A roundup of ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 3 November to 9 November 2014.<\/em><\/p>\n

\nMonday, 3 November 2014<\/h3>\n

BTC Store for Spanish Wells, Eleuthera<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Regardless the size of the island or its community, BTC is giving the same retail opportunities, products and services in new and glamourous, full-service BTC stores throughout The Bahamas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

More speed<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Barbadian businesses and households will soon be able to access \u201cthe fastest Internet speed ever\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BPO Industry Hails Fast-Tracking Role Of Business Incubator<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Western Bureau: Stakeholders in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry have welcomed the planned establishment of a 200-seat business incubator in the Montego Bay Free Zone, slated to become fully operational by December 2014\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Mandeville Goes ‘Superfast’ With LIME 4G Upgrade<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Mandeville, the commercial hub of central Jamaica, has recently experienced the Superfast LIME 4G HSPA+ mobile Internet speed. With on-the-go connectivity of up to 21MB per second, residents in and around the booming university town can now enjoy a more powerful Internet experience\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Internet Experts: Next Decade Could Bring Widespread Harm From Cyberattack<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 Be afraid of potentially devastating cyberattacks, and be better prepared to guard against them. But also be wary of the risks – especially to privacy – that accompany a growing focus on cyber-security that may exaggerate some threats\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Ruffin woman\u2019s home phone hacked, charged\u00a0$6,094<\/h4>\n

Regional \u2013 Joyce Lewis loves catching up and chatting with family and friends, and self-proclaimed herself as \u201cold fashioned\u201d when it comes to using the telephone\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday, 4 November 2014<\/h3>\n

Appeal Hearing Begins in Case of Telemedia Supreme Court Judgment<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 Great Belize Productions Limited was once a subsidiary of Belize Telemedia Limited through a trio of overseas companies\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cell phone, laptop thief jailed<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Cleveland Alleyne stole one cellular phone valued $9000 and a laptop worth $120,000 from Joro Azore on October 28, last. He appeared before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates\u2019 Court yesterday morning and was jailed for nine months\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

GT&T Technician electrocuted while working on utility pole<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 A Technician attached to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) was electrocuted while working on a utility pole just after midday yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Parents will soon be asked to pay for tablets<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Parents will be required to absorb the cost of tablet computers after the 30,000 devices now being distributed free to 30 schools islandwide under the $1.4 billion Schools Tablet Computer Programme pilot, has ended\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 5 November 2014<\/h3>\n

BTL wants back Channel 5<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 The civil appeal of Channel Overseas Investments Limited, Katalyst Developments Limited, Thames Ventures Limited, Great Belize Productions Limited and several former directors of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) continued before the Court of Appeal this afternoon\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Court of Appeal Reserves Judgment in Telemedia Case<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the case against Great Belize Productions, formerly a subsidiary of Belize Telemedia Limited… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Bail for quartet accused of stealing GT&T cables<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Four men accused of stealing cables from Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), were placed on $60,000 bail each by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates\u2019 Court yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaica to Set up Cyber Incident Response Team<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaica will be establishing a Cyber Incident Response Team as it moves to strengthen the country\u2019s virtual security platform\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Web demand<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013\u00a0Internet caf\u00e9 start-up Cyberbox Lan Centre is already looking to near triple its seating capacity to meet the growing demands of the market by March 2015… more<\/a><\/p>\n

ICT\u2008expert Ronald Hinds: Technology can enhance competitiveness<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 ICT has changed the way in which industrialisation for small economies like T&T can happen, said Ronald Hinds, chairman of the e-commerce Roundtable of T&T\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday, 6 November 2014<\/h3>\n

BTC’s revenues down 2% in fiscal H1<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), part of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), recorded revenues of USD 171 million in the first half of fiscal 2014-15, ended 30 September, down 2 percent compared to USD 175 million in the same period the previous fiscal year\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

UPDATE: Digicel responds to C&W purchase of Columbus Intl<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Telecommunications company Digicel has responded to the news of Cable and Wireless Communications\u2019 plans to buy Columbus International\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

