A roundup of ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region during the period Monday 21 January to Sunday 27 January 2013.<\/i><\/p>\n

Monday, 21 January 2012<\/h3>\n

Mansoor Defends Tablet Programme<\/h4>\n

Antigua & Barbuda <\/i>\u2013 Cabinet has granted telecommunications company, Digicel, millions of dollars in concessions in exchange for partnering on e-education programmes\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Students warm up to computer tablets<\/h4>\n

Antigua & Barbuda <\/i>\u2013 Even as the debate on the distribution of computer tablets spilled over into the weekend, students who were among first recipients were busy on the devices\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cuba opens one lane of Internet superhighway\u2014inbound<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/i>\u2013 Six years ago, work began on a telecommunications project that was supposed to open up the island nation of Cuba to the Internet, giving the people a high-speed connection to the rest of the world\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Private sector groups call for Telecoms reform<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/i>\u2013 The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) have expressed concerns regarding the Telecommunication Bill\u2019s lack of progress and have called for the government to resolve any issues delaying the legislation from being passed in the National Assembly… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel Faces Deadline<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/i> \u2013 Telecoms giant Digicel has formed a technical team to resolve recent issues with its service that caused the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to give the company a deadline to respond… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday, 22 January 2013<\/h3>\n

Digicel stands behind tablet in schools programme<\/h4>\n

Antigua & Barbuda <\/i>\u2013 Digicel says it has no regrets over a decision to fund millions of dollars worth of computer tablets to senior secondary school children\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

The Good and Bad of GATE Project<\/h4>\n

Antigua & Barbuda <\/i>\u2013 The Ministry of Information Technology\u2019s recent GATE project, has been the subject of much criticism since it\u2019s creation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTC \u2018Gimme 10\u2032 Promo Runaway Success<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/i>\u2013 $1.7 M in free texts, free phone calls, and data giveaways signalled a run-away success for the recent Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) \u2018Gimme 10\u2019 pre-paid customer appreciation promotion that ended on January 4th\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTC To Celebrate Opening Of Andros Store<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/i>\u2013 The town\u2019s people of Nicholls Town, Andros have been put on notice to celebrate and party hearty at the ribbon cutting and Grand Opening of the new Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) store on Saturday January 26th\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Columbus International Inc. Announces New Equity Investment by Dr. John C. Malone<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/i> \u2013 Columbus International Inc. (\u201cColumbus\u201d or the \u201cCompany\u201d), a diversified telecommunications provider in the Caribbean, Central America and Andean region, is pleased to announce the recent addition of Dr. John C. Malone as a new equity shareholder in the Company\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Mobile Payment Application To Be Deployed In Caribbean By Telecommunication Products Provider<\/h4>\n

British Virgin Islands <\/i>\u2013 Charge Anywhere\u00ae LLC, a leading provider of award-winning, secure mobile payment applications and payment gateway solutions, announced today the signing of a distribution partnership with Tech It Easy (TIE) Ltd, a retail sales and support of telecommunications products provider, in the Virgin Islands\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Report: Cuba Using Undersea Fiber-Optic Cable<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/i>\u2013 Cuba apparently has finally switched on the first undersea fiber-optic cable linking it to the outside world nearly two years after its arrival, according to analysis by a company that monitors global Internet use\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Final Countdown To The Largest Telecommunications Conference Of The Region To Be Held In Cura\u00e7ao<\/h4>\n

Curacao <\/i>\u2013\u00a0Cura\u00e7ao Technology Exchange N.V. (CTEX), announced today that the region\u2019s largest telecommunications conference is now in its final stages of preparation\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel’s Sweet Deal Went Sour<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 The Editor, Sir: The word frustrated cannot describe how I feel about Digicel’s treatment to us the customers, who for almost 12 years have kept their business afloat\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Gov’t Intent on Single Regulatory Body for Telecomms<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has reiterated the Government\u2019s commitment to establish a single regulatory body to effectively monitor the telecommunications sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Gov’t Invites Private Partnership to Build Office Space for ICT<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, is encouraging members of the private sector to partner with the Government for the construction of office space, especially in the information and communication technology (ICT<\/i>) sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Columbus International Inc. Selects SeaWell Networks to Deliver Hybrid IP Video Services for its Flow Multiscreen Rollout<\/h4>\n

Regional<\/i> \u2013 Columbus International Inc., which operates the largest cable franchise in the Caribbean under the brand name \u201cFlow\u201d has selected SeaWell Networks Inc., the leader in monetizing multiscreen TV, for its latest IPTV developments\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cabinet to take measures to prevent proposed increase in Cable TV rates<\/h4>\n

St. Kitts & Nevis <\/i>\u00ad\u2013 A decision by the Cable Company to increase rates from the first of February is not sitting well with the Cabinet of Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Over 500 secondary school teachers to get laptops<\/h4>\n

St. Kitts & Nevis<\/i> \u00ad\u2013 Secondary school teachers in both St. Kitts and Nevis are to get their laptops\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 23 January 2013<\/h3>\n

BTC talks \u2018far from dead\u2019<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/i>\u2013 Efforts to acquire majority control of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) are “far from dead”, according to a lead negotiator\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel \/ LIME Landline Dispute Referred to the Barbados Fair Trading Commission<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/i> \u2013 The Fair Trading Commission has been asked to promptly intervene in a dispute between Digicel and LIME relating to Digicel\u2019s proposed launch of a landline network and services to compete with LIME\u2019s monopoly on landline services in Barbados\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME lashes back<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/i> \u2013 Telecommunications giant LIME is blaming competitor Digicel for the latter\u2019s failure to secure an interconnection with it\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

