A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 9 September to Sunday 15 September 2019.
Monday, 9 September 2019
BTC customers to roam on Aliv’s 3G network
Bahamas – Aliv and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) are working on a plan to sync their networks in order for BTC customers to roam on Aliv’s 3G network for essential communication services, Chief Aliv Officer Damian Blackburn said yesterday… more
Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Aliv restoring telecommunications in impacted zones
Bahamas – A week after Hurricane Dorian leveled communities in Grand Bahama and Abaco, Aliv said it has restore 21 of its 34 site in Freeport and West End, Grand Bahama and restored critical communication in Marsh Harbour Abaco… more
BTC, Aliv working to create shared network
Bahamas – Mobile network service providers Aliv and BTC have until Friday to solidify a roaming agreement which will allow their customers to roam on a synchronized network, with the latter’s chief executive stating that he hoped for an arrangement that would last at least 30 days… more
Smith: URCA ordered Aliv, BTC to unite their networks
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) ordered both Aliv and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to allow each company to roam on the other’s network, URCA’s Director of Electronic Communications Carlton Smith told Guardian Business yesterday, adding that URCA is awaiting a copy of both companies’ agreement on the matter.. more
Regulator to hold public hearings on new GTT bill -Telephone company says it will only answer questions on that
Guyana – The utilities regulator is set to hold a hearing Thursday on the new billing format used by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT)… more
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Telecommunications Market 2019-2025, Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in highly competitive telecom industry… more
BTP Director Antony Carty arrested on Monday. Released on Tuesday UPDATED)
Sint Maarten – TBO and RST detectives arrested the Director of Bureau Telecommunications and Posts (BTP) Antony Carty on Monday. Carty is also the business partner of MP Frans Richardson who is currently in pretrial detention as investigators continue with the BTP probe… more
New software for real estate agents
Trinidad and Tobago – TECHNOLOGY that can revolutionise the way the real estate professionals do business… more
Trinidad and Tobago Telecommunications Market 2019-2025, Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Trinidad and Tobago – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Trinidad & Tobago to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in highly competitive telecom industry… more
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
BTC, Aliv At Odds On Post-Dorian Roaming
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and Aliv are at odds over how long customers should be allowed to roam free of charge on each other’s networks in the Dorian-hit islands… more
BTC wants a 30-day roaming deal with Aliv
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is pushing for a 30-day national roaming deal with Aliv so that both carriers’ customers can receive the best coverage available from both companies’ remaining towers on Abaco and Grand Bahama, BTC Chief Executive Officer Garfield Sinclair said yesterday… more
FLOW BUSINESS A WELCOMED INITIATIVE FOR MSME
Barbados – A major transformation and technological project unveiled by C&W Business and FLOW to aid micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) has been welcomed by Small Business Minister, Dwight Sutherland… more
More options for Flow business customers
Barbados – The island’s more than 9,000 formal, small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) have been given a major telecommunications boost… more
Telecoms told create e-banking network
Barbados – In the wake of the bankers association’s decision to leave the local electronic banking network, CarIFS, Government is developing payment solutions for micro and small businesses with the credit union movement, according to Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Commerce Dwight Sutherland… more
DIGILEARN: What’s in it for everyone?
Belize – On Friday’s news we told you about the signing of the Digi-learn Master Service Agreement between Digi and the Ministry of Education… more
Negotiations to end GTT’s monopoly… Several stakeholders still to be engaged
Guyana – While light may be at the end of the tunnel, the ongoing negotiations between Government and US-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is a complex series of exchanges that brings matters from the 1990s to the middle of the table…more
Technology In Focus | Are Jamaican Businesses Embracing The Digital Age?
Jamaica – The corporate world has come a long way since the days when doing business online meant treating your website as a virtual business card: “Here’s what we do and here’s how you can contact us. Have a nice day!” … more
Upskilling for business process industry workforce emphasised
Jamaica – President of the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ), Gloria Henry, is emphasising the importance of upskilling workers within the sector to respond to the increasing technological demands of the marketplace… more
Liberty Latin America acquires St. Maarten’s shares of UTS
Sint Maarten – St. Maarten’s 12.5 per cent share of United Telecommunications Services (UTS) has been acquired by Liberty Latin America Ltd. (LLA)… more
Banking in a virtual world
Trinidad and Tobago – Banks around the world have transitioned many of their transactions to the online realm and there are even some banks in the US, Europe and Asia that are 100 per cent online… more
Making banking accessible
Trinidad and Tobago – Ronald Carter sees his role as a banker to help people. And that intersects well with the vision of the company he now helms, JMMB Bank (TT)… more
TT’s national ICT plan
Trinidad and Tobago – Communication solutions provider TSTT is currently working hand-in-hand with the government towards achieving the vision of a digitally transformed government by 2022… more
Thursday, 12 September 2019
Greater focus on digital currency in aftermath of Dorian
Bahamas – Digital currency is being given even closer consideration in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, as The Central Bank of The Bahamas (CBOB) considers ways, using technology, to get payments to hurricane-affected islands quicker, CBOB Governor John Rolle said yesterday… more
Information platform launched to promote safe migration
Belize – Border points across the country will be airing infomercials on migration which is a global problem that is growing in Belize… more
Guyana Telecommunications Market 2019-2025, Aruba Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Guyana – Guyana Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Guyana’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Paying bills on time will improve credit scores – GTT
