Over the past few weeks, there have been news reports about Caribbean telecoms service providers expanding their offering to include subscription television (TV)  in a number of countries across the region.  The two main regional firms, Digicel and Flow, are both eager to be recognised as quad-play providers in all of the countries in which they have a presence – by offering fixed voice telephony, mobile/cellular, Internet, and cable/subscriber TV services. However, while offering subscriber TV could complement their existing services, and would be just an add-on to their existing infrastructure, could the move into that area be too little too late?

In addition to subscriber TV, Caribbean consumers have the option of accessing video streaming and Video on Demand (VoD) services via the Internet. Platforms, such as Netflix, offer thousands of selections from which to choose, and are continually adding new content (movies, TV series, documentaries, etc.) to their libraries.

Today, most of us in the Caribbean access TV services via a cable/subscriber TV package. Free-to-air broadcasting would have been the norm 20 or 25 years ago, when cable/subscriber TV would have been in its infancy in the region, and households would have had an antennas on their roofs, or (rabbit ears) next to their TVs. Today, most Caribbean countries are in the process of formally adopting digital TV, which will be the final nail in the coffin for free-to-air TV transmissions.

Service personalisation

Increasingly, and as has been occurring in the digital space for the past five or so years, there has been a trend towards allowing consumers greater personalisation of product and service offerings. Not only has it allowed firms to distinguish themselves from each other, it also fosters an appreciation of the individual customer, and their individual needs.

Currently, most subscriber TV service providers offer a range of programming packages from which to choose, and they may even allow customers to select individual channels as an add-on to a basic package. However, the degree of personalisation allowed tends to be limited. On the other hand, with VoD, the degree of customisation permitted is considerably greater. Subscribers can select the individual shows and episodes they wish to view, and frequently, the providers also recommend content, based on subscribers’ viewing history and perceived preferences.

Commercials

Outside of the premium subscriber TV channels, the remaining channels tend to rely upon paid commercials to be viable. At best, these commercials can be distracting and break the momentum of a good show; at worse, they drag on way too long and try the patience of the viewer. With respect to VoD, and for paid services, subscribers are not plagued with commercials, and can watch their desired programmes unimpeded.

Scheduling

Consistent with the personalisation thrust, VoD offers a distinct benefit by allowing subscribers to view the available content as and when they wish. For example, when Netflix releases the latest season of House of Cards, all of the season’s episodes are available at the same time. Hence subscribers can choose to binge-watch the episodes, or stretch it out over several days, weeks or months, depending on their mood or schedule. On the other hand, most of the content available via subscriber TV tends to be on a fixed schedule and not controlled by the viewer. It therefore means that, outside of making provisions to record it, that content is not available outside of the scheduled times, and may never be seen again.

The shared viewing experience  

Having said this, the format of most subscriber TV channels – more so that VoD, fosters the shared viewing experience: be it the live coverage of the still on-going Olympic (two down, on to go Usain!), or watching the latest Game of Thrones episode, whilst simultaneously participating in the social media discussion of the new plot twists as they emerge, and then discussing them with friends the following day. Although some VoD platforms, such as YouTube, can support live coverage, it tends to be the exception, rather than the norm.

From the above discourse, VoD has a number of distinct benefits that may be more aligned with how people live today. However, there still appears to be room for other options, such as subscriber TV, which offers a different experience. Hence consumers may not need to choose one over the other, but enjoy the strengths of both as and when they choose.

Image credit:   Jonas’ Design (flickr)

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Positioning for the changing environment

In Jamaica today, there are over 20 radio stations operating across the island, which in the view of J. A. Lester Spaulding, Chairman of the RJR Communications Group, has resulted in a saturated market (Source: RJR Communications Group). Further, when the poor economic climate of the country is also considered, there the challenges to remain profitable are compounded.

It is also important to note that the influence of technology, especially the Internet, on customer behaviour. The Gleaner (newspaper) and TVJ (television station), for example, are no longer the only channels through which citizens can access information. The younger generation, in particular, generally tend to be satisfied with knowing the headlines – snippets of information, which can be gleaned from many of the popular social networks, or alternatively they just focus on very specific news items. As a result, and although those firms have been quite progressive in the online space, they are still suffering financially.

For example, and according to Alexa and at the time of publication, The Gleaner, is the 14th most visited website in Jamaica, behind leaders such as YouTube (#1), Google (#2), Facebook (#3), and it is ranked 42,443rd globally. Whilst its local and global rank is enviable, data from Traffic Estimate suggests that The Gleaner’s monthly visitor traffic has been declining by over 20% year on year to just over 550,000 per month as at July 2015 (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Estimated monthly traffic (visits) for The Gleaner (Source: Traffic Estimates)

This anticipated decline is online visitor traffic, which would not be symptomatic of just The Gleaner, but also most of the other media properties owned by the two merging companies, would also have an impact on advertising revenues. Further, for paywalls that have been instituted to encourage website visitors to subscribe and pay for content, in some instances those constraints can be easily circumvented, which again would challenge the overall profitability of the companies involved.

Potential implications of the merger

Whilst it remains to be seen how the merger will truly affect the Jamaica media landscape, in the first instance, it is expected that the resulting entity will be a true multimedia brand, covering print, audio, video, through which a broad range of opportunities could emerge. The Gleaner and TVJ, in particular, are flagship brands; hence there may be some emphasis on bolstering those properties, and possibly identifying ways in which there could be synergies between the two.

Finally, the merged entity should also be able to benefit considerably from economies of scale and scope, which could be manifested as improved efficiencies and cost savings, to name a few. Further, although there will still be need for a broad range of content to cater to the audiences, in the final analysis, only the strongest brands are likely to survive.

Image credit:  Flazingo Photos (flickr)

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Last week, the television (TV) watching public in Jamaica was caught off guard when the local media reported that 19 cable channels would be removed from subscribers’ packages effective 31 May 2015 (Source: Jamaica Observer). The channels, which include Encore, Showtime and Starz, among others, are allegedly being aired in Jamaica in breach of copyright, licensing and distribution rights of the content owners, who are based in the United States of America (USA). To that end, the local broadcasting regulator, the Broadcasting Commission, has issued a directive to 49 cable/subscriber TV operators to remove the offending channels (Source: The Gleaner).

