A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 November to Sunday 22 November 2020.
Monday, 16 November 2020
Millions spent for public officers to work remotely
British Virgin Islands – When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the BVI earlier this year, government spending on computer software for public officers increased by 81.3 percent or about $1.2 million more than similar spending in 2019… more
Digitisation of over 25,000 businesses, organisations coming, says Shaw
Jamaica – Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Audley Shaw says the Government is embarking on an initiative to facilitate the digitisation of over 25,000 business operations within the next three years… more
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
AG: Digital assets laws to attract new work stream of business
Bahamas – Laws governing the digital assets space will allow The Bahamas to attract an entirely new work stream of business which will be at the very forefront of global financial developments, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday… more
BTC Launches Xmas Campaign
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday launched its seven-week ‘All I want for Christmas is’ campaign featuring special offers on all its products and services… more
No compromise! Gov’t will start hammering internet providers 2021
British Virgin Islands – Complaints about the internet and other telecommunication services have been exacerbated in the BVI since the passage of the 2017 hurricanes… more
Digicel Business Masterclass educates on digital transformation
Jamaica – Digicel Business continued to inspire and educate last Thursday, November 12, with its third episode of the in-demand business mentorship Masterclass Series. The livestream event focused on digital transformation with globally-recognised expert and Chief Digital Officer for Digicel Group, Aileen Corrigan… more
tTech sees dip in net profit for July to September
Jamaica – tTech ended the July to September quarter with a decrease in net profit… more
Digicel announces expiry of offer to DGL2 bondholders
Regional – Digicel on Monday announced that the offer by the DGL0.5 Purpose Trust (the “Holding Trust”) to eligible Caribbean retail holders of DGL2 Limited (formerly known as Digicel Group Two Limited) notes (the “Eligible DGL2 Caribbean Retail Holders”) shall expire on 20 November 2020 and that the remaining notes held by the Holding Trust will be offered to eligible Caribbean retail holders of notes issued by DGL3 Limited (formerly known as Digicel Group Limited) (the “Eligible DGL3 Caribbean Retail Holders”) until December 15, 2020… more
Tech companies need shift in mindset, says expert
Regional – A regional advocate for tech entrepreneurship believes Barbados and other countries in the Caribbean need a new set of financing models and a change in mindset to become the hub for thriving technology firms… more
Is cryptocurrency a security?
Trinidad and Tobago – Globally, as at November 7, 2020, there were over 6,700 types of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, the most popular digital currency, which last week traded at USD$15,014.90… more
Natuc partners with WiPay to offer loans to members
Trinidad and Tobago – WIPAY chief executive, Aldwyn Wayne, says the T&T-based payment platform company, has been planning its latest innovation, called WiLoan, for more than a year… more
T&T must move faster in its digital transformation says Huawei exec
Trinidad and Tobago – T&T is doing better than Central America and many other countries in its digital transformation initiatives but it needs to do it faster, said Huawei executive Luis Guillot… more
Tech help for Mayaro
Trinidad and Tobago – Eighty additional primary school pupils from across the south-eastern community of Mayaro have been given an educational advantage through the presentation of tablet computers by BP Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT)… more
Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Harnessing Messy Data For Future Improvements
Bahamas – Data does not rest. It is everywhere, created by everyone for anything and everything. Silently, it has grown exponentially over the past few years, especially most recently, with the attention on COVID-19… more
Former B.T.L. Chair Racked Up $859,197 in Credit Card, Fuel, and Insurance
Belize – Details are beginning to emerge on the charges made to the B.T.L. corporate credit card by its former chairman, Net Vasquez. These were racked up generally for personal matters and not for company business… more
Where is govt’s promised online portal for tourists?
