A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 27 April to 3 May 2015.<\/em><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson, QC, encouraged female students attending the International Girls in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Day Forum and Mini-Fair to get into ICT to find lucrative careers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) stands to lose upwards of $25 million in roaming revenue for the year once it finalizes new bilateral agreements with U.S. and Canadian telecoms companies, according to BTC CEO Leon Williams\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas was last night locked in a new battle with its regulator, as it accused the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) of stifling wireless broadband competition via an \u201cunprecedented\u2019 order halting construction of its new communications towers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 RCA has issued an interim order requiring Cable Bahamas Ltd (CBL) to halt construction of towers that the company has stated it intends to use to facilitate the provision of fixed wireless broadband services to its customers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 With data-related services like Skype and WhatsApp rapidly cutting into global telecoms profits, Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) Director of Policy Stephen Bereaux said that The Bahamas must \u201cwatch and see\u201d data service growth as local networks express growing concerns\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The trade union leader representing Bahamas Telecommunications Company\u2019s (BTC) line staff has described the company\u2019s protracted downsizing process as \u201cinhumane\u201d, adding: \u201cMorale is in the tank\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), Cable Bahamas and Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) and other sector licensees will facilitate a one-day \u2018Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day\u2019 Forum and Mini-Fair on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at the British Colonial Hilton\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has ordered Cable Bahamas Ltd. (CBL) to \u201cimmediately cease and desist\u201d construction of any electronic communications towers pending the results of an investigation into the need for the towers\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Dominica<\/em> \u2013 On Thursday April 23rd countries across the globe, including Dominica, observed Girls in ICT Day 2015\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaica’s Digicel has launched a new offer known as Digicel “Zero” that will see customers getting all Digicel voice calls for free with the purchase of a three day data plan\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 Columbus Business Solutions, part of Cable & Wireless Communications, today announced it has been positioned in the renowned Gartner Magic Quadrant for its Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) solution\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 The relentless march of computing technology can lead to confusion as to what device we really need, as opposed to desire. Desktops are rarely mentioned these days as laptops, netbooks and tablets, all portable computers, seem to dominate the markets now\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Residents in Bimini, Inagua, Long Island, Cat Island and Andros that are testing BTC television services will be able to enjoy live coverage of the two day IAAF\/BTC World Relays courtesy of IPTV by BTC\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 Lack of understanding regarding basic computer technology and information system access protocols led to the potential for major security breaches in the Department of Agriculture prior to last year\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Curacao <\/em>\u2013 \u201cMicrosoft Office 365 has benefitted me and my company,\u201d with those word Edward Schnog, managing director of one of the oldest and more successful car dealers in Curacao, Garage Cordia, started his interview\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Working People\u2019s Alliance (WPA), one of six parties in the opposition coalition, on Tuesday said the hand over control of Guyana\u2019s E-Governance project to a small private company would be scrapped if the opposition wins next month\u2019s general elections\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 You really don\u2019t know what to expect when you put a dozen-plus Caribbean entrepreneurs in one room for a week\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Like a particularly fine needle seeking its groove, Samsung introduced the new flagship models of its smartphone line at Home a week ago, the design and art collaborative space incorporated into the family home of the fashion forward Anya Ayoung-Chee\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Turks and Caicos Islands <\/em>\u2013 Turks and Caicos Islanders looking to work in the public sector can now easily track job opportunities in the public sector thanks to a new vacancies section on the government\u2019s website\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Cayman Islands \u2013 The much anticipated goal of moving more government services online to cut costs and improve efficiency still appears some way off. Despite promises from successive administrations that technology will be used to help reduce queues, bureaucracy and costs, e-government is still in the early stages\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The Guyana government on Wednesday defended handing over the rehabilitation and maintenance of the state-owned fibre-optic cable to a local private company for free, saying that it was much cost effective to do so rather than borrow between US$20 million to US$30 million to first fix it\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 