The situation in which Jamaica finds itself is unlikely to be unique in the region. Caribbean countries that speak English tend to consume a lot of US content because:

• we produce very little local content and rely overwhelmingly on US programmes fill out the schedule
• we have a strong cultural affinity to the US and enjoy consuming and participating in US events and content in real time
• generally, our citizens have a strong personal links to the US, which is strengthened by the large Diaspora population resident in the US.

From a licensing and distribution rights perspective, the Caribbean, and the English-speaking Caribbean in particular, is lumped with Latin America, which for the most part comprises Spanish-speaking countries. As a result, much of the content for the Latin American market is either in Spanish, or is closed captioned for a Spanish-speaking audience. Further, certain US programmes we enjoy might not be available for the Latin American market, and if they are, they are aired several weeks (or months) later. Hence we would no longer be current and would not be able to participate in the discussions going on around us, be they online or with family and friends overseas. Essentially, most of us identify more closely with the US than with Latin America.

However, we in the Caribbean cannot dictate which countries content owners permit or bar from viewing their content. Typically, programme authorisation is a commercial agreement between the content owners (or the international rights owners) and the local content providers. However, according to Jamaica’s Broadcasting Commission:

In some cases, these negotiations have been protracted, with some cable operators finding the authorization costs to be prohibitive. There are also some channels whose US based owners refuse to offer distribution rights in the Caribbean either because the cable market is considered too insignificant or because the channel owners have no rights clearance beyond US territory. This is despite the fact that there is demand in Jamaica and the Caribbean for those channels.

(Source: Jamaica Observer)

Rightly or wrongly, the loss of certain TV channel in Jamaica on the grounds of copyright, licensing and distribution breaches may be a signal of things to come across the Caribbean. However, the following three consequences readily come to mind:

• First, the attractiveness of some of the cable/subscriber TV packages may be diminished with the loss of US content, and to varying degrees, it might be difficult to justify the prices for some of the “premium packages” without it.
• Second, video streaming and content on-demand options might be more favourably considered, as the quality of the Internet has improved across the region, and the pricing for on-demand packages may be more cost effective than for cable/subscriber TV.
• Finally, the crackdown on international content could be much needed the impetus for us to work more assiduously at creating more local and regional content. The fact that we consume, and are prepare to pay for, as much programming as we from the US, supports and validates their film and television industries; but it can be argued that it has been at the expense of our own.

Image credit:  Stuart Miles (FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

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Over the past several months, Digicel has made a spate of purchases of cable/subscriber television (TV) operations across the Caribbean. As at the time of publishing, the firms acquired would give Digicel an operation in six countries from which to jumpstart its entry into the cable/subscriber TV market (Exhibit 1). However, its most recent acquisition of majority stake in International Media Content Limited, the parent company Sportsmax and North American broadcaster CEEN-TV, has given the firm virtually immediate access into 23 markets.

Exhibit 1: Select cable TV acquisitions by Digicel between 2013 and 2014 (Source: Digicel Group)

Without a doubt, Digicel would have expended considerable sums –hundreds of millions of United States Dollars – on those acquisitions; hence they are likely to be crucial components in is longer term strategic thrust and where the future of technology is going. Here are four things that we can take away from the firm’s recent activities.

1. Voice is dead

Although telecoms firms across the region have been avidly opposing services that use Voice of Internet Protocol, voice services is just one of many that the Internet can support. More importantly, compared with other types of information transmitted over the Internet, for example, text, images and photos, generally voice communication consumes relatively little bandwidth, and tends to be seen as virtually inconsequential by many. Furthermore, voice tends not to be the way the most active demographic on the web (those between 18 and 29, Pew Institute) communicate, which again underscores the limited attention it tends to be given.

The Internet has changed how voice, especially mobile/cellular is perceived, and consequently its value. It is no longer the cash cow for telecoms firms, where there were very clear and well-known rules, along with a consistent and predictable value and revenue. In today’s mobile/cellular communication space, voice service is a secondary capability, behind texting and data services, and a strategy built primarily around voice – as Digicel’s appear to have been for several years – is no longer tenable.

2. The Internet is the new playground

Following from the previous point, the emergence and dominance of the Internet – as a technology and infrastructure used by telecoms companies to deliver their services, and as the medium of choice by consumers to access and use a broad range of services – should not be underestimated. Current thought is that the Internet will continue to dominate into the foreseeable, as its full potential and the opportunities that can be harnessed through it, are yet to be fully realised.

For an entity, such as Digicel, which had built dedicated mobile/cellular networks through which to deliver mobile/cellular services, the changing landscape is likely to have had it feeling somewhat pigeonholed. Hence for the more astute, those changes would have been an impetus to update their infrastructure and roll out new Internet-based services, such as the “4G Broadband” service using WiMax that Digicel offers in a number of countries across the Caribbean.

3. Content is, and will continue to be, king

The Internet is a medium for content. Though the success of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, is undeniable, video traffic is expected to grow and dominate into the future. According to Cisco report published earlier this year:

• 55% of all Internet traffic will cross content delivery networks by 2018 globally, up from 36% in 2013
• IP traffic will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2013 to 2018
• mobile data traffic will grow at a CAGR of 61% between 2013 and 2018
• globally, IP video traffic will be 79% of all consumer Internet traffic in 2018, up from 66% in 2013 (and does not include video exchanged through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing)
• all forms of video (TV, video on demand (VoD), Internet, and P2P) will be in the range 80—90% of global consumer traffic by 2018.

In light of such trends, it may not be enough to own and operate the networks upon which all of that traffic – that content – will be transmitted. Consequently, the acquisition of Sportmax has potentially catapulted Digicel into the content delivery space. It would have access to the 23 markets already served by Sportsmax, and be in a position to sell not just capacity its networks, but also access rights to content.

