Roundup: for the week ending 16 July 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 10 July 2017 to Sunday 16 July 2017.

Monday, 10 July 2017

Editorial: A new chapter in e-books

Antigua and Barbuda – You can imagine our shock when we heard that some students have damaged and misplaced the tablets involved in the e-book initiative undertaken by the Board of Education (BOE)… more

Bahamian technology firm aims to capture regional market share

Bahamas – Bahamian technology firm, Cloud Carib, is aiming to capture more market share in data centre solutions across the Caribbean… more

BTC to introduce faster speeds through fiber to home services

Bahamas – Always on the cutting edge of new technology, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is set to improve the quality of the customer experience by introducing its new Fiber to Home service… more

The Great Haiti Tech Awards Is Here Again

Haiti – Fast rising and famous organization Haitian Caribbean Information Technology Council (HACARABTECH) proudly announce to the general public that the upcoming Haiti tech award is almost here… more

Cloud Carib Opening Five New Caribbean Data Centers in 2017

Regional – Cloud Carib is accelerating efforts to capture more market share in data center solutions in the Caribbean, with the company revealing plans to open five data centers by the end of this year… more

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

BTC’s $7.3m investment targets faster Net speeds

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) says its new Fiber-to-Home service will deliver Internet speeds 20 to 100 times’ faster than the current cable modem or DSL service that many customers use… more

Leon Williams out, Dexter Cartwright in as new Interim CEO at BTC

Bahamas – Former Cable and Wireless Finance Director, Dexter Cartwright is now the new interim CEO of BTC… more

Barbados Junior Robotics Camp Turns 3 with 3 Levels

Barbados – The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF), a non-profit organization promoting science and engineering in the Caribbean, announced today that its third annual Barbados Junior Robotics Camp (BJRC) is starting, with 3 levels this year… more

BUSINESS BYTE: Flow Prepaid Customer wins $1000 Cash, another wins Samsung Galaxy J5

Dominica – One Flow customer from the northeast is the lucky winner of one thousand dollars cash while another customer from the Newtown community is the owner of a Samsung Galaxy J5 mobile phone… more

Data cleansing needed at GRA

Guyana – As 766 taxpayers remain delinquent by failing to file their tax returns, the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority has said that there is need for data cleansing within the institution… more

Was GTT’s promotion offer genuine?

Guyana – Dear Editor, As a subscriber to GTT, I was in the middle of research via my mobile device on the late afternoon of Saturday, July 8, when all of a sudden I realised that I no longer had internet access… more

Cabinet Ministers Take Responsibility to Clear Up their Cell Phone Bills

Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness convened a meeting of Cabinet Ministers ahead of the parliamentary session this afternoon (July 11) to discuss and review the issue of communication costs and high cellular phone bills being incurred for roaming and data charges… more

Editorial | No Internet Overreach

Jamaica – We sense urgency – if not a frustration at the challenges – among the big honchos at the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) to evolve the regulatory capacity of their organisation in the age of the Internet… more

Jamaicans tapping into US trillion-dollar app economy

Jamaica – With rapid social and technological growth globally, new possibilities have emerged for sustainable economic growth in the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica, which currently benefits from a booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry… more

PM orders cellphone audit of all Govt ministers

Jamaica – Prime Minster Andrew Holness has ordered an audit, as well as the capping of mobile phone bills, of all Government ministers… more

Unacceptable! Holness Demands Ministers ‘Clear Up’ High Cell Phone Bills

Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered an audit of the cell phone bills of government ministers and state ministers following a Television Jamaica (TVJ) revelation that in one year, Finance Minister Audley Shaw has racked up more than $8 million in charges… more

Young techies prepare for innovative, 42-hour hackathon

Jamaica – On July 14, 2017, young programmers from across the region will gather in Kingston, Jamaica for Coders of The Caribbean powered by NCB. Participants will work to see if they can create the next big app, software or game… more

CCJ seeks to trigger digital revolution in Caribbean courts

Regional – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is hoping that a set of technological upgrades it recently adopted will trigger a digital revolution in courts across the region, and transform how justice is delivered… more

CTU participates in ICANN 59

Regional – Mr. Nigel Cassimire, Telecommunications Specialist of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), represented this organisation at the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) of the 59th Public Meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – ICANN 59, in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26th to 29th June 2017… more