THE EDITOR, Sir: I write following the cover story in this paper last Friday, April 24, 2015, regarding the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica’s removal of 19 channels from Jamaica cable TV. As a Flow customer and looking at the list of channels, my household is going to be severely impacted\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Jamaica loses 19 movie stations from cable come May 31. Owners of these stations (and 79 others) have complained that Jamaican cable operators have no licensing agreements with them to carry the programming. As a result, the Broadcasting Commission has issued official cease-and-desist notifications\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Over 130 girls of the Bishop\u2019s Centenary College were introduced to the limitless possibilities for women in ICTs to commemorate International Girls in ICT Day\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Task Force announces the invitation to participate in the Phase II spectrum auction\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 BTC recently made business much easier for the vendors of the recently razed Exuma Straw Market in George Town\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Cellular Liberalization Task Force (the Task Force) advises that the Evaluation Committee, appointed by the Government, has completed its assessment of the Proposals received for the award of licences to a second cellular mobile operator in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is warning government department and ministry heads that they will be held accountable for any unauthorized leaking of data into the public domain\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Digicel was last night said to have pulled out of the bidding for this nation\u2019s second cellular licence, leaving just Cable Bahamas and Virgin Mobile (Bahamas) vying to become the first competitor to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Barbados<\/em> \u2013 Entrepreneurship and innovation are critical for promoting competitiveness and diversifying the economy, according to Barbados Industry Minister Donville Inniss\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Barbados<\/em> \u2013 MINISTER OF INDUSTRY, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss says that it is time the Caribbean makes a critical decision to unite\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Barbados<\/em> \u2013 The Barbados Workers Union Cooperative Credit Union has increased the speed of response to queries from its hundreds of members. This more efficient service was noticeable from last July, when the credit union switched its email service to Microsoft Office 365, Exchange Online\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Barbados<\/em> \u2013 TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER Columbus Communications, which operates as Flow in the Eastern Caribbean, is smarting from a demand by the US-based entertainment giant NBC-Universal to remove a number of television channels from the regional company\u2019s cable line-up\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Belize <\/em>\u2013 Sometimes the best solution to a technical problem is social engineering. After a journey of two years, that\u2019s exactly how Belize has come to a major milestone in its technological development\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 The Edna M Moyle Primary School (EMPS) recently received a generous donation of 10 laptops, to further assist with teaching and learning at the school\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Digicel (Guyana) teamed up with the country’s National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) headquarters to promote and observe ‘Girls in ICT Day’, the phone company said in a statement\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Cabinet has approved a contract for the upgrading and expansion of the police telecommunications system that will greatly improve the handling of the 119 emergency calls\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Cable & Wireless Communications, a full-service communications provider operating in 16 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan has encouraged young girls to become more involved in the ICT sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) today announced that it has reached an agreement with talkSPORT, global audio partner of the Barclays Premier League, to acquire live audio streaming rights and official match commentary of Barclays Premier League football across all its markets in the Caribbean and Latin America until the end of the 2018\/19 season\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 Some significant changes have been taking place in the hidden architecture of the Caribbean internet over the past few years\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 The newly-issued Report on Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure In The Americas reveals that a majority of member states of the Organization of American States (OAS)\u2008saw an increase of attacks to their computer systems in 2014, and an even greater percentage reported that cyber attacks against infrastructure are getting more sophisticated\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Saint Kitts and Nevis <\/em>\u2013 The National Commission for UNESCO is set to convene a workshop on the state of the Internet in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis with a view to maximize its use as a tool for information sharing\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Saint Kitts and Nevis<\/em> \u2013 LIME wishes to announce our new opening hours for its Retail Stores in both St. Kitts & Nevis effective May 1st, 2015 \u2022 Monday through Friday: 8 am to 5pm \u2022 Saturdays: 9 am to 1 pm\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 \u201cTHE most important thing that you did was to earn our trust and that\u2019s priceless because the next time we have to make a judgment call that could be a very important tipping point.