A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 26 November to Sunday 2 December 2018.
Monday, 26 November 2018
Editorial: The telecommunications elephant
Antigua and Barbuda – For the umpteenth time, the cracks in our telecommunications environment have surfaced and the administration is attempting to putty them over to make things look like everything is smooth… more
BTC Begins ‘Fight For Every Customer’
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has moved swiftly to deliver on pledges of increased consumer value with the launch of its 90-day Always On mobile promotion… more
BTC Trade Union Meets Parliamentary Secretary
Bahamas – “We’ve seen this movie before”, cautioned Mr. Dino Rolle, President of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), during his meeting with Mrs. Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe, Parliamentary Secretary, for the Office of the Prime Minister… more
Mobile Rivals In Big ‘Black Friday’ Surge
Bahamas – MOBILE rivals BTC and Aliv both reported a strong surge in business during their “Black Friday” promotions, with scores of customers taking advantage of their offerings… more
Union Tells Govt: Protect Btc Value For Future Sale
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) line staff union has urged the Government to protect the value of its shareholding and commit to selling this to Bahamian investors… more
TSTT’s Walcott: Company must be upgraded
Trinidad and Tobago – “An outdated TSTT cannot take Trinidad and Tobago forward unless the Company’s operations are completely upgraded… more
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
FinTech among topics to covered by industry masters at Tech Beach
Jamaica – Financial innovation is often referred to as ‘FinTech’ — a portmanteau of the words finance and technology which has been, and will continue to be, a focal point of conversation in the financial industry, particularly in the banking sector… more
Digicel Group Limited Extends Early Tender Date for Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations
Regional – Digicel Group Limited (“Digicel”) today announced that two of its subsidiaries are extending the early tender date (the “Early Tender Date”) and expiration date (the “Expiration Date”) of each of their previously announced Exchange Offers (as defined below) with respect to certain series of Digicel Group Limited’s outstanding senior notes… more
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
E-governance Takes on the Transport Department
Belize – As it stands, the Department of Transport and the nine cities and towns across the country all work independently of each other… more
San Pedro Cellular World Re-vamped and Re-opened for business
Belize – After closing for renovations, Cellular World’s San Pedro Branch hosted its grand re-opening on Friday, November 23rd… more
OfReg under fire after $2M cash injection
Cayman Islands – The premier has admitted that the office created to regulate utilities has encountered a number of teething problems and has needed much more money than anticipated since its creation some two years ago… more
Jamaicans Encouraged to Bring Ideas to Science and Technology Commission
Jamaica – Director General at the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST), Professor Errol Morrison, is encouraging Jamaicans to come forward with their innovative ideas… more
Digicel again extends deadline for debt-swap deal
Regional – Digicel has extended the deadline for a $3 billion debt swap for the fifth time in just two months as it looks to ease its $6.7 billion debt burden… more
Digicel’s earnings rise in third quarter
Regional – Digicel has told creditors that its earnings rose in the three months to the end of September… more
The paradox of new communication technologies
Regional – “…the giant digital platforms that now constitute a new public sphere are far too often being used to weaponize information, with a goal of deepening social divisions, fostering unrest and ultimately undermining democratic institutions and social cohesion… the integrity of elections themselves are at risk.” – Edward Greenspon and Taylor Owen… more
Thursday, 29 November 2018
OfReg tight-lipped on universal broadband plan
Cayman Islands – In March, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced government’s intention to have the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) build its own fiber-optic cable network in the underserved eastern districts, something he said was necessary given the telecommunications companies’ failure to provide broadband internet services in those areas… more
Police launch mobile app
Cayman Islands – The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has launched its own mobile app, which will feature alerts about road closures and emergency updates, as well as phone numbers for community beat officers and other information… more
GTT – Do More, Charge More
Guyana – DEAR EDITOR, It is just possible that not many ‘customers’ would have noted that their GTT, albeit a monopoly, has applied to the Public Utilities Commission for approval of the following… more
TelEm Group Names Wacky Friday Smart Home Prizewinner
