A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 24 August to Sunday 30 August 2020.
Monday, 24 August 2020
URCA ends public consultation on Bahamas IXP
Bahamas – The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) said it “was not surprised” that the country’s two largest communications companies had cast doubt on its case for developing a local Internet Exchange Point (IXP)… more
Technology and innovation could help reform the way we mov
Cayman Islands – The absence of bumper-to-bumper traffic was one of the features of life during the pandemic that many Cayman Islands residents enjoyed. With business and school life starting to return to something like normal, the roads are beginning to clog up with cars once again. The latest instalment of our Cayman 2.0 series examines ideas for how to reform public transport… more
Government working with providers to ensure internet access for all learning institutions – Octavia Alfred
Dominica – Education Minister Octavia Alfred says the government has been working with service providers to ensure that all learning institutions in Dominica have internet access… more
Jamaica’s Caricel denied judicial review of licence revocation
Jamaica – Symbiote Investments, which provides services in Jamaica as Caricel, has been refused permission to appeal a decision by the country’s Court of Appeal that revoked its operating licences… more
Ministry considers laptops for online classes
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Education is currently considering a proposal to Cabinet to purchase laptops for students to assist with online classes… more
Tuesday, 25 August 2020
Online-only classes for first term of the new school year as students among current COVID cases
British Virgin Islands – With school-aged children being among the territory’s latest positive COVID-19 cases, the Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that the first term of the 2020/2021 academic school year will be strictly online for all private and public schools… more
Authorities launch internet speed tester to protect consumers
Cayman Islands – OfReg has launched an independent speed test system, to support and further enhance the internet infrastructure in the Cayman Islands… more
Guyana Telecommunications Market 2020: Industry, Size, Share, Demands, Growth, Opportunities, Trends Analysis and Forecast Till 2025
Guyana – The Guyana Telecommunications report – 8th series from OGAnalysis provides a complete view of the Guyana telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market… more
Haitel: The Giant That Could Not Survive A President’s Pettiness And The Collapse Of Society
Haiti – Thirteen years ago, Haitel’s marketing team was already in the vicinity of Gelée, the famous beach in Les Cayes on the south side of Haiti… more
Tech guy, Nicholas Francis, turns inventor
Trinidad and Tobago – Nicholas Francis makes his living solving other people’s problems… more
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
UG’s first semester will be online
Guyana – The University of Guyana has advised that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, the institution will continue to work in safe mode online with essential services being performed on the university’s campuses… more
Is Haiti Missing Out On 5G Internet?
Haiti – Like many countries, Haiti is yet to embrace what 5G mobile connections have to offer. In fact, in many cases, we’re still behind on even 4G integration… more
Digital Transactions To Get Big Push
Jamaica – A major investment in the country’s digital payment platform allowing for real-time transactions is one of the major planks of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) commitments if it prevails in the September 3 general election… more
Digitisation could drastically improve efficiency of the health care sector
Jamaica – In this post-pandemic era, we continue to witness the rise of all things digital and the implementation of software in everyday life. This new reality, while frightening to some, truly has limitless possibilities… more
Digitisation Leader — Krishna Singh
Jamaica – Mayberry Investments Limited has digitised its operations so existing clients may be kept abreast of account activity, while those hoping to become new ones will be able to complete the process using the company’s app… more
Financial sector moves to digitise operations
Jamaica – As the world moves towards more digital transactions, commercial banks, deposit taking institutions and independent companies have begun to offer more Visa- and Mastercard-enabled solutions to the Jamaican public. This digital development has come despite a fairly low digital presence in the country, which is being highlighted during the present COVID-19 period… more
Initial public offerings (IPO) slowly but surely moving to the digital platform
Jamaica – Before COVID-19 even touched the shores of Jamaica, several brokerage firms were moving towards enhanced digital means to process capital market raises which are typically initial public offerings (IPO)… more
Microsoft talks strategy for a covid19 world
Regional – Microsoft’s Partner Summit went virtual this year, moving the intensive engagement with its network of developers and vendors to a potentially more accessible virtual event… more
The disabled are more than tech able
Regional – Much the same way that exploration of outer space is providing the world with everyday benefits, integrating the disabled into everyday life is also generating new techniques even for the able-bodied among us… more
A DIGITAL WORLD: THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIGITAL JOURNALISTS
Trinidad and Tobago – Traditional media companies and journalist must adapt in order to remain relevant and profitable in a digital world… more
Analogue mindsets and digital language
Trinidad and Tobago – I know. I know. The headline reads like an introduction to the thesis of a techno-snob, which I am not. In fact, as a child of the analogue era, I am instinctively drawn to digital technology as the outcome of a bridge crossed. A language interpreted. A frame repositioned. An arduous journey into new territory… more
Instal, update, reboot
Trinidad and Tobago – THE NEW Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation is a step in the right direction. But it must be more than simply a tweak of a longstanding Cabinet portfolio… more
Thursday, 27 August 2020
School aged COVID-19 positive cases force BVI schools back online
British Virgin Islands – Education Minister Natalio Wheatley has announced that all British Virgin Islands students will return to online learning beginning as early as next week when classes resume at private schools… more
Digicel Expands LTE Network To Enable More Online Learning, Remote Working
Jamaica – With more Jamaicans turning to the Internet for online learning, telecommunications company Digicel says it has increased access to connectivity outside the classroom through the recent expansion of its high-speed LTE mobile data network to over 100 rural towns… more
Researcher tells J’can software development firms to level up
Jamaica – JAMAICAN software development firms must aim for at least a tier-three ranking to be able to attract global contracts… more
TelEm Group taking major steps to facilitate virtual learning environment in St. Maarten schools.
