A roundup of the latest ICT\/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 23 May to Sunday 29 May 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n

\nMonday, 23 May 2016<\/h3>\n

Cable Seeks Protection On Mobile Pay Regime<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas has urged regulators to protect consumers and a \u201ccompetitive level playing field\u201d by preventing BTC from choosing the payment regime for calls terminating on its network\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Mobile boarding pass introduced at LPIA<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 he Nassau Airport Development Company Ltd. (NAD) in partnership with the international airlines at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), Airport Authority and the Transportation Security Authority (TSA) has launched a new Electronic Boarding Pass (EBP) system at LPIA\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOW\u2019s Customer Feedback Ratings Improve<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 In its continuing effort to give customers more ways to access its services and transform its customer experience, Flow has introduced an upgraded state-of-the-art Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system which facilitates self-serve options twenty four hours per day, seven days per week\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

More fines coming for telecoms firms<\/h4>\n

Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 The Information and Communication Authority has said that it cannot yet reveal the names of telecommunication firms that have been fined for breaches of the law and regulations surrounding the sector, but said more fines are expected as investigations continue\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Forensic auditors recommend\u2026Over US$5M must be repaid for One Laptop per Family, E-Governance projects<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 Given that the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) illegitimately funded two PPP-inspired projects, One Laptop per Family and the E-Governance Projects, forensic auditors from Ram and McRae are recommending that over $1B in repayment be sought from the relevant agencies\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Haiti – Telecoms Mobile Broadband and Digital Media – Statistics and Analyses<\/h4>\n

Haiti<\/em>\u2013 New Haiti telecom law expected by 2017 to re-invigorate the sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel and Huawei Technologies Successfully Test 10 Gbps Broadband in Jamaica<\/h4>\n

Jamaica<\/em> \u2013 Digicel Group and Huawei Technologies have successfully showcased the real power of Jamaica\u2019s only true fibre to the home network by deploying a technology known as XG-PON on the new fibre network which delivers speeds of up to 10,000Mbps\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel tests Huawei’s XG-PON in Jamaica<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Huawei says it has collaborated with Digicel Group on a trial of the communications technology vendor’s XG-PON equipment in Jamaica. The demonstration took place in Digicel’s lab in downtown Kingston and used the operator’s new fiber to the home (FTTH) network\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaica – Telecoms Mobile Broadband and Digital Media – Statistics and Analyses<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Liberty Global expands in Jamaica with acquisition of Cable & Wireless\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaica Takes Lead in Regional Telecoms Talks<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 A multi billion-dollar telecommunications deal, touted as a significant growth opportunity for the Caribbean information and communication technology sector, has come under the scrutiny of the Jamaican government\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday, 24 May 2016<\/h3>\n

BTC Union Files Trade Dispute<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The trade union representing the Bahamas Telecommunications Company\u2019s (BTC) line staff is still seeking to resolve employee pay and recognition-related issues dating back to 2011\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Power And Phone Service Out As Storm Hits Island<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 A HEAVY thunderstorm which passed over New Providence yesterday afternoon caused temporary loss of power and cellular phone service, with lightning also bringing down trees\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Barbados Reveals New Destination Website<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Destination Barbados has a new online presence at VisitBarbados.org\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

BTL Hustles to Repair Broken Fiber Optic Cable<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 A fiber cable break in Belmopan, this morning caused the interruption of 4G internet network around the vicinities of the US Embassy and the British High Commission\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

US Court of Appeals Affirms Judgement Against Government of Belize<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 Belize\u2019s debt is at the highest it has ever been and with the final ruling imminent regarding the nationalization of Belize Telemedia Limited, it will go even higher\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Winners of the 1st Edition of \u00abHaiti HackFest<\/h4>\n

Haiti <\/em>\u2013 The first edition of the competition “Haiti HackFest”, organized by the group Echo Haiti, took place in Port-au-Prince on Friday 20 to Sunday, May 22, 2016 at the Marriott Hotel\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaica awards third mobile licence to Caricel<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Jamaican-owned telecoms company Symbiote will launch a 4G LTE service under the Caricel brand in a few weeks, according to a report in local daily the Jamaica Gleaner\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Give me Liberty<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 On Monday last week, another seismic shift in the local telecommunications industry happened. In a quiet room at Flow\u2019s Port-of-Spain office, yet another name was added to the list of owners of the once local cable company… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Eve Anderson acquires IT recruitment agency<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Eve Anderson Recruitment Limited has successfully completed acquisition of Caribbean Resourcing Solutions Limited (CRS), an IT recruitment agency focused in the manufacturing, construction, energy and petrochemical industries\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Govt moves for stricter control of digital sector<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 In an attempt to introduce stricter control mechanisms within the telecommunications sector, the Government has decided to join with regional counterparts to harness the growth of the sector which continues to grow exponentially in which not all the players are always on the same page\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 25 May 2016<\/h3>\n

LIME staff wins court battle<\/h4>\n

Antigua and Barbuda <\/em>\u2013 Six months after 13 LIME retail staff received letters of redundancy, the Industrial Court ruled yesterday that they were unfairly dismissed\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Licences ‘Soon’ For Nation’s Second Cellular Provider, Says PM<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) will award licences to the country\u2019s second cellular mobile services provider soon, Prime Minister Perry Christie said during his budget communication yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