New fiber subsea system will connect Americas to the Caribbean

Regional – Deep Blue Cable, the developer, owner and operator of a subsea fiber-optic system providing connectivity across the Caribbean islands and to the Americas, has announced that they have contracted with TE SubCom, a TE Connectivity Ltd. company and an industry pioneer in undersea communications technology, to build and deploy the Deep Blue subsea cable system… more

The state of online gambling in Caribbean nations

Regional – There are plenty of remarkable casinos in the Caribbean, from the massive Atlantis Casino of The Bahamas to the 18 brick-and-mortar options in Puerto Rico alone… more

TSTT supports national diversification agenda

Trinidad and Tobago – RAKESH Goswami, Executive Vice-President of Strategic Alliance, Enterprise and Tobago Operations at the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT), says the theme of this year’s Trade and Investment Convention (TIC); “From TT to the world”, is apt because it seeks to position TT as a nucleus for innovation and discovery that can have global ramifications… more

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

BTC technicians raise contract worker concerns in letter

Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) technicians are claiming that they have waited two years to resolve outstanding issues which arose after they were rehired as contract workers and subsequently received no paid vacation days… more

Education Systems Must Embrace E-Commerce says DPM

Bahamas – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest said the reality of e-commerce provides tremendous opportunity for businesses, and the Government must ensure that the country’s educational systems allow persons to be able to take advantage of these opportunities… more

Leon Williams out at BTC

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday announced that CEO Leon Williams “will be leaving the business”… more

PM Minnis Outlines Smart Technology Priorities

Bahamas – The Government of The Bahamas will use Smart Technology to establish the archipelago as a Smart Country, beginning with the island of New Providence… more

That gaming cruise is going to the Bahamas next year

Bahamas – Last year, I went on a wacky videogame-themed cruise called GaCuCon(pronounced Gah-coo-con) and I lived to tell the tale. I got to party and eat 14 meals a day with one of the main creative guys from Riot, and later got my ass handed to me by eSports legend Jonathan “Fatal1ty” Wendell all week… more

Union Allies ‘Taken Aback’ Over BTC Chief’s Departure

Bahamas – Union leaders and key allies were yesterday “taken aback” after the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) confirmed that chief executive Leon Williams is leaving the communications provider… more

G2K Wants Revision Of Regulation On Data Charges

Jamaica – The young professional affiliate of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, Generation 2000 (G2K) says the issue of high telephone bills has highlighted the need to revisit regulations that govern telecommunications service providers… more

Jamaican Tech Start-Up Wins PitchIT Caribbean 2017

Jamaica – Kraasimages, an up-and-coming Jamaican stock imagery company, was named one of five winners from the 2017 PitchIT Caribbean Challenge… more

Jamaica’s PM Holness orders cap on ministers’ phone expenses

Jamaica – Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered a cap on the cell phone expenses of all ministers and state ministers… more

Letter Of The Day | Talk Isn’t Cheap, Mr Shaw

Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: It is outrageous that the minister of finance, under the ‘prosperity’ JLP-led Government, racked up a phone bill of $8 million within a one-year period! … more

Mailpac Launches Financing Arm, Price Tool

Jamaica – Mailpac is now offering financing of up to $200,000 to online shoppers who buy goods through its platform… more

More US cable TV channels to be cut in Jamaica

Jamaica – Jamaicans are set to lose more of their favourite cable channels as the Broadcasting Commission plans to direct local cable licensees to remove additional unauthorised stations from their subscriber packages…more

PM Demands Ministers Clear High Cell Phone Bills

Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered an audit of the cell phone bills of government ministers and state ministers following a Television Jamaica (TVJ) revelation that in one year, Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw racked up more than $8 million in charges… more

PM orders cellphone audit of all Govt ministers

Jamaica – Prime Minster Andrew Holness has ordered an audit, as well as the capping of mobile phone bills, of all Government ministers… more

12,000Km Pan-Caribbean Fibre Optic Cable Closer To Deployment

Regional – Developer and operator of subsea fibre-optic systems Deep Blue Cable is to begin the deployment of a 12,000Km cable which will connect the Caribbean to the Americas… more

TelEm Group engineers quickly resolve Wednesday afternoon equipment issue.

