A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 18 July to Sunday 24 July 2022.
Monday, 18 July 2021
Cable pushes TV review after 11% subscriber fall
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas is pushing industry regulators to complete their review of pay-TV services after it suffered the greatest year-over-year subscriber drop of 11 percent for 2021… more
Third mobile operator study eyes November
Bahamas – Some 45 percent of Bahamians believe Aliv’s mobile market entry has reduced prices, sector regulators have revealed, as they prepare to complete their study on the feasibility of a third operator by November 2022… more
FLOW customers experience service disruptions, company says it’s working to correct fault
Barbados – Scores of Flow customers are experiencing a disruption in their service, as the company gives the assurance that it is working assiduously to correct the fault, which it attributes to a “burning structure”… more
CANTO Conference gets underway in Miami
Caribbean – As local economies continue to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, a call has been made to develop a roadmap to connect the unconnected in the Caribbean… more
Guyana PM: examine frameworks to address misinformation online
Guyana – The Prime Minister of Guyana is calling on telecoms in the region to address misinformation on the internet and the inequity of the digital divide… more
Digicel makes $70-million tech investment in St Thomas communities
Jamaica – LLOYDS, St Thomas — In another major spend from its $31-billion ‘Digital Jamaica’ investment, Digicel allocated $70 million to switch on superfast LTE data and wireless broadband service to residents in Lloyds, Aelous Valley, Heartease, and surrounding areas in St Thomas recently… more
Tuesday, 19 July 2021
Bahamian tech entrepreneur plans to take fleet management software global
Bahamas – A young tech entrepreneur has launched fleet management software that will allow fleet owners to manage their companies in one dedicated application, saving them 20 percent in costs… more
URCA relaxing cellular market requirements for BTC
Bahamas – Although the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has concluded that competition in the mobile market has developed to a point where certain ex-ante measures applicable to Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) retail mobile activities are no longer appropriate, there still remains concerns for potential lessening of competition… more
Cariri offers 2,000 places in virtual training in coding
Caribbean – The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) and Republic Bank have teamed up to present the 2022 Cycle of the Coding and Innovation Programme – Virtual Training for students… more
U.S. and Dominican Republic to face shared threats in cyberspace
Dominican Republic – The United States and Dominican Republic issued a joint statement in which they pledged to cooperate to address shared cyberspace threats… more
Jamaica Steps into NextGen TV
Jamaica – Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, says he is pleased that Jamaica has become a pioneer in the adoption of digital switchover technology… more
Mailpac enters operational partnership with VirtualMart
Jamaica – E-commerce company Mailpac has entered into an operational partnership with VirtualMart… more
Wednesday, 20 July 2021
URCA: No competitive edge in 5G rollout
Bahamas – As the nation’s two mobile network operators race to roll out a fifth generation (5G) spectrum first, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) said it does not believe one player is likely to gain a substantial lead over its rival in 5G… more
Minister Michel Chebat leads delegation to regional telecoms conference
Belize – Веlіzе wаѕ rерrеѕеntеd аt thе 37th Аnnuаl Соnfеrеnсе & Тrаdе Ехhіbіtіоn оf thе Саrіbbеаn Аѕѕосіаtіоn оf Nаtіоnаl Теlесоmmunісаtіоn Оrgаnіzаtіоnѕ (САNТО), whісh wаѕ hеld іn Flоrіdа, frоm Јulу 17 tо 20, 2022… more
Cable and Wireless unveils JUMP programme at Canto
Caribbean – Cable and Wireless unveiled its strategy to help bridge the digital divide across the Caribbean with the JUMP initiative, a three to five-year plan that will result in providing access, devices and increase digital skills in individuals, communities and local economies… more
Digicel announces changes to roaming plans with a Caribbean emphasis
Caribbean – Digicel has launched a suite of best-in-class roaming packages for an increasingly globalised world. As travel continues to pick up post-pandemic, Digicel has implemented standardised roaming packages for inbound and outbound roaming customers across its markets… more
Floyd Green lobbies for international financing model to develop ICT in the Caribbean
Caribbean – Floyd Green, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), says an international financing model is vital to enhance the Caribbean region’s competitiveness in an increasingly digital global economy… more
Guyana’s Prime Minister Calls On Telecoms To “Prioritise Long Term Returns Over Short-Term Windfalls” To End The Digital Divide
Caribbean – “Our goal must be nothing less than universal service…universal broadband service.” This from The Honourable Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips, Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; who delivered the keynote address at the 37th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO, the trade association of Caribbean telecom organisations… more
Microsoft announces new GM for Caribbean and Central America
Caribbean – Microsoft announced the designation of Daniel Verswyvel as General Manager for Microsoft Central America and Caribbean… more
