A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 31 July to Sunday 6 August 2017.
Monday, 31 July 2017
Haiti, Dominican Republic discuss border interference and roaming
Haiti – Telecommunication regulators from Haiti and the Dominican Republic have agreed to work together to seek solutions to signal interference and mobile roaming issues in border regions… more
Altice sales inch up to EUR 177 mln in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Altice announced second-quarter revenues of EUR 176.5 million for its Orange Dominicana brand in the Dominican Republic, up 1.8 percent year on year on a constant currency basis and 1.2 percent on a reported basis… more
Guyana misses deadline for telecom liberalization
Guyana – Guyana has missed yet another deadline for liberalizing the fixed-line sector thus thwarting plans to introduce new competitors… more
233 Haitian radio stations interfere in Dominican territory
Haiti – At the technical meeting held last week between the Dominican National Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) and the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) to discuss among other things the interference of Haitian radios on radio and television frequencies in the Dominican Republic, the Senator of Elías Piña, Adriano Sanchez Roa, presented a technical report on interference mainly in the border area, but also in other provinces that are not bound to the border… more
CTU to implement new technology to help deaf people communicate
Regional – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) says it is now close to implementing the Caribbean Video Assistance Service (CVAS), which enables deaf people to communicate directly via the free Personal Universal Communicator (PUC) application… more
TSTT completes buyout of Massy Communications for $40m less *
Trinidad and Tobago – MAJORITY State-owned Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) yesterday completed the acquisition of Massy Communications for a cost of $215 million, some $40 million less than the price tag when the transaction was first announced on May 2… more
Tuesday, 1 August 2017
BTC to launch credit advance service in Bahamas
Bahamas – Bahamas operator BTC has announced the imminent launch of a credit advance service for customers who need to top up, but are short on cash or simply can’t make it to a top-up vendor… more
Belize’s Central Bank adopts SWIFT Sanctions Screening
Belize – SWIFT announces today that the Central Bank of Belize has adopted its Sanctions Screening solution to combat financial crime… more
Dominican Republic operators object to roaming elimination bill
Dominican Republic – Dominican Republic mobile operators Orange and Claro have rejected a congressional bill that sets out to eliminate roaming between the US … more
Broadcast amendment Bill addressing illegally granted radio licences is finally here
Guyana – The Broadcast (amendment) Bill 2017, which addresses all existing broadcasting licences, has been laid in the National Assembly… more
Broadcasting Amendment Bill is ‘an assault on press freedom—Nandlall
Guyana – Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, is of the opinion that the government has gone a step too far in its “authoritarianism” with the formulation of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017… more
GTT has no customer service
Guyana – Dear Editor, It is with disappointment and dissatisfaction that I write this letter… more
Private radio, TV stations concerned about proposed amendments to Broadcasting Act
Guyana – he owners of several privately-owned radio stations are calling on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to postpone debate and expected passage of amendments to the Broadcasting Act and first meet with them to discuss their concerns… more
CTU Seeks Strategic Partnership for CVAS
Regional – In January 2017, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) hosted a demonstration of the features of the Caribbean Video Assistance Service (CVAS), which enables the Deaf to communicate directly via the free Personal Universal Communicator (PUC) app, with hearing and other deaf persons using smart devices… more
Digicel chairman wants revenue share for network providers in LATAM, the Caribbean
Regional – Digicel chairman Denis O’Brien has publicly stated the need to create a level playing field for players in the digital world across the Caribbean and Latin America… more
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
New Bahamian owned BTC franchises provides greater convenience on GBI
Bahamas – Since its inception The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has built its brand on a commitment to service and supporting their community… more
Government contemplating licenses/fees for WiFi hot spots
Cayman Islands – Cayman’s telecommunications regulator is reviewing licensing for businesses that operate WiFi “hot spots” to determine which businesses, if any, should have to pay government fees… more
Data protection law set for 2019 start
Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands Cabinet has proposed a start date of January 2019 for strict privacy protection rules that will affect every private and public sector entity involved in processing someone’s personal information…. more
Digital Republic initiative cuts bureaucracy
Dominican Republic – The commission in charge of promotingthe Digital Republic initiative says that 25 public services will soon be easier to carry out by using online mechanisms… more
The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017, an assault on press freedom
Guyana – Dear Editor, In almost every policy of this Administration and in almost every Bill tabled in the National Assembly, one can easily discern some element of authoritarianism… more
New offer «Unlimited Rollover» by DIGICEL
Haiti – Digicel announced that with its new offer « Unlimited Rollover » its prepaid customers are now able to use the remaining balance of their « Gwo Lo » plan after the expiration date… more
Gov’t puts $40,000 per month cap on cell phone charges
Jamaica – The Government has approved an interim policy for the use of mobile telephones, which places a cap of $40,000 on all telephone expenses by Ministers and Ministers of State… more
Sutherland Exec: Jamaica BPO Must Shift Talent Focus to Survive Age of AI
