A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 16 November to Sunday 22 November 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monday, 16 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Millions spent for public officers to work remotely<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

British Virgin Islands<\/em> \u2013 When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the BVI earlier this year, government spending on computer software for public officers increased by 81.3 percent or about $1.2 million more than similar spending in 2019\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digitisation of over 25,000 businesses, organisations coming, says Shaw<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Audley Shaw says the Government is embarking on an initiative to facilitate the digitisation of over 25,000 business operations within the next three years\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tuesday, 17 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AG: Digital assets laws to attract new work stream of business<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Laws governing the digital assets space will allow The Bahamas to attract an entirely new work stream of business which will be at the very forefront of global financial developments, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BTC Launches Xmas Campaign<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday launched its seven-week \u2018All I want for Christmas is\u2019 campaign featuring special offers on all its products and services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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No compromise! Gov\u2019t will start hammering internet providers 2021<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 Complaints about the internet and other telecommunication services have been exacerbated in the BVI since the passage of the 2017 hurricanes\u2026 mo<\/a>r<\/a>e<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel Business Masterclass educates on digital transformation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Digicel Business continued to inspire and educate last Thursday, November 12, with its third episode of the in-demand business mentorship Masterclass Series. The livestream event focused on digital transformation with globally-recognised expert and Chief Digital Officer for Digicel Group, Aileen Corrigan\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

tTech sees dip in net profit for July to September<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 tTech ended the July to September quarter with a decrease in net profit\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel announces expiry of offer to DGL2 bondholders<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel on Monday announced that the offer by the DGL0.5 Purpose Trust (the \u201cHolding Trust\u201d) to eligible Caribbean retail holders of DGL2 Limited (formerly known as Digicel Group Two Limited) notes (the \u201cEligible DGL2 Caribbean Retail Holders\u201d) shall expire on 20 November 2020 and that the remaining notes held by the Holding Trust will be offered to eligible Caribbean retail holders of notes issued by DGL3 Limited (formerly known as Digicel Group Limited) (the \u201cEligible DGL3 Caribbean Retail Holders\u201d) until December 15, 2020\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech companies need shift in mindset, says expert<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 A regional advocate for tech entrepreneurship believes Barbados and other countries in the Caribbean need a new set of financing models and a change in mindset to become the hub for thriving technology firms\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is cryptocurrency a security?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Globally, as at November 7, 2020, there were over 6,700 types of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, the most popular digital currency, which last week traded at USD$15,014.90\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natuc partners with WiPay to offer loans to members<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 WIPAY chief executive, Aldwyn Wayne, says the T&T-based payment platform company, has been planning its latest innovation, called WiLoan, for more than a year\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

T&T must move faster in its digital transformation says Huawei exec<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 T&T is doing better than Central America and many other countries in its digital transformation initiatives but it needs to do it faster, said Huawei executive Luis Guillot\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech help for Mayaro<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Eighty additional primary school pupils from across the south-eastern community of Mayaro have been given an educational advantage through the presentation of tablet computers by BP Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wednesday, 18 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Harnessing Messy Data For Future Improvements<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Data does not rest. It is everywhere, created by everyone for anything and everything. Silently, it has grown exponentially over the past few years, especially most recently, with the attention on COVID-19\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Former B.T.L. Chair Racked Up $859,197 in Credit Card, Fuel, and Insurance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 Details are beginning to emerge on the charges made to the B.T.L. corporate credit card by its former chairman, Net Vasquez. These were racked up generally for personal matters and not for company business\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is govt\u2019s promised online portal for tourists?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 As it continues to lobby for consultations with the government, the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) said business owners are asking about the status of the BVI\u2019s online portal where visitors must register before traveling here\u2026  more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radio, TV, Cable operators owe GNBA over $100M in fees<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has publicized the names of 20 radio, television and cable operators who have together accumulated a debt to the Authority totalling in excess of $100M\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bovel Blake, IT leader<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 For Bovel Blake, IT plays a vital role in implementing new technologies and tools, recruiting and training new staff along with reshaping business processes\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NCB embraces digital strategy during COVID-19<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Amid the continued negative impact on businesses as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, NCB Financial Group (NCBFG) said that its early adoption of a digital strategy assisted the financial institution to pivot in the wake of the pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enterprise computing: Digital strategy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 In the last edition of Digital Life we introduced the framework of the road map to achieve digital transformation (DT). It consists of 12 major elements of digital transformation grouped into four pillars: strategy and vision, people and culture, process and governance and, finally, technology and capabilities\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New thinking – The future of work<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 With the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, such as robotics process automation (RPA), trying to figure out the future of work has been a source of anxiety for many\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TechBeach Retreat Lab to enable digital shift for businesses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Large corporations, Government and start-ups in the Caribbean are poised to benefit from the curricula of the 2021 TechBeach Retreat (TBR) Lab designed to drive innovation and enable a digital shift for businesses in the region\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TelEm closing main building for one week to replace A\/C ducts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sint Maarten <\/em>\u2013 TelEm Group will be closing its main building on Pond Island for an entire week, starting end of business day Friday, to replace a network of air conditioning (AC) ducts in the main air-handler room\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flow brings Triple A to the online teaching game<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Online education has become the vehicle by which our nation\u2019s children are being taught\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Huawei to THA: \u201cCovid-19 is a digital economy incentive\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Trinidad and Tobago is doing better than Central America and many other countries in its digital transformation initiatives but it needs to do it faster, says Huawei executive Luis Guillot\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TATT, TSTT, Digicel deliver devices for schools<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013The Ministry of Education received 800 of 10,000 devices at a ceremony held recently at TATT\u2019s offices in Barataria\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday, 19 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flow provides custom sites, help desks and online shopping<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Greater support has arrived for local small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dominican Republic Bans Huawei from Upgrading its Telecom Networks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Dominican Republic<\/em> \u2013 The Dominican Republic has banned Huawei from building its 5G networks, with the Caribbean country\u2019s new President choosing to take side with the US government\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mobile service disruption affecting five parishes \u2013 Digicel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Communications leader Digicel says on Tuesday afternoon its network teams discovered multiple incidents of damage to fibre optic cables serving cell sites in St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Region Must Harness Technology For Development \u2013 Minister Vaz<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says that the advancement and development of the region is hinged on the use of technology to aid in building resilience, productivity and sustainability\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPDATE: Digicel fully restores services in 5 parishes after disruption<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Communications leader Digicel says it has fully restored mobile voice and data services to sections of five parishes affected by multiple incidents of damage to fibre optic cables serving cell sites in the areas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel Commences Modified Dutch Auction Tender Offer for 7.00% PIK Perpetual Convertible Notes Issued by Digicel Group Holdings Limited<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Group Holdings Limited, formerly known as Digicel Group 0.5 Limited (“Digicel,” the “Company”, “we” or “us”), today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the “Offer”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Company’s Offer to Purchase dated November 19, 2020 (the “Offer to Purchase”), for its outstanding 7.00% PIK Perpetual Convertible Notes (the “Notes”)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Business technology awardees continue to win<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 On Friday, November 20, the TT Chamber will host its annual Champions of Business Awards ceremony\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Friday, 20 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

