A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 28 August 2017 to Sunday 3 September 2017.
Monday, 28 August 2017
Entrepreneur Programme To Be Launched
Bahamas – PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said that the Office of the Prime Minister would soon launch an apiary entrepreneur programme, and put at least 20 persons in business on Grand Bahama… more
Internet Providers Stalling Money Saving IXP
British Virgin Islands – Back in 2010/2011 when the BVI first decided to establish an Internet Exchange Point (IXP), the Territory was the second country in the English-speaking Caribbean to do so. Now there are approximately 14 other countries with active IXPs, while the BVI is just a little past the starting position… more
Twice the price -Telecom firms making life harder
British Virgin Islands – Telecommunication providers in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have refused to use interconnection arrangements in the territory that could make internet cheaper and faster for their customers, said Internet Strategist and Advisor to the Caribbean Telecommunications Union Bevil Wooding… more
Cuba Reportedly Planning to Launch 4G Networks
Cuba – High speed 4G/LTE networks are expected to soon spring up in Cuba, allowing people to access the web without the need for Wi-Fi hotspots… more
Intellectual property rights key topic at CBU AGM
Guyana – Honouring intellectual property rights was a key issue at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s 48th Annual General Assembly (AGA) which wrapped up in Nassau, The Bahamas on 23rd August, 2017… more
Airbnb contributes $8m to staging of UNWTO MoBay conference
Jamaica – International online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb has committed approximately $8.3 million to the Government towards the staging of the UNWTO, GOJ, World Bank Group Conference to be held in Jamaica in November… more
Airbnb: Ja’s Tourism Game Changer – Tourism Minister Says Deal With Popular Platform Could Bring Big Benefits
Jamaica – Not only has Jamaica secured the popular tourism platform Airbnb as its first platinum sponsor of the landmark UNWTO-Sustainable Tourism Development Conference, but a partnership has been concretised, ensuring financial and other support of Jamaica’s tourism product going forward… more
Call 658 … Jamaica Gets Additional Area Code, 10-Digit Dialling Becomes Mandatory May 2018
Jamaica – Jamaica now has an additional area code: 658… more
Copyright Act to be amended to tackle digital piracy
Jamaica – The Copyright Act is to be amended to introduce comprehensive measures to tackle digital piracy… more
Jamaica to Amend Copyright Act to Tackle Digital Piracy
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Copyright Act is to be amended to introduce comprehensive measures to tackle digital piracy… more
Deloitte partners with Unified Technologies to enhance Caribbean cybersecurity solutions
Regional – Unified Technologies, a Pan-Regional IT solutions provider with operations in the Caribbean and North America, announced their newly established Cyber Security Alliance with the global professional services firm Deloitte… more
Digicel, Huawei carry out first 4K test in Caribbean
Regional – Digicel Group and Huawei Technologies continue to push the boundaries of technology and put the real power of fibre to the test – this time with the first-ever local linear broadcast of Ultra High Definition TV (UHD-TV) in the Caribbean… more
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Tech Summit to Propel Grand Bahama Towards Becoming a Tech Hub
Bahamas – Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis announced that the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama, will soon host a GB Tech Summit, with leading local and international technology companies… more
BVI telcos reluctant to use internet exchange point
British Virgin Islands – Telecoms service providers in the British Virgin Islands are reluctant to use an internet exchange point (IXP) in the territory that … more
Digicel, FLOW assure compatibility with new ‘658’ area code
Jamaica – JAMAICA’S two major telecommunication service providers — Digicel and FLOW — have committed to having their networks compatible with the new 658 area code by the May 2018 deadline stipulated by the Office of the Utilities Regulation (OUR)… more
Jamaica gets additional area code
Jamaica – If you calling Jamaica from overseas from May 31, next year, you will have the option of dialling 876 or 658… more
Telecoms Back New Area Code – Jamaica To Implement 10-Digit Dialling Next Year
Jamaica – Following sensitisation sessions involving public- and private-sector groups over the last six months, telecommunications companies Digicel and FLOW said there are plans to engage the wider public about the new 658 area code to be implemented in Jamaica next year, which will be in addition to the existing 876. Ten-digit dialling will also become compulsory… more
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Kerchelle Jn Charles-Hodge appointed CEO for Digicel Anguilla
Anguilla – Digicel on Wednesday announced the appointment of Kerchelle Jn Charles-Hodge as Chief Executive Officer for its Anguilla operations effective August 2017… more
BTC Tackles Landline Outage
Bahamas – Thousands of Bahamas Telecommunications Company customers experienced problems with their landline phones late Monday evening… more
Phone companies urged to support app developers
