A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 27 November to Sunday 3 December 2017.
Monday, 27 November 2017
‘Massive Disruption’ As BTC, Aliv Feud
Bahamas – ALIV has slammed the “massive disruption” caused by the number porting system’s temporary ‘Black Friday’ failure, which is now under investigation by regulators.Damian Blackburn, the new mobile operator’s top executive, told Tribune Business that the system delays had “hugely” impacted Aliv’s promotional drive to grow its customer base on “the busiest shopping day of the year”… more
Radio station fears over URCA spectrum opening
Bahamas – RADIO stations have warned of “a huge problem” if regulators use the opening of currently-closed spectrum bands to issue more FM broadcasting licences… more
Flow restores mobile service to Kalinago Territory
Dominica – Flow has restored mobile service to a key segment of the island in the northeast…. more
Rockfort Gets Internet café
Jamaica – Residents of Rockfort in Kingston now have easier access to internet and other computer-related services with the establishment of a community access point (CAP) in the community by the Universal Service Fund (USF) at a cost of $2.6 million… more
CTU looks to benefits of single Caribbean Cyber Platform
Regional – Some 40 key policymakers from member states of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and 100 professionals and executives will assemble at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island to participate in workshops, conferences and seminars all week until this Friday, December 1… more
OECS prepares for ‘Cloud for Development (C4D)’ pilot
Regional – The OECS is moving towards the implementation of disaster-proof innovation and infrastructure with the pilot of the World Bank’s Cloud for Development (C4D) project in Member States… more
Tuesday, 28 November 2017
ALIV Announces Strategic Partnership with Apple and launches iPhone X
Bahamas – ALIV was proud to have announced its strategic partnership with Apple Incorporated as well as the official launch of the much-anticipated O X in time for the Christmas holidays… more
ALIV partners with Tech giant Apple
Bahamas – ALIV Communications Provider has partnered with multinational technology giant Apple to launch a coveted item this Christmas, the iPhone 10… more
URCA: Mobile Number Transfer ‘Breakdown’ Shouldn’t Happen
Bahamas – A SENIOR regulator yesterday conceded there were “lingering challenges” with mobile number portability following last Friday’s “breakdown of sorts”… more
Digicel’s regional boss pledges to overhaul BVI network
British Virgin Islands – Regional heads of telecommunications giant Digicel have committed to overhauling its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) network in the British Virgin Islands… more
Guyana – Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband – Statistics and Analyses
Guyana – Guyana government scraps faulty fibre network
The only English-speaking nation in South America, Guyana has a small population with one of the lowest GDP rates in the region… more
The CFI announces the First Forum «BPO Ayiti Smart Talent»
Haiti – The Center for Investment Facilitation (CFI), with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank and the collaboration of the Haitian Association for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies (ATHIC), of Avasant and BANJ, organizes the first BPO Ayiti Smart Talent Forum on November 29, 2017 at the Karibe Convention Center… more
Digicel Working To Resolve Hanover Woes
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: I write in response to a letter published by The Gleaner on Saturday, November 25, 2017, titled, ‘At my wits’ end over Digicel woes’, written by customer Lancelot Murray… more
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Technology ‘Catalyst’ For Bahamas Revival
Bahamas – EMBRACING information and communications technology (ICT) will serve as the “catalyst” for the Bahamas’ economic resurgence and social development, the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday… more
B.T.L. Must Answer to ‘Color Blind’ Contract
Belize – Color Blind – it’s a media production company created by Audrey Wallace, in which she is majority shareholder… more
Avasant Develops Digital Services Platform to Support Haitian BPO Sector As Haiti Hosts BPO Job Fair & Investor Forum
Haiti – The two-day event will witness the launch of the Haiti Digital Services platform, a unique one-of-its-kind platform that brings all the key elements of BPO operations under a single online platform… more
Thursday, 30 November 2017
Another ICT hub opened in East Berbice, 16 so far
Guyana – The Government through the Ministry of Public Telecommunication is continuing its relentless drive to make the country Internet-ready… more
Budget 2018 promises game-changing ICT investment
Guyana – In most developing economies, fostering innovation depends on developing a culture of creativity, curiosity, grit and problem solving among citizens, but it also depends heavily on the presence of solid ICT infrastructure upon which enterprising entrepreneurs and innovators can then build to provide cost effective, competitive goods, services and solutions to the local, regional global marketplace… more
Airbnb launches new service to Jamaica
Jamaica – Online travel and market place service, Airbnb, launched its Trip platform in Jamaica on Wednesday as it expands services to include travel Experiences for visitors around the world, while making it easier for Jamaican entrepreneurs to share their passions and interests with people around the world… more
Airbnb sees rapid growth in Jamaica
Jamaica – Silicon Valley giant Airbnb, the world’s largest online home lodging portal, detailed their rapid growth in Jamaica over the last year at a high-level luncheon and press conference hosted by them at the global tourism conference in Montego Bay yesterday… more
NCB reduces loan application to 5 minutes with new online platform
Jamaica – NCB has introduced an online lending platform that condenses the entire loan application process into a series of simple steps that takes customers less than five minutes to complete… more
