A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 13 April to Sunday 19 April 2020.
Monday, 13 April 2020
FUTURE OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Antigua and Barbuda – The Antigua & Barbuda Telecommunications report – 8th series provides a complete view of the Antigua & Barbuda telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
SMART closes all showrooms until further notice
Belize – ЅМАRТ Веlіzе іnfоrmеd tоdау thаt duе tо thе Ѕtаtе оf Еmеrgеnсу аnd rесеnt ѕtаtutоrу іnѕtrumеnt rеlеаѕеd bу thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе thеіr ѕhоwrооmѕ wіll bе сlоѕеd untіl furthеr nоtісе… more
FUTURE OF JAMAICA TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET-TRENDS, OUTLOOK AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES OF MOBILE, FIXED LANDLINE AND BROADBAND MARKETS
Jamaica – The Jamaica Telecommunications report – 8th series provides a complete view of the Jamaica telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
Digicel Announces Results To-date of Its Tender Offers and Extends Early Tender Premium to Be Payable to All Tenders of Existing DL Notes Prior to Expiration Date
Regional – Digicel Group Two Limited (“DGL Two” and, together with its subsidiaries, “Digicel”) today announced the results to-date of its offers to exchange existing debt of Digicel Limited (“DL”), DGL.. more
Use of Facebook, Netflix up by 50% during COVID
Trinidad and Tobago – Since the world began battling with COVID-19 and a significant portion of the people have been told to stay at home, the demand for internet access grew somewhat exponentially… more
Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Extra load strains VI Internet
British Virgin Islands – As internet traffic migrates from offices and schools to homes during the 14-day COVID-19 lockdown, the territory’s telecommunications providers have found themselves under increased strain in the face of customer complaints about poor Internet service… more
Growth & Jobs | Use Technology To Maintain Remittance Inflows – Economists
Jamaica – TWO LOCAL economists are advocating for the use of technology to maintain remittance inflows into Jamaica, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Internet Radio Might Become ‘New Normal’ – Industry Stakeholders Say More Opportunities Will Revive Platforms
Jamaica – RADIO HAS been a staple of international and local media for decades, reinventing itself with each new wave of technological advancement. For Gavin Whylie, co-founder of JamRockOne, radio has been a mainstay in our lives, “with most of us not knowing a world without its advancement”… more
OUR condemns spread of ‘false’ information regarding 5G technology and COVID-19
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) on Wednesday issued a news release condemning the spread of false information about the connection between COVID-19 and 5G technology… more
Saint Lucia’s third academic term begins April 20 via virtual means
Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia’s third academic term will begin on Monday, April 20, 2020, with students being taught from home via digital media… more
Wednesday, 15 April 2020
‘Cash is king’; Digicel empowering customers since COVID-19 cuts
Barbados – During these uncertain times, Digicel Barbados is showing that it understands how important it is to support customers as much as possible… more
Serving Belize Through COVID-19 State of Emergency Lockdown
Belize – With the outbreak of COVID-19, there is a great need for Speednet to be innovative in communicating and presenting our products and services to our customers… more
Comment: How BVI is keeping connected in a crisis
British Virgin Islands – The covid-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on all of our daily lives as we observe social distance protocols and lockdowns in order to stem the spread of the virus… more
ETECSA’s Actions Towards The COVID-19 Battle
Cuba – Cuba’s own ETECSA has been implementing certain measures for its population in the COVID-19 fight… more
Guyana gov’t gives prisoners tablet computers to keep in touch with their families amid COVID-19
Guyana – In light of the stringent measures in place to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, prisoners will now be using tablet computers to communicate with their families… more
SN online edition delayed by GTT problems
Guyana – Stabroek News’ online edition today has been affected by internet problems at the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT)… more
Remittance customers switch to digital channels
Jamaica – WorldRemit’s managing director for the Americas, says cash pick up via remittance platforms and agent networks is becoming more difficult as the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues its spread… more
LACTLD joins the CTU
Regional – The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) is pleased to welcome its newest member, Latin American and Caribbean Top Level Domains (LACTLD), which officially became a member of the CTU on 27th March 2020… more
Digicel, Education Ministry partner for e-learning initiatives
Trinidad and Tobago – Digicel Trinidad and Tobago has partnered with the Ministry of Education to provide e-learning initiatives to assist students during the current stay-at-home regulations enacted to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)… more
Electronic monitoring to serve dual roles in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago – Back in March, Attorney General, Faris Al Rawi had announced that electronic monitoring bracelets were to form part of the government’s initiatives to combat domestic violence in Trinidad and Tobago… more