UPDATE: We have to wait and see, Flow employees say of C&W purchase<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Employees of cable TV provider Flow said this morning that they have taken a \u201cwait-and-see approach\u201d as news broke that British telecoms firm Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) have entered into a deal to purchase their parent company Columbus International\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BUSINESS\u00a0BYTE: LIME announces coming of Apple iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus to its Caribbean market<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 LIME, the only authorized carrier in the English-speaking Caribbean of the Apple\u00ae iPhone\u00ae 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, has announced their expected arrival just in time for the holiday season\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable & Wireless Communications drops 8% on news of $1.85bn Caribbean deal<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Cable & Wireless Communications has dropped 8% after issuing shares to pay for a $1.85bn deal\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable & Wireless Communications Plc Proposed Acquisition of Columbus International Inc Placing of New Shares<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The Board of Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (“CWC” or the “Company”) today announces that it has agreed terms to acquire Columbus International Inc (“Columbus”) for consideration of approximately USD1.85bn (for 100 per cent. of the equity)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable & Wireless Communications Plc Results for the Six Months Ended 30 September 2014<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Group revenue up 1% (2% at constant currency); mobile revenue up 3% with mobile data up 10% \u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Columbus International Inc. Agrees to Terms of Acquisition by CWC<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The combined business will:\u2028\u00a0\u2028Deliver broader pro-consumer product offerings and improved services\u2028Inject state of the art TV and next-generation super-high-speed broadband technology into CWC\u2028Deliver huge opportunities to the Business and Government sectors\u2028Provide rapid lead in fixed mobile convergence through premier network platform\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CWC records net profit of USD 103 mln in fiscal H1<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) recorded a net profit of USD 103 million in the first half of fiscal year 2014\/15, ended 30 September, compared to a net loss of USD 8 million in the year-ago period\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME posts revs of USD 143 mln in fiscal H1<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/em> \u2013 Lime, the Caribbean business of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), posted revenues of USD 143 million in the first half of fiscal year 2014-2015, ended 30 September, up 6 percent compared to USD 135 million in the year-ago period\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Big buck$ for cable<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Fed up of FLOW? \u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Down-the-Islands\u2019 gets full mobile and internet coverage via bmobile network and solar energy<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 YOU might think Chacachacare is remote and rustic but like many other communities that are off the beaten path in Trinidad and Tobago, it\u2019s not too far for blink \/ bmobile to outfit it with the latest in mobile and wireless broadband technology\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Pantin: TT must deal with piracy<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 DIRECTV Trinidad Limited\u2019s General Manager, Bernard Pantin, says Trinidad and Tobago \u201ccannot strive to be a (regional) leader\u201d in the Information Communications and Technology Sector (ICT) while turning \u201ca blind eye to such rampant piracy\u201d as the unlicensed and unauthorised transmission of certain shows and\/or television networks\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TSTT co-owner to acquire Flow<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 The names are many but the acquisition is one\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday, 7 November 2014<\/h3>\n

$1.9bn Deal Boost For BTC TV Plans<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company\u2019s (BTC) TV launch plans were yesterday boosted by a $1.9 billion \u201cgame changer\u201d that will likely increase its ability to compete head-on with Cable Bahamas for market dominance\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTC Left ‘Flat’ By Price\/Cost Cutting<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company\u2019s (BTC) controlling shareholder yesterday blamed its \u201cflat\u201d first-half financial performance on preparations for cellular competition, with net income matching last year\u2019s $37 million\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Embrace technology<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Minister of International Business and Commerce Donville Inniss is insisting that the state\u00a0must embrace and employ the latest in technology if it is serious about making it easier for individuals to do business\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FTC waiting for formal notification<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 The regulator of utility companies in Barbados is yet to officially hear from Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) on its proposed acquisition of Columbus International Inc., but says it is keeping a close eye on the developments\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Mixed reaction to C&W, FLOW deal<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/em> \u2013 News of Cable & Wireless\u2019 buyout of rival Columbus International made waves in the telecoms sector today, with customers expressing concern about the \u201cmonopoly\u201d and one analyst calling on the Barbados Government and others in the region to block the deal until it has \u201csecured guarantees open to public scrutiny and monitoring\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Analog to digital switchover plan approved by Cabinet<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Cabinet has approved the final draft of the roadmap that outlines the process of transition from analog to digital television broadcast. This was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable & Wireless seeks to ease anxiety among Flow staff<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 CABLE and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) yesterday said it hoped its acquisition of Columbus Communications International will be finalised by the first quarter of next year and sought to ease anxiety among Flow Jamaica staff about the future of their employment\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel extends $2.95 rate to int’l calls, offers free social networking<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Jamaica this week extended its $2.95-per-minute plan to mobile calls to US, Canada and UK landlines, while offering free social networking on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to its mobile data customers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cable & Wireless To Acquire Flow Parent For US$3b. Digicel Knocks Deal As Bad For Competition<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel’s Group slow creep into the cable market has been trumped by chief rival Cable & Wireless Commu-nications (CWC) with a massive deal announced on Tuesday that is expected to eventually merge the operations of phone company LIME with triple-play operator Flow\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TelEm\u00a0Group technicians planning restoration blitz in Betty\u2019s Estate area this weekend.<\/h4>\n