4. Those who control the pipes still control the game

However, with all of the focus on content, it is easy to overlook the importance of the infrastructure – upon which the successful and timely delivery of all of that content depends. Though Digicel has full control of its terrestrial networks, through which its services are delivered, for the most part, its international traffic in the Caribbean would be handled by a third party, such as a Columbus Networks or Cable and Wireless Communications.

It therefore perhaps should not have been a surprise when Digicel started to secure submarine cable licences and acquire submarine cable systems across the region. The most prominent transaction was that with the Loret Group and Caribbean Fibre Holding, which resulted in Digicel owning a 2,100km submarine fibre network from Guadeloupe to Trinidad and Tobago.

The strategy to acquiring submarine cable networks across the region will allow Digicel to position and market itself as a “full service provider”, especially for international clients and to be further recognised as a truly global player. However and perhaps more importantly, it also allows the firm to position itself in respect of content delivery, since it now controls Sportmax. All of that sports coverage can be delivered to countries across its newly acquired submarine networks, thereby increasing the overall value of all of its networks and of the firm itself.

Image credit:  Jonas’ Design (flickr)

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On 26 March, global analyst firm, Deloitte, released its eighth edition of the “Digital Democracy Survey” (formally the “State of the Media Democracy” survey). For this year’s exercise, over 2,000 persons, aged 14 years and older, were canvassed in the United States, and according to Deloitte, revealed

…significant technology, media and telecommunications consumption trends, including attitudes and behavior toward advertising and social networks, mobile technologies, the Internet and consumption preferences across platforms and devices.

One of the trends that has been receiving considerable attention is that the “Trailing Millennials”, i.e. those between 14 and 24 years of age, spend more time – 56% – watching movies and TV shows on computing devices, such as laptops, smartphones and tablets, than they do on an actual television set (44%). For all older age groups, more time was spent watching movies and TV shows on a television, which ranged from 53%, for those between 25 and 30, to over 90% for persons 67 years and older.

These findings are consistent with earlier reports, such as those published by ComScore in 2011, and points to some significant changes that are occurring among consumers. Here highlight three trends and briefly discuss their implication.

The rise of the digital omnivore

Without a doubt, the term, “digital omnivore”, is relatively new, but it speaks to a person who owns a range of consumer device, specifically a laptop, tablet PC and smartphone, and is comfortable using all three technologies. Generally, firms are excited by digital omnivores, as not only do they tend to be early adopters of technology, how they use those devices is a major influence on the trends and developments that are taking place in the market. Results from the newly released Deloitte study indicated that

… over one third (37 percent) of U.S. consumers are now digital omnivores, a 42 percent growth over the previous year. This growth is primarily driven by continued tablet adoption (33 percent increase) and, to a lesser extent, smartphone ownership (18 percent increase). Moreover, women, who made up over one-third (35 percent) of omnivores two years ago, now account for 45 percent of this group.

The take up of tablets and smartphones is occurring globally. Hence most countries, including those in the Caribbean, would have a growing digital omnivore segment, whose consumption of digital media market, and perhaps specifically the manner in which it is consumed, ought to be influencing local device vendors and service providers, and the strategies they adopt.

The importance of mobile

The worldwide proliferation of smartphones and tablets is having an impact on global Internet networks. According to Walker Sands Communications, a US-based PR and social marketing agency, mobile Internet traffic in Q4 2013 accounted for approximately 31% of all Internet traffic, an increase of about 35% from the previous year (Source: Internet Retailer). However, when the versatility and feature-rich capability of today’s portable devices are also considered, their impact on global Internet networks is likely to increase, especially as devices and bandwidth become more affordable.

Growing emphasis on cross platform consumption

From a tech perspective, gone are the days of the single function devices. For example, a mobile/cellular phone is not used just to make calls. Increasingly, even the simplest and cheapest devices are including Internet browsing capabilities. Hence on your typical smartphone, users can browse the Internet, stream video content, play games, use a multitude of applications, and make calls.

Interestingly, this multifunction device phenomenon is also being mimicked in our behaviour, which according to Deloitte is on the rise:

… U.S. consumers continue to be more distracted while watching home TVs, with 86 percent multitasking, up from 72 percent in 2011. Millennials [persons 25—30 years old] are the most active multitaskers, engaging in an average of four activities while watching TV. Gen-Xers and boomers are also multitasking more, with both generations engaging in more than one additional activity in 2013 while watching TV.

Hence in the short to medium term, we may see a more seamless transition (or continuity) when switching between devices whilst using a particular application or technology. For example, if someone was streaming video on a laptop, but then decided to continue watching it on his/her smartphone, the video would resume on the smartphone where it was paused on the laptop, rather than starting from the beginning.

In summary, consumer behaviour is changing, and the younger generation of users is having a considerable influence on the products and services that are being developed. Consequently, there is a growing appetite for even more digital content, especially video, and the devices (especially mobile and portable devices), must adapt to the lives and lifestyles of users. As a result, there is likely to be a huge opportunity to develop highly customisable programmes to capitalise on changing consumer behaviour and help users maximise their time in meaningful ways.

Image credit:  Jonas’ Design / flickr;  infographic / Deloitte

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A discussion on some of the factors that might be hindering take up of some of the newer television technologies, such as Digital TV and IPTV, in the Caribbean

Yesterday, 21 November, was World Television Day, which according to the United Nations has been established:

… in recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues…

Due to the significant technological developments that have occurred over the past 20 or so years, currently there is a global shift from analogue TV to digital TV, and a changing emphasis on Internet Protocol TV (IPTV). According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in its latest output, Measuring the information Society (2013), some key findings, as of 2012 included:

• globally, about 1.4 billion households had at least one TV set
• approximately 98% of households in developed countries and 72% in developing countries had a TV
• over 55% of households globally have a TV receiving a digital signal
• approximately 81% of total households in developed countries, and 42% of total households in developing countries, have a TV that receives a digital signal
• traditional multichannel TV platforms, such as cable and direct-to-home (DTH) satellite, are facing increasing competition from IPTV service providers and even digital terrestrial TV (DTT) channels
• TV delivery over the Internet is becoming increasingly popular, and especially content providers such as YouTube and Netflix.

