A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 October to Sunday 30 October 2017.
Monday, 23 October 2017
App-Based Transportation Firm Aims ‘To Make A Name’
Bahamas – AN app-based Bahamian transportation network is looking to “make a name for itself”, having attracted just over 1,500 users within its first year, with new management committed to a renewed focus on improving the business… more
BTC Cuts ‘Top Heavy’ Senior Management
Bahamas – THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has slashed its “top heavy” executive management by releasing three vice-president-level executives, a union leader told Tribune Business… more
BTC Employees Made Redundant
Bahamas – Several employees at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company have been let go as the company conducts changes to its operations… more
Inspiring Excellence, BTC Proudly Sponsors the National Youth Awards
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited has announced, that it will partner with the Ministry of Youth as it hosts its annual National Youth Awards. The gala event will honor the work and dedication of one hundred and fifty seven (157) young persons throughout the country. BTC will invest $20,000.00 in this noteworthy event… more
BTL To Get Big Bucks From Int’l Bank
Belize – And in one more bit of business from Friday’s house meeting that we didn’t get to cover in our last newscast, the government made an amendment to the International Banking Bill… more
DIGICEL ANNOUNCEMENT: Jimmit and Mahaut Customers
Dominica – Digicel strengthens mobile coverage for Jimmit and Mahaut… more
Women’s Hackathon takes place in San José
Dominican Republic – More than 200 women from Central America, Mexico and the Dominican Republic gathered in San José over the weekend for the first-ever Central American Women’s Hackathon… more
Gov’t leveraging science and technology to build climate-smart houses
Jamaica – MINISTER without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Dr Horace Chang,says the Government will be leveraging science and technology to build climate-smart houses… more
Mobile apps being developed to improve policing – Montague
Jamaica – National Security Minister, Robert Montague says the Government is developing three mobile applications (apps) that will revolutionise policing in Jamaica… more
Technology Altering Kids’ Behaviour
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: First, I will start by declaring how proud I am to be a Jamaican. Even though I now reside in America, it is with intent reflection that I express how privileged I have been to have had such a memorable and prominent childhood, being raised in such a one-of-a-kind culture and country… more
Caribbean Region Offers Prime Location for Business Process Outsourcing Services
Regional – The global market for business process outsouring (BPO) is currently valued at USD $1 trillion with cross-border outsourced services trade between countries estimated at US$88.9 billion per year in 2015… more
CARICOM Presents Digital Platforms for Trade Promotion
Regional – The Guyana-Based Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) has introduced four new online platforms to promote trade and develop the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (MEUC)… more
C&W charitable foundation launched with US$500K donation to support hurricane relief
Regional – Further to its recently announced relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Maria – including expertise deployment, humanitarian aid drops and free calls for impacted customers – C&W Communications (C&W) has launched the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (‘the Foundation’), with seed funding of US$500K to help support humanitarian efforts across the region… more
DRONES: The New Caribbean Lifestyle
Regional – Drones are becoming an inescapable reality in the Caribbean… more
Intelsat Supports Hurricane Disaster Relief and Recovery Operations Throughout the Caribbean and United States
Regional – Intelsat S.A. (NYSE I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite communications, announced today its support of multiple organizations providing relief services in the Caribbean as well as helping local and U.S. businesses recover from the three hurricanes that devastated the regions… more
Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Case Study: Impact of telecom market liberalisation in The Bahamas
Bahamas – CASE STUDY: The Bahamian mobile market has evolved over the years, but one thing remained missing for consumers – choice… more
Cell Phones, Safety and School Discipline
Barbados – It is virtually impossible to escape the cascading impact of technology on society… more
Digicel restores service in Pond Casse
Dominica – Digicel customers from Pond Casse’ are now re-connected to the network… more
FLOW commits to reinvesting in its infrastructure around island
Dominica – Reporting that about ten percent of FLOW’s mobile infrastructure was completely destroyed due to the passage of hurricane Maria, the telecommunications company’s general manager Jeffery Baptiste has said they are committed to rebuilding lost sites… more
Digicel renews A2P SMS revenue partnership with Anam for five years
Regional – Digicel has extended its A2P SMS partnership with Anam for a further five years to run to 2023… more
TalkPool, Digicel sign 10-year global framework deal
Regional – Network service provider TalkPool has announced the signing of a 10-year global framework agreement to deliver telecommunications network operation and maintenance services to the Digicel Group’s 33 worldwide markets… more
CWU sees corruption in TSTT’s decision to franchise retail stores
Trinidad and Tobago – The decision of the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) to franchise all ten of its retail stores is being described as an act of corruption… more
The Budget and ICT
Trinidad and Tobago – There has been some mild muttering about the absence of any major ICT development or projects in the 2018… more
TSTT confirms closure of retail stores
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has confirmed that it will be closing nine retail stores… more
Wednesday, 25 October 2017
BTL’S CEO’S CRAZY $700,000-PLUS SALARY!
