A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 10 April to Sunday 16 April 2017.
Monday, 10 April 2017
Aliv challenges BTC statement on network sharing
Bahamas – Former cellular monopolist the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and mobile newcomer Aliv have locked horns over a long-delayed co-location agreement, after a press release by the former was immediately contradicted by the latter, the Tribune 242 reports… more
Bahamas telcos disagree on shared infra
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and mobile newcomer Aliv are encountering difficulties regarding the sharing of infrastructure as mandated by the… more
BTC Boosts Its Data Offerings
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is designing more offerings to meet ever-increasing Bahamian demands for data… more
Technology and the future of employment
Barbados – Almost on a daily basis, there is news of some new scientific or technological development which brings to the fore the magnitude of the challenge of adjustment facing Barbados as a result of sweeping change taking place on a global level… more
Major developments expected in BPO this year
Jamaica – Major developments in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) locally are expected to generate approximately 8,000 additional jobs this year… more
Disabled People in the Caribbean Find Freedom in Technology
Regional – Visually impaired Kerryn Gunness is excited about the possibilities offered by a new free app that would serve as his eyes and enable people like him to enjoy greater independence… more
Marketing Strategies Today: The latest live video tips and how to make the best out of live streaming
Regional – Live streaming has taken over the marketing industry, and it is not going away anytime soon… more
PwC, Bitt sign MOU to promote blockchain across Caribbean
Regional – Professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Barbados-based financial technology (fintech) company Bitt Inc. to propel the use of blockchain technology across the Caribbean, according to a press release sent to CoinReport by Bitt… more
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
BTC in dispute with new Bahamas operator over site-sharing
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and new Bahamas mobile operator Aliv are in dispute over network-sharing negotiations, local daily Tribune 242 reported… more
WiFi scheme
Barbados – With Government proposing to ban all music on public service vehicles (PSVs), the Alliance of Owners of Public Transportation (AOPT) is preparing to roll out a scheme that will otherwise keep passengers occupied… more
In observance of Girls in ICT Day…NFMU launches Facebook hashtag competition
Guyana – In observance of Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) day slated for April 28, the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has launched a Facebook hashtag and win competition… more
C&W’s Garry Sinclair showcases innovative Flow Lend app
Regional – At the recently held Caribbean Telecommunications Union ICT Week & Symposium held on March 20 – 24 in Antigua, C&W’s Caribbean President, Garry Sinclair delivered an interactive presentation during which he showcased the Company’s newest award-winning, customer-focused app – Flow Lend – to more than 100 delegates… more
Social media whips donkey-riding priest
Trinidad and Tobago – ROMAN Catholic priest Fr Ian Taylor became the latest target of social media’s outrage yesterday… more
TSTT workers protest uncertainty of the company
Trinidad and Tobago – TSTT’s junior and senior staff continued to protest at its Cipero Road, San Fernando, location yesterday, over the uncertainty of the future of the company… more
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Cloud Carib Becomes the First Red Hat Certified Cloud Solution Provider in the Caribbean and Latin America
Bahamas – Cloud Carib Limited has been recognized as the first Red Hat Certified Cloud Solutions Provider (CCSP) in the Caribbean and Latin American region… more
Cybercriminals ‘a step ahead’
Barbados – AS THE REGION GRAPPLES with cybercrime, criminals appear to be a few clicks ahead of authorities… more
Digital justice
Barbados – The St Matthias Magistrates’ Court is going digital with the receipt Wednesday of Liberty Court Recording Software from the United States (US) embassy… more
Ditch gadgets for day of peace, love
Barbados – ONE CURSORY GLANCE at the news or social media broadcasts on any given day would give the impression that the world is in absolute chaos – from the bombing of churches in the east to civil unrest in the south to a new wild, wild west in the most easterly of Caribbean islands… more
ON THE LEFT: Mobile market leading way