Digital TV broadcasting trends-1 (Source: ITU)

 As part of the developing world, the Caribbean, generally, would still be behind in the take up and use of digital TV, IPTV and some of the other newer TV/video technologies. Below are four factors that are contributing to the limited use of those technologies in the Caribbean.

Policy and implementation challenges

To varying degrees, countries across the region have been readying themselves to undertake the switch over from analogue to digital TV. Although most of the large TV content providers already have digital TV capabilities, implementation of national plans to realise a complete switch over to digital TV – and an abandonment of analogue systems – is yet to occur in many countries. Issues that might still need to be resolved include determining who would, and perhaps also, to what extent to, pay for the transitioning costs on the consumer side.

Broadband transmission speeds

Broadband bandwidth, or transmission speed, becomes critical when attempting to view content over the Internet, in order to reduce the amount of buffering that might be needed and improve the overall viewing experience. According to Netflix, it recommends an Internet download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps for general viewing and at least 5 Mbps to view High Definition content.

Based on our Snapshot: Internet speeds and pricing update 2013, many countries across the region offer data plans with advertised download speeds of at least 1.5 Mbps. However, in practice, the transmission channel is shared by a number of users, hence the actual download speed experienced might be up to a half or two-thirds of that advertised, and could be lower depending on how congested the channel is. As a result, in order to have a reasonable download speed to ensure a favourable viewing experience, household viewers may need to subscribe to plans with a much higher download speeds, e.g. 6 or 8 Mbps, to increase their chances of consistently having adequate bandwidth to successful stream the desired video content.

Broadband transmission costs

In tandem with securing adequate broadband transmissions speeds, consumers must also consider the associated subscriptions prices, which according to our most recent Snapshot: How affordable is Internet service in 2013?, might be beyond what most people can afford. Into the foreseeable future and considering current economic stresses, it is unlikely that incomes in the Caribbean will increase appreciably thus improving consumers’ ability to afford what is increasingly becoming a basic service.

 Policy makers across the region have been calling for a lowering of broadband prices, although to varying degrees, they might be as competitive as those in developed countries. Furthermore, it ought to be appreciated that the telcos have made considerable investment upfront to deploy the infrastructure; hence there must be adequate return on investment to make the exercise worthwhile. Additionally, any significant decrease in returns for the companies might cause trade-offs to be instituted, such as lower data caps, which could make the overall service as (or even more) costly in the long run.

Content restrictions

Finally, there are still restrictions on the video content that can be viewed in the Caribbean. As was noted in How could Netflix affect TV and movie watching in the region?, although the English-speaking Caribbean might have an affinity for North American programming, the content that can be accessed is frequently geared towards Latin American markets. This factor could be contributing to limited take up of Netflix in the region, along with other IPTV channels that might be prohibited from sharing content, for North America, with the Caribbean.

In summary, in order to realise meaningful take up of some of the newer digital content technologies available, the region will need to overcome some significant challenges, a few of which are outlined above.  Unfortunately, due to the limited resources, plus relatively small populations of individual Caribbean countries and the slate of other issues that should be addressed, improving access to newer TV/video technologies is unlikely to be a priority into the foreseeable future.

Image credits:  Jonas’ Design (flickr)

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Last week, the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) in Jamaica published an Information Memorandum, Licensing the 700 MHz Band, on the proposed auction of frequencies in the country’s 700 MHz band. As drafted, the Information Memorandum aims to provide some context to and a framework for the proposed auction for which Request for Bids (Request for Proposal) should be issued on or around 22 May 2013. As a follow up to our earlier post, What is so special about the 700 MHz band?, and in light of Jamaica’s imminent auction, this post briefly discusses: the 700 MHz band; possible pros and cons associated with take up of those frequencies in Jamaica; and finally, some additional considerations, with regard to Jamaica’s auction process

The 700 MHz band

The 700 MHz band that Jamaica is preparing to auction, consists of frequencies between 698 MHz to 806 MHz, which historically, was allocated for analogue television broadcast for channels 52 to 69. With the transition to digital television signals, and more importantly, mandated switchovers from analogue TV to digital TV in many countries, bands that had been used for analogue TV can now be reallocated for other services. According the band plan for the Americas issued by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), frequencies in the 700 MHz band can be allocated for “broadband wireless access” services. (For more insight, read What is so special about the 700 MHz band?)

The considerable take up of mobile/cellular services globally, along with the increasing demand for bandwidth for mobile broadband and wireless broadband services, means that existing allocations are becoming exhausted, and additional frequencies are needed to satisfy demand. The 700 MHz offers a number of distinct advantages over existing allocations, which makes it attractive for mobile/cellular or wireless services. For example, it offers better signal propagation than higher frequency transmissions, which in turn can result in improved efficiencies in the network designed and deployed.

Is Jamaica’s 700 MHz band a good investment opportunity?

For telecoms companies that intend to participate in Jamaica’s auction of its 700 MHz band, it will be critical that they are confident about the long term viability of such an investment, and have developed a robust business case. Below are some issues worth considering.

• Market size. Jamaica has the largest market in the English-speaking Caribbean, with a population of 2.7 million. Hence companies can enjoy some economy of scale in Jamaica, which might not necessarily exist in other countries in the region.
• Competition. Although all markets in Jamaica’s telecoms sector are open to competition, historically, much of the attention has been in the mobile/cellular (voice) market, where currently there are two players Digicel and LIME. Both companies have been rolling out mobile broadband services, but the focus of the industry – both the players and the regulator – is still on voice services.

In the Internet broadband space, there are less than 10 active Internet Service Providers (ISPs), but the three main ones are: Digicel, Flow and LIME. Flow and LIME offer a wired/fixed broadband service – coaxial cable and ADSL over copper lines, respectively. Digicel offers a wireless broadband service (using WiMAX technology), which is popular in areas with no wired services. Digicel also offers pre-paid plans, which again makes the service popular when occasional access is needed.

• Service penetration. In respect of mobile/cellular service, the number of subscriptions is slightly over that of the population, at approximately 108 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2011 (Source: ITU). In the coming 12 to 18 months this rate may decrease slightly when number portability is implemented, and customers will be able to port their numbers to the providers of their choice.