Belize – Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), the nation’s premier telecommunications provider, continues to be one of the most talked about companies in Belize, and it was the subject of a back-and-forth in Parliament on Friday, when a bill was tabled to allow the company to be able to borrow from an international bank in Belize… more
Flow Cayman Head Exits After Short Stint
Cayman Islands – Garfield Sinclair, president of the Caribbean operations for Cable & Wireless Communications confirmed that the managing director of the Cayman operations resigned this week after 10 months on the job… more
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 debuts in Jamaica
Jamaica – Last week Friday saw the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 in Jamaica… more
Deep Blue Cable to Extend its Subsea Network to Colombia and Panama
Regional – Deep Blue Cable has announced that it would extend its planned Caribbean subsea network to Colombia and Panama, changing its original plan to only roll out a high-speed broadband service in underserved Caribbean countries… more
Denis O’Brien to compete with Carlos Slim on undersea cable
Regional – Denis O’Brien is on course to enter into direct competition with his old rival, the Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim, in the wholesale telecoms market… more
Digicel names Anam its partner in blocking SMS crime
Regional – Denis O’Brien’s 31 Caribbean, Central American and south-east Asian mobile networks are defending themselves against SMS fraud… more
TSTT to close 9 retail branches
Trinidad and Tobago – The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is calling on government to intervene in the situation in which the Telecommunication Services of T&T (TSTT) is getting set to close nine retail stores which it believes will lead to the retrenchment of over 300 employees… more
Thursday, 26 October 2017
How Telemedia Will Handle Planned U.S.-dollar Loan
Belize – In contrast to the debate in the House of Representatives which centered on the salary of its C.E.O., the Senate’s debate of the International Banking (Amendment) Bill focuses on Belize Telemedia Limited’s efforts to obtain a loan for the Internet to houses broadband program, costing thirty-five million U.S. dollars… more
Salary and Employment of B.T.L. C.E.O. ‘Insulting’
Belize – By far, C.E.O. of Belize Telemedia Limited Rochus Schreiber’s salary and benefits, amounting to more than seven hundred thousand Belize dollars, is the most paid to anyone in that role in Belize… more
Dominican Republic goes Digital
Dominican Republic – The government on Wed. night launched the program Digital Republic, which will offer new and better services with less red tape to the public… more
Dominican Rep senate passes bill to regulate telecom services
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic senate approved a bill to regulate telephony services, particularly those involving the prepaid segment. According to the bill, unused … more
Cyber-Attack Alert
Jamaica – … more
Gov’t Continues to Urge Caution in ICT Use
Jamaica – The Government is emphasising the need for users of information and communications technology (ICT) tools to exercise caution in order to reduce cybersecurity risks… more
Patrick Casserly | The Real Story Of BPO
Jamaica – Business process outsourcing (BPO). For most, it’s a nebulous term. For others, they’re referred to as “call centre sweatshops” that churn through their staff like hot knives do through butter. There are two realities to the BPO industry… more
Use technology for teaching and learning, educators urge
Jamaica – Using a smartphone to take photographs and videos for posting online doesn’t begin to explore the extent to how this tech-savvy generation can benefit from the capabilities of modern information communication technology (ICT), according to one educator … more
USF Presents Computers to Children of Persons Affected by Breast Cancer
Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) handed over four laptop computers to the children of persons affected by breast cancer, during its Positively Pink Midday Mingle on October 25 in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month… more
Using Technology In Crime Fighting
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: These days, everyone is a text, an instant message, or a WhatsApp away. The way we use technology has changed; once a luxury, now a necessity. We are a generation of heavily reliant social media users, scrolling up and down our timelines multiple times a day… more
CANTO and CARILEC MOU Supports Sustainable Energy and ICT Goals of the Caribbean
Regional – From May 2017, discussions have been ongoing between CARILEC and CANTO in the formulation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which included, inter alia, agreement on the joint promotion of the current CARILEC Smart Grid Symposium in Trinidad, October 23-26, 2017… more
Friday, 27 October 2017
Another data leak?
