLOW… more

USF Provides Millions to Boost Internet Access

Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) has provided millions of dollars in support to libraries and educational institutions as the entity continues to carry out its mandate to provide 100 per cent Internet penetration across Jamaica… more

Caribbean leaders urged to embrace Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Regional – In keeping with the theme of ICT Week and Symposium Antigua and Barbuda, “ICT – Driving 21st Century Intelligent Services,” Hon. Melford Nicholas, Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Information Technology, stated, “ICT has disrupted the financial order… more

The Caribbean is virgin territory for mobile money — Wehby

Regional – With the Caribbean having low levels of penetration for mobile money products, GraceKennedy Money Services Ltd (GKMS) is still mulling over the next market it will choose to launch its digital currency product, GK MPay… more

IRD launches Electronic Payment Service

Saint Lucia – The Inland Revenue Department today launched its Electronic Payment Service which enables taxpayers to make tax payments in the comfort of their homes or offices… more

CWU wants full payment for workers

Trinidad and Tobago – Communication Workers Union (CWU) Acting Secretary General, Clyde Elder is calling on the Government Human Resource Service Company Limited to pay retrenched workers their full term of contract… more

Saturday, 25 March 2017

Ministry of Education to Move Towards Digital Textbook Initiative

Bahamas – Digitization of textbooks is on the horizon for public schools… more

Flow goes 4G LTE

Barbados – Telecommunications company Flow has announced plans to invest $80 million in Barbados this year, the second part of the company’s planned $150 million investment on which it embarked last year in an effort to upgrade and expand its telecoms infrastructure here… more

BTL launches “The DigiCell Store”

Belize – Today, Belize Telemedia Limited held the official launch for its newly renovated office called “The DigiCell Store.” … more

Cuban factory assembles first 7,000 tablets and laptops

Cuba – The Industrial Company for Informatics, Communications and Electronics (GEDEME by its Spanish acronym) in Havana has assembled the first 3,500 laptops and 3,583 tablets for Cuban government agencies and organizations… more

Universal Access Fund pushes hard for better Internet penetration

Jamaica – THE Universal Service Fund (USF) says it has provided millions of dollars in support to libraries and educational institutions as the entity continues to carry out its mandate to provide 100 per cent Internet penetration across Jamaica… more

Global experts focus on cybersecurity in Guatemala

Regional – Guatemala and other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean must continue to develop a more proactive, all-inclusive response to cybercrime and cyber terrorism… more

Are Local Internet Cafés Breaching Customer Confidentially?

Saint Lucia – It wouldn’t be uncommon to sign onto a computer at an Internet café, for what number of reasons might have led you there, to find that the person before you had forgotten to sign out of their email or other personal account… more

Online tax lawsuit set for July 21

Trinidad and Tobago – A DATE has been set for the trial of six leading courier companies’ challenge to the implementation of the seven percent online purchase tax (OPT) by the Ministry of Finance… more

Sunday, 26 March 2017

GTT calls on gov’t to launch independent probe of Digicel bypass link

Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) yesterday called on the government to initiate an independent investigation of what it says is an “illegal, unlicensed” cross-border link between Guy-ana and Suriname being facilitated by its competitor Digicel Guyana… more

Telecoms liberalisation war heats …GTT accuses Digicel of “illegal” Suriname bypass; wants independent audit

Guyana – As negotiations continue to liberalise the telecommunications sector to allow new players, US-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is calling for an independent third party audit of what it says are “illegal” activities of Digicel… more