Although not officially recorded and reported, mobile broadband subscriptions rates would be significantly lower than that for mobile voice services. Pricing is still quite high, and not readily affordable by most consumers, who might be more reliant on free Wi-Fi when available.

On the other hand, in 2011 fixed Internet broadband was approximately 3.9 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (Source: ITU), which does suggest that although there are players in that market, there might still be an untapped opportunity for additional providers. Furthermore, Internet use is nearly 10 times higher than subscriptions at 32 users per 100 inhabitants (Source: ITU). Hence there appears to be an appetite for Internet access among the general populace, although connectivity rates are low.

• Location. Although the anticipated auction of spectrum is limited to Jamaica, the country is frequently used as a point of entry for expansion and investment in the wider Caribbean. An example that immediately comes to mind is Digicel. Digicel established its very first operation in Jamaica in 2001. As of 2012, it has a presence in 31 countries worldwide.
• Profitability. Finally, it is worthwhile highlighting that across a number of industries, especially banking and telecoms, the Caribbean is generally considered a highly profitable region. Jamaica, as one of the larger countries, tends to be a significant contributor to overall profits. In a recently released bond-offering document by Digicel, it was reported that the company’s Jamaican operations generated an operating profit of 30% (Source: Irish Times).

Final points to note

To wrap us, attention is drawn to the fact that Jamaica has established a reserve price of between USD 40 and USD 45 million, for the sub-bands that it plans to sell via auction. However, cash only is not enough. There is also a comprehensive application process that will be established, which successful applicants should satisfy, and would require considerable preparation.

Finally, it is important to note the SMA’s lengthy disclaimer for the Information Memorandum, which starts:

This Memorandum is for information purposes only. It is made available on the express understanding that it will be used for the sole purpose of assisting the recipient of this Memorandum in deciding whether it wishes to proceed with a further investigation of possible participation in the Award Process…

It is therefore incumbent on prospective applicants and investors to conduct their own independent research and due diligence, especially since a deposit of between USD 2.7 and USD 3.0 million must accompany submitted applications in order to participate in the auction.

Image credits:  Wikipedia; Sura Nualpradid (FreeDigitalPhotos.net) 

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Monday, 17 December 2012

BTC: First Phase Of Upgrade Almost Complete

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company announced yesterday that the initial phase of its mobile network build-out is almost complete… more

BTC mobile network build-out 95% complete nationwide

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) announced today that the initial phase of the mobile network build-out is now substantially complete, bringing The Bahamas on par with other twenty-first century countries enjoying modern mobile technology… more

BTC opens $300K Southwest Plaza store

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) opened one of its biggest retail stores in the capital last weekend at a cost of round $300,000… more

Cable Withdraws ‘Fast Track’ For $24m Florida Deal

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has withdrawn its application to US regulators for ‘fast track’ approval of its latest $24 million Florida acquisition, with the BISX-listed company’s “greater financial strength” expected to improve services yet again… more

The Strategy For Caribbean Islands To Get To 3.0

Regional – The question all Caribbean islands should ask, what is our unique selling proposition? … more

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Digicel injects over US$70M into local market

Guyana – Since its introduction to Guyana in May 2006, Digicel has plugged more than US$70 million into the local telecommunication market… more

Smartphone company announces major deal with Caribbean’s largest distributor

Jamaica – Siendon has announced a major sales and distribution deal with the largest IT and electronics distributor in Latin America and the Caribbean to supply its devices to the region’s mobile phone subscribers… more

The world all around us, online

Trinidad & Tobago – The team from AM-In Motion is enthusiastic. Start them talking about their video solution and it’s easy to begin seeing it as a magic-bullet solution for the country’s moribund international tourism marketing efforts… more

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

BTC talks hit snag

Bahamas – Talks between a government team of negotiators and executives at Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) over the Christie administration’s plans to regain majority shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) are at an impasse, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday… more

PM: No ‘Headway’ In BTC Control Talks

Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday indicated that the Government was making little to no headway in wresting back majority control of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), saying a conclusion had to be reached in talks between itselfand Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) “sooner rather than later”… more

Bandwidth cost drives more customers to cell phone use

Guyana – The high cost of broadband in Guyana is perhaps a key element that drives cell phone usage in Guyana… more

BTV Channel 2 off air after financial fallout

Guyana – BTV Channel 2 “ah we TV” will be off air and it is unclear when the station will be resuming its services. The station, which is owned by Godfrey Washington, was on Monday vacated by lessee Christian Duncan, owner of Brutal Tracks… more

In Haiti, Digicel and Marriott Break Ground on More than Just a Hotel

Haiti – Digicel and Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) today broke ground on the $45 million 175-room Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand hotel in the Turgeau area of Port-au-Prince, with opening expected in early 2015, making it the first four-star branded hotel in Haiti… more

For Xerox, Jamaica key for outsourcing business

Jamaica – Jamaica remains one the most attractive destinations for business process outsourcing (BPO) but the country must focus on improving its competitiveness in a heated industry with low barriers to entry, warns the head of Xerox Corporation… more

LIME Investing $1B On Customer-Service Improvement

Jamaica – Telecoms provider LIME will invest US$12 million (J$1 billion) to improve its customer service across the Caribbean region over three years, in a move aimed at lowering customer attrition or churn… more

Thursday, 20 December 2012

BTC Keeps Majority Share – Takeover Talks Over

Bahamas – Despite the government’s unwavering pledge to recapture a majority stake in BTC, Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that executives have no intention to let go of the lion’s share in the company… more

FNM: BTC Takeover Was A Fool’s Errand

Bahamas – Pleased at the Prime Minister’s admission of difficulties in his government’s BTC takeover bid, the opposition reminded him of their prediction it would go nowhere… more

Microsoft Country Manager to speak on Cloud Computing at Bahamas Business Outlook

Bahamas – George Gobin, Microsoft Corporation’s Country Manager for The Bahamas will address the 22nd Annual Bahamas Outlook on January 10, 2013 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort. Mr. Gobin will discuss the next big thing in business technology: Cloud Computing… more