PM calls for commitment to ICT development in the Caribbean
Guyana – Prime Minister Mark Phillips has called on Caribbean leaders to commit to developing the necessary infrastructure to enable the widespread usage of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the region… more
Choosing the best-fit work-from-home tech
Jamaica – Work from home [WFH] is a continuation of the paradigm shift in digital transformation. The development of technology has now enabled the convenience of working and living under the same roof,” said Roldane Henry, infrastructure lead at MC Systems… more
Thursday, 21 July 2021
#CANTO2022: Bahamas PM calls for more social inclusion
Caribbean – The Prime Minister of the Bahamas is calling for more social inclusion to close the digital divide in the region… more
SIDS and Youth take centre stage at the CTU’s Caribbean Internet Governance Forum 2022
Caribbean – The UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has been held since 2006, as an outcome of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). One of the most important outcomes of the global IGF is the Regional IGF initiatives, which includes the Caribbean IGF, the first-ever IGF and the first-ever regional IGF… more
5000 to Benefit from FLOW, GOSL Home Communications Initiative
Saint Lucia – Five thousand households are expected to benefit from a partnership between the Government of Saint Lucia and FLOW… more
Digicel launches new roaming packages
Trinidad and Tobago – AS TRAVEL continues to pick up post-pandemic, Digicel has implemented standardised roaming packages for inbound and outbound roaming customers across its markets… more
Digitalisation and changing labour norms
Trinidad and Tobago – Looking for guidance from the Industrial Court in relation to questions of justifiable disciplinary action for breach of work rules is always useful in establishing an employee manual that is acceptable throughout the organisation… more
Economist pushes for AI agri approach
Trinidad and Tobago – With food prices soaring, economist Dr Vaalmikki Arjoon is making a push for the adoption of smart agriculture, using artificial intelligence, as is being done around the world, including China… more
How to get clients outside Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago – I tell folks at every opportunity, we are living in the best time ever to be a small business owner… more
Friday, 22 July 2021
ArawakX set to launch new medical company on August 3
Bahamas – ArawakX, the nation’s only SCB-regulated crowdfunding platform is set to launch a new medical company next month… more
Payment provider targets 25-30% digital user growth
Bahamas – A Bahamian payments provider yesterday disclosed it is targeting “manageable” annual growth of 25-30 percent in digital wallet users while pledging to do its part in reducing the “fear” surrounding electronic transactions… more
PM: More telecoms competition in region may lead to better services
Bahamas – Speaking to the lagging technological advancements in certain areas of the region, Prime Minister Philip Davis questioned whether it is time for The Bahamas and the rest of the Caribbean to open themselves up to more competition… more
GTT collaborates with Starr Computers for Building Expo
Guyana – GTT has collaborated with local technology experts, Starr Computers, to execute the concept of a smart home at this year’s Building Expo… more
Digicel And SVG In New Partnership
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Digicel has been selected as the connectivity partner of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In the first instance, the partnership will run for five years… more
Digicel Launches Summer Promo
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Telecommunications service provider Digicel is heating things up across St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the summer, with more speed, reliability, coverage and rewards for its existing and new customers… more
Meta official invites creatives and others to help build out the Metaverse
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – As the thrust continues for local entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries to capitalise on digital opportunities, so does the need to distinguish between popular terms such as Meta and the Metaverse… more
The Metaverse In Focus
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – A webinar under the theme: “Unlocking the Metaverse – Digital Transformation and the Creative and Cultural Industries” was held on Thursday, 14th July, 2022 at the NIS Conference Room… more
Saturday, 23 July 2022
Foster to depart BTC On August 2nd
Bahamas – Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday announced that its general manager Andre Foster will depart the business on August 2nd… more
Securities Commission: Bahamas “very ready” on digital asset sector regulation
Bahamas – The Bahamas is “very ready” from a regulatory standpoint to become a global digital assets hub, according to the industry’s top regulator, noting that as a nation we are “punching well above our weight”… more
Sunday, 24 July 2022
Caribbean Code + to equip youth with advanced tech skills
Caribbean – Scores of young people will be learning technical skills to prepare them for future careers in the technology sector over the next few weeks, following the launch of the ‘Caribbean Code + Programme’, which is being carried out by the Digicel Foundation in partnership with We CODE Caribbean. The programme is a major part of the Foundation’s 10-year Anniversary celebrations… more
Images credit: rawpixel.com (Pexels); CANTO (Facebook); Bahamas Weekly; Wikimedia Commons; Flow (Facebook); Wikipedia; The Eleutheran