Barbados – THE TELCOM SECTOR continues to be a critical force for growth, innovation, and disruption across multiple industries… more
ON THE RIGHT: Digital societies the next step
Barbados – ULTIMATELY, WHERE THIS business is going is obviously digital neighbourhoods, digital societies, connected communities and the only way to do that is to ensure that the infrastructure that underpins those technologies and those software platforms are the best anywhere in the world… more
THE ISSUE: Telecoms can stimulate economy
Barbados – TECHNOLOGY PLAYS AN important role in the development of a country. Barbados is no different… more
BTL Union Flexes, Stages A (Brief) Work Walk Out
Belize – At around 3:00 this afternoon, dozens of BTL employees walked out of the telephone company’s St. Thomas Street Compound… more
B.T.L. Workers Walk Out Over Collective Bargaining Agreement
Belize – B.T.L. employees across the country staged a walkout this afternoon in protest of what is being reported as a refusal to properly address a two-pronged labor issue with the Belize Communications Workers Union… more
Digicel Play to reward customers with shopping sprees
Jamaica – New and existing Digicel Play customers could find themselves on the winning end of a MegaMart shopping spree, valued at up to $100,000, from now until May 31… more
Seeking competitive edge, Caribbean firms turn to internet technology
Regional – As clouds of uncertainty loom over the global economy, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Caribbean companies. But these days, a different kind of cloud is creating fresh opportunities for regional businesses… more
Unease at TSTT; workers plan protests
Trinidad and Tobago – JUNIOR and senior staff members of State-controlled telecoms provider TSTT intend continuing protest action every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to highlight issues affecting workers and until management can meet with them to discuss a way forward… more
Thursday, 13 April 2017
Bereaux: URCA wanted to ensure there is mobile portability in The Bahamas
Bahamas – During a joint weekly meeting for the Rotary Clubs of Lucaya and Freeport on Tuesday (April 11), guest speaker Chief Executive Officer at Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), Stephen Bereaux, explained mobile number portability and the significance of the competition, and ultimately, the superior service that this will bring with those in attendance… more
Digicel Play up to 20,000 customers in Barbados
Barbados – Digicel Barbados has announced that its triple-play broadband, pay-TV and telephony service ‘Digicel Play’ has reached the 20,000 customer mark just over a year after launching… more
BTL workers stage walk out
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) employees walked out of their office on St. Thomas Street Wednesday afternoon, as a sign of discontent with their management… more
Security Awareness Training Provider To Speak At Cyber Security Symposium
Belize – Michael Levin, CEO and founder of The Center for Information Security Awareness (CFISA) in Boca Raton, Florida, has been asked to be a guest speaker at the upcoming National Cyber Security Symposium in Belize… more
Flow provides free live streaming of Carifta games over Easter weekend
Dominica – As sports fans here gear up for the Carifta games in Curacao this weekend, the Dominican public will have the opportunity to view their athletes perform live at the games exclusively from April 15 – 17th, 2017… more
CARIMAC : Same Name, New Meaning
Jamaica – The much-respected Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) is to be renamed the Caribbean School of Media and Communication on August 1, which means it will be operating under a new banner for the start of the next academic year… more
Cloak Descends On Liberty Offer – FSC Hauled Into Court As Liberty Talks Go Underground
Jamaica – The outcome of the Financial Services Commission’s (FSC) decision on whether Liberty Global is required to buy out minority owners of Flow Jamaica is now cloaked in mystery, but indications are that the fight has progressed to the courts… more
CANTO Chair and Secretary General Visit SMART in Belize.
Regional – CANTO Chairman and Secretary General met with Jaime Briceno Chairman Board of Directors SMART, Ernesto Torres CEO, Sean Duncan HOD Data Warehousing, Reporting and Billing, Juan Pablo Lorenzetti IT Operations Manager and Leonardo Calle Director of Network Services at the SMART Headquarters in Belize City, Belize… more
C&W, Digicel deny talk of merger
Regional – TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITORS Cable Wireless and Digicel have dismissed reports that they are to become one under the ownership of international cable TV giant Liberty Global… more
Are you killing innovation?
