A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 14 August 2017 to Sunday 20 August 2017.
Monday, 14 August 2017
Barbados ‘can lead’ digital finance
Barbados – BARBADOS HAS A real opportunity to get ahead of the rest of the globe by rebuilding its economy on a foundation of financial technology… more
GTT customers unable to receive SMS from Digicel but able to send
Guyana – For the past three months customers of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) have been unable to receive text messages (SMS) from Digicel customers due to “programming problems” experienced by Digicel… more
GTT, GPL, GWI refund consumers millions of dollars- PUC
Guyana – Three major utility companies have for the year so far racked up almost 400 customer complaints and has had to refund a total of GYD$30 million to customers, according to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)… more
GTT says its customers not receiving SMS from Digicel
Guyana – GTT on Saturday said that for more than three months its customers have been unable to receive text messages (SMS) from Digicel customers because of programming problems on the Digicel network… more
CWJ reports $222-m profit in Q2
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica reported profit of $222 million in its June second quarter, coming on the heels of a jump in revenues… more
CXC working on free online hub
Regional – THE CARIBBEAN EXAMINATION Council is in the process of creating an online learning hub in an effort to make free research material available to the public… more
Helping computers to see
Trinidad and Tobago – It takes a little while for anyone getting involved in photography to begin to tell the difference between looking at something, and truly seeing it… more
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
ALIV Continues Expansion to Bimini
Bahamas – ALIV, The Bahamas’ newest mobile network, is pleased to announce the opening of a flagship store in Bimini. The official grand opening is scheduled for Friday, August 18th… more
Bimini To Join Aliv Stores Chain
Bahamas – ALIV, The Bahamas’ newest mobile network, has announced the opening of a flagship store in Bimini will take place this Friday, August 18… more
Digicel rejects GTT claim on SMS
Guyana – Digicel has rejected claims by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) that programming issues on Digicel’s network is responsible for GTT customers not receiving text messages from Digicel… more
Growth & Jobs | Information Technology Could Cut Rates In Microfinance Sector
Jamaica – Mobile and online technology can improve the operational efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and result in lower interest rates, Paul Chin, general manager of Microfinance Services at the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), stated as he addressed a session at the Small Business Association of Jamaica MSME Conference, held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in St James on August 20… more
NTRC, ECTEL officials ‘Working for You’ special guests Wednesday
Regional – Cosbert Manchester, chairperson of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC); Ervin Williams, director of the NTRC; and Quincy Prentice, director on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) will be the special guests on “Working for You” on Wednesday… more
Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Aliv continues rollout with upcoming opening of Bimini flagship store
Bahamas – Aliv has arrived in Bimini and will be carrying out the opening of its flagship Bimini store this Friday, the company said in a press release yesterday. The company has revealed that, to date, it has more than 70,000 subscribers… more
ALIV launches in Bimini on Friday
Bahamas – ALIV, The Bahamas’ newest mobile network, is pleased to announce the opening of a flagship store in Bimini. The official grand opening is scheduled before the for Friday, August 18th… more
NEW AGE OF PRINTERS NOW IN BARBADOS
Barbados – Productive Business Solutions (PBS) recently launched new printer systems in Barbados with never-before-seen applications that can meet several of today’s workplace demands including the need to increase productivity and to be accessible on and off the worksite… more
Introducing DigiNet – BTL hosts corporate mixer to discuss fastest internet for Belize
Belize – On Friday, August 11th, Belize Telemedia Limited hosted a DigiNet Corporate Mixer at the stunning Rain Restaurant & Rooftop Terrace located at Grand Caribe… more
BUSINESS BYTE: Flow launches new Post-paid Combo Plans; more value for customers
Dominica – Flow today launched its new post-paid combo plans in market with a promise of even more value to customers. The highly anticipated post-paid combo plans provide great value and give customers the flexibility they need in deciding on a plan which best suits their lifestyle and telecommunication needs… more
Dominican Republic to reach 860 public internet zones by 2018
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic will have over 200 public internet spots by the end of the year, and the figure is expected… more
Broadcasting Bill violates constitutional rights
Guyana – Dear Editor, The Parliamentary Opposition, the Guyana Press Association, the owners of almost every media house in the country, the Private Sector Com-mission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the largest amalgam of trade unions in the country, FITUG, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers, Reporters without Borders and the International Press Institute, have all expressed their condemnation of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017, and the failure of the government to consult prior to its promulgation in the National Assembly… more
Digicel accuses US rival of ‘victim shaming’ in $60m counterclaim
Regional – Digicel, the Caribbean mobile operator owned by Denis O’Brien, has accused a US telco of deploying “shock and awe” tactics in a legal dispute… more
Digicel Founder Behind New Telecom – Denis O’Brien Main Shareholder In Deep Blue Cable
Regional – Digicel Group founder and chairman Denis O’Brien holds the largest stake in Deep Blue Cable, the new entity that aims to string the region with underwater fibre-optic cables… more
Digicel founder O’Brien backs new Caribbean cable system
Regional – Digicel Group founder and chairman Denis O’Brien is the main backer of Deep Blue Cable, a new company that aims to connect islands in the Caribbean with a submarine cable system… more
TelEm Group maintenance works in Betty’s Estate, Saunders and Almond Grove Thurs. and Sat.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group technicians will be carrying out important repair and maintenance works in several areas around the island Thursday and Saturday, as a result, voice and data services for residential and business customers will be affected… more
Ethics in the digital age*
Trinidad and Tobago – Organisations across the world need to put ethics at the heart of securing public trust in the digital age according to a new global study of accountants and business leaders… more
