{"id":153032,"date":"2020-05-25T06:00:48","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T11:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=153032"},"modified":"2020-05-24T18:29:21","modified_gmt":"2020-05-24T23:29:21","slug":"roundup-week-24-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2020\/05\/roundup-week-24-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Roundup: for the week ending 24 May 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 18 May to Sunday 24 May 2020.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday, 18 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Aliv clocks up to 30 percent increase in data demand<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Aliv\u2019s top executive said yesterday the company has seen a 20 to 30 percent increase in demand for data amid the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable Bahamas Group delivers $50.1M in revenues with third quarter financial results<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas Group, the only Bahamian-owned \u201ctriple play\u201d communications provider and controlling shareholder of Be Aliv Limited, announced third quarter revenues of $50.1 million\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel extends deadline for bond holdouts<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel, the Caribbean telco owned by Denis O\u2019Brien, has extended until midnight on Wednesday the deadline for holdout bondholders to accept a debt restructuring that will wipe out about $1.6 billion of its $7 billion debt pile\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Digicel files for bankruptcy in Bermuda courts<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Regional telecommunications giant Digicel has filed for bankruptcy before the Bermuda courts, but it insists that its day-to-day operations will not be affected by the move\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel sets the record straight<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Digicel has issued a press statement to update on its progress since announcing its plan to refinance over a month ago\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tuesday, 19 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Digicel conducting \u2018refinancing activities\u2019 to reduce debt<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 Following recent media reports that regional telecommunications \u00a0giant, Digicel, has filed for bankruptcy in the Bermudian court, the company has said it is merely conducting \u201crefinancing activities\u201d to reduce its debt\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel files for US bankruptcy protection<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 Telecommunications provider Digicel has filed for Chapter 15 recognition in a federal bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York after it was granted an application for provisional liquidation in Bermuda\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel says it\u2019s business as usual despite bankruptcy court proceedings<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel has issued the following statement to update on its progress since announcing its plan to refinance over a month ago\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Telemedicine in a time of Covid-19<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 IN RECENT years, technology has afforded us the luxury to do amazing things, including virtual healthcare\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wednesday, 20 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Antigua prepared to acquire Digicel shares<\/h4>\n

Antigua and Barbuda <\/em>\u2013 Antigua and Barbuda has indicated that it is prepared to acquire the shares of the financially strapped Irish-owned telecommunications company, Digicel, if it is unable to provide a service here in the future\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTC Aids Freeport Hospital Patients<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has provided the Rand Memorial Hospital with mobile devices so patients can talk to their relatives during the COVID-19 lockdown\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Web Shops Going Legal On Closure<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Several web shops yesterday “lit the candle under” their attorney to file legal action against the Government by tomorrow “at the latest” over their continuing COVID-19 closure\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

EDITORIAL: USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 THE internet is often used by younger persons for recreational purposes such as scrolling through social media, to play games, watch films and television shows, reading novels and gossip\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Salary Cuts at the Government-owned Digi<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 The cut backs are not exclusive to the domestic airline industry; every sector has had to make adjustments, including telecommunications\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CCT on Virgin Gorda burglarized<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 A burglary has been reported at CCT\u2019s Virgin Gorda store\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Flow probes widespread outage, says service restored to 90% of customers<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Flow Jamaica says it is investigating the disruption in its fixed telecommunication services in several sections of the island yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Gov’t intends to use personal devices to monitor people in home quarantine<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton says the Government intends to enhance its monitoring of individuals under home quarantine with technological devices that can be affixed to the body\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Historic Data Protection Bill approved in the House<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The long-awaited Data Protection Bill was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday with bi-partisan support and no amendments\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Intcomex donates laptops to aid teachers with online summer school<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Intcomex Jamaica\u00a0 recently donated 13 laptops to the Creative Language Based Learning (CLBL) Foundation to help teachers who do not have computers access the foundation\u2019s online summer training program commencing in July\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