Belize Telemedia launches 4G

Belize – Over the past couple of weeks, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has been turning on the 4G network in Belmopan, Ladyville and Belize City and on Friday, December 14th, the company held a soft launch to introduce the new super fast mobile speeds… more

LIME welcomes new scrap metal export rule

Jamaica – Telecommunications firm LIME, hard hit by metal thieves, has welcomed the additional scrap metal export regulations outlined Wednesday by Industry Minister Anthony Hylton… more

Alcatel-Lucent to upgrade MAYA-1 submarine cable system covering 4,400 km distance

Regional – Alcatel-Lucent will upgrade the MAYA-1 submarine cable system – which spans 4,400km distance in a collapsed ring from Hollywood, Florida, US, to Tolu in Colombia… more

TSTT acting CEO resigns

Trinidad & Tobago – Acting chief executive officer of State-controlled telecoms provider Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) Dianna de Sousa has resigned the position after just five months on the job… more

Friday, 21 December 2012

Laing: Govt’s options limited on BTC

Bahamas – The only option the government has in its attempt to regain the majority stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) would be to forcibly take two percent from the new owners, said former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing… more

Events Calendar of Things to Do In Barbados Goes Mobile for the Booming Market of Mobile Travelers using Smartphones to Plan Holidays at Home and on Location

Barbados – The Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia (BTE) has released a mobile app for its WhatsOnInBarbados.com (WOIB), the Calendar of things to do in Barbados… more

Technology services being touted as new BVI economic pillar

British Virgin Islands – BVI Business Outlook Conference organizer, Russell Harrigan has announced that the BVI should try to create other economic pillars, and suggested that technological services be eyed as another leg for the economy… more

CTEX Reaches Critical Milestone

Curacao – Curaçao Technology Exchange (CTEX), N.V., today reached a critical project milestone… more

Govt. reneged on Linden’s TV agreement – Vieira

Guyana – Four months after signing a deal with Lindeners for an independent television station, Government has reportedly reneged on its promise… more

GRA launches online monitoring of Customs Declaration status

Guyana – The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday announced that it has launched its online feature for the monitoring of the status of Customs Declarations by importers or their brokers… more

Saturday, 22 December 2012

Embracing 4G technology in The Bahamas

Bahamas – Undeniably, the upgrade of our cellular network to 4G has been plagued with service disruptions causing much frustration. Dropped calls, delayed email and failed messenger services aggravate both technology savvy and infrequent phone users… more

PM still has hopes for BTC talks

Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he has not given up his government’s fight to regain majority shares in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)… more

Software Company Hosts International Users’ Conference

Barbados – Process manufacturing software developers Vicinity Manufacturing, hosted FOCUS: Caribbean 2012, the first international customer event of its kind in the company’s twelve year history. FOCUS: Caribbean was hosted by Goddard Enterprises Ltd and convened November 12th – 13th on their corporate campus in Bridgetown, Barbados… more

V.I. Next Generation Network approves $660,266 in contracts

US Virgin Islands – The V.I. Next Generation Network has approved four new contracts totalling $660,266… more

New Call Centre Opened

St. Lucia – 160 jobs are expected from a partnership forged between LIME, Canadian-based TELUS International and 2012 Caribbean Business Awards winner KM2 Solutions, in the opening of LIME St. Lucia’s new call centre… more

Sunday, 23 December 2012

Jamaica Firmly In Xerox’s Cross Hairs – International Firm Optimistic Of A Bright Future Locally

Jamaica – While the name Xerox is synonymous with copying and printing globally, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ursula Burns says resting on their laurels is not a part of their forte as its main priority is to maintain pole position in the industry… more

Image credits:  Gary Thomson (Flickr);  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia; Wikipedia;  Wikipedia

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Monday, 10 December 2012

Internet-Based Bahamas Soul Radio Making Waves

Bahamas – Local Internet radio company Bahamas Soul Radio is making waves in cyberspace… more

The Electronic Transactions Act

Trinidad & Tobago – The Electronic Transactions Act was passed in 2011 and has been partially proclaimed by Legal Notices 1 and 8 of 2012… more

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Union To Oppose Digicel Move

Bahamas – As a former Jamaican prime minister arrived in Nassau to discuss the entrance of mobile phone service operator Digicel into the country’s telecommunications market, the BCPOU revealed that it will oppose the move if there are Bahamian companies that can do the job… more

Barbados’ Sunbeach Communications Inc. Selects DiViNetworks to Expand International Capacity

Barbados – Sunbeach Communications, a leading ISP in the Caribbean, selected DiViNetworks as its data capacity expansion provider. The DiViCloud service adds International capacity without any upfront investment… more

PUC’s role likely to widen with impending telecoms legislations – Justice Persaud

Guyana – With the possible passage of a Telecommunications Act and an Amended Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Act in the National Assembly, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Justice Prem Persaud, is eyeing a challenging year ahead… more

State-of-the-art civil identity registry system

Haiti – The government of Haiti has announced it is partnering with the multinational Smartmatic to continue efforts toward the modernization, consolidation and upgrading of the country’s civil and identity registry system… more

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

BTC team hears concerns on Moore’s Island

Bahamas – Abaco’s Moore’s Island residents welcomed BTC’s executive team headed by CEO Geoff Houston, who visited to hear customer concerns and offer some good news following the post-Hurricane Sandy restoration work… more

Cable Builds Us ‘Mirror Image’ Via New $24m Deal

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas yesterday unveiled its third Florida acquisition within three months via its $24 million purchase of a Caribbean Crossings “mirror image”… more

Digicel may face opposition entering Bahamian market

Bahamas – Digicel could face some opposition if it decides to enter the Bahamian telecommunications industry… more

Digicel May Hire ‘Up To 60’ In Bahamas

Bahamas – Prime Minister Perry Christie said Digicel has promised to hire as many as 60 employees if it enters the local telecoms market… more

PM explains Digicel’s proposal

Bahamas – The government is considering an application from regional mobile phone provider Digicel to offer broadband services locally, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday… more

LIME Dials Up New Customer-Care Firm

Jamaica – In a bid to improve its customer satisfaction, telecoms giant LIME Jamaica will today affirm the Canadian-based telecommunications company, TELUS International, as its customer-service operators at a media launch in Montego Bay, St James… more

Digicel celebrates birthday with flagship store opening

St. Kitts & Nevis – Branded ‘The Bigger Better Network’, telecommunications company Digicel last Friday morning (Dec. 7) officially opened its new flagship store at The Circus… more

Digicel CEO: Number portability good for industry

Trinidad & Tobago – John Delves, Digicel’s chief executive officer, said he believes T&T’s telecommunications technology is on par with the region and the rest of the world and is moving in the right direction with the number portability initiative… more

Is cloud computing the ‘future of the future?’

