A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 15 June to Sunday 21 June 2020.

 

Monday, 15 June 2020

E-Networks donates thermal camera system to CJIA for COVID-19 checks

Guyana – With temperature checks forming an integral part of containing the spread of COVID-19, the need for a quick, efficient and less invasive way of screening passengers is critical… more

 

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Anguilla Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report

Anguilla – The report on Anguilla Telecom is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Anguilla Telecom market… more

New online market place aims to reduce need for imports

Antigua and Barbuda – After almost two years brainstorming ways to improve the business climate in Antigua and Barbuda for the benefit of local merchants, technology company, Antigua Commercial Technology (ACT), has created a new concept that places a virtual “shopping mall in the palm of your hands”… more

URCA makes final determination on termination rates

Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has made a final determination regarding wholesale fixed and mobile termination charges between significant market power licensees of electronic communications in The Bahamas… more

Belize Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report 2020

Belize – The report on Belize Telecom is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Belize Telecom market… more

CCT suspends future advertising with VINO for controversial cartoon

British Virgin islands – At least one company has suspended advertising with local news website Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), who has been under heavy public criticism for publishing a cartoon of Governor Augustus Jaspert kneeling on the neck of radio talkshow host and government consultant Claude Skelton Cline… more

Internet down for 1600 Blaze customers

Guyana – 1600 customers of GTT’s Blaze service are currently experiencing an internet outage, Public Relations Officer at the company Jasmine Harris said today… more

Digital Divide Affecting Rural Jamaica

Jamaica – THE EDITOR, Madam: On Saturday, June 13, The Gleaner published a piece that has weighed heavily on my heart. ‘What about us? … more

RGD wants more clients to use online services

Jamaica – THE Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is working to increase the number of clients accessing its online services from 40 per cent to 60 per cent… more

New ScotiaCard lets you shop local, online

Trinidad and Tobago – Scotiabank has unveiled the new ScotiaCard™ Visa Debit, which now allows customers to shop online at their favourite local businesses… more

Social media fantasy land – Is your child living in it?

Trinidad and Tobago – The globe seems to be entering into the “New Normal” with world and nation-wide shifts. An eruption of positive changes seems to be occurring… more

 

Wednesday, 17 June 2020

Senate passes digital business bill

Antigua and Barbuda – The digital asset industry will come under greater regulation now that the Upper House has passed the new iteration of the Digital Assets Business Bill 2020, with little debate… more

Contractor’s Part Win Over Bungled Btc Agreement

Bahamas – A bungled contract triggered a dispute that resulted in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) being ordered by the Supreme Court to compensate an independent contractor for four months of work… more

Govt. to spend up to $16 million on virtual learning, smart schools

Bahamas – The Ministry of Education will spend $3 million in the upcoming fiscal period to place more than 3,000 tablets and in the hands of students and laptop for every teacher, as the ministry prioritizes its “aggressive digitization project”… more

COMMENTARY – Need seen for telecom taskforce

British Virgin islands – In 1983, Tom Crowe reported enthusiastically to the Virgin Islands government on the prospects for computerisation reducing the territory’s dependence on tourism (see my May 28 commentary titled “‘Commuting home’ considered”) as business would be attracted by the VI’s good underwater cable and microwave links with the United States… more

Digital learning has created greater imbalances among students

Cayman Islands – In mid-March the Honourable Julianna  O’Connor-Connolly,  Minister of  Education,  Youth,  Sports,  Agriculture and  Lands announced the  COVID-19 closure of all educational institutions in the  Cayman  Islands and a transition to online learning… more

Dominica Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report 2020

Dominica – The report on Dominica Telecom is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Dominica Telecom market… more

Grenada Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report 2020

Grenada – The report on Grenada Telecom is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Grenada Telecom market… more

Guyana Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report 2020

Guyana – The report on Guyana Telecom is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Guyana Telecom market… more

Flow extends work from home until end of 2020

Jamaica – FLOW Jamaica is set to continue its work from home protocol for the rest of 2020, as many Jamaicans return to office following the expiration of Government’s work from home order on May 31… more

Jamaica Telecom Market Analysis and Outlook Report 2020

Jamaica – The report on Jamaica Telecom is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Jamaica Telecom market… more

MBJ Airports working on biometric system for Sangster International

Jamaica – Shane Munroe, the chief executive officer (CEO) at MBJ Airports Limited, operator of Sangster International Airport, says consideration is being given to introducing a biometric system among other measures aimed at reducing processing time… more

Update | Golden Tablets!

Jamaica – BEMOANING THE exorbitant sum spent by the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) to acquire laptops and other equipment, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Mark Golding questioned whether two Samsung tablets purchased at a price of $436,024 “were made from gold”… more

Caribbean – Telecoms, Mobile, and Broadband – Statistics and Analyses

Regional – Given the relative lack of economic diversity within the Caribbean, the telecoms sector accounts for a higher proportion of GDP in most markets in the region than is common elsewhere… more

 

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Bahamas Data Protection Act: What you need to know.

