A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 25 June to Sunday 1 July 2018.
Monday, 25 June 2018
Tripwireless Supports APUA in Disaster Recovery Management Committee Project
Antigua and Barbuda – A brief summary of the distribution of care packages from Tripwireless to less fortunate children in the Antigua and Barbuda public school system, particularly those affected by hurricane Irma… more
The Bahamas Intends To Become The Global Testing Ground For Government Blockchain Integration
Bahamas – At the Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference last week, the Bahamian deputy prime minister, K. Peter Turnquest, announced the Caribbean nation intends to create a national digital currency and use blockchain technology to reduce corruption… more
Microsoft, DCS lead ‘technology for change’ by assisting NGOs
Jamaica– Microsoft filled the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s Auditorium with Jamaican non-government organisations (NGO) on Thursday and then provided free information technology guidance to assist with better management of their offices… more
TATT opens Android box consultations
Trinidad and Tobago – Android box users now have the chance to petition the regulator to keep their gadgets, as the Telecommunications Authority (TATT) opens the first round of public consultations for its “Discussion Paper on Android Boxes in TT”… more
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Necessity: Bahamas Central Bank to Develop National Cryptocurrency
Bahamas – At a time when the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) and some other pessimistic world governments have condemned blockchain technology and digital currencies citing volatility and scalability issues, this island nation has resorted to distributed ledger technology and digital currency in a bid to solve its problems… more
The Central Bank of The Bahamas to Introduce a Digital Currency
Bahamas – During the Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister revealed the intention of central bank to launch its own digital currency… more
Non-Profit Organizations Get Needed Support From IT Providers
Jamaica – Microsoft has partnered with local IT service provider, Discount Computers & Services (DCS) Ltd., to deliver technology solutions that are accessible, affordable, and relevant for Non-Profit Organizations (NGO)… more
USF Chairman Shocked By Call For Forensic Audit
Jamaica – Robert Lawrence, chairman of the Universal Service Fund (USF), has expressed shock that major private sector groups have called for a forensic audit at the state agency tasked with providing universal access to information through the provision of broadband services island wide… more
USF surprised by call for forensic audit
Jamaica – Robert Lawrence, Chairman of the Universal Service Fund (USF), has expressed surprise at the call by the island’s main private sector groups for a forensic audit of the entity… more
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Technology Executive In Call For Crypto Currency Legislation
Bahamas – Sterling Global’s technology head is urging The Bahamas to adopt cryptocurrency legislation as a key element in plans to establish the nation as a “technology hub”… more
Hundreds turnout to Cayman’s first digital economy conference
Cayman Islands – The first Cayman Islands Digital Economy Conference welcomed over a hundred delegates to the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa on June 21 2018…more
Flow to activate Dominica 4G service in July
Dominica– Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), part of Liberty Global’s Liberty Latin America unit, has announced that its Flow subsidiary will officially launch its 4G LTE service for consumers in Dominica next month, reports news site Da Vibes… more
Emergency Communication System To Be Operational By 2020
Jamaica – The Establishment of a national emergency communication system is on track, with the facility slated to be up and running within the next two years…more
Flow to expand 4G coverage to 87% of Jamaica this year
Jamaica – Flow Jamaica the local brand of Cable & Wireless Communications, has announced plans to expand its 4G-LTE network to 87 percent of the country’s population by the end of 2018, rising to 95 percent by 2020, reports the Jamaica Gleaner, citing the operator’s managing director Stephen Price… more
Jamaica moves towards becoming a digital economy
Jamaica – The Andrew Holness-led Administration is taking steps to transform the Jamaican economy into a digital economy… more
Synergy off air due to nonpayment
Trinidad and Tobago – As of midnight, last night Synergy TV has been taken off air because of non-payment of fees… more
Trinidad & Tobago’s TSTT to replace copper with TD-LTE network
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago’s state-run operator TSTT has announced plans to significantly extend its TD-LTE fixed wireless network over the next 12 to 18 months, reports local daily the Guardian, citing the company’s executive vice president Rakesh Goswami… more
Thursday, 28 June 2018
Government Wants Single Digital Id For Bahamians
Bahamas – THE government intends to create a single digital ID for citizens of The Bahamas to make online access to services seamless and more efficient to reduce government cost, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest revealed… more
Union Chief Hits Btc’s ‘Dismal Performance’ Post Privatisation
Bahamas– The head of BTC’s line staff union yesterday blasted the company’s “dismal performance” post-privatisation, while giving it an “A” grade for cost-cutting and staff lay-offs… more
Setbacks: 911 call centre not fully functional months later
British Virgin Islands – More than four months since coming on stream, the territory’s next-generation 911 emergency call centre is still not fully functional… more
Dominican Republic ‘highly vulnerable’ to Web attacks