OUR and MSET need to address poor telecoms service \u2014 PNP’s Robinson<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Opposition spokesman on technology Julian Robinson says the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology (MSET) must step in now on behalf of telecoms customers to ensure that basic standards are maintained\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Parents Urged To Educate Children About Dangers Of Digital Media<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging parents to educate their children about the dangers of using digital media, in order to limit their exposure to harmful content and characters\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Strong first quarter finish for tTech<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Managed IT Services Provider (MSP), tTech released its financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel denies claims of bankruptcy<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Regional telecommunications giant Digicel is denying claims that it has filed for bankruptcy before the Bermuda courts\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel is on life support in its Caribbean hideout<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 It provides telecom services in some of the sunniest parts of the planet, but Digicel’s financial affairs are usually hidden in the dark\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Telecoms company moves to restructure debt<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel\u2019s recent decision to file for bankruptcy in Bermuda will not have a negative impact on its operations here in Barbados\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thursday, 21 May 2020<\/h3>\n

\"\"BELIZE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS UNION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS OVER PAY CUTS<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 Companies large and small have had to make some degree of reductions in their payroll expenditure among other areas.\u00a0 Tonight Belize Telemedia is looking to do the same but they will have to go through the Belize Communications Workers\u2019 Union (BCWU)… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Salary Cuts at B.T.L.<\/h4>\n

Belize<\/em> \u2013 Unemployment is growing due to COVID-19 and most companies have had to offer salary cuts to employees and reduce work hours to be able to stay in business\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Dominican Internet recovers lost speed<\/h4>\n

Dominican Republic <\/em>\u2013 The rise of more than 40% of Internet consumption in Dominican homes caused by the closure imposed to contain the Covid-19, caused in the first days of quarantine a drop of up to 35% in download speed by the mobile network, and 5% in the fixed one; however, the numbers and the service have managed to achieve stability\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

AG says Data Protection Act will need constant review<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 ATTORNEY General Marlene Malahoo Forte says that the Data Protection Act, which was approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives, must be kept under constant review\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BPOs Want Work-At-Home Extension<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 The Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) has submitted a request to the Government for an extension to its current work-at-home arrangement to the end of the year\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cops prepared for increase in cyber crime<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 As a result of the COVID-19 crisis forcing more businesses to be conducted online, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dahlia Garrick is reminding persons to be vigilant as it relates to cyber-related crimes\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Over 10,000 J’cans register on MDLink to access doctor online<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 More than 10,000 Jamaicans have registered on the telehealth platform, MDLink, as they adhere to social distancing rules during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Time for new competition in telecoms market, says Opposition<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 THE Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) believes the time may be ripe for new competition in the telecommunications market, with inefficiencies in service and the increasing demand for data over voice having been brought even more sharply into focus during this COVID-19 crisis\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Caribbean e-commerce gets a boost from Covid<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The coronavirus lockdowns have highlighted the Caribbean\u2019s struggles to implement e-commerce solutions, but they have also presented an opportunity for innovation, according to a Zoom panel made up of owners of small- and medium-sized businesses convened last week by the Caribbean branch of the International Labour Organisation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Denis O\u2019Brien forced to lift hood on Digicel in debt restructuring<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Denis O\u2019Brien, who extracted at least $1.9 billion (\u20ac1.7 billion) in dividends from his Digicel phone group between 2007 and 2015, promised bondholders in the highly-indebted company four years ago that he would hold off taking further dividend payments until business improved\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel Announces Final Results of Tender Offers; Receives Tenders for 99.46% of 6.00% Notes Due 2021; Terminates Tender Offer for 6.75% Notes Due 2023<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 As part of its deleveraging process Digicel Limited (“DL” and, together with its subsidiaries, “Digicel”) reports that it has secured 99.46% support to exchange its nearest bond maturity, the US$1.3 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Notes due 2021 (the “Existing 2021 Notes”) for new notes with an aggregate principal amount of approximately US$1.2 billion, while extending the maturity on the new notes ranging from 2024 to 2026 as outlined in more detail below. Digicel has terminated the tender offer for the 6.75% Notes due 2023 (the “Existing 2023 Notes”)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Technology specialists create virtual bedtime stories platform for children during COVID-19<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Do you remember what it felt like being read to by your parents or older sibling, as they got ready to tuck you into bed at night\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