British Virgin Islands – Internet Strategist Bevil Wooding has called on telecommunication companies Flow, CCT, and Digicel to support local app developers, adding that there is a need for more mobile apps locally… more
Deep Blue Cable eyes Cuba landing for Pan-Caribbean cable
Cuba – Deep Blue Cable is eyeing a potential landing in Cuba for its high-speed fiber optic cable, which would be used by … more
International Experts To Gather For Internet Week Guyana In October
Guyana – Internet experts from around the world will be in Georgetown in October for Internet Week Guyana, a high-level technology conference focused on national and regional development issues… more
China Could Build Data Center In Haiti As Part Of $4.7bn Large Scale Reconstruction
Haiti – Country is still recovering from one of its worst natural disasters with the need for humanitarian relief still part of everyday life… more
Digicel Says It Has No Case To Answer Following Privy Council Ruling Over Claro Merger
Jamaica – Telecoms provider Digicel says it has no case to answer as far as the Fair Trading Commission (FTC’s) attempts to intervene in its merger with Claro is concerned… more
Flow Rivals Against Extended Termination Rate Reduction
Jamaica – Telecommunication providers Digicel and Verge Communications want the proposed reduction in fixed termination rates implemented as soon as possible, suggesting that it would unduly benefit Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ) financially if done over an extended period… more
Can social media and privacy co-exist?
Regional – A friend recently called me to request my professional opinion on a situation… more
Navigating blockchain technology in the Caribbean
Regional – Technology has a profound impact on how we live and an even greater impact on the way we all connect within society. Today we are able to share information in real time with anyone anywhere in the world through the Internet… more
Bank salutes IT interns*
Trinidad and Tobago – Last week Thursday marked the end of the inaugural First Citizens UWI Computer Science Internship Programme, which offered First and Second Year students of The University of the West Indies Department of Computing and Information Technology the opportunity to work alongside the First Citizens ICT Department and several other units and departments within the group, to create IT-based solutions for business projects throughout the organisation… more
Ministry of national security issues advisory on the use of drones in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – As Trinidad and Tobago celebrates its 55th anniversary as an independent nation on Thursday, the ministry of national security has reminded the public that the Port of Spain area has been designated as a no fly zone for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) commonly referred to as drones… more
Rogers: Govt must keep hands off TTT
Trinidad and Tobago – The elimination of apparent political control and a greater emphasis on original content are two measures being suggested for Government to consider in its plans to shut down state-owned Caribbean News Media Group (CNMG) television and restart the media house under its former name T&T Television (TTT)… more
The state media challenge
Trinidad and Tobago – It took a while, but the periodic cycle for change at the state broadcaster has finally caught up with us again, this time with very familiar language about the re-positioning and re-defining of the role of state broadcast media in T&T… more
Thursday, 31 August 2017
Cell hold
Barbados – GOVERNMENT’S CONTENTIOUS PLAN to lift the ban on cellphone use in schools has been put on hold… more
JONES GIVES UPDATE ON CELLPHONE POLICY
Barbados – The Ministry of Education’s cellphone policy is not likely to be ready for implementation at the very start of the new school year, but Minister of Education, Ronald Jones says it is only a matter of time before it comes to fruition… more
Give telecom firms a bit more time – Vanterpool
British Virgin Islands – Minister of Communications Mark Vanterpool said residents should indulge local telecommunication companies a while longer as they try to improve the quality of their internet services, adding that there have been some improvements in such services since last year… more
VIVA Dominicana deploys Ericsson Charging System and in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic – Ericsson has been selected by VIVA Dominicana to deploy its Revenue Management products, as part of a five-year, full end-to-end network modernisation project… more
FTC gets nod to challenge Digicel, Claro merger
Jamaica – THE Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is all set to resume its legal battle with Digicel over the telecommunication giant’s 2011 acquisition of Claro, after the Privy Council last week ruled that the FTC has jurisdiction over the acquisition… more
Gov’t Targeting Increased Use of Technology in Education
Jamaica – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is moving to optimise schools’ outputs through greater use of information and communications technology (ICT) in teaching… more
Caribbean Economist Marla Dukharan Joins Bitt
Regional – One of the region’s most noted and accomplished economists has joined the team at Barbados-based FinTech company, Bitt Inc… more
Fair use of data services
Trinidad and Tobago – Telecommunications service providers worldwide regularly monitor the performance of their networks to preserve the quality of their networks as well as their users’ service experience… more
Govt aims to boost IT jobs through IDB loan
