A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 2 December to Sunday 8 December 2019.
Monday, 2 December 2019
Digital Payment Sector Differs On New Licence Bar
Bahamas – Digital payments solutions providers yesterday gave a mixed reaction to the Central Bank placing a year-long hold on issuing new licences to prevent the market becoming “over-saturated”… more
‘Cyber Day’ comes to the Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands – Open communication between children and parents is crucial when it comes to cybersecurity, Hamza Mzee told students during recent presentations at two schools as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month… more
Team Smoke wins Hackathon 2019 crown
Guyana – Team Smoke came out victorious at the 2019 edition of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ Hackathon, as the three days of the intense Information Technology (IT) challenge concluded last evening, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre… more
Haiti Telecommunications Market 2025 Demand Analysis and Forecasts Report
Haiti – Haiti Telecommunications Market Analysis Report 2019-2025 is a premium market research report from OGAnalysis provides a complete view of the Haiti telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
City & Guilds To Provide Digital Certificates
Jamaica – Starting in 2020, international skills development Organisation, City & Guilds will be providing digital certificates to Jamaican students, upon the successful completion of their programmes… more
Editorial | Debating The New NIDS
Jamaica – The Government, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, intends, by next March, to have before Parliament a bill to establish a national identification system (NIDS) to replace the one the court struck down earlier this year for being unconstitutional… more
E-LJam Hands Over 46 Computer Tablets To The Jamaica Physiotherapy Association
Jamaica – E-Learning Jamaica Company Limited (e-LJam) on Friday (Nov. 29) handed over 46 computer tablets to the Jamaica Physiotherapy Association, which will assist with the delivery of physiotherapy services in health facilities islandwide… more
ICT for Education Project Agreement Signed
Saint Lucia – THE official signing ceremony of the “Application of Information and Communication Technology for Education Development Cooperation Project” took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 27th November at the Auberge Seraphine Hotel… more
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Small businesses on Grand Bahama to benefit from technology grant
Bahamas – Small businesses on Grand Bahama will be able to access a technology grant of up to $2,500, according to Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson… more
A Christmas treat . . . Digicel launches competition with a difference
Barbados – Digicel is offering its customers a unique way to win prizes as it makes a more determined effort to encourage customers to use digital technology… more
British Virgin Islands Announces BVI~LIFE™ Digital Currency
British Virgin Islands – As part of an on-going initiative to grow the Financial Technology sector, the British Virgin Islands is hosting its BVI Digital Economy symposium on December 3rd… more
British Virgin Islands to Unveil Details of Digital Currency Rollout at Symposium
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands is conducting its BVI Digital Economy symposium today, an event that is expected to include a presentation detailing the rollout of a planned digital currency… more
BVI inks contract for top-notch border management and e-Visa system
British Virgin Islands – Government has moved a step closer towards implementing its much-touted border management and e-Visa system… more
National cyber policy being developed to protect citizens
Jamaica – Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, says that to further protect citizens from the evolving threat of cybercrime, the Government is working towards the development of a National Cyber Policy in 2020… more
OUR to consult on automatic compensation for telecoms breaches
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) says it plans to consult with industry stakeholders and the public about introducing automatic compensation for breaches of approved service standards currently being developed for the telecommunications sector… more
Digicel launches updated music streaming app
Regional – D’Music just got a new update as part of Digicel’s digital offering. The D’Music app is available across the Caribbean and Central America, focusing on local and regional content and offering more than 40 million tracks from top musicians around the world… more
St. Lucia Telecommunications Market Analysis of St. Lucia Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Saint Lucia – St. Lucia Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the St. Lucia’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Telecommunications Market Analysis of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
St. Vincent and the Grenadines – St. Vincent and the Grenadines Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Trinidad and Tobago Telecommunications Market Analysis of Trinidad and Tobago Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad & Tobago Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Trinidad & Tobago’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments… more
Wednesday, 4 December 2019
British Virgin Islands To Develop Stablecoin Pegged To The Dollar
British Virgin Islands – LifeLabs blockchain company has announced that it has partnered with the British Virgin Islands (BVI), to begin development of digital currency… more
Numerous proposals | BVI could become a financial technology hub
British Virgin Islands – Government is currently locked in talks with an unspecified number of potential investors on financial technology opportunities for the British Virgin Islands… more
GTT to install top-up machine on UG campus
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Co Ltd (GTT) has signed an agreement with the University of Guyana (UG) to have a vendor top-up machine installed at the Turkeyen campus… more
Hope Holness will apply tech
Jamaica – Dear Editor, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has certainly taken a keen interest in science and information technology… more
McGowan for Tech Beach
Jamaica – World-leading banking innovator Claudette McGowan is one of the leading participants being featured in this year’s staging of Tech Beach to be held in Montego Bay December 5-7… more
Microsoft app to empower visually impaired people in Jamaica
Jamaica – The visually impaired community in Jamaica has been given a boost with the launch of Microsoft’s ‘See AI’ app in Jamaica… more
Digicel evaluating refinancing options
Regional – Regional telecommunications giant, Digicel is currently evaluating its refinancing options over part of its debt pile, which currently stands at around US$7 billion (€6.35bn)… more
AG: Prisoners have high-speed internet access
Trinidad and Tobago – ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi said legislative amendments are coming to address the issue of prioners using high-speed internet connections to communicate… more
TSTT launches 5G
Trinidad and Tobago – MAJORITY State-owned telecommunications provider TSTT yesterday became the first company in T&T to launch a 5G network… more
Thursday, 5 December 2019
Minister Thompson Promotes ‘Rebuilding Smart,’ to Small Businesses Eligible for Technology Innovation Grant
Bahamas – Opening a ‘Rebuilding Smart, Using Technology’ workshop on Monday at the Grand Lucayan, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson noted that reconstruction and recovery of Grand Bahama’s small business community is critical to the island’s recovery since Hurricane Dorian… more
British Virgin Islands Government Turning to Blockchain?