Trinidad & Tobago – At the National ICT Business & Innovation Symposium recently, Jeremy Geelan, president of 21st Century Internet Group Inc concluded his keynote address by saying, “Cloud computing allows you to create and if you can create, you can be what’s next.” … more

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Digicel wants to offer broadband services in Bahamas

Bahamas – The government of The Bahamas is considering an application from regional mobile phone provider Digicel to offer broadband services locally, Prime Minister Perry Christie said on Tuesday… more

New LIME centre to create scores of jobs

Barbados – Scores of Barbadians will find employment at a new LIME contact centre that’s officially opening here early next week… more

Appeals Court says B.T.L. can now issue dividends

Belize – An oral decision was handed down in the Court of Appeal shortly after two this afternoon, which would allow Belize Telemedia to issue dividends to shareholders… more

TRC launches public consultation on international connectivity

British Virgin Islands – The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (“TRC”) today launched a consultation on International Connectivity, which seeks to address the high costs of international bandwidth connecting the BVI and the rest of the world… more

Curaçao Technology Exchange Is Building The Next Generation Data Center

Curacao – Curaçao Technology Exchange (CTEX) announced that it is building within its data center a major landing station for various regional cable operators… more

Digicel (Guyana) wants end-date for liberalization negotiations

Guyana – Digicel (Guyana) on Thursday said it was satisfied with draft telecommunications laws and urged government to set a target-date by which all negotiations would be completed rather than leave it… more

180 persons to be employed at LIME contact centre in St James

Jamaica – Junior Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams has welcomed the opening of the LIME contact centre in Montego Bay, which will create roughly 180 jobs in coming weeks… more

BBB warns of international Jamaican phone scam operating in Acadiana area

Jamaica – The Better Business Bureau of Acadiana is warning the public of numerous scam phone calls coming into the Lafayette region… more

Pilot Project in Remote Schools to Improve Performance

Jamaica – The Ministry of Education will pilot, for the first time, Live and on Demand Content (educational) in 50 remote schools via Internet Protocol Television (IP TV) and 10 schools via free to air television, by January 2013… more

Experts and Authorities in the Region Hold Dialogue on Cyber Security at the OAS

Regional – The Organization of American States (OAS), the World Economic Forum, and Georgetown University today organized a “Cyber Security Dialogue,” in which experts and government officials of the hemisphere exchanged experiences and discussed the priorities of Latin America and the Caribbean on the issue… more

Friday, 14 December 2012

Telemedia dividend payouts put on pause again by court injunction

Belize – In media broadcast last night it was aired that BTL was getting ready to make dividend payout totaling almost 12 million dollars. This is after the Court of Appeal had refused an injunction against the Telemedia Company… more

Gov’t Seeking Partners to Grow ICT Space

Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams, says that the Government is actively seeking opportunities for public-private partnership to develop additional Information Communication Technology (ICT) space to meet growing demand… more

Opposition demands timeline for digital switchover

Jamaica – The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party says the Government must, as “a matter of urgency”, move to get a definite timeline for the proposed Digital Switchover (DSO) from the National Steering Committee… more

Saturday, 15 December 2012

Digicel Partners with Barbadian N.G.O. to Further Greening Efforts

Barbados – Recognizing the ever growing need to increase public focus on energy conversation and environmentally friendly practices, leading Telecommunications company, Digicel, has partnered with the Barbados Renewable Energy Association (BREA) to help promote its efforts… more

No deliberate efforts to ‘drag out’ liberalisation of telecoms sector — Teixeira

Guyana – There are no deliberate moves to delay the liberalisation of the local telecommunication sector since such a process is critical to Guyana’s national development strategy.  That was the view of Chief Whip of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic, Ms Gail Teixeira, during the post Cabinet press briefing at Office of the President yesterday… more

Forum of User of Geo-spatial Information in Haiti – GEOTECH 2012

Haiti – Mr. Boby Emmanuel Piard, CNIGS Director explained that the purpose of this forum is to bring closer the data users of CNIGS so that they can know the institution, its tools and technologies used … more

Haiti, Digicel National Fund for Education smells fishy

Haiti – President Michel Martelly told the Haitian Diaspora community in Miami that the National Fund for Education, established in May 2011, had accumulated $16 million [US] and not a penny of it had been touched… more

Connect Puerto Rico Releases New Broadband Availability Figures

Puerto Rico – New research unveiled by Connect Puerto Rico shows that nearly 85% of Puerto Rico households have access to fixed broadband at advertised speeds of at least 3 Mbps download/768 Kbps upload, up from 57% one year ago… more

Sunday, 16 December 2012

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Image credits:  RambergMediaImages (flickr);  Sunbeach;  Brand of the World;  BVI News;  St Kitts & Nevis Observer;  Wikipedia

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Monday, 19 November 2012

We Are Footing the Bill – Digicel

Antigua & Barbuda – Approximately EC$9 million is said to have been invested in the procurement of “LTE compatible tablets” for school children, according to the latest figures reaching Caribarena regarding the proposed iPads-for-students initiative… more

BTC Opens New Marsh Harbour Retail Experience Centre

Bahamas – Marsh Harbour is home to the newest location in BTC’s retail experience.  The new store had its official ribbon cutting and opening ceremony on Saturday November 17th giving Abaco customers access to a much larger location with a sophisticated, bright new look and feel… more