LIME\u2019s letter of apology sent to PM<\/h4>\n

Barbados<\/i> \u2013 That draft letter of apology which telecommunications giant LIME has agreed to issue to the Barbados Workers Union, the 97 employees sent home from the company and to the people of Barbados, is now before Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday, 24 January 2013<\/h3>\n

URCA clarifies USO legislation<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/i>\u2013 Bahamian telecoms regulator the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has issued a final decision on the clarification and implementation of Universal Service Obligations (USOs) as provided for by the Communications Act 2009, ending a consultation process launched in March 2012\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>URCA Rejects Cable’s Basic TV Concerns<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/i>\u2013 Cable Bahamas\u2019 argument that its basic cable television service should not be included within its Universal Service Obligation (USO) has been rejected by regulators, although they clarified that the latter offering need not be more than six channels\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Belize Broadcasting Authority drafts Media Guidelines<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/i>\u2013 The Belize Broadcasting Authority is in the process of formulating guidelines to regulate the manner in which media entities report on crime and violence in the country\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cuba Says Internet Cable Now Operational<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/i>\u2013 A statement by the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA) reports today that the Internet cable connecting the island with Venezuela is now operational\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel deploys energy saving software<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 As part of an effort to cut operating expenses, Digicel Jamaica has deployed Israeli vendor eVolution Networks\u2019 Smart Energy Solution (SES) software throughout its network, after trials of the system in 2012 achieved significant reductions in energy consumption\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

V.I. Next Generation Network awards contracts<\/h4>\n

US Virgin Islands <\/i>\u2013 The V.I. Next Generation Network approved $7.3 million in contracts Wednesday, most of which will provide critical construction elements for the territory’s first public broadband network\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday, 25 January 2013<\/h3>\n

Regional Strategic Planning and ICT conferences for Fisheries<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/i>\u2013 The Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, home to the Eastern Caribbean Office of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), will next week host Chief Fisheries Officers, Directors of Fisheries or Senior Fisheries Officers, and Technical ICT Officers \u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cuba has a new Internet, but still disconnected<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/i>\u2013 With the long-anticipated activation of their ALBA-1 undersea internet cable this month, Cuban web users now have the technological equivalent of a horse-drawn Toyota Prius\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

‘No involvement’ with Cuba cable claims Telefonica<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/i>\u2013 Spanish telecom Telefonica denied this week that it has anything to do with an undersea fibre-optic cable between Cuba and Venezuela,\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Celebrating The Third Jamaica Blog Awards<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 Blogging is the platform for freely expressing one’s views, whether personal or otherwise, on various issues. Local bloggers were publicly acknowledged and shown appreciation at the third staging of the Jamaica Blog Awards last Saturday. The function was held at South Beach Caf\u00e9 in Kingston\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CVM appoints new CEO<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 CVM Television yesterday announced the appointment of Andrew McGlone as chief executive officer\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Cybercrimes Expert To Assist Jamaica Review Laws<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 An international expert in cybercrime and cyber security law has been engaged to provide technical assistance to Jamaica as the country reviews the existing cybercrime law to identify gaps\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Digicel responds to OUR queries<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 Digicel has responded to queries made by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) regarding customer complaints about their inability to make calls successfully through the telecommunications provider\u2019s network\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Hackers On The Loose<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 A number of government entities, tertiary institutions and private companies last year felt the wrath of former disgruntled workers and other mischievous persons who hacked their websites, in some instances plastering pornographic material all over them\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Review of Cybercrime Act to be completed soon<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/i>\u2013 The Jamaican government is looking to complete a review of the country’s two year-old Cybercrimes Act, within three months\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Irish firm signs deal with Digicel to provide data analytics<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/i>\u2013 A major Irish firm has signed a deal with the Digicel Group to provide data analytics to a number of\u00a0its operating entities around the globe\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Caribbean islands award RF Communications $31M contract<\/h4>\n

Trinidad & Tobago <\/i>\u2013 Harris Corp.\u2019s Rochester-based RF Communications division has been awarded a $31 million contact for a radio system for the Trinidad and Tobago police service that will allow military, law enforcement agencies and government officials there to communicate on a single system\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tobago Technology Centre Opened<\/h4>\n

Trinidad & Tobago<\/i> \u2013 In attempt to increase the number of skilled labour in Tobago, Government has opened the Tobago Technology Center\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, 26 January 2013<\/h3>\n

Digicel Hacked<\/h4>\n

Jamaica \u2013<\/i> A 30-year-old man was yesterday picked up by the police in connection with an alleged hacking of telecommunications company Digicel’s database\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel reverts to old voicemail system<\/h4>\n

Jamaica \u2013<\/i> Digicel says it will be reverting to its old voicemail system following complaints about the one introduced recently\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, 27 January 2013<\/h3>\n

Digicel Says Sorry<\/h4>\n

Jamaica \u2013<\/i> Company to revert to familiar voicemail system based on complaints from its customers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Pointers On Publishing – The Next Generation In Video Marketing<\/h4>\n

Jamaica \u2013<\/i> Let’s go back a bit. Do you remember the days of black and white TV?… more<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Image credits: \u00a0Gary Thomson<\/a> (flickr); \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Bahamas Weekly<\/a>; \u00a0Brands of the World<\/a><\/p>\n

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