A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 5 March to Sunday 11 March 2018.
Monday, 5 March 2018
Blockchain Eyed For Speedier KYC
Bahamas – THE Government is examining whether blockchain technology can be employed to ease the financial services industry’s Know Your Customer (KYC) processes… more
BTC, Cable Slam ‘Flawed’ Broadband Internet Review
Bahamas – THE Bahamas’ two major communications players have united to slam their regulator’s “flawed review”, instead urging it to lift current demands on their broadband Internet services… more
BTC Voluntary Departure Package ‘Is Nothing New’
Bahamas – A TRADE union leader yesterday denied that the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) latest voluntary separation (VSEP) offer was driven by increased competition, adding: “This is nothing new”… more
Bidding process for provision of telecommunications service to government opened
Dominica – The bidding process of officially opened on Friday 2 March 2018 for the provision of telecommunication services to the government of Dominica… more
GTT’s $18M Innov8 Fund to aid STEM Guyana, University of Guyana
Guyana – An GY$18 million innovative fund established by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) will be pumped into the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme locally and the University of Guyana (UG)… more
Broadcasting Commission Wants Safeguards Under Data Protection Bill
Jamaica – The Joint Select Committee of Parliament set up to review the proposed Data Protection Bill heard more submissions last week on ways to enhance data protection in Jamaica, and there was a proposal from the Broadcasting Commission, which wants that office merged with that of the powerful information commissioner under the proposed act… more
Patterson Wants Data Protection To Be Balanced With Press Freedom
Jamaica – As the debate over the Data Protection Bill now before a joint select committee of Parliament rages on, former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has called for a balance to be struck between privacy rights, freedom rights, freedom of the press, and legitimate security concerns… more
Digicel NBA Jumpstart 2018 sees record online registration from youths
Regional – Just two weeks after opening its online registration for phase one of the 2018 Digicel NBA Jumpstart Basketball Camps, more than 1,000 eager young boys and girls answered the call to be a part of the Caribbean’s premier youth basketball programme that will help them take their game to new heights… more
SLICTA brings ARIN in the Caribbean to Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia – The St. Lucia Information and Communication Technology Association (SLICTA) – the association that represents the interests of the ICT sector, in collaboration with the American Registry of Internet Numbers (ARIN), is to host an ARIN in the Caribbean event through which ARIN seeks to foster greater visibility, engagement and interaction in and within the Caribbean region… more
Tuesday, 6 March 2018
GTT announces $18M for STEM education
Guyana – Phone company GTT yesterday launched a technology summit with a pledge of $18m for the development of STEM education in the country… more
GTT announces free internet for all primary schools
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), is insisting that it is here for the long haul, is gearing up for a major tech show and business summit later this month… more
Colm Delves hailed as the quintessential CEO
Regional – Colm Delves was described as the quintessential Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at a farewell party in his honour at the Digicel headquarters in downtown Kingston… more
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
Bahamas Leads Caribbean On Broadband Internet Costs
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas is arguing that this nation has the lowest monthly fixed broadband Internet charges in the Caribbean, coming in at just 0.7 per cent of average household income… more
Cable ‘Turning Corner On Plan’ Despite $31m Loss
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas’ top executive yesterday said Aliv and its Florida investments will “turn the corner on plan” within the next 12-18 months despite a near-$31 million half-year loss… more
Girls being empowered to get involved in STEM
Barbados – More efforts are on the way to empower young women to get involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) areas… more
ZTE to help Digicel Barbados expand LTE reach
Barbados – Digicel Barbados has signed an agreement with ZTE to expand its 4G-LTE network throughout the island, reports local portal Loop News, citing the operator’s CEO Alex Tasker… more
‘Think big, think progress’ -First Lady urges ICT participants at Melanie Damishana
Guyana – First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, yesterday, urged participants in the first Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training programme in the Melanie Damishana community to “think big” and to use the training from this workshop as a catalyst to a successful future… more
Samsung teams up with Flow for customer specials!