Sint Maarten – Engineers in TelEm Group’s Network Operations Center (NOC) quickly resolved an equipment malfunction at the company’s Earth station on Pond Island limiting outage time to several important areas around the island Wednesday afternoon… more

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Bahamas plays host to IT conference

Bahamas – The erasure of physical banks from some islands in The Bahamas was just one of the many points raised at the 17th International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-17)… more

BTC names interim CEO as Williams departs

Bahamas – Bahamas operator BTC appointed Dexter Cartwright as interim chief executive, replacing Leon Williams. Cartwright was formerly Finance Director at C&W Networks, a branch of BTC’s co-owner Cable and Wireless Communications (C&W)… more

BTC responds to technicians’ claims, as some take day off

Bahamas – Some of Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) technicians withheld their services yesterday in an ongoing discussion with the telecoms provider regarding paid vacation leave… more

CEO Switch Sparks BTC Job Fears

Bahamas – THE departure of Leon Williams as CEO of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company has reignited fears of staff cuts, according to Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union President Bernard Evans as he branded the parent company, Cable & Wireless Communications, as “unstable” and devoid of any regard for BTC’s employees… more

Education Systems Must Embrace E-Commerce

Minnis Unveils ‘Smart’ Vision

Bahamas – PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday announced his government’s intention to launch several technology driven pilot programmes, including a new emergency management alert system, the installation of free Wi-Fi in public parks and spaces and ‘pay as you go’ electricity metres… more

PM Minnis Outlines ambitious IT plan for transport sector

Bahamas – Plans to introduce a public transport system fueled by Smart Technology is said to be on the drawing board. Speaking at the 17^th International ITU conference held at the Atlantis, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis says the plan looks at establishing a unified busing system which targets the social mobility of the poor and less fortunate, with urban and community revitalization at the core… more

PM Wants ‘Smart Bahamas’

Bahamas – Campaign promises of transparency and accountability in governance are still the order of the day, according to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, who during his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Global Symposium for Regulators GSR-17 yesterday said his government is mandated to do just that, while developing a “smart” Bahamas… more

Urca Chair Wants Electronic Banking To ‘Fill The Gap’

Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) chairman yesterday said electronic banking services could “fill the gap” on Family Islands where commercial banks no longer have a physical presence… more

Digital border crossing card introduced

Belize – The Department of Immigration implemented the use of the Digital Border Crossing Card on 1st July 2017 following months of consultation with and notification to the Corozal Free Zone (CFZ) Management, as well as the major established businesses in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) area… more

Don’t Sacrifice BPO For Logistics, Urges Gloria Henry

Jamaica – Businesswoman Gloria Henry, the new president of the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ), is urging the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) not to sacrifice the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector to develop logistics, but, instead, create a framework that will make it easier for prospective investors to do business in Jamaica… more

Shaw Is The Victim – Senator Blames Telecoms Company For High Phone Bill

Jamaica – A Government senator has come to the defence of embattled Finance and the Public Service Minister Audley Shaw, suggesting that he was the victim of “reckless business practices”, which has caused him to rack up a whopping telephone bill of more than $8 million in one year… more

UPDATED: Shaw Faces Fresh Criticisms Over Discount On $8.34 Million Phone Bill

Jamaica – Finance Minister Audley Shaw is facing fresh criticisms over revelations that he negotiated a discount with a telecoms provider for the $8.34 million mobile phone bill he incurred between March last year and February 2017… more

Adelaide software company Buddy Platform signs agreement with Carribean telco Digicel

Regional – ADELAIDE based tech company Buddy Platform has signed a deal with the Carribean’s largest mobile operator Digicel for the rollout of its data management, processing and control platform software… more

Three Caribbean Entrepreneurs To Watch

Regional – The Caribbean and Latin America make up a creative region full of talent and imagination, which according to a new E-book from the Inter-American Development Bank, are the regions’ most valuable assets… more

Ryan lands Apple scholarship

Trinidad and Tobago – If you are a fan of sci-fi or get a thrill from the latest tech-toys and apps available on the market, then you can relate to Kervon Ryan… more

Friday, 14 July 2017

Govt’s ‘Final Word Awaited’ On $70m Aliv Interest Sale

Bahamas – Advisers are “still awaiting” the Government’s final go-ahead on the $70 million sell-of its majority interest in the Aliv mobile operator, with the terms unlikely to change… more