Sint Maarten <\/em>\u2013 TelEm Group technicians say they are not deterred by the copper thieves who are hampering their restoration work around the island\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CWC mega deal worries TATT: Unfair Edge<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 Concerns have been expressed that Cable & Wireless Communication\u2019s (CWC) proposed US$3 billion acquisition of regional cable provider Columbus International (also know as FLOW) could lead to a decline in telecommunications competition across the region and anti-competitive behaviour in T&T\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TDC Launches ‘The Travel App’ For Trinidad And Tobago<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 his country took its destination marketing to a technological level with the soft launch of ‘The Travel App’- a joint initiative between the Tourism Development Company and the app’s developers, Smart Channel\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, 8 November 2014<\/h3>\n

Fear of telecoms monopoly<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Former chairman of the Telecommunications Authority (TATT) Dr John Prince says the country\u2019s telecoms market is \u201crolling back to monopoly\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Improved Service Promised<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 CABLE and Wireless Communications PLC (CWC) has reached a conditional agreement to acquire Columbus International Inc.\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Malone To Become C&W Shareholder In Caribbean Deal<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (CWC) agreed to acquire cable TV and Internet provider Columbus International Inc. to expand in the Caribbean and Central America. The deal also gives billionaire John Malone a stake in the enlarged company\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CWU has \u2018deep concern\u2019 over Columbus Int buyout<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 The Communications Workers\u2019 Union (CWU) has expressed \u201cdeep concern\u201d over the US$3 billion buyout of Columbus International, also known as Flow, by Cable and Wireless Communications plc\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Howai to meet with TSTT<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 FINANCE Minister, Larry Howai, will meet with the management of the State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) and its line minister, Public Utilities Minister Nizam Baksh, to discuss the implications of a proposed US$3.02 billion acquisition of Columbus International Inc and Cable by Wireless Communications (CWC) on TSTT\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

TSTT workers stay away<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 THE Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) office at St James Street, San Fernando, remained closed for a second day yesterday, as workers walked off citing health and safety issues\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, 9 November 2014<\/h3>\n

CCT promises call-in customer service for 24 hours<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands <\/em>\u2013 While claiming that CCT Global Communications has made significant strides in improving its customer service, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the telecoms provider Janette Brin has disclosed that customers will soon benefit from 24 hour call-in customer service\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CWC hails LIME Ja for mobile growth, points out hurdles to Columbus acquisition<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 LIME Jamaica won praise from its parent, Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (CWC), for increasing mobile traffic, which the UK-based company said resulted in the local provider topping a utility providers customer satisfaction survey\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Bring It!<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Cable and Wireless Communications Plc CEO Phil Bentley has thumbed his nose at Digicel, which will be pushing for a rigorous review of the Columbus International deal by regulators, saying his mobile rival might be feeling spurned\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Remarks at the Americas Competitiveness Forum Competitiveness and Innovation Luncheon<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Thank you, Minister Tewarie. And also to Janelle Commissiong, Deputy Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Development Company\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Will telecom merger succeed?<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 On Thursday, millions of people across the Caribbean woke up to the news that Cable & Wireless Communications, which has been operating in the Caribbean for more than 130 years, had acquired cable and fibre provider Columbus International Inc (which trades across the region as Flow) for US$1.85 billion plus US$1.17 billion in net debt\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image credits: \u00a0NS Newsflash<\/a>\/flickr; \u00a0Belize Web<\/a>; \u00a0Marketing Magazine<\/a>; \u00a0Curacao Connected<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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