WiPay, Living Water collaborate to make grant distribution digital<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Aldwyn Wayne couldn’t see how it would work\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday, 22 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Cable Bahamas ‘Evolves’ Eleuthera Product Offering<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas was yesterday said to be increasing internet coverage and \u201cevolving\u201d its services to Eleuthera through products such as managed Wi-FI access\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Govt Agencies’ It ‘Drag’ In Covid-19<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamian economy \u201cmust come out of COVID-19 with a greater degree of efficiency than we went into this\u201d through the full-fledged embrace of technology, a former attorney general urged yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BPOs stand strong during COVID-19 economic impacts<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 Today, five of the BPOs in Belize shared their experience on how; they have been able to navigate the turbulent COVID-19 business climate\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Government crypto partner declares closure, then quickly retracts<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 LIFELabs, a United Kingdom-based cryptocurrency company that partnered with the Virgin Islands government last year with plans to develop a digital currency known as BVI~LIFE, said last week that it planned to close. Then it quickly retracted the statement\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

COVID-19 education sector threats ask searching questions of local IT sector \u2013 Starr Computers boss<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The nature and impact of the coronavirus on developing countries like Guyana brings into sharp focus the importance of accelerating the growth of the information technology sector in order to better position it to address priority concerns when these arise, Starr Computers Chief Executive Officer, Mike Mohan has told the Stabroek Business\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"AIS plans Q-Mall e-commerce platform for Jamaican businesses<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 It is almost eight months since leading technology solutions company Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) publicly announced plans for the launch of an e-commerce platform for Jamaica, known as Q-Mall\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel reports \u2018overwhelming support\u2019 for debt restructuring plans<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Digicel has received \u201coverwhelming support\u201d from its debtholders for its restructuring, the company has told Capacity\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Expansion and diversification plans for itelbpo during pandemic<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Local\u00a0business process outsourcing company itelbpo continues to expand and diversify its geographic footprint, even in the face of a global economic recession\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

For BPOs, The Future Post-COVID Is Virtual<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 HAVING FOUND work-from-home arrangements to be beneficial to their operations, BPO firms are now lobbying for the creation of what they call a virtual special economic zone, which would \u00adrequire the Jamaican Government to amend the laws around SEZs\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

JAMAICA INSURANCE MARKET, SIZE, SHARE, OUTLOOK AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES 2020-2026<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 This research report recently published a report on Jamaica Insurance which focuses on the comprehensive study of the market involving technological developments, future plans, supply, sales revenue, production, dimensions, overview, manufacturers, growth rate, price, deals and revenue for the detailed analysis of the Jamaica Insurance market\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

More Jamaicans seeing doctors online during pandemic<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 More Jamaicans, including senior citizens, are seeing doctors online for diagnosis and treatment during the COVID-19 crisis. That’s according to Dr Che Bowen, CEO of MDLink, a telemedicine company operating on the island\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CCSS embraces the exciting opportunity of e-learning<\/h4>\n

Saint Lucia <\/em>\u2013 One of the largest sectors impacted by COVID-19 is the education sector. For the first time ever, students at all levels are being tutored virtually for an entire school term\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saturday, 23 May 2020<\/h3>\n

\"\"WiPay internet payment system launched<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Businesses, from fish vendors to multinational corporations were today presented with a contactless online payment system as a strategy for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

DBJ assists micro and small enterprises with digital transformation<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 THE range of business services utilised by micro and small enterprises (MSEs), which is financed under the Development Bank of Jamaica’s (DBJ) Voucher for Technical Assistance Programme (VTAP), is being widened to incorporate digital transformation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sunday, 24 May 2020<\/h3>\n

Banking online could save businesses over 50 per cent in fees \u2014 Scotiabank<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Scotiabank has said that local businesses could see a reduction of up to 60 per cent in annual banking fees and significant reductions in processing times for some transactions if they utilise online banking channels\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Protecting the empire: how Denis O\u2019Brien lined up Digicel restructuring deal<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 It is beginning to look like the sun will never set on Denis O\u2019Brien\u2019s Pacific and Caribbean island telecoms empire\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image credits: Andrys Stienstra (Pixabay<\/a>); \u00a0Brands of the World<\/a>; \u00a0Facebook<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0 Wikimedia Commons<\/a>; \u00a0Trinidad and Tobago Newsday<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

————–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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