CDB Sponsorship Enables Regional Entrepreneurs to Network With Top Tech Players
Regional – The Caribbean could discover its very own Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg, when 300 people from the tech industry, including power players like Jack Dorsey, CEO, Twitter, convene in Jamaica from today to December 2, for the second biannual Tech Beach retreat… more
Internet Registry Brings Caribbean Voices to the Table
Regional – For some time, the board of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) has expressed a desire to have greater diversity across its leadership structures. Finally, steps are being taken to have representation that better reflects the diversity of the ARIN community… more
Internet Registry Brings Caribbean Voices to the Table
Regional – For some time, the board of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) has expressed a desire to have greater diversity across its leadership structures. Finally, steps are being taken to have representation that better reflects the diversity of the ARIN community… more
IDB invests in Startup Weekend
Trinidad and Tobago – The Inter American Development Bank’s (IDB) sponsorship of the Startup Weekend is indicative of its support to develop entrepreneurship in the country… more
Friday, 1 December 2017
BTC supports tertiary aspirations of Grand Bahama Youth
Bahamas – Long committed to the advancement and education of Bahamian Youth, The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) participated in Grand Bahama Island’s annual College fair which took place on November 19, at the Bishop Michael Eldon Auditorium… more
Software Developer: Tax Woe Drove Us To Cayman
Bahamas – A Bahamian software developer yesterday revealed he was forced to domicile in the Cayman Islands to prevent VAT and Business License fees “killing” his competitiveness… more
Barbados – Where Digital Works
Barbados – Whether you are building a new digital company, expanding an existing operation or setting up an offshore entity, Barbados is where digital works… more
Digicel responds to CAC concern about spike in complaints against it
Jamaica – Telecommunications company Digicel says the challenges which its customers have been facing and which were highlighted by Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) on Thursday are issues it has been grappling with for the last year due to changes in the industry… more
Digicel statement on comments made by Consumer Affairs Commission
Jamaica – Digicel has expressed delight of the Consumer Affairs Commission strong understanding of the issues that the telecoms industry is currently facing… more
CANTO’s 34th AGM Agenda is Here!!!!
Regional – … more
Caribbean Countries Unite to Digitize Judicial Processes
Regional – APEX technologies are enabling Caribbean countries to digitize “recording of proceedings,” making the entire judicial system “more accurate, and proceedings move much more quickly… more
CCJ president lauds APEX as mechanism to deal with challenges facing regional courts
Regional – President of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Sir Dennis Byron on Monday acknowledged that there were many challenges levelled against the justice system over the years… 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
LiLAC takes over Columbus/CWC communications this month
Regional – By early next year, Cable & Wireless Communications and Columbus Communications — Liberty Global’s telecommunications entities in Latin America and the Caribbean — are expected to operate solely under the umbrella Liberty LatAm and Caribbean (LiLAC)… more
Flow’s Hosts Blue Friday Event
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Known for taking creativity and innovation to the next level, Flow SVG, has once again taken a global event and uniquely modifying it to make it its own, with its first ever Blue Friday door buster sales event… more
St Vincent to Host Cybersecurity Forum
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Rising cyber crime is stoking growing concern among legislators, law enforcement officials, business leaders and millions of affected citizens across the Caribbean… more
Cellphone key in catching Vicky
Trinidad and Tobago – The Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit detained escaped remand prisoner Vicky Boodram thanks to the Interception of Communications Act, which gives the Commissioner of Police authority to secretly listen in on phone conversations… more
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Cyber talk
Jamaica – … more
After Hurricanes, Internet Groups Form New Commission To Improve Caribbean Network Resilience
Regional – Still reeling from the utter devastation wrought by a record-breaking 2017 hurricane season, many Caribbean island states are struggling to return to normalcy. By some estimates, relief and recovery efforts after Hurricanes Irma and Maria alone could cost upwards of US$150 billion… more
Caribbean Finally Represented on American Internet Registry
Regional – Two Caribbean women, for the first time, will sit on the advisory panel of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)… more
TSTT rebrands Massy Communications
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT) yesterday announced there would be a change in the name of its recent acquisition, Massy Communications Ltd… more
Sunday, 3 December 2017
IBEX Investing $189 M To Expand BPO Space In Portmore
Jamaica – IBEX International said it is investing US$1.5 million, about J$189.3 million, to retrofit space formerly occupied by Empire Supermarket in Portmore, St Catherine, to expand its business process outsourcing (BPO) operation and in the process provide additional jobs… more
Ingenuity Technologies Launches ISurvey
Jamaica – The laborious days of filling out pages and pages of questionnaires are coming to an end, thanks to Ingenuity Technologies. The company recently launched its mobile survey and digital data-collection tool – iSurvey… more
Image credit: Megan Trace (flickr); Brands of the World; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia
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