Flow helps customer to self-install IPTV at home
Trinidad and Tobago – Flow is taking every precaution to ensure its teams and customers are safe during this time of COVID-19… more
Most mobile carriers still suspending service
Trinidad and Tobago – There is growing uncertainty about payment deferrals and disconnection for non-payment at the country’s leading telecoms providers amid reports that mobile and internet customers who are facing financial hardship as a result of covid19 are being disconnected for overdue bills… more
Zappware’s Android TV solution goes live in the Caribbean
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago’s TSTT-Amplia has launched the first Android TV solution in the Caribbean… more
Thursday, 16 April 2020
Digital Economy In Key Rebound Role
Bahamas – The COVID-19 pandemic’s jolt to speed-up digitisation, and the growth of online e-commerce activity, will ensure they both have a role in economic recovery, a Bahamian financial analyst believes… more
GTT provides Help and Shelter with toll-free hotline number
Guyana – In recognition of the need for persons to stay at home to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has collaborated with the Help and Shelter organization to provide a toll-free hotline number to assist victims of domestic violence and abuse… more
Alorica Denies Being Virus Rogue
Jamaica – International outsourcing firm Alorica says it is in full compliance with the protocols established by the Jamaican authorities and has rubbished suggestions that negligence on the firm’s part resulted in 52 of its workers being infected with the new coronavirus… more
OUR says 5G technology is not in Jamaica
Jamaica – The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) yesterday said that there is currently no deployment of 5G technology in Jamaica and “none of the existing mobile telecommunication providers has advised of any definite plans for the immediate implementation of this technology”… more
Tough On BPOs – PM Announces Stiff Measures For Call Centres Amid COVID Spike As Major Player Closes Two Plants
Jamaica – Tough restrictions are now in place for business process outsourcing (BPO) operations over heightened concern that call centres are hubs for community transmission of COVID-19 even as it has been revealed that another firm has shuttered because an employee might have been exposed… more
Digicel answers the question: How to fight COVID-19 quarantine boredom
Regional – Digicel is prepared to help alleviate customer’s boredom and keep them entertained… more
Friday, 17 April 2020
Local telecoms providers offer concessions for online education
British Virgin Islands – Telecommunication providers in the British Virgin Islands are coming to the aid of students by providing special packages to accommodate online learning in the territory… more
Sutherland COVID-19 Fears Trigger CSO Clean-Up
Jamaica – Operations were delayed yesterday as the Central Sorting Office (CSO), the headquarters of Jamaica’s postal service, underwent emergency sanitisation amid the threat of coronavirus contagion from the commingling of staff at a call centre sited there… more
Saturday, 18 April 2020
GTT supports HelpGuyana app
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has partnered to introduce Guyana’s first-ever crisis management web and mobile app – HELPGuyana… more
Manchester BPO ordered closed by health department
Jamaica – The Manchester Health Department has ordered a business process outsourcing (BPO) facility in the parish to cease operations following an inspection of the call centre… more
NCB urges businesses to pay staff online this month
Jamaica – NATIONAL Commercial Bank (NCB) has urged businesses to pay staff electronically, instead of with cheques, for the month of April to avoid pay disruptions resulting from branch closures and quarantines related to the COVID-19 epidemic… more
Sunday, 19 April 2020
Online shopping dilemma! Days before some residents receive deliveries
British Virgin Islands – It could be days before the average BVI resident receives their pre-ordered groceries from supermarkets approved to offer online shopping and delivery services during the territory’s extended lockdown period… more
COVID-19, Technology and the Future of Work
Guyana – COVID-19 has brought me back to a subject, the future of work, which I wrote on in May and August 2019. With lockdowns across the world and social distancing, technology is playing a central role. We are participating in religious services and concerts online through live-streaming… more
O’Brien Puts Up Digicel HQ, Cash To Seal Debt Deal
Jamaica – Digicel Group chairman Denis O’Brien has put up the telecoms regional headquarters on the Kingston waterfront as collateral under a debt deal with bondholders… more
Attending Online Meetings
Saint Lucia – With the combined realities of our state emergency, daily curfew, and need to maintain physical distancing as a practical survival measure, there is a current opportunity to embrace the solutions offered by ICT to assist us in keeping safe, sane, and social… more
Students To Receive Virtual Instruction At Home During The Extended School Closure
Saint Kitts and Nevis – Although on-site instruction in schools has been suspended for a two-week period, students will still have an opportunity to learn at home online thanks to FLOW Study, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Shawn Richards, during the April 16 National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing… more
Image credits: carterse (flickr); Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia; Wikipedia
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