Sint Maarten – St. Maarten’s primary telecommunication provider, TelEm Group, is responding positively to its new role in the St. Maarten community – Virtual classroom provider… more
Ryu Dan Dojo Conquerors win Digicel Foundation’s Girls Power Tech
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ryu Dan Dojo Conquerors are the 2020 winners of the Digicel Foundation’s Girls Power Tech Hackathon… more
Friday, 28 August 2020
Phishing attacks increase daily — says police
Bahamas – Since the onset of the COVID-19 lockdowns across the country police have seen reported incidents of phishing attacks increase ‘daily’ according to a senior police investigator… more
UB faculty agree to bigger online classes
Bahamas – Union if Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB) president Daniel Thompson said faculty had agreed to expand the size of online classes being offered at the University of The Bahamas (UB)… more
Distance learning the new reality
Belize – The 2020-2021 school year will, at least for that year, be a starkly different one when compared to previous years. Because of the coronavirus which has ravaged the world, social distancing has become the new norm… more
Flash drive man arrested as election fraud probe deepens
Guyana – As the police probe into the alleged fraud surrounding the March 2nd General and Regional elections widens, Information Technology (IT) officer Enrique Livan who was at the centre of a flash drive controversy at the Ashmins building on march 4th was yesterday arrested by the police… more
Banking on the unbanked in a digital era
Jamaica – The Global Findex database provides more than 200 indicators on topics such as account ownership, payments, saving, credit, and financial resilience. It shows that 515 million adults worldwide opened an account at a financial institution or through a mobile money provider between 2014 and 2017. This means that 69 per cent of adults now have an account, up from 62 per cent in 2014 and 51 per cent in 2011… more
Barita launches BOSS online platform to enhance APO
Jamaica – Barita Investments Limited (BIL) has launched an online web portal to support its now opened additional public offering (APO). The web portal allows potential investors convenience and greater efficiency in providing Barita clients and non-clients a quicker way to process offers… more
PNP willing to grant subsidy to close digital divide
Jamaica – CO-DIRECTOR of the People’s National Party (PNP) 2020 election campaign Peter Bunting says a PNP Administration will not allow telecommunications service providers to dictate the market for the provision and expansion of high-speed, affordable Internet… more
ECLAC calls for universal, affordable Internet access
Regional – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Wednesday called on regional countries to ensure universal connectivity and the affordability of digital technologies in order to address the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic… more
65,000 pupils have no digital access: Govt appeals for devices
Trinidad and Tobago – The Ministry of Education is pleading with Corporate Trinidad for assistance as the new school term signals a pivot to digital learning… more
Govt asks Corporate T&T to help 65,000 students access online learning
Trinidad and Tobago – Days ahead of the opening of the new school term, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly is appealing to corporate T&T to assist students who do not have access to devices or the internet to participate in online learning… more
Saturday, 29 August 2020
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Sunday, 30 August 2020
The Roseau Central Constituency Gifts Laptops to its Student
Dominica – Approximately 91 students were gifted laptops from the Roseau Central Constituency. Parliamentary Representative for the Roseau Constituency, Mellissa Skerrit made the presentation to parents and students entering high school and college on Thursday evening at the Windsor Park Stadium… more
Digicel expands LTE footprint to enable more online learning, remote working
Jamaica – With more Jamaicans turning to the Internet for online learning, Digicel is increasing access to connectivity outside the classroom through the recent expansion of its high-speed LTE mobile data network to over 100 rural towns… more
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