British Virgin Islands – As it continues to lobby for consultations with the government, the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) said business owners are asking about the status of the BVI’s online portal where visitors must register before traveling here… more
Radio, TV, Cable operators owe GNBA over $100M in fees
Guyana – The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has publicized the names of 20 radio, television and cable operators who have together accumulated a debt to the Authority totalling in excess of $100M… more
Bovel Blake, IT leader
Jamaica – For Bovel Blake, IT plays a vital role in implementing new technologies and tools, recruiting and training new staff along with reshaping business processes… more
NCB embraces digital strategy during COVID-19
Jamaica – Amid the continued negative impact on businesses as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, NCB Financial Group (NCBFG) said that its early adoption of a digital strategy assisted the financial institution to pivot in the wake of the pandemic… more
Enterprise computing: Digital strategy
Regional – In the last edition of Digital Life we introduced the framework of the road map to achieve digital transformation (DT). It consists of 12 major elements of digital transformation grouped into four pillars: strategy and vision, people and culture, process and governance and, finally, technology and capabilities… more
New thinking – The future of work
Regional – With the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, such as robotics process automation (RPA), trying to figure out the future of work has been a source of anxiety for many… more
TechBeach Retreat Lab to enable digital shift for businesses
Regional – Large corporations, Government and start-ups in the Caribbean are poised to benefit from the curricula of the 2021 TechBeach Retreat (TBR) Lab designed to drive innovation and enable a digital shift for businesses in the region… more
TelEm closing main building for one week to replace A/C ducts
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group will be closing its main building on Pond Island for an entire week, starting end of business day Friday, to replace a network of air conditioning (AC) ducts in the main air-handler room… more
Flow brings Triple A to the online teaching game
Trinidad and Tobago – Online education has become the vehicle by which our nation’s children are being taught… more
Huawei to THA: “Covid-19 is a digital economy incentive”
Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago is doing better than Central America and many other countries in its digital transformation initiatives but it needs to do it faster, says Huawei executive Luis Guillot… more
TATT, TSTT, Digicel deliver devices for schools
Trinidad and Tobago –The Ministry of Education received 800 of 10,000 devices at a ceremony held recently at TATT’s offices in Barataria… more
Thursday, 19 November 2020
Flow provides custom sites, help desks and online shopping
Barbados – Greater support has arrived for local small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic… more
Dominican Republic Bans Huawei from Upgrading its Telecom Networks
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic has banned Huawei from building its 5G networks, with the Caribbean country’s new President choosing to take side with the US government… more
Mobile service disruption affecting five parishes – Digicel
Jamaica – Communications leader Digicel says on Tuesday afternoon its network teams discovered multiple incidents of damage to fibre optic cables serving cell sites in St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland… more
Region Must Harness Technology For Development – Minister Vaz
Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says that the advancement and development of the region is hinged on the use of technology to aid in building resilience, productivity and sustainability… more
UPDATE: Digicel fully restores services in 5 parishes after disruption
Jamaica – Communications leader Digicel says it has fully restored mobile voice and data services to sections of five parishes affected by multiple incidents of damage to fibre optic cables serving cell sites in the areas… more
Digicel Commences Modified Dutch Auction Tender Offer for 7.00% PIK Perpetual Convertible Notes Issued by Digicel Group Holdings Limited
Regional – Digicel Group Holdings Limited, formerly known as Digicel Group 0.5 Limited (“Digicel,” the “Company”, “we” or “us”), today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the “Offer”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Company’s Offer to Purchase dated November 19, 2020 (the “Offer to Purchase”), for its outstanding 7.00% PIK Perpetual Convertible Notes (the “Notes”)… more
Business technology awardees continue to win
Trinidad and Tobago – On Friday, November 20, the TT Chamber will host its annual Champions of Business Awards ceremony… more
Friday, 20 November 2020
GB minister presents govt.’s digital transformation program at virtual conference
Bahamas – Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson recently outlined The Bahamas’ strides thus far in the country’s digital transformation, as well as the plans to expand that transformation as time goes on, during the 14th annual meeting of Red GEALC Sixth Ministerial Meeting of Digital Government… more
‘Grey Clouds’ Must Lift To Get Cable Dividends
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas’ top executive says dividend payments to ordinary shareholders will only resume after “some of the grey clouds” presently hovering over the Bahamian economy disappear… more
Tourism shutdown has “massive hit” on BTC’s bottom line
Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) top executive yesterday acknowledged that the shutdown of the tourism sector has had a “massive” impact on the quad provider’s bottom line, noting that the hospitality sector represents some 30 to 35 percent of its B2B revenue… more
Cisco’s CDA Program Moves to Help the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands – We need more good news about companies and governments helping people during this COVID-19 event that seems to be spreading out of control in much of the world right now… more
Digicel puts giving into winning this Christmas with ‘Shake n Share’
Jamaica – In the true spirit of Christmas, over 500,000 Digicel customers will have a chance to win cash and prizes, with the option to keep their winnings or gift it to a friend, loved one or someone they feel is deserving of it… more
HGS to add thousands of employees to global operations including Jamaica
Jamaica – Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) has revealed plans to add thousands of employees to its operations around the world, including Jamaica, as the Indian Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) provider sees a strong pipeline of client orders… more
More than 400 public entities connected to national broadband network
Jamaica – More than 400 public entities have been connected to the national broadband network as the Government continues its drive to provide more citizens with access to high-speed Internet… more
Web portal glitch delays education ministry’s tablets initiative
Jamaica – Thousands of anxious parents are now waiting to submit their applications online to the Ministry of Education in order to secure grants to purchase tablets for their children, under the Government’s Own Your Own Device initiative… more
Saturday, 21 November 2020
FLOW gives back during annual mission week
Barbados – The importance of volunteerism has been underscored by leading telecommunications provider Flow, as the company recently celebrated its annual Mission Week with a series of events in support of the theme “Learning, Environment, Access and Disaster Relief”… more
CCT sues over telecom levy
British Virgin Islands – CCT and BVI Cable TV are challenging the telecommunications levy that regulators recently decided to start collecting for the first time since the Telecommunications Act took effect in 2006… more
Sunday, 22 November 2020
Wi-Fi world
Jamaica – What is Wi-Fi? I bet that most people outside of the telecommunications industry do not know what Wi-fi stands for. Well, Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity and is actually the same thing as saying WLAN, which stands for wireless local area network… more
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