British Virgin Islands – Blockchain technology was first introduced through Bitcoin as a means to aid and empower global citizens… more
British Virgin Islands Rollout a National Digital Currency
British Virgin Islands – The British Virgin Islands in partnership with LIFElabs.io has plans to roll out a national digital currency. BVI~LIFE™ Digital Currency is a Government initiative to strengthen the financial technology sector in the country… more
Data Protection Act could restrict marketing through telecoms firms
Jamaica – TELECOMS providers and other entities could find it harder to push their products to potential customers if the parliamentary committee which is reviewing the Data Protection Act agrees to include a provision for companies to ask permission to send such messages… more
Gov’t Developing Partnerships To Fight Cybercrime
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams, says the Government is developing critical partnerships to strengthen the country’s defence against cybercrime… more
Technology minister concerned over rise in email scam
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Fayval Williams is expressing concerns about a reported rise in fraudulent e-mails requesting payments… more
SVG: Medicinal Cannabis Authority partners with software company
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The Medicinal Cannabis Authority (MCA) in St Vincent and the Grenadines has partnered with Ample Organics to strengthen its medicinal cannabis industry by activating AmpleCentral – the world’s first national Cannabis Tracking System built for regulators… more
Friday, 6 December 2019
2019 Future Of Anguilla Telecommunications Market Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities 2025
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
BTC: No Insurer Payout For $25m Dorian Damages
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will not receive an insurance payout to cover the $25m of network infrastructure damage inflicted by Hurricane Dorian, it has been revealed… more
RBC Unveils First ‘Branch Of Future’
Bahamas – The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has unveiled its first “digitally-enabled branch of the future” at Old Fort Bay… more
2019 Future Of Belize Telecommunications Market- Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets
Belize – The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Belize to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in highly competitive telecom industry… more
Bank of Baroda must bridge technology divide between parent company and local operations
Guyana – The Bank of Baroda has been charged by Central Bank Governor, Gobind Ganga, to bridge the technological divide between the Bank’s operations here in Guyana and its Indian headquarters… more
GTT offering $5M reward for info on vandalizing of cables
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is offering a $5M reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in the vandalizing of its fibre cables on the Linden Highway recently… more
US, Caribbean States Hold Cybersecurity Summit – State Department
Regional – The United States hosted delegations from a dozen Caribbean and nearby Latin American nations at a three-day gathering to cooperate on cybersecurity, the Department… more
ItelBPO Expanding To St Lucia
Saint Lucia – Weeks after the take up of a 30 per cent stake in the business by PanJam Investment Limited and Portland Private Equity, itelBPO has broken ground in St Lucia for the development of a 20,000 square foot centre… more
Technology, The Best Solution, Says Gonsalves
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, Technology, etc., is confident that technology is the best solution to counter our limited resources… more
TATT responds to TSTT CEO’s comments on spectrum allocation
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has defended its regulation of the national spectrum resources… more
TATT takes on TSTT: We are fair, transparent
Trinidad and Tobago – The Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) on Friday said it regulates the national spectrum in a “fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner” and “offers spectrum that can be made available to the operators for the provision of public telecommunications and broadcasting services… more
Saturday, 7 December 2019
Cable Bahamas Ordered To Pay Fine And Compensate Customers For Tv Channel Change
Bahamas – REGULATORS have ordered Cable Bahamas to pay a fine and compensate customers after the company replaced eight television channels without giving the required notice… more
In December its all about Free Money Send with Digicel MyCash
Regional – Being present to your loved ones is most important. During December 2019 until January 3, 2020, anyone who uses a Digicel MyCash card, a mobile app that comes with a prepaid Mastercard, in the United States to send money to their friends and family in Jamaica will be able to do it at no cost… more
Inspiring young tech-entrepreneurs
Trinidad and Tobago – Smart technology and finance go hand in hand. This was Oliver Sabga’s main message to a group of tech students who attended the bmobile TecYOUth Conference… more
Sunday, 8 December 2019
Digicel expands superfast service to eastern parishes
Jamaica – Digicel customers in St Mary, St Thomas and Portland now have superfast LTE mobile Internet service to do more streaming, uploading and downloading up to 10 times faster than ever before… more
image credit: Bernard Goldbach (flickr); Wikipedia; Brands of the World; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; The West Indian; Bahamas Local
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