Saint Lucia – Flow has entered into a collaboration with the world’s leading manufacturer of communications devices to provide great incentives for the company’s mobile customers in the month of March… more
Thursday, 8 March 2018
Bitt.com receives USD3 million in additional funding
Barbados – Bitt.com, the Barbados based Caribbean blockchain-based digital payment provider, has received USD3 million in additional funding… more
2018 Jamaica Telecom Market Analysis & Outlook Report (2005-2025): Analyzes Market Trends, Drivers and Challenges – ResearchAndMarkets.com
Jamaica – The “2018 Jamaica Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering… more
Free Wi-Fi
Jamaica – JAMAICA Urban Transit Company (JUTC) passengers should, by the end of the year, be enjoying free Internet access while riding the company’s buses… more
Jamaica’s new Thales ATM system goes live
Jamaica – The Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has taken delivery of the advanced ATM systems developed by Thales as part of their efforts to modernize airspace management services across the paradise isle… more
CANTO Reaffirms Commitment to Engage Regional Policymakers to Develop ICT Policies that Promote Innovation and Incentivize Investments
Regional – At the Annual General Meeting of CANTO held in Port of Spain Trinidad from February 4 to 6, 2018, one of the major points for discussion among the delegates was the recent change of position by the Federal Communications Commission (‘FCC’) by removing ‘Net Neutrality’ rules, and restoring a light touch regulations approach to support internet freedom, ‘Open Internet’… more
Secretary General of CANTO – International Women’s Day Address
Regional – One hundred and four years ago today, March 8th, 1914, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated. In Germany that observance was dedicated to women’s right to vote, which Germany did not win until 1918… more
St. Kitts-Nevis better positioned to manage internet resources after workshop
Saint Kitts and Nevis – The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) in the Caribbean brought its message of managing internet resources to St. Kitts and Nevis March 8 as it seeks to advance the digital landscape across the Caribbean… more
Digicel introduces unlimited social and unlimited Whatsapp plans
Saint Lucia – Digicel continues to give customers what they want with the introduction of two amazing plans – the Unlimited Social Plan and Unlimited WhatsApp Plan – that allow them to send messages, tweets, like all the latest happenings and share the hottest trends with their family and friends… more
TelEm Group taking major steps to improve quality of service for customers.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group this week put into service new hardware and software that will greatly enhance the quality of service it provides to fixed and mobile voice and data customers… more
Friday, 9 March 2018
Transport App Teams With Aliv
Bahamas – A BAHAMIAN transportation-based mobile app has partnered with Aliv to provide an “on-demand” taxi service… more
FTC resisting action in High Court
Barbados – An appeal has been lodged in the High Court against the Fair Trading Commission’s (FTC) decision, issued on November 28, 2017, on the proposed merger between Sol St Lucia Limited and the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited… more
The Final Price for B.T.L.
Belize – The Government of Belize’s acquisition of Belize Telemedia Limited was also a feature of the Budget speech… more
Digicel’s network rebuild enters final phase
British Virgin Islands – Another milestone has been reached for Digicel with the welcomed addition of a number of new permanent sites in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), six months after the territory was impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, followed by Digicel’s quest to build back better… more
Digicel Jamaica CEO urges job seekers to be disruptors
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica CEO, Justin Morin, is encouraging job seekers to be disruptors as a means of differentiating themselves in the job market… more
Expo Jamaica To Tip The Technological Scale
Jamaica – The premiere expo of the region – EXPO Jamaica – is back . This year the Jamaica Manufacturer’s Association(JMA)/Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) have teamed up with telecommunications giant Digicel, for the 46th instalment of an event that showcases a wide range of Jamaican manufacturers across industries… more
Flow Jamaica Has A $45b Tax Cushion
Jamaica – Cable & Wireless Jamaica, which trades as Flow Jamaica, has amassed a tax arsenal of nearly $45 billion, resulting from losses racked up by the telecoms over several years… more
Jamaicans slowly warming up to digital banking
Jamaica – DESPITE significant positive advances in digital banking in Jamaica over the past decade, a number of Jamaicans continue to shy away from the use of electronic payment instruments… more
Review of Cybercrimes Act to Begin Shortly – Dr. Wheatley
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says a review of the Cybercrimes Act is to be undertaken shortly… more
Consumer Protection in Digital Era is CARICOM goal
Regional – It is important to consider the protection of the consumer as many persons now engage suppliers in a different jurisdiction. This was posited by a senior official from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat during the Barbados Fair Trading Commission’s (FTC) annual lecture series held 8 March at the Accra Beach Hotel & Spa in Barbados… more
Saturday, 10 March 2018
Cybercrimes Act To Be Reviewed Shortly
Jamaica – Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley says a review of the Cyber Crimes Act is to be undertaken shortly… more
Eastern Caribbean fisherfolk and fisheries administrators introduced to new early warning system
Regional – More than 30 male and female fishers from St Vincent and the Grenadines were introduced to a new Fisheries Early Warning and Emergency Response (FEWER) System at a workshop held at the Fisheries Division in St Vincent and the Grenadines on March 8… more
Sunday, 11 March 2018
#JamaicaUnderLabour | Wrong Focus! – Attorney Warns That BPO And Tourism Will Not Provide Quality Employment For Young Jamaicans
Jamaica – Jamaica’s unemployment rate was recorded at 10.4 per cent at the end of October 2017, the lowest it has been since October 2008, but public commentator and human rights attorney Jodi-Ann Quarrie is less than impressed… more
Alleged phone thief battered by mob in Half-Way-Tree
Jamaica – A woman was robbed by a man in the Springs Plaza, St Andrew, yesterday, but before the alleged thief could reach safety, he was held by a security guard, following frantic shouts of “Thief, thief mi want mi phone” by the victim of the robbery… more
Image credits: Megan Trace (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia_____________