Dominican Republic– An increasingly unpredictable Cyberspace makes security a daunting challenge… more
Take advantage of the ICT Roadshow – Minister Hughes
Guyana – Public Telecommunications Minister, Catherine Hughes, is calling on Guyanese to take advantage of the opportunities that will be available as the country gears up to host the first edition of the updated Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Roadshow from July 9 to 14… more
Caribbean Peering Forum brings dream of better Internet closer
Regional – The dream of a faster, safer, more affordable Caribbean Internet are step by step becoming a reality, thanks in part to the advent and growth of the region’s peering forum… more
Grenada to host Caribbean internet peering forum in 2019
Regional – The next Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum (CarPIF) will take place in St George’s, Grenada on June 12 to 13, 2019… more
Trinidad to host CaribNOG 16 in October, as part of ‘Internet Week’
Trinidad and Tobago – An upcoming tech conference in Trinidad and Tobago promises to advance the Internet development agenda of the wider region…more
St. Kitts-Nevis ICT professionals undergo additional training via Amazon Web Services
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Fifteen information and communication technology (ICT) professionals in St. Kitts and Nevis are exploring the use of Amazon Web Services (AWS) through a two-day Developer and Network Management Technical Workshop at the National ICT Centre at no cost to the government of St. Kitts and Nevis… more
Mobile taxis drive on
Trinidad and Tobago – UBER terminated services in TT after operating for a year and a half, having launched in January 2017… more
More customers using digital banking
Trinidad and Tobago – There is a shift in customers’ banking behaviours with more opting to use technology rather than wait in line for a teller, RBC Royal Bank managing director Darryl White said at the opening of a digital branch in Marabella on Tuesday evening… more
Synergy back on air
Trinidad and Tobago – SYNERGY TV is back up and running after the channel was blocked yesterday by cable providers because of non-payment of fees…more
Friday, 29 June 2018
Still open
Barbados – Telecommunications provider Ozone Wireless Incorporated may be down, but it is certainly not out… more
BTL signs loan agreement to expand its services
Belize – Belize Telecommunications Limited is looking to expand its coverage and services… more
Local TV & Radio Stations to comply with copyright regulations
Belize– Copyright compliance remains an issue for the local broadcast media to bring television and radio stations into conformity with existing regulations…more
George Brown professor sends dozens of computers to Guyanese schools
Guyana – More than 100 used computers, hundreds more text books and two projectors are either on their way, or soon to be on their way, to schools in Guyana thanks to Rita Persaud, a Guyanese-born business professor at George Brown College… more
JIS acquiring cutting-edge ICT equipment – Henry
Jamaica – The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) is to secure cutting-edge information and communications technology (ICT) systems and equipment to enhance its performance in the delivery of services as well as ensure compliance with records management best practices… more
Key Insurance Introduces Cyber Coverage
Jamaica – Key Insurance Company Limited is now offering coverage for cyber liability tailored for companies of all sizes, in partnership with an unnamed reinsurer, for which the premium starts at US$1,500 per year… more
Tech Beach Retreat Partners With LinkedIn, JAMPRO
Jamaica – Tech Beach Retreat in partnership with JAMPRO and LinkedIn, recently delivered a buzz-worthy mixer and panel discussion at LinkedIn’s downtown office… more
What is Strategic Digital Leadership?
Jamaica – At a recent Mona School of Business & Management (MSBM) round-table event, the focus was on Strategic Digital Leadership and Professor Evan Duggan, formerly the head of MSBM and now a visiting professor from the University of Alabama, discussed the attitudes and imperatives for Jamaican businesses… more
Caribbean Airlines Introducing Free Wireless In-Flight Entertainment
Regional – Caribbean Airlines will introduce free wireless in-flight entertainment from August 1, allowing passengers to stream blockbuster movies, television programmes, games, magazines and more Caribbean content to their personal devices… more
5 ridesharing alternatives to Uber in Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago – Uber’s departure from Trinidad and Tobago came in the same manner of its arrival: steeped in controversy…more
TATT defends action against Synergy
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) was just doing its job and not playing politics when it briefly shut down Synergy TV earlier this week… more
Saturday, 30 June 2018
JAMPRO chairman urges STATIN to provide targeted data on BPO sector
Jamaica – Chairman of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Senator Don Wehby is calling on the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) to remove the BPO industry from its ‘other services’ category and provide targeted data on the sector in order to facilitate better decision making… more
Sunday, 1 July 2018
Grace Lindo | Not So Fast With JamaicaEye
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security unveiled a project to connect, collect and use the closed-circuit Television (CCTV) content of private entities under an initiative called JamaicaEye… more
IGT helps bridge digital divide at Rainbow Rescue
Trinidad and Tobago – As IGT’s signature philanthropic programme continues to aid in bridging the digital divide for children who do not have access to computer technology, Rainbow Rescue—a home for boys—became the latest beneficiary of the company’s programme… more
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