A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 3 December to Sunday 9 December 2018.
Monday, 3 December 2018
Blockchain data network Shyft partners with Bitt to secure transactions for the Caribbean
Barbados – Shyft, the global blockchain-based network that facilitates the secure sharing of attested and compliant data, has announced the signing of a Letter of Understanding with Bitt, a Barbados-based fintech company that facilitates secure peer-to-peer transactions through its mobile payments software, mMoney… more
High-cost internet
Barbados – Barbados has been ranked the 30th most expensive country for broadband per month out of 195 countries, making this country one of the most expensive in the world for the service… more
Jamaica Needs Eco-System To Support Technology Innovation
Jamaica – For Jamaica to meaningfully impact the global technology landscape, stakeholders will need to create an eco-system, where ideas can be developed and commercialised, says Kirk-Anthony Hamilton, co-founder of Tech Beach Retreat, held at the Iberostar Hotel in Rose Hall, St James on the weekend… more
Netflix Engineer Wants To Inspire Jamaican Youth
Jamaica– Thirty-one-year-old Rich Smith is a senior user interface engineer at Internet content provider Netflix. However, his life could have turned out differently for the college dropout, if he had allowed his failures to determine his future… more
Digicel Group Limited Announces Amended Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations
Regional – Following constructive discussions with a group of noteholders regarding the previously announced exchange offers and consent solicitations, Digicel Group Limited (“Digicel”) today announced that it, together with Digicel Group One Limited, an indirect subsidiary of Digicel (“DGL1”), and Digicel Group Two Limited, a direct subsidiary of Digicel and the parent of DGL1 (“DGL2” and, together with Digicel and DGL1, the “DGL Companies”), has amended the terms of their previously announced exchange offers, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a confidential offering memorandum dated August 31, 2018, as supplemented by Supplement No. 1 dated September 7, 2018 and Supplement No. 2 dated December 3, 2018 (the “Offering Memorandum”)… more
Tuesday, 4 December 2018
Airbnb’s October Bookings Up 50%
Bahamas – Stopover tourist visitors to The Bahamas increased by 7.4 percent over the first three quarters of 2018 with the Central Bank forecasting “continued economic strengthening” through year-end… more
Give Bahamians ‘First Rights’ Over BTC Outsourcing
Bahamas – The prime minister was yesterday urged to ensure Bahamians “have first rights” on all outsourcing opportunities at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) if downsizing continues… more
New app to track prices
Bahamas – A pricing and processes mobile app, 4theGoodz, designed by Bahamian Systems Analyst/Programmer Caliope Sandiford, is expected to be on the market by the end of the first quarter of 2019… more
Haiti Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Industry 2018 Analysis and Forecast Market Research Report
Haiti – Haiti again turns attention to digital broadcasting. Haiti’s economic and social indicators remain far lower than the average for Latin America and the Caribbean… more
Social Media Divide – Experts Disagree Over Role Of Online Posts In Job Placement
Jamaica– The jury seems to still be out as to whether social-media postings can affect an individual’s prospects for employment… more
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
Now The Bahamas Plans To Become A Leading Blockchain Hub
Bahamas – Aimed at placing the Bahamas as a forerunner in the field of distributed ledger technology (DLT), an NGO, known as the Caribbean Blockchain Alliance (CBA) collaborates with some institutions to establish blockchain developers in the Bahamas… more
British Virgin Islands Gains Ranking In The Global Cryptocurrency And ICO Market
British Virgin Islands – The cryptocurrency craze is growing with no end in sight despite pushback from some countries, financial institutions, and global corporate giants… more
Gov’t signs $140K contract to enhance CCTV surveillance in BVI
British Virgin Islands – A $140,000 contract has been signed to enhance closed-circuit television (CCTV) capabilities across the British Virgin Islands… more
C&WJ launches new banking platform
Jamaica – Community and Workers of Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union Ltd (C&WJ), which claims to be the largest credit union in Jamaica with an asset size of $15.9 billion, has completed the implementation of its new core banking platform, Sharetec, from Bradford Scott out of the United States… more
Jampro to support Tech Beach for 3
Jamaica – The Jamaica Promotions Corporation has pledged its support to Tech Beach Retreat for the next three years, a release sent to the Jamaica Observer announced… more
Minister Says Advancement in ICT Levelling Playfield for Youth
Jamaica – Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says advancement in information and communications technology (ICT) has been levelling the playfield, where the most vulnerable in society are now able to realise their true potential… more
Rock band theory revealed at Tech Beach
Jamaica – The third annual staging of the Tech Beach conference took place at the Iberostar Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay last week… more
Social Media Big Part Of Hiring Process, Say Employers
Jamaica – Social media is now a big part of the vetting process when hiring individuals for at least two organisations… more