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Planning and Development said on Wednesday that it was certain that an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan and grant agreement would lead to the growth of the information technology sector in this country, along with high-paying jobs for well-qualified nationals of T&T… more
PoS, no-fly zone for drones today
Trinidad and Tobago – AS the country celebrates its 55th Independence anniversary today, the Ministry of National Security is reminding the public that Port of Spain has been designated a nofly zone for the use of drones (unmanned aircraft systems)… more
Friday, 1 September 2017
ALIV launches two new promotions for customers
Bahamas – In an effort to continue giving its customers, more “bang for their buck”, ALIV, The Bahamas’ newest mobile network, is pleased to announce its ‘Double Data Forever’ and new switch promotion beginning September 1st… more
Teachers welcome suspension of schools’ cell phone policy
Barbados – The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) has welcomed the suspension of Government’s controversial plan to lift a ban on the use of mobile devices, including smartphones, in schools… more
Digicel chops customer care service to 12 hrs
Guyana – As part of its restructuring process local cell phone service provider, Digicel has reduced its customer care service from 24 hours to 12 hours… more
ICT hub launched at Free-and-Easy
Guyana – Residents of the agricultural West Bank Demerara village called Free-and-Easy commissioned their new Community ICT Hub on Wednesday… more
FTC Heading Back To Supreme Court Over Digicel, Claro Merger
Jamaica – In a landmark judgment, the Privy Council ruled that the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) had jurisdiction to intervene in the 2011 merger of telecommunications service provider Digicel with another operator Claro, which had operated independently in Jamaica up to then… more
LIME Enhances Internet Knowledge And Use
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Telecommunications Service Provider FLOW has concluded yet another Internet Summer School Programme… more
Ministry of Planning tackles cybersecurity
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Planning and development, through the rollout of an Inter-American Development Bank-funded initiative called the Global Services Promotion Program (GSPP) is attempting to bring greater attention to the threats and opportunities that exist in the space of cybersecurity for citizens in T&T… more
Saturday, 2 September 2017
GTT asks Utilities Commission to review conditions in decision on increased landline rates
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has asked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to review its recent order handed down on July 24, 2017, relating to an increase in landline rates… more
E-Justice and Radio Frequency Piracy
Haiti – Jean David Rodney, Director General of the National Council for Telecommunications (CONATEL), as part of his mission to assist activities and projects related to the development and the good functioning of the State, received his counterpart from the Ministry of Justice, Jean Claudy Pierre… more
VIDEO: It looks so real! Huawei, Digicel host 4K TV ‘first-look’ event
Regional – Digicel Group and Huawei Technologies recently joined forces to give Jamaicans a first-hand view of the 4K TV experience… more
Flow Brings Digital TV To Castries
Saint Lucia – PLEASE note that Flow is shutting down the analog TV transmitters for parts of Central Castries and Castries North… more
Newspapering and media through the years
Trinidad and Tobago – Though the technological advances of Britain’s Industrial Revolution toward the end of the 18th century were generally slow in reaching colonial outposts in the West Indies, the printing press established itself as a significant exception… more
FLOW raising cable TV rates
Trinidad and Tobago – FROM October 1, FLOW customers will pay more for their Digital and Advanced Video Service (AVS) cable TV packages… more
T&T students attend cyber-security workshop
Trinidad and Tobago – Students in Trinidad and Tobago were given the opportunity to gain valuable skills necessary to enter the cyber-security industry, a sector where salaries can be upwards of TT $35,000.00 to $50,000.00 monthly, depending on experience and certification… more
Sunday, 3 September 2017
NICIL still negotiating with Chinese co. over US$5M owed for GTT shares
Guyana – The National Industrial and Commercial Invest-ments Limited (NICIL) is currently still engaged in negotiations with Hong Kong Golden Telecom Limited (HKGT) to settle the Chinese company’s remaining payment for its purchase of government shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT)… more
Musson Building Large Tech Park
Jamaica – The Musson Group is developing what appears to be a more than 50,000-square foot complex in the Half-Way Tree belt, but the company is keeping quiet on some of the details, including the size and investment, pending a formal roll-out of the project… more
O’Brien’s Digicel loses legal battle over Jamaican takeover deal
Jamaica – Digicel, Denis O’Brien’s Caribbean telecoms group, has lost a long-running case against Jamaica’s competition enforcer over its takeover of the island’s third-biggest mobile operator in 2011… more
Image credits: Nicolas Alejandro (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; This is Trinidad; The West Indian News
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