Jamaica – Jamaica’s country head at Sutherland Global Services, Odetta Rockhead-Kerr, has recommended that the country invest more in its human capital in order to safeguard or sustain jobs in the Jamaica BPO sector as technology progresses… more
CXC Connect officially launched in Guyana
Regional – The CXC Connect mobile application launched today at Giftland Mall, by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), is intended to make communicating with the body easy and accessible to students, teachers and parents… more
TelEm Group and local company Telecare bringing helpdesk services back to SXM
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, has fulfilled one of his early promises since taking up the top position in the company – to bring TelEm Group’s Helpdesk services back to St. Maarten… more
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT & AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YTD MAR. 31ST 2017
Trinidad and Tobago – … more
Thursday, 3 August 2017
Airbnb Inks Yet Another Caribbean Nation
Antigua and Barbuda – Antigua and Barbuda became the most recent Caribbean nation to announce an agreement with home-say provider Airbnb… more
CWC bids for full control of Barbados unit
Barbados – Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited, the parent company of Cable & Wireless Barbados, has launched a bid for full control of its Barbados business, reports website Caribbean 360… more
Ambergris Caye to soon experience the fastest internet connection in Belize
Belize – A team of engineers and technicians from Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), along with personnel from Huawei Marine, have been stationed on Ambergris Caye for the past few weeks as they complete the installation of BTL’s new service-Diginet… more
British Virgin Islands to host CTU’s Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
British Virgin Islands – The island of powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and sheltered, yacht-filled harbours, Tortola, the British Virgin Island’s largest and capital island, will host the world’s oldest Internet forum – the 13th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF)… more
EDITORIAL – WiFi access: A weak signal from the regulator
Cayman Islands – For even entertaining the possibility of requiring licenses for businesses providing wireless Internet “hot spots,” the Cayman Island’s “super regulator” OfReg has emerged as a candidate for a name change: OfRez — short for going “off the reservation… more
Premier: No government support for new WiFi licensing/fees
Cayman Islands – Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin said Thursday that his coalition government would not support any effort to charge licensing fees to businesses that provide wireless internet access to customers on their premises… more
E-Networks store at Mon Repos robbed
Guyana – Two unmasked bandits yesterday afternoon stormed the E-Networks store located in the Mon Repos mall where they held the employees and customers at gunpoint before carting off an undisclosed amount of cash and five cell phones… more
GTT’s telephone and internet service poor in Berbice
Guyana – Dear Editor, Over the past six months the quality of the GTT telephone and internet service has been very poor in the entire Berbice area… more
Media operators ask PM for deferral of Bill
Guyana – Dear Editor, The undersigned broadcasters, media owners and representatives have sent the following letter to Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses V Nagamootoo with regard to the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017… more
Second E-Networks store robbed
Guyana – Bandits yesterday robbed an E-Networks store, its staff and customers at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and both the company’s management and police believe that the perpetrators are the same persons who carried out a similar attack at another branch less than 24 hours before… more
Second E-Networks store robbed at Cornelia Ida
Guyana – At about 11:45 am today, two identifiable males armed with handguns entered E-Networks Inc. located at lot 15 Cornelia Ida, WCD and robbed the two cashiers and seven customers of their valuables after which they fled the scene, in a motorcar… more
The sabotage of GTT is the sabotage of the country
Guyana – Dear Editor, GTT has been a noted partner in the area of communication for many decades in this country. Following its take-over from what was called the Guyana Telecommunication Company, mighty works have been done to bring our communication sector into the 21st century… more
$40,000 cap placed on ministers’ phone bills
Jamaica – GOVERNMENT has approved a cap of $40,000 on the monthly mobile and closed user group phone bills of Cabinet ministers as part of a new interim policy following public outcry after news broke last month that Finance Minister Audley Shaw had racked up an $8- million bill during the course of one year… more
David Butler leaving Digicel after 14 years
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica announced Thursday that Chief Executive Officer, David Butler, will move on from the company, effective September 30, 2017… more
British Virgin Islands to Host CTU’S Caribbean Internet Governance Forum
Regional – The island of powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and sheltered, yacht-filled harbours, Tortola, the British Virgin Island’s largest and capital island, will host the world’s oldest Internet forum – the 13th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF). The event will take place from 21st to 23rd August 2017, at the Government’s Training Division, Bettito Frett Building, Wickham’s Cay 1 in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands… more
CARICOM official says app development critical to Single ICT Space
Regional – Deputy Programme Manager for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Jennifer Britton, says the development of applications such as the recently launched CXC Connect, is critical to the CARICOM Single ICT space… more
Watch World Championships and CPL on Digicel’s PlayGo App
Regional – As anticipation swells around two of the biggest sporting events this summer – the IAAF World Championships London 2017 and the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 – Digicel is announcing that sports fans are in for a big treat this summer, thanks to its PlayGo mobile streaming app… more