Belize City To Host Caribbean Peering Forum In 2018

Belize – Belize will host the fourth Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum, known as CarPIF, on June 6 and 7, 2018… more

Digital Tourism

Belize – Today the BTB held its third annual Digital Summit. As we told you in our preview on Wednesday, the one-day event is an opportunity for tourism stakeholders to learn how to harness the internet and social media as marketing tools… more

Everything we know so far about GTT’s new Blaze Internet

Guyana – For the past four months, the majority of GTT headlines in the media, more often than before, is how the company is improving its services – which includes increases in bandwidth… more

Access Counts More Than Content – Broadcasting Commission Challenged To Regulate New Platforms

Jamaica – Free distribution of content through the Internet is destroying the traditional business model for the media… more

Data Intelligence And Biometrics: The Future Of Marketing Research

Jamaica – Looking at the future of marketing and new trends in business, Zachary Harding, local marketing specialist and CEO of Hyperion Equity, has invested in a 10 per cent stake in Blue Dot Data Intelligence Ltd… more

Digicel Not Shaw’s Service Provider

Jamaica – Digicel has released a statement saying it is appalled and disappointed by the inaccurate report that it is the service provider for Finance Minister Audley Shaw… more

Saturday, 15 July 2017

Phone rush

Bahamas – The latest entrant into the domestic telecommunications market, Ozone Wireless Inc., says it is pleased with the response it has been getting from Barbadian consumers, ahead of Monday’s official roll out of its services… more

A new kid on the telecoms block

Barbados – A new contender has officially entered the local telecommunications market. Ozone Wireless, officially introduced its flagship store in Manor Lodge, St Michael, on Friday night with much fanfare… more

GTT begins delivering internet by fibre optic cable; no intellectual property violation

Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Saturday said it has begun rolling out a US$25 million fibre-optic system to offer blazing fast Internet service, while assuring that the company is not violating intellectual property laws by providing movies and other video content through its network… more

After media revelations, Jamaicans ask why their finance minister cannot manage his phone bill

Jamaica – The temperature in Jamaica’s capital city of Kingston has “tun up” in more ways than one recently. It has been a stressful week in Jamaican politics — and finance minister Audley Shaw has been feeling the heat. It’s all to do with phone bills… more

UPDATED: Shaw Faces Fresh Criticisms Over Discount On $8.34 Million Phone Bill

Caribbean – Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Digital Media – Statistics and Analyses

Regional – The telecoms sector is one of the Caribbean region’s major growth sectors, particularly in the mobile telephony and data segments… more

Digital skills needed for Caribbean to stay globally competitive

Regional – The digital era is here to stay but many still lack the skills needed to get ahead in the Internet economy… more

Minister encourages ICT use

Saint Lucia – The Tapion Private School benefitted recently from learning tools that will assist in enhancing the effectiveness of teaching at the educational institution… more

Sunday, 16 July 2017

Phone policy plea

Barbados – A BAN ON students bringing cellphones to school has not worked and Barbadians must now give the new policy a chance to work… more

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES MEDREGIS

Barbados – Medical staff in Barbados now have access to a new and innovative electronic health records management system called “MedRegis EHR”, which will see them delivering health care in a more efficient manner, by moving away from a paper-based system in favour of this electronic system… more

BPOs focused on new brands in 2016

Jamaica – During 2016, BPO-related activities focused on the launch of new brands, the expansion of existing companies, and the construction of new BPO commercial accommodation, according to the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ) 2016… more

Mark Wignall | Real Phone Bills Or Authentic Government Waste?

Jamaica – There are two views that we can adopt in making a judgement on high mobile-phone bills of Jamaican Cabinet ministers… more

Techno-Tools For The Classroom | Making Student Materials With Pressbooks

Jamaica – In 1440, when Gutenberg invented the printing press, the door to knowledge was flung wide open and the ‘book’, as they knew it then, was never the same again… more

Unacceptable!

Jamaica – Telecommunication companies Digicel and Verge Communications Ltd in responding to Cable and Wireless Jamaica’s (C&WJ) request for an extension for the implementation of termination rates has described the application as ‘unacceptable’… more

Image credits: journalismthatmatters (flickr); Eleutheran News; Wikimedia; Wikipedia; The West Indian News; Wikipedia

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