Bahamas – Data protection laws provide for the protection of personal privacy as they prohibit the unlawful use or disclosure of personal information… more

Bahamas Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Bahamas Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Bahamas – The report on Bahamas Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Bahamas Telecommunications market… more

Barbados Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Barbados Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Barbados – The report on Barbados Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Barbados Telecommunications market… more

Belize Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Belize Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Belize – The report on Belize Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Belize Telecommunications market… more

Cayman Islands Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Cayman Islands Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Cayman Islands – The report on Cayman Islands Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Cayman Islands Telecommunications market… more

Dominica Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Dominica Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Dominica – The report on Dominica Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Dominica Telecommunications market… more

New E-commerce platform offers a variety in online products and features

Dominica – Access767 has launched SHOP767.NET – its online shopping and e-commerce platform with a variety of products and features… more

Dominican Republic Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Dominican Republic Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Dominican Republic – The report on Dominican Republic Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Dominican Republic Telecommunications market… more

Grenada Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Grenada Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Grenada – The report on Grenada Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Grenada Telecommunications market… more

Haiti Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Haiti Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Haiti – The report on Haiti Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Haiti Telecommunications market… more

Jamaica Telecommunications Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Jamaica Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets

Jamaica – The report on Jamaica Telecommunications is a comprehensive collection of all the market related information required for analyzing and understanding the Jamaica Telecommunications market… more

Technology Minister Commends National Commercial Bank

Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams, has commended the National Commercial Bank (NCB) for helping to build the innovative capacity of citizens amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, through the recent hackathon, dubbed ‘Hack-celerate’… more

Digicel concludes last significant milestone in process to reduce debt

Regional – Communications and entertainment provider Digicel has announced that Digicel Group One Limited’s (DGL1) Scheme of Arrangement is effective… more

Digicel facing ‘dinau’ issues

Regional – According to financial reports, the global telco company is currently US$7 billion (K23.59billion) in debt… more

TelEm Group official telecom provider for Islandpreneur Live 2020.

Sint Maarten – TelEm Group is teaming up with talented business promoters, Ms. Ife Badejo, for a pioneering three-day virtual summit about online opportunities available for entrepreneurs… more

 

Friday, 19 June 2020

IT: Bahamas Needs 15-Year Overhaul Completed In Five

Bahamas – The Bahamas and wider Caribbean must complete a 15-year transformation in just five years to catch up with the developed world in information technology (ICT), a local provider is arguing… more

Use e-commerce to push products and services

Barbados – Despite a notable increase in the number of businesses offering products and services online, an outspoken academic is expressing concern about the absence of new internet-driven industries arising from the Coronavirus pandemic… more

BPOs have weathered the COVID-19 storm

Jamaica – The business process outsourcing sector (BPO) is being hailed as the industry which has helped to shore up the flagging fortunes of many in western Jamaica after the coronavirus pandemic downed many business entities… more

JA: TLC, Digicel Foundation donate 100 tablets for vulnerable students

Jamaica – In Jamaica, Transformed Life Church (TLC) in partnership with the Digicel Foundation on Wednesday handed over 100 tablets for 50 students at seven primary schools in Portland and 50 students at a high school in St Mary… more

Local tech company pushes HR digital products

Jamaica – As more businesses across the globe transition to remote working and work-from-home arrangements to stem the spread of COVID-19, local tech company Brainboxx Solutions Limited is urging corporate companies to improve HR systems to not neglect staff during this period… more

Companies waive internet charges for online banking

Regional  – CIBC FirstCaribbean’s online banking platforms can now be accessed for free by Flow customers thanks to a partnership between the two regional firms… more

Digicel concludes process to reduce debt, next week is the target date

Regional – Digicel yesterday announced that Digicel Group One Limited’s (DGL1) scheme of arrangement (the Scheme) is effective… more

 

Saturday, 20 June 2020

BARP goes more online ‘to keep members safe’

Barbados – The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) is extending its slate of online services to keep its 27,000 members safe from the coronavirus, president Marilyn Rice-Bowen announced on Friday… more

Orange to pay $280 mn to Digicel for anti-competitive practice

Regional – The Paris Appeals court has ordered French telecoms operator Orange to pay rival Digicel nearly 250 million euros ($280 million) in compensation for anti-competitive practices in the French Caribbean… more

 

Sunday, 21 June 2020

GTT extending Blaze internet coverage along East Bank

Guyana – Telecoms provider Guyana Telephone &Telegraph Company (GTT) has announced that its Blaze internet service has been extended to cover residents of Green Acres Providence, on the East Bank of Demerara… more

Technology key to ensuring continuity of courts’ operations amid COVID-19

Guyana – Committed to ensuring the administration of justice even in a time of crisis, the judiciary’s response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is not an isolated one, but a concerted regional effort aimed at continuity of services… more

TSTT, Digicel clash over number portability

Trinidad and Tobago – DIGICEL has sent rival mobile provider TSTT a strongly worded letter calling on it to desist from refusing to operate number portability or face legal action… more

 

 

Image credits: Alpha Stock Images;  The Bahamas Weekly;  Wikipedia;  Wikimedia Commons;  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia

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