A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 20 December to Sunday 26 December 2021.
Monday, 20 December 2021
FTTx boost for Digicel’s Caribbean Islands coverage
Caribbean – Responding to what is described as a surge in demand for high-quality fibre broadband services, service provider Digicel, which serves consumer and business customers in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Pacific, has modernized its FTTx network across the Caribbean Islands… more
Modernization of air traffic management at the International Airport
Haiti – The French firm Thales Group, world leader for more than 50 years in ATM Air Traffic Management solutions and Aeronav, expert in project installation, will provide Haiti with communication, navigation, surveillance, meteorology and air traffic management that will allow Haiti to switch to a new era of modern and secure airspace management… more
Tackling the hackers
Trinidad and Tobago – Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has disrupted the activities of a China-based hacking group we call Nickel… more
Tuesday, 21 December 2021
URCA to lead consultation on 5G in 2022
Bahamas – Calling it a crucial issue, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) stated it intends to lead consultation on the introduction of 5G to The Bahamas in 2022… more
E-Networks launches 4G, 5G and OnFiber internet services in Linden
Guyana – E-Networks Inc. – Guyana’s only locally owned telecommunications provider – launched its 4G, 5G and OnFiber internet services in Linden. This announcement came after the company indicated its build-out of a fiber optic cable from Georgetown to Linden in September… more
BPO, tourism labour shortage won’t end any time soon — JEF
Jamaica – The labour shortage in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and hospitality sectors will not likely end anytime soon and pay hikes may need to be considered in any effort to attract workers to both industries, says Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) President David Wan… more
SSL Venture Capital Jamaica Ltd. (SSLVC) – Sale of a remaining 30% Stake in BlueDot Data Intelligence Ltd.
Jamaica – SSL Venture Capital Jamaica Limited (SSLVC) advises on the sale of the remaining 30% stake in BlueDot Data Intelligence Limited to Larren Peart… more
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
UNDP funds design and launch of BELTRAIDE’s virtual knowledge center
Belize – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is funding the design and launch of the Belize Trade & Investment Development Services’ (BELTRAIDE) virtual knowledge center to the tune of approximately $US55,000.00… more
Cybersecurity risks in your business relationships
Caribbean – Supply chain attacks are an emerging cyber threat with the potential to greatly magnify the damage of a single security breach… more
Fortinet and Trust for the Americas partner
Caribbean – The Trust for the Americas, a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), has partnered with Fortinet, a global leader in comprehensive, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, to reduce the gap of trained professionals in cybersecurity industry in Latin America and the Caribbean… more
Innovate
Caribbean – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is advocating for a more active and systemic role for innovation and knowledge in the policies aimed at fostering Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic, productive, social and environmental development… more
More countries adopt ECCB digital currency
Caribbean – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) expanded its central bank digital currency (CBDC), DCash, to two more nations of the Commonwealth: Dominica and Montserrat, making it seven out of the eight-member union which are now listed as participants… more
Teaching people how to learn
Caribbean – There’s an unfortunate tendency to think “it’s complicated” regarding technology. While many aspects of technology are complex, learning has got more straightforward and accessible… more
Technology buzzwords 2021
Caribbean – If you are to keep pace with technology, it’s important to know the buzzwords so that you come across as well informed. Here’s a look at some of the keywords which added to the technology lexicon this past year… more
Universal Internet access decades away
Caribbean – The UN’s goal of universal access, defined as 90 per cent of people being online, may not be reached until 2050 or later. In December, the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported that more than half of the world’s population is online… more
Amicable separation
Jamaica – After several months of negotiations SSL Venture Capital (SSLVC) has completed the sale of its shares in data and research company Bluedot Data Intelligence… more
Peart takes second shot at reacquiring Bluedot
Jamaica – Larren Peart is making a second attempt at reacquiring 100 per cent share ownership in Bluedot, the data insight and intelligence company he launched six years ago. Peart first attempted to reacquire SSL Venture Capital Jamaica’s 50 per cent… more
Tanya Graham: CURIOSITY-DRIVEN
Jamaica – Information technology lecturer at the University of Technology, (UTech) Jamaica, Tanya Graham, initially wanted to pursue a career in law… more
St Lucia to Launch COVID-19 Digital Vaccination Certificate
Saint Lucia – St Lucia on Wednesday announced the launch of the coronavirus (COVID-19) Digital Vaccination Certificate program next week, saying it will allow for fully vaccinated people to apply for the document… more
Thursday, 23 December 2021
GTT Fibre reaches New Amsterdam
Guyana – The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) yesterday said that it has introduced its residential and Biz Fibre services to New Amsterdam, Region Six… more
Digital COVID-19 vaccination card now available
Jamaica – After missing Monday’s deadline for the rollout of digital COVID-19 certificates, the Ministry of Health and Wellness today officially launched Jamaica’s digital vaccination card… more
TelEm announces winner of 20 years of FREE Fiber campaign.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group has announced the winner of its “Unbelievable” TelEm Fiber campaign who takes away a winning prize of 20 years FREE fiber with only two days to go to Christmas… more
bmobile supports youth hydroponics initiative in Morvant
Trinidad and Tobago – Several young people in the Second Caledonia community in Morvant will now have new avenues for employment and even self-employment, with their participation in a special hydroponics agriculture programme conducted by Core Foundation, which is supported by bmobile and the bmobile Foundation… more
Friday, 24 December 2021
Revolution Here In Fin-Tech Market
Bahamas – The Bahamas Investments and Securities Business Association’s (BISBA) president says Fin-Tech will “catapult” the financial services industry in 2022… more
C’bean nations dominate e-currency race
Caribbean – With the adoption of digital currencies, Caribbean countries are quickly emerging as global leaders in digital finance… more
Digital help
Jamaica – THE e-Governance Academy for the Caribean, a subsidiary of Estonian non-profit foundation e-Governance Academy, has established a subsidiary in Jamaica that will support digital development in the Caribbean… more
Digital transformation a priority for Jamaica Customs
Jamaica – The growth in e-commerce and the present COVID-19 pandemic have presented opportunities for the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) to “leap forward” with its digital transformation programme, as the customs and border regulatory agency is now rolling out a number of initiatives to make trade easier… more
Saturday, 25 December 2021
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Sunday, 26 December 2021
Imagining a global digital order
Caribbean – Although the digital revolution is now decades old, there still is no global digital economic order. Instead, there are competing visions of digital capitalism, predominantly articulated by the United States, China, and the European Union, which have been developing their models for many years and are increasingly exporting them to developing and emerging economies… more
From call centre to high-tech farm
Jamaica – In the nerve centre of the Lakes Pen Agri-Ventures in Portmore, St Catherine, 21-year-old Theodore Adjmul pays keen attention to a computer screen from which he co-ordinates irrigation activities for the farm… more
Seeds of the Future graduates recognised at Huawei ICT Hub launch
Jamaica – Huawei Jamaica, which has been involved in honing with Information Communication Technology (ICT) talent for the past five years through its Seeds for the Future programme, recently hosted a graduation with the attendance of the Juliet Holness, MP, and Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Jian Qi for 29 young students from The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Technology (UTech)… more
Image credits: Tomaž Štolfa (flickr); Wikipedia; Twitter; TelEm Group; Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia Commons