TelCell pleased with public response to LTE/4G Sim-Swap promotion
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group’s mobile voice and data provider, TelCell, says its campaign to get customers to swap their current Sim card for a spanking new LTE/4G Sim card, in preparation for the company’s upcoming LTE/4G network launch, is a big hit… more
Data: the new oil
Trinidad and Tobago – As we develop ideas and projects (clearly, we have abandoned planning) to diminish the country’s dependence on hydrocarbons, it appears that some effort is being expended in this country to emphasize access to data services as a source for economic growth… more
Facilitating innovation in corporate TT
Trinidad and Tobago – With the aim of facilitating a greater awareness of programmes which will assist businesses to incorporate innovation into their processes, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) in partnership with the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) hosted a session entitled ‘Encouraging Innovation in Corporate TT’ on Wednesday July 19 at CARIRI’s Centre for Enterprise Development, Freeport… more
Friday, 4 August 2017
Broadcast law amendment ‘caps’ airtime for govt programmes, not “party propaganda”- Nagamootoo
Guyana – Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo Thursday night defended government’s decision to amend the Broadcasting Act, compelling private radio and television stations to set aside 60 minutes every day for “public service” programmes, saying the law would now put a “cap” on airtime… more
Broadcast law amendments unconstitutional ; existing radio, TV stations under threat- PPP
Guyana – The opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) Thursday night slammed amendments to the Broadcasting Act as unconstitutional on several grounds… more
Gunmen hit two E-Networks outlets in two days
Guyana – Gunmen struck at a second E-networks Inc. outlet in two days, escaping in a car after invading a facility at Lot 15 Cornelia Ida, West Coat Demerara at around 11.45 hrs yesterday… more
Several TV, radio stations face closure following changes to Broadcasting Act
Guyana – The opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) on Friday predicted that government would use amendments to Guyana’s Broadcasting Act to close several radio and television stations whose principals are closely aligned to that party, a move that government signaled is on the cards… more
Will a Jamaican take the Digicel helm?
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Digicel is seeking a Jamaican or Caricom national to fill the post of chief executive officer for its Jamaican operations…. more
ECCB launches new website with modern feel
Regional – Speaking at the launch of the new Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) website on Wednesday August 2 2017, the bank’s governor Timothy Antoine said it moves the bank into recent times… more
ECTEL Council of Ministers Meets
Regional – THE thirty-fifth meeting of the ECTEL Council of Ministers convened in Saint Lucia yesterday… more
Internet registry strengthens commitment to the Caribbean with new outreach liaison appointment
Regional – The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) has appointed Bevil Wooding as Caribbean outreach liaison, a newly created role to strengthen the organization’s relationships with community members in the Caribbean region… more
Taiwan Sponsored Micoud ICT Access Centre official Launch
Saint Lucia – H.E. Douglas C.T. Shen was invited by Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert, Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development to attend the official launching ceremony of Micoud ICT Access Centre on 2nd August, 2017… more
TSTT makes $48.5m profit
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) is reporting a profit after tax of $48.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2017… more
Saturday, 5 August 2017
Broadcast (Amendment) Bill is preposterous
Guyana – Dear Editor, The political masquerade continues with the utterances of the Prime Minister in the National Assembly on August 3 as it relates to his government’s justification for including clauses in the Broadcast (Amend-ment) Bill of 2017 that infringe on both the freedom of the press and private enterprise… more
Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill passed
Guyana – The National Assembly, following an extensive debate yesterday in Parliament, passed the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017… more
PPP wavers on Jagdeo’s family ties to radio, TV licencees
Guyana – The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) attempted to downplay that at least two relatives of top party officials were among those granted radio and television licences by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration. “Clearly, from the names we read out they are not PPP, nor are they relatives of Jagdeo whatsoever,” Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira told a news conference… more
When will my phone, internet be fixed?
Guyana – Dear Editor, My telephone line is down and so is my internet service… more
FCJ to build industrial park in Portmore
Jamaica – THE Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) is pursuing a joint venture with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to use 16 acres of land in Portmore, St Catherine, for the construction of an industrial park… more
TSTT completes acquisition of Massy Communications
Trinidad and Tobago – TELECOMMUNICATIONS Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT) has announced completion of its acquisition of 100 per cent of the shareholding of Massy Communications Limited (MCL) for $215 million, down from the $255 million price stated when the two companies announced their share purchase agreement in May… more
TSTT reverses 2016 loss with $48.5m profit*
Trinidad and Tobago – MAJORITY State-owned telecommunications provider TSTT this week declared an after-tax profit of $48.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2015, which reverses the $300.75 million loss the company declared for its 2016 financial year… more
Sunday, 6 August 2017
– Nil –
Image credits: filipe ferreira (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia; Wikipedia
_____________
