A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 14 October to Sunday 20 October 2019.
Monday, 14 October 2019
FLOW TOASTS LOYAL CUSTOMERS
Barbados – Service excellence was recently placed in the spotlight as Flow joined the international community to celebrate Customer Service Week between October 7th and 11th, under the theme ‘The Magic of Service’… more
EXPERT SAYS TECHNOLOGY HELPS FUEL ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS IN HAITI
Haiti – Inspired in part by global uprisings and empowered by technology, the youth-led protesters who have taken to Haiti’s streets in the past month to demand change from a corrupt and entrenched system seem like the troubled island nation’s only hope… more
Chairman of SMA Calls for Public-Private Partnerships to Leverage Technology
Jamaica – Chairman of Spectrum Management Authority (SMA), Edward Gabbidon, has called for public-private partnerships to leverage technology to enable Jamaicans, particularly those in unserved and underserved communities, to participate fully in the digital age… more
SMA Urged To Increase Efficiency In Managing Spectrum
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Fayval Williams has called for the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) to increase efficiency in regulating and managing spectrum for the benefit of Jamaica… more
State Minister Says Country Must Accelerate Digital Transformation Process
Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, has emphasised that the country must accelerate the digital transformation process… more
Coding camp creates NextGen of TT innovators
Trinidad and Tobago – You don’t need to be a techie to learn about technology, as every job requires a level of tech savviness for this… more
Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Pilot of digital EC dollar launched in Antigua
Antigua and Barbuda – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has launched a pilot digital version for the Eastern Caribbean dollar, using its latest app “DXCDCaribe” at a Digital EC Summit last Thursday… more
Bahamas takes steps towards digital currency as legal tender
Bahamas – The Central Bank of the Bahamas is proposing to amend its governing law to enable it to issue digital currency as legal tender… more
Innovations to combat climate change
Barbados – Climate change is one of the biggest threats we face. Natural disasters and extreme weather events are making it more difficult to grow crops, raise animals and earn a living as we have done in the past, and rural areas across the world are feeling the effects most acutely… more
GTT ordered by regulator to revert to detailed bills
Guyana – The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) yesterday ordered the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) to revert to its old system of dispatching detailed paper bills to all of its customers… more
Spectrum Management Authority to lobby for new legislation
Jamaica – The Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) will be lobbying for new legislation to advance the digital industry… more
Wednesday, 16 October 2019
Cyber bullying must stop
Cayman islands – I am disappointed by recent articles published on local social media platforms… more
Flow service disrupted
Cayman Islands – Flow customers throughout Cayman experienced a disruption in service Monday evening. Some customers remained without service into Tuesday morning… more
NBA and Digicel expand partnership
Regional – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Digicel, the parent company of SportsMax, have announced a multi-year expansion of their partnership which will deliver more than 200 live NBA games each season, tipping off on October 22 with the LA Lakers taking on the LA Clippers… more
First Atlantic on the backend of TT e-commerce
Trinidad and Tobago – If the name First Atlantic Commerce (FAC) doesn’t ring a bell, it doesn’t mean you haven’t come into contact with what they do in TT, and all around the Caribbean for that matter… more
TSTT raises over $2.7 b on US roadshow
Trinidad and Tobago – A US$400 million 10-year bond offered by the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has been “significantly over-subscribed” the T&T Guardian has learned… more
Thursday, 17 October 2019
2019 Future Of Anguilla Telecommunications Market- Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Anguilla – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Anguilla to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in highly competitive telecom industry… more
Technology Enhances Dorian Damage Study
Bahamas – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Public Works are employing new technology to conduct building damage assessments in the Dorian-hit islands… more
Jamaica must explore risks before adopting 5G tech, Robinson urges
Jamaica – Opposition spokesperson on science and technology Julian Robinson says while adopting 5G mobile networks is imminent, it comes with a number of risks… more
J’can returns to hometown after living in US, opens BPO company
Jamaica – A native of Annotto Bay, St Mary, Roger Williamson, after migrating to the United States, has returned to Jamaica with his family to open a business process outsourcing (BPO) company in his hometown… more
Friday, 18 October 2019
UWI and FLOW in partnership for TV channel
Regional – The University of the West Indies (UWI) and telecommunications company Flow have signed an agreement formally launching a partnership which has led to UWItv being accessible on Flow channels across the Caribbean… more
T&T faces removal of four US channels
Trinidad and Tobago – FOREIGN free-to-air channels CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX will be pulled from the local cable channel line-up from January 1, unless local cable providers obtain the necessary rights from the copyright owners of the stations to air them… more
The Widening Gyre in T&T telecoms
Trinidad and Tobago – “Turning and turning in the widening gyre, The falcon cannot hear the falconer, Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold, Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world… more
Saturday, 19 October 2019
Flow Customers Get Massive Boost in Internet Speeds for Free
Saint Lucia – FLOW customers are now enjoying a tremendous boost to their current Broadband speeds at no additional cost… more
Sunday, 20 October 2019
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Image credits: ChristopherPluta (Pixabay); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikimedia Commons
The article “GTT ORDERED BY REGULATOR TO REVERT TO DETAILED BILLS” highlights a serious assumption that businesses, esp Telcos, take. The assumption is that all customers are technologically “on board” and therefore often overlook the very basic features of customer service.
In fact, in some countries all ( Telco ) bills are electronic; they are not even emailed, but you have to log onto their online portal and download a bill! If you choose a postal bill option, you are slapped with a “handling fee”.