Sint Maarten – Lucky Wacky Telco Friday door prize winner, Howard Chiu, was completely caught by surprise when he was informed that he was taking home the top prize for the day in TelEm Group mad-cap, Wacky Friday sale, on November 23… more
Friday, 30 November 2018
CBA wants to build cohort of blockchain developers in Bahamas
Bahamas – The Caribbean Blockchain Alliance (CBA) hopes to build a cohort of blockchain developers in The Bahamas, considering that blockchain will be one of the most important technological tools in the near future… more
Government boosting Internet access in schools
Jamaica – Education Minister Ruel Reid has announced plans by the Ministry to boost Internet access in primary schools and early-childhood institutions… more
JAMPRO Seeking Technology Investments For Jamaica
Jamaica – Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Jamaica’s investment and export promotion agency, has committed to a three-year partnership with technology and innovation forum Tech Beach Retreat to seek technology investments for Jamaica… more
Chang: NIDS will bring Jamaica in line with developed nations
Jamaica – NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says Government’s implementation of the National Identification System (NIDS) will ensure that Jamaica becomes a technologically secure country comparable to more developed nations… more
The BPO book takes up were 807 ended in the 90s
Jamaica – A few years ago Port Authority of Jamaica’s (PAJ) Assistant Vice-President of Operations and Customer Relations, Gloria Henry, was expecting a miraculous resurgence of the once popular 807 Garment Industry to save the Montego Bay Free zone… more
Caribbean Telecoms Mobile And Broadband Industry Market Analysis by Players, Regions, Shares and Forecasts to 2023
Regional – Industrial Forecasts on Caribbean Telecoms Mobile And Broadband Industry Industry: The report titled, ‘Global Caribbean Telecoms Mobile And Broadband Industry market ’, has been prepared bas target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”ed on a profound market analysis with contributions from industry professionals… more
Regional technology experts sharing ideas at Tech Beach
Regional – Technology interests from across the Caribbean are discussing regional prospects for advancement in the industry at Tech Beach Retreat, at the Iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay, St James… more
Tech Beach: CDB stimulating regional technology advance
Regional – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is seeking to fast-track advancement in the digital world by sponsoring 35 startups, drawn from the breadth of the region, to Tech Beach Retreat, through the Accelerator Programme… more
Financial Technologies Summit scheduled Dec. 6, 7
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Financial services and banking sector personnel will discuss the introduction of digital asset technology during Dec. 6 and 7 seminars hosted by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), in collaboration with the Financial Services Regulatory Commission – Nevis Branch, the Nevis Investment Promotion Agency and Beyond Capital Markets… more
Saturday, 1 December 2018
U.S. GOVERNMENT MAKES DONATION OF U.S. $ 1 MILLION COMPUTER EQUIPMENT TO CARICOM IMPACS
Regional – U.S. Embassy Bridgetown, through its Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), participated in an official handover ceremony to commemorate the Government of the United States of America’s U.S. $1 million computer equipment donation to the CARICOM IMPACS/Joint Regional Communication Centre (JRCC)… more
TSTT to drive technology for diversification at 2019 Connect conference
Trinidad and Tobago – Positioning technology to play a larger role in the country’s economic diversification will be one of the key goals when bmobile hosts its “Connect Technology Conference & Innovation Week” from January 28th – February 1st, 2019… more
Sunday, 2 December 2018
Could The Bahamas Become the Next Blockchain Hub?
Bahamas – The Bahamas has partnered with various stakeholders to help put the island nation on the map when it comes to blockchain adoption and growth… more
Digicel Christmas Launch – Super Experience LTE Data plans
Barbados – Digicel is giving more this Christmas with enhanced products with more data with the launch of their Super Experience LTE Data plans… more
PUP Senator Says Equal Blame for Telecommunications Fiascoes
Belize – Last night we showed you the seeming slip of the tongue by Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte in responding to Business Senator Mark Lizarraga’s brief presentation on the INTELCO settlement deal with GDG Acquisitions LLC… more
TelEm Group Supervisory Board, management, team up for Corporate Governance training
Sint Maarten – The Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD), St. Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company N.V. (SMTHC NV) and TelEm Group Management are continuing to take steps toward understanding each other’s respective roles and responsibilities under the guidance of Corporate Governance compliance expert Prof. Frank Kunneman, Managing Partner of VanEpps Kunneman VanDorne… more
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