TATT imposes no job cuts on TSTT acquisition
Trinidad and Tobago – THE regulator of the local telecommunications industry, the Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT), announced yesterday that both Massy Communications and TSTT would be unable to reduce staff for one year as a direct consequence of the sale of the Massy Holdings subsidiary to the majority State-owned company… more
Thursday, 17 August 2017
C&W trials Gigabit LTE with Ericsson in Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda – Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and C&W Communications (C&W), have successfully completed a Gigabit LTE trial in Antigua and Barbuda and started testing a pre-5G network, under C&W’s residential brand Flow… more
Dominican Republic to activate 200 Wi-Fi hotspots this year
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic will have activated a total of 200 free Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of 2017, rising to 860 by the end of next year, reports website Hoy Digital, citing Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) president Jose Del Castillo Savinon… more
BOJ seeking to build awareness on cryptocurrency
Jamaica – Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Livingstone Morrison says the central bank must create opportunities for the exploitation of certain technologies, including cryptocurrency… more
ECTEL member states to undergo telecommunications reform
Regional – The five member states of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) are currently undergoing a process of reform to update the telecommunications framework with legislation… more
New app promises: Invest like a billionaire
Regional – Want to invest like a billionaire but do not have either the money or the smarts? … more
Public consultations underway to address mobile roaming charges in ECTEL member states
Regional – With growing concerns of the high fees for mobile roaming within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) region, member states of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) are currently engaging in public consultations to address the issue… more
Flow Asks Customers For More Patience
Saint Lucia – THREE months after giving the assurance of delivering better services to dissatisfied customers island-wide, telecommunications company, Flow, is singing the same tune and are asking the public to bear with them… more
TSTT receives award for being an innovative regional leader
Trinidad and Tobago – “TSTT continues to be a leader in this region because it pushes new technologies to its consumers… more
Friday, 18 August 2017
Police say victims of cyberbullying suffer in silence
Antigua and Barbuda – Hundreds of adults and teens continue to suffer in silence due to the actions of others who post false and offensive material about them on the Internet… more
Bahamas mobile operator Aliv up to 70,000 subs
Bahamas – Bahamas mobile operator Aliv, a joint venture between Cable Bahamas Limited (CBL) and the local government, has reached a total of 70,000 subscribers and activated 142 base stations since launching at the end of last year, reports website Bahamas Local… more
GTT accused of stealing another phone company logo concept and colour theme
Guyana – The new logo that was unveiled by local telecommunications giant GTT in September 2015 has recently been placed in the spotlight by copyright infringement monitors who had first raised the possibility last week that the logo concept and colour theme of the Guyanese telecommunications service provider seems to be a modified replica of a similar logo that already belongs to another international telecommunications service provider… more
Telecoms liberalisation delayed due to talks between GTT, GRA
Guyana – The deadline of August 2017 was given for all the negotiations concerning the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector to be concluded… more
80 children participating in Kingston tech camp
Jamaica – JA Biztown on Monday welcomed approximately 80 students from communities in Kingston 5 to the third staging of the week-long JA Biztown Tech Camp… more
FLOW recapturing market share via Price differential
Jamaica – It’s been a long road, but FLOW has been recapturing more of the Jamaican market from its competitor Digicel in the cellular market while holding onto its market leadership in other areas… more
GoVNeT design completed
Jamaica – The design for the Government’s proposed communications network, GovNet, which is expected to result in greater interconnectivity and efficiency in the public sector, has been completed… more
New software to greatly improve monitoring of children in care
Jamaica – GOVERNMENT is streamlining services within the child protection sector with the launch of the Child Case Management System (CCMS), incorporating the Social and Health Management (SOHEMA) software… more
Digicel Founder Has Hands In Business Of New Telecoms Operator
Regional – Irish business magnate Denis O’Brien, founder and chairman of telecommunications provider Digicel, is behind the St Lucia-based subsea cable operator Deep Blue Cable that has announced plans to operate a fibre-optic cable network that will provide connectivity across the Caribbean… more
tTech focuses on growing revenue
Jamaica – tTech limited, a provider of back office IT services to corporate Jamaica, has recently secured new deals in a move to further diversify and grow revenue streams… more
Saturday, 19 August 2017
Tax negotiations delaying telecoms liberalisation – Hughes
Guyana – Negotiations between the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) have stalled the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, according to Minister of Telecommunications Catherine Hughes… more
FLOW Exposes New Technology To Students From Biztown Tech Camp
Jamaica – Approximately 80 students from the communities in South Eastern St Andrew area were exposed to a curriculum focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the third staging of the weeklong Biztown Tech Camp… more
Hotels To Get Boost with C&W Business’ New Hospitality Solutions
Regional – Hoteliers from around the region get a boost with an enhanced in-room television viewing experience made possible with C&W Business’ Next Generation Hospitality Interactive TV… more
Sunday, 20 August 2017
FLOW Jamaica To Spend $10b On Service Upgrades
Jamaica – Telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ), which trades as FLOW, plans to connect more than 200 communities with improved 4G mobile and digital cable services this year… more
Gov’t seeks to expand space for BPO growth
Jamaica – Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in the Corporate Area is expecting a significant boost, with the government’s decision to lease 10 acres (4.1 hectares) of National Water Commission (NWC) land to the private sector for its development… more
Image credits: Megan Trace (flickr); Wikipedia; Flow; Wikipedia; The West Indian; Wikimedia
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