\u201d \u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Trinidad and Tobago<\/em> \u2013 The evolution of the Internet is creating new opportunities but also new risks for parents, teachers and young people\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Bahamas Communications and Public Officers\u2008Union (BCPOU)\u2008President Bernard Evans said his union is \u201cvery, very pleased\u201d\u2008that regional telecoms giant Digicel has dropped out of the race for the second mobile license to be granted in The\u2008Bahamas. In fact, he said if the union helped run Digicel off, \u201cthen hallelujah\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Pan-Caribbean telecoms group Digicel has pulled out of the running for the Bahamas\u2019 second mobile licence, Tribune 242 writes, citing the Cellular Liberalisation Task Force\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 The Cellular Liberalization Task Force announced Tuesday that Cable Bahamas has been approved to move to the next phase in the selection process\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) CEO Edison Sumner yesterday said that he is disappointed but \u201cnot entirely surprised\u201d by international cellular company Digicel\u2019s decision to drop out of the race for the country\u2019s second mobile license\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Data Protection Commissioner Sharmie Farrington-Austin yesterday stated that while the government should pass a new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the near future, it must take a \u201cstaggered enforcement\u201d approach to implementing the act to ensure there are no improper breaches of personal information\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Bahamas<\/em> \u2013 Digicel\u2019s pull-out yesterday prompted a Bahamian-led group to admit it decided not to bid on the second mobile licence because several conditions set by the Government were \u201ctoo onerous\u201d\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Dominica<\/em> \u2013 As part of its promise to deliver the best value in Dominica, Digicel today announced that it has reduced its calling rate from Dominica to Haiti to an all-time low of $0.85 for calls made to family and friends in Haiti at any time of the day or night and to any network\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Over a five-year period, between 2010 and 2014, Government budgeted $20B (US$100M) for its Information Communication Technology (ICT) programme that included its E-Governance and fibre optic cable from Brazil and the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) projects\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Guyana <\/em>\u2013 A Partnership for National Unity\/ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) point man on Finance, Carl Greenidge, and financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, have blasted the Government\u2019s \u201csweetheart\u201d deal with Dax Contracting Services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 Broadband roll-out in the Caribbean has become one of the most important Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues in the Caribbean\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 Youth Ministers and youth leaders in the Caribbean have called for \u201cstrong recognition\u201d of the needs and aspirations of young people at a high-level conference in Antigua and Barbuda\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Belize <\/em>\u2013 With broadband service slow and unavailable in much of the country, Belize is gearing up to build its first Internet exchange point (IXP) in a bid to persuade more people to sign up for superior\u00a0service\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 THE EDITOR, Sir: Recently, WhatsApp introduced its voice component, which allows WhatsApp subscribers to call each other free. To my dismay, my friends calling from overseas have not been able to use this app with me unless I am on a Wi-Fi connection\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Barbados<\/em> \u2013 SOCIAL MEDIA is a wonderful tool for communication and promotion. It has enhanced our lives and in many ways made the world a more connected, advanced habitat\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Belize <\/em>\u2013 The Belizean telecom market was officially liberalised in 2003, yet the incumbent, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), continues to hold a monopoly in fixed-line services and is the dominant provider of mobile and broadband services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Two years ago, Kaieteur News which has been reporting and raising questions over the spending of taxpayers\u2019 monies, predicted that moves were afoot to take over the telecommunication industry\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica recently conceded what the well-informed among us had long known: Many of the overseas-originated channels currently provided by our local cable operators are unauthorised\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 QUESTION: I recently read your article ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Earning Online’. Very interesting read. Very helpful information. I, too, have wondered how money could be made online in a secure manner without any scam traps, get-rich-quick schemes, or quick sand traps I should not get close to\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Regional<\/em> \u2013 “Within the Caribbean lies the human resource capacity to take care of its IT business!” \u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n
Image credits: \u00a0\u00a0carterse<\/a> (flickr); \u00a0Marketing Magazine<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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