British Virgin Islands – In a move likely designed to preempt a flood of international headlines, Appleby announced this week that investigative journalists had reached out with questions about leaked company documents… more
BUSINESS BYTE: End October with special Digicel offers on ‘My Digicel App’
Dominica – Digicel is treating customers to special end of October offers. Customers who activate the one (1), seven (7) or thirty (30)-day Quick Pick bundle on the My Digicel app, will receive triple their data until the
end of October… more
Tech Beach Retreat: Bringing Silicon Valley to Jamaica
Jamaica – Kirk -Anthony Hamilton continues on his mission to transform the global image of Jamaica — and by extension the Caribbean — beyond that of just sun, sea and sand. He aims to showcase the Caribbean as fertile ground for producing cutting-edge technology… more
St Kitts government invests heavily in cyber safety training
Saint Kitts and Nevis – One hundred and five staff members from the St Kitts end of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) are now better equipped to deal with the threat of hacking, as they were recently trained to do so, thanks to a week-long workshop on cybersecurity… more
Flow Mobile Serves Up Extra For Christmas
Saint Lucia – Flow customers are getting the chance to win a $13,000.00 Smart Home Entertainment Bundle, a $5,000.00 Services Bundle, or one of 10 Community Cash Prizes this Christmas, plus the company will be executing a number of community projects in collaboration with several public and private sector partners… more
Mobile phone ban regressive, Gopeesingh says
Trinidad and Tobago – The proposal to ban the use of mobile phones in schools is being described as regressive and a knee-jerk response to viral videos of incidents of school violence… more
Saturday, 28 October 2017
Digicel gives customers control with launch of self-help options
Barbados – In an effort to continue improving its customer service experience, Digicel Barbados has given its customers the power and control over their accounts with the launch of the Digicel Self-Help options… more
Transforming Guyana’s IT Sector NDMA Completes specialised technical training for staff, increases number of eGovernment ICT hubs countrywide
Guyana – As government seeks to develop both our human and infrastructural capabilities, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), under the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, is striving to fulfill its mandate by focusing on using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to achieve these goals… more
CWU vex TSTT closing retail centres
Trinidad and Tobago – The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is demanding that TSTT reverse its decision to shutter nine retail centres owned by the company, or at least explain its intentions… more
Sunday, 29 October 2017
NCB Debuts ‘Agile’ Banking
Jamaica – Digital product delivery at the NCB Financial Group is being pursued at hyper-speed, by the company’s own estimation, with new cross-functional teams at work in a specialist information technology unit, called the Agile Lab… more
Techno-Tools For The Classroom | Mentimeter Presentations In A New Perspective
Jamaica – It is not an uncommon experience the slow death of droning words that accompany a million slides of content of a presentation, which was commonly referred to as “death by PowerPoint”, a tool that is often used for content delivery today… more
CXC vows to fix flaws in e-marking system
Regional – The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has vowed to improve its training of markers in wake of the complaints against the recently implemented electronic marking system… more
CWU: Staff traumatised by TSTT’s decision to close retail stores
Trinidad and Tobago – The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has claimed that workers have been left traumatised following the decision of the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) to close several of its retail stores… more
Use technology to empower yourself
Trinidad and Tobago – Students are being urged to make full use of technology in the education process… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Facebook; Belize Web; Wikimedia; Wikipedia
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