GB minister presents govt.\u2019s digital transformation program at virtual conference<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson recently outlined The Bahamas\u2019 strides thus far in the country\u2019s digital transformation, as well as the plans to expand that transformation as time goes on, during the 14th annual meeting of Red GEALC Sixth Ministerial Meeting of Digital Government\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Grey Clouds’ Must Lift To Get Cable Dividends<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas’ top executive says dividend payments to ordinary shareholders will only resume after “some of the grey clouds” presently hovering over the Bahamian economy disappear\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tourism shutdown has \u201cmassive hit\u201d on BTC\u2019s bottom line<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company\u2019s (BTC) top executive yesterday acknowledged that the shutdown of the tourism sector has had a \u201cmassive\u201d impact on the quad provider\u2019s bottom line, noting that the hospitality sector represents some 30 to 35 percent of its B2B revenue\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cisco\u2019s CDA Program Moves to Help the Cayman Islands<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 We need more good news about companies and governments helping people during this COVID-19 event that seems to be spreading out of control in much of the world right now\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digicel puts giving into winning this Christmas with \u2018Shake n Share\u2019<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 In the true spirit of Christmas, over 500,000 Digicel customers will have a chance to win cash and prizes, with the option to keep their winnings or gift it to a friend, loved one or someone they feel is deserving of it\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HGS to add thousands of employees to global operations including Jamaica<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013  Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) has revealed plans to add thousands of  employees to its operations around the world, including Jamaica, as the Indian Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) provider sees a strong pipeline of  client orders\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 400 public entities connected to national broadband network<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013  More than 400 public entities have been connected to the national broadband network as the Government continues its drive to provide more citizens with access to high-speed Internet\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web portal glitch delays education ministry’s tablets initiative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Thousands of anxious parents are now waiting to submit their applications online to the Ministry of Education in order to secure grants to purchase tablets for their children, under the Government’s Own Your Own Device initiative\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saturday, 21 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FLOW gives back during annual mission week<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 The importance of volunteerism has been underscored by leading telecommunications provider Flow, as the company recently celebrated its annual Mission Week with a series of events in support of the theme \u201cLearning, Environment, Access and Disaster Relief\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCT sues over telecom levy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 CCT and BVI Cable TV are challenging the telecommunications levy that regulators recently decided to start collecting for the first time since the Telecommunications Act took effect in 2006\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunday, 22 November 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wi-Fi world<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 What is Wi-Fi? I bet that most people outside of the telecommunications industry do not know what Wi-fi stands for. Well, Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity and is actually the same thing as saying WLAN, which stands for wireless local area network\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image credits: Free-Photos (Pixabay<\/a>); Wikipedia<\/a>; Wikipedia<\/a>; Wikipedia<\/a>; Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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