Trinidad and Tobago – It may come as a shock to you that the number one barrier to innovation in your organisation could be you: the boss… more
Online banking blues
Trinidad and Tobago – Advertising and marketing agency, cmb, has commissioned a survey on media consumption in T&T… more
Friday, 14 April 2017
Girls ‘hack’ for empowerment
Barbados – On April 27 as we prepare to celebrate the International Telecommunications Union’s ‘Girls in ICT Day’, girls and young women across three Caribbean islands are being encouraged to be just that! … more
The University of Guyana and the business community
Guyana – Based on what he had to say on the issue during a recent lengthy interview for a forthcoming issue of the Guyana Review, it is clear that University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith believes that the future of the university will be heavily dependent on the quality of the relationship that it can cultivate with the private sector… more
Digicel annonce de nouveaux tarifs pour les appels en République Dominicaine
Haiti – Les clients de Digicel peuvent maintenant communiquer beaucoup plus pour moins cher en République dominicaine ! … more
Organizer Promises “Groundbreaking” Haiti Tech Conference
Haiti – In an effort to accelerate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and strike a strong blow against the digital divide that has plagued both the U.S and global markets, Haiti is hosting what organizers are describing as the largest annual gathering of innovators addressing humanity’s grandest challenges… more
NOTICE : Hackathon, registration open
Haiti – As part of the celebration of the International Day of Young Girls (27 April 2017) in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector, which will be organized around the theme « Jèn fi kenbe teknoloji pou louvri chimen », the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) is organizing a hackathon for university girls on the entire national territory in order to raise awareness on the science and technology professions… more
Online payment portal for ASYCUDA restored, says Customs
Jamaica – The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is reporting that the online payment portal for the Automatic System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) has been restored… more
Nigeria strengthens ties with CTU
Regional – In the wake of the recently concluded ICT Week and Symposium Antigua and Barbuda, the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria, Mr. Ganiyu A. Adeyemi, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Ms. Bernadette Lewis… more
Amazon Web Services eyes T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – AMAZON Web Services (AWS), the number one cloud provider in the world and a subsidiary of Amazon.com, has expressed interest in bringing its services to Trinidad and Tobago… more
Saturday, 15 April 2017
CANTO Chair and Secretary General Pay Courtesy Visit to New CEO of Belize Telemedia Ltd.
Regional – CANTO Chairman, Julian Wilkins and Secretary General, Teresa Wankin paid a courtesy visit to Rochus Schreiber the new CEO at Belize Telemedia Ltd. (BTL) headquarters in Belize City, Belize… more
Free Data
Saint Lucia – IN the news this week, the Health Minister offered a simple explanation for incurring “an exorbitant” telephone bill of almost $11,000 after attending… more
Call for more T&T women to lead ICT sector
Trinidad and Tobago – Nuria Simo, chief information officer and general manager, Department of Information Technology of the Inter-American Bank (IDB), says the time is ripe to see more women holding leadership positions in T&T’s ICT sector… more
Sunday, 16 April 2017
Carolyn Cooper | Who Is Regulating The OUR?
Jamaica – The director general of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Ansord Hewitt, responded quite quickly to the four questions I emailed him about consumer protection in the telecoms sector. His email went to spam, so I didn’t see it until after I’d written last week’s column, ‘FLOW giveth and FLOW taketh away’… more
Yoni Epstein: Building economies of a global scale in a small, sunny corner of the world
Jamaica – Natural entrepreneur and family man Yoni Epstein has achieved, in about half the time, what many men twice his age would envy: a successful, balanced work and home life while retaining the respect and admiration of his friends, peers and colleagues… more
Image credits: GotCredit (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Bahamas Weekly; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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