TSTT needs speed

Trinidad & Tobago – Science and Technology Minister Dr Rupert Griffith has said customers are experiencing problems with mobile services because State telecoms provider TSTT cannot access the required speed on its 4G spectrum… more

Digicel Announces Network Upgrade To 4G

Turks & Caicos Islands – Although it was not the first network in the country to announce going 4G, Digicel TCI certainly made its entrance grand, parading its multimillion-dollar Ericson equipment in front of media, staff and other representatives in the industry… more

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Digicel to foot bill for school iPad programme

Antigua & Barbuda – After weeks of speculation and very little official verification, Digicel has confirmed that it will be footing the entire bill for government’s free-iPads-for-students initiative… more

BTC Unveils Marsh Harbour Upgrades

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) latest revamped retail store opened in Marsh Harbour on Saturday… more

GT&T collecting rent from phone which has not been fixed for 20 months

Guyana – Dear Editor, Since February last year and up until today after some 20 months, GT&T has been unable to rectify a fault to my landline phone located just by the roadside at Adventure Village in Region 2… more

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

 Guyana’s Broadcasting Authority ready for new radio license applications

Guyana – Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA), Bibi Shadick on Wednesday said all previous applicants for broadcast licenses, no matter how long ago, will have to reapply now that the regulatory body has been established… more

1,000 jobs on the line

Jamaica – Multinational outsourcing company Convergys Corporation has put plans to open a call centre in Jamaica on hold, leaving 1,000 jobs hanging in the balance… more

Education ministry to pilot teaching through IPTV

Jamaica – The Ministry of Education will pilot live, on demand, content in 50 schools via Internet Protocol Television (IP TV) and 10 schools through free to air television… more

JIS Showcases Technology in Media

Jamaica – ‘Technology in Media’ was the focus of a presentation by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) at the first Information Technology (IT) Exposition hosted on Friday, (November 16), by the Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha”… more

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Digicel Secretive About Concession Package

Antigua & Barbuda – Digicel Antigua CEO Victor Corcoran says his private company is not at liberty to discuss the terms of agreement behind the GATE Program, and as such would neither confirm nor deny that Digicel has indeed managed to secure a concession package with government worth EC$60 million over 16 years… more

Visit Aruba Launches Free Mobile App For Android And iPhone

Aruba – Local web development company CaribMedia has launched the Visit Aruba Guide mobile app as the official app for the popular www.VisitAruba.com website… more

BTC To ‘Ramp Up’ Retail Franchise In Early 2013

Bahamas – The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) expects to “ramp up” its franchise initiative in the 2013 first quarter, its vice-president of branding and marketing telling Tribune Business it would be looking at more than 35 franchise opportunities over the next 18-24 months… more

Govt negotiating with Digicel, GT&T ahead of liberalization laws

Guyana – Digicel, a Pan-Caribbean mobile phone service provider, on Thursday said the Guyana government has assured that the country’s telecommunications sector would soon be liberalized, paving the way for lower rates… more

GT&T’s 20% sale…No decision yet on how US$25M will be spent-govt.

Guyana – Almost $5B (US$25M) received by government for the sale of its 20 per cent stakes in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has been placed into the accounts of the Privatization Unit (PU)/National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) but no decisions have been made as yet how it will be spent… more

NTRC Initiative To Enhance Productivity

St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Sean Roache, a student of the Division of Arts, Science and General Studies, is appreciative of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission’s (NTRC) links with two of this country’s telecommunications service providers… more

Friday, 23 November 2012

Cable Endures ‘Painful’ 50% Energy Increase

Bahamas – Cable Bahamas has been forced to endure a “painful” 50 per cent year-over-year increase in electricity costs, a senior executive yesterday saying 2012 revenue and profit growth had been driven largely by its broadband Internet and new products… more

Centaur Cable Introduces Cheaper Internet Rates for Belize

Belize – Earlier this year on September 27, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities, Joy Grant unveiled the ministry’s strategic plan.  In essence, the information presented was that Belize is behind other countries in the region when it comes to Science and Technology and there was a call for more to be done in this fast pace sector of development… more

Grenada hosts successful CaribNOG meeting

Grenada – Grenada played host to the latest gathering of Caribbean techies and computer network engineers this past week, staging the fourth regional gathering of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG)… more

Government resurrects abandoned reforms

Guyana – Long awaited reforms to Guyana’s telecoms sector are back on the table, after draft legislation was dropped at the last-minute in September 2011… more

Beware! Cigarette companies luring kids into smoking with technology

Jamaica – The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is warning parents to be even more vigilant, as cigarette and tobacco companies have stepped up their use of technology and mobile applications to entice individuals to smoke… more

Guardsman Accelerates Investments In Tech Devices, HQ

Jamaica – The Guardsman Group says it is accelerating the pace of investments, despite the sluggish economy, with new technology-based products already introduced and a timetable of mid-2013 now set to begin construction of its new J$500-million headquarters… more

Senior executive to leave Digicel

Jamaica – One of Digicel’s most powerful executives has decided to leave the telecommunications group after 10 years. Kevin White, Digicel Group’s chief operating officer, has tendered his resignation and will return to his native Ireland for “family reasons”, the company said… more

SMEs urged to make use of cloud technology

Jamaica – Small businesses stand to save between 30 per cent and 50 per cent with cloud technology, says Digicel… more

Top Jamaican schools create buzz in new TV series

Jamaica ­– The innovative use of technology in Jamaican schools is the focus of a new original television series on Flow TV, Channel 100… more

Saturday, 24 November 2012

Turks and Caicos Government, Digicel Sign Contract for IT Upgrade

Turks & Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Islands government has announced that Digicel TCI will be performing a $1.76 million upgrade of its IT systems… more

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Innovative use of technology to enhance education

Jamaica – There is no question that education today is not the same as it was 50 years ago when Jamaica gained Independence. Technology has dramatically changed the way children can learn and the pace at which they can learn… more

 Image credits:  Gary Thomson (flickr);  Wikipedia;  Wikipedia;  

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