TECH BEACH PUTS JAMAICA ON THE MAP
Jamaica – Beautiful beaches. Rastafarian culture. Rum. Jamaica is just a tourist destination, right? … more
Digicel Completes Global Network Operations Center (GNOC) Transformation Project in Partnership with Eirteic
Regional – Eirteic and Digicel are pleased to announce the successful completion of the GNOC Transformation project… more
Silver Technology Lining for St. Helena
Trinidad and Tobago – Last October’s historic floods will be remembered for the trauma and destruction in many areas that had never seen that level of floodwaters before… more
Thursday, 6 December 2018
URCA decides against net neutrality regulation
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has determined that the introduction of net neutrality regulation in The Bahamas “may adversely impact the sustainability of the electronic communications sector (ECS) in The Bahamas”… more
Bitt, Central Bank and FSC on right track with Regulatory Sandbox Framework
Barbados – 14th November 2019 may not seem like a historic day to most, but for those in the Digital Currency world, it was seen as a watershed moment, as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund stated at a Fintech forum in Singapore… more
Government looking into use of blockchain technology
Barbados – Government has held an initial consultation with local industry experts in the field of blockchain technology with the aim of finding a more efficient and secure system that could be applied to various government sectors…more
Satellite emergency relief warehouses being established
British Virgin Islands – Satellite warehouses are being established in key locations throughout the Territory as the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) continues to enhance community resilience… more
Digitized travel documents herald paper’s demise
Dominican Republic – Civil Aviation Board president Luis Ernesto Camilo on Thurs. said a new commission will study the possibility of replacing with digitized documents the travel forms which are still done through paper… more
Tech Beach: Another resounding success for now annual summit
Jamaica – The now annual Tech Beach summit 2018 has been and gone and the organisers and patrons alike are celebrating its resounding success… more
Digicel Announces New Group CFO
Regional – Digicel today announced the appointment of David Lomas as Group Chief Financial Officer…more
Futile Future or Great Growth of the Outsourcing Industry?
Saint Lucia – Recent months have seen extensive discussion in Saint Lucia surrounding its growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, and the future of the industry… more
GINet Wi-Fi Zone launched in Vieux Fort
Saint Lucia – GINet Wi-Fi zone was launched Wednesday in Vieux Fort, the government of Saint Lucia has announced… more
Watch: Digicel’s network modernisation project nears completion
Trinidad and Tobago – CEO of Digicel Trinidad and Tobago, Jabbor Kayumov, said the company is driving toward completing its network modernisation and will be launching a mega Christmas campaign later this year…more
Friday, 7 December 2018
Disgusted Over Digicel Modem Service
Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Sir: This is an open letter to Justin Morin, Digicel chief executive officer… more
Caribbean Telecoms, Mobile And Broadband Market Details 2018: Top-Level Companies, Present Market Dynamics and Future Advancements 2023
Regional – The research report titled, Caribbean Telecoms, Mobile And Broadband market has adopted a systematic way to evaluate the dynamics of the overall market. It provides a comprehensive study comprising of a top-to-bottom research on the market dynamics, including growth drivers, challenges, threats, and potential growth opportunities, with a key focus on not only the global market but also the regional market… more
Liberty Latin America Reports Q3 2018 Results
Regional– Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America” or “LLA”) (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK, OTC Link: LILAB) today announced its financial and operating results for the three months (“Q3”) and nine months (“YTD”) ended September 30, 2018… more
Saturday, 8 December 2018
Bridging the Digital Divide
Saint Lucia – WITH the commencement of the Government Island-wide Network (GiNet) on 5 December 2018, over 16,000 people in Vieux Fort can now enjoy instant Wi-Fi service… more
Pay phones removed across Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago – The payphones that were being loaded onto a flat bed truck on Thursday were not stolen. Instead they were dismantled as part of TSTT’s nationwide removal of payphones… more
Sunday, 9 December 2018
Big Tech attracting big attention
Cayman Islands– It is striking how Google has gone from being a company with “don’t be evil” in their code of conduct, to one represented by an empty chair at a recent Senate hearing on internet companies…more
Delaying With Digital – Jamaica Ranks 13th In Region On Evolution Index
Jamaica – Jamaica is advancing steadily and has made steady progress in the digital revolution in the past 10 years, but weak infrastructure and poor institutional quality are two of the factors causing the country to lag behind much of the region… more
Bridging the Digital Divide
Saint Lucia– ITH the commencement of the Government Island-wide Network (GiNet) on 5 December 2018, over 16,000 people in Vieux Fort can now enjoy instant Wi-Fi service… more
Image credits: Nicolas Alejandro (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