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), is pushing for more use of its mobile money app to help customers improve their credit score… more
Haiti Telecommunications Market 2019-2025, Aruba Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Haiti – Haiti Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Haiti’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Regulations On Using Technology To Prosecute Traffic Offences Being Pursued – Chuck
Jamaica – Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has indicated that efforts are being made to iron out issues surrounding the promulgation of new regulations governing the use of technology in prosecuting road traffic offences… more
Zappware and XroadMedia deliver personal TV to Amplia
Trinidad and Tobago– Amplia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago , has chosen XroadMedia to deliver personalised user experiences to consumers across the Caribbean… more
Friday, 13 September 2019
Aliv Open To BTC Rebuilding Request On Abaco Towers
Bahamas – Aliv’s top executive yesterday indicated it will respond favourably to its main competitor’s request to share mobile infrastructure in Abaco as part of post-Dorian restoration… more
Aliv restores 80% of network on GB, Abaco
Bahamas – Aliv has restored 80 percent of its network on the storm-ravaged islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, Chief Aliv Officer Damian Blackburn said yesterday… more
BTC, Aliv considering tower-sharing partnership
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is considering a partnership with Aliv that would allow both companies to share towers instead of each erecting “a bunch of towers” on their own, BTC Chief Executive Officer Garfield “Garry” Sinclair said yesterday… more
BTC Restores Key Marsh Harbour Site
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday said it had completed “one of our priorities” by restoring two-way mobile services from its Marsh Harbour airport site… more
BTC suspends VSEP exercise
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has suspended its voluntary separation exercise (VSEP), its chief executive Garfield “Garry” Sinclair said yesterday… more
BUSINESS BYTE: C&W Communications reaffirms commitment to The Bahamas
Bahamas – C&W Foundation Earmarks US$500,000 to Provide Relief and Restoration Support to the Islands Impacted by Hurricane Dorian… more
URCA Proposes Up To 90% Cut In Call Terminate Fees
Bahamas – Regulators are proposing up to 90 percent “interim” cuts to a selection of call termination charges levied by the major Bahamian communications carriers, it was revealed yesterday… more
Customs kinks
Barbados – One more week! That’s how long newly appointed Comptroller of Customs Owen Holder has promised it will take the Customs and Excise Department to iron out any kinks it has encountered in upgrading its system from ASYCUDO ++ to ASYCUDO World… more
PHENOMENAL PROGRESS
Barbados – Since the development of blockchain technology, there has been phenomenal progress… more
‘Thousands’ sign on to new FLOW package
Barbados – More than 10,000 new and existing customers have signed on to a recent campaign by telecommunications giant Flow to upgrade their digital and fixed-line packages to include broadband and cable television service, country manager Jenson Sylvester has revealed… more
BTL’s Incoming CEO lauds fiber rollout is most ambitious project
Belize – One of the most ambitious projects that B.T.L. has undertaken to date is the roll-out of fiber at residences throughout the country… more
Digi Learn to be rolled out country wide
Belize – On Friday, September 6, 2019, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Digi as part of an initiative called “DigiLearn”, one of Digi’s most ambitious projects to date… more
Ivan Tesecum to officially take over as CEO at BTL
Belize – Rochus Schrieber’s tenure is coming to an end at B.T.L… more
Online Learning Hub Means No More Missed School Days
Dominica – The newly introduced Online Learning Hub promises to bring resilience to the education system in Dominica… more
GTT grilled by PUC on absence of details on new phone bills – Company apologises for failing to notify consumers
Guyana – Guyana’s largest telecommunications and technology provider, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) faced a series of questions with regard to the omission of vital information in the new billing system… more
Cyber Crime Case Collapses
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Almost two years after the state brought its first case under the Cyber Crime Act, passed in 2016, the prosecution has withdrawn the matter, after the virtual complainant showed no further interest in the case. The dramatic twist occurred on Monday… more
NTRC Icode Competition Launched
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Registration is now open to interested schools and individuals to enter the 2019 National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission’s (NTRC) icode784 Competition, formerly known as the I2 Competition…more
Saturday, 14 September 2019
Dorian recovery ‘continues to flow’ – telecom
Bahamas – Cable & Wireless Communications, parent company of FLOW, has announced it is moving full speed ahead with efforts to restore telephone service to the northern Bahamas which was wiped out by Hurricane Dorian… more
HICCUPS WITH ASYCUDA SYSTEM BEING ADDRESSED
Barbados – THE switch from a paper-based platform to a digital one in the Customs and Excise Department using the ASYCUDA World system, has not been without its hiccups… more
Software firm shops new cyber watchdog
Barbados – As cyber criminals mount increasingly coordinated attacks on the websites and networks of governments and businesses, humans are turning to machines for help… more
Transparent BPO to Open Contact Center in Belmopan, Belize Early 2020
Belize – Transparent BPO, a nearshore contact center and business process outsourcer, today announced plans to open a contact center, it’s fourth, in Belmopan, Belize in early 2020. The expansion marks the first time the company will have operations outside Belize City… more
Sunday, 15 September 2019
Sale of GTT’s share… PPP/C used US$25M to fund Marriott at the expense of ailing GuySuCo – Minister Sharma
Guyana – The problems with the sugar industry have to be laid squarely at the feet of the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and his party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)… more
No Wasted Effort
Regional – A COMMON problem experienced when attempting to solve a problem, is simply the choice of where to start, and how to proceed, especially when multipleoptions exists… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); The Bahamas Weekly; Facebook; Wikipedia; The West Indian; The Eleutheran; Wikipedia;