STEM \u2013 NEW WAY FORWARD<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 Based on the premise that today\u2019s visionaries will be tomorrow\u2019s leaders, Sagicor meted out its Visionaries Challenge to secondary school students to create projects based in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to hone their skills in the respective subject areas\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaican Start-Up Book Fusion Selected For Idb Programme<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 A Jamaican company is the sole Caribbean entity selected from Latin America and the Caribbean to participate in an innovation and entrepreneurship event sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Telecoms eye rocketing internet revenues<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 When new telecoms market entrant Symbiote Investments Ltd, trading as Caricel, becomes operational, it will target the market for internet services \u2014 choosing what is currently the most robust segment of the market\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Regional telecommunications body appoints Secretary General<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organisation (CANTO) has announced the appointment of\u00a0\u00a0 a general secretary\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

…RBC launches banking app<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 FOR the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, RBC business and personal banking clients can use their Android tablets and mobile devices to conduct transactions online, including paying bills and moving money between their accounts, RBC Royal Bank said yesterday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday, 26 May 2016<\/h3>\n

Cable Bahamas awarded second mobile licence<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 The Government of The Bahamas has formally announced the award of the second mobile license to Cable Bahamas (CBL)\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

PM\u2008confirms\u00a0CBL as second mobile licensee<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas Ltd. (CBL) has been confirmed as the winner of the second mobile license, which will be awarded for a 15-year period. Within the next three months,\u2008CBL must provide 99 percent mobile coverage in New Providence and 80 percent coverage in Grand Bahama\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Second Mobile Operator Begins Launch Process<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Cable Bahamas yesterday said the clock had started running on the aggressive roll-out timetable for the second mobile operator to launch services to 99 per cent of New Providence within three months, after the Government approved its licensing\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Barrow Eats Crow after Hostile Nationalization of Telephone Company<\/h4>\n

Belize <\/em>\u2013 The Prime Minister of Belize is today eating crow as he grasped to put a positive spin on what his hostile piracy of Belize Telemedia in 2009 will now cost the tax payers of Belize\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Flow battles latest IT problems in Miami<\/h4>\n

Cayman Islands <\/em>\u2013 Local telecommunications provider Flow was re-routing internet traffic Thursday morning after a physical fibre cut in Miami in the early hours of Wednesday morning caused an internet outage… more<\/a><\/p>\n

Animated Video Challenge Unearths New Talent In Jamaica<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Twenty-four-year-old Ikem Smith, a freelance visual artist from Kingston, has emerged as the first-place winner in the Caribbean Development Bank’s 2016 Vybzing Animated Music Video Challenge\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jay Z’s Tidal Launched In Region<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Two months after the Jamaica Music Society and Minister of Culture, Gender Affairs, Entertainment and Sports Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange encouraged the music industry to capitalise on the benefits of living in a digital era, the local entertainment fraternity has been granted the opportunity to do just that with the introduction of Jay Z’s global streaming service, Tidal\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

blink | bmobile says yes to youth ICT entrepreneurship<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 blink | bmobile has partnered with the We Say \u201cY.E.S!!!\u201d (WSY) organization to promote technology and entrepreneurship among enterprising youth as part of the company\u2019s vision to become a standard bearer in TT for leading edge communications solutions that enrich the lives of citizens and other stakeholders\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Port-of-Spain youth get inspiration for careers in ICT<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Blink | bmobile and the We Say \u201cYES!!!\u201d (WSY) organisation joined the rest of the world in observing World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), recognised annually on May 17… more<\/a><\/h5>\n

Friday, 27 May 2016<\/h3>\n

Cellular Competition Enters Final Stages<\/h4>\n

Bahamas \u2013 <\/em>The road to cellular liberalisation has entered its final stages as the licencing of a new company will occur in the coming weeks, Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed during his 2016\/2017 Budget Communication in the House of Assembly Wednesday\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Govt\u00a0to expand CCTV program to over 1,000 cameras<\/h4>\n

Bahamas <\/em>\u2013 Prime Minister Perry Christie said as part of his administration\u2019s fight against crime, the government is engaged in discussions to expand its closed-circuit television (CCTV) program to over 1,000 cameras\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Online shopping deliveries increase<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 AT LEAST ONE COMPANY that handles online shopping purchases is reporting growth in consumers\u2019 habits despite the state of the economy\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

More Jamaicans conducting tax related transactions online<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 New data show more Jamaicans are conducting tax-related transactions online\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

SVL Vows To Deliver Mobile Betting Service This Year<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) says it will roll out its mobile betting platform as soon as its selected banking partner, National Commercial Bank Jamaica (NCB), obtains approvals from the central bank\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

CANTO Launches Code of Practice on Safeguarding the Open Internet<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Open Internet is an important enabler of economic and societal growth\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel clinches exclusive partnership<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Play today, announced a major partnership with Fight Sports network to give its customers exactly what they want \u2013 more live and exclusive content on the most attractive entertainment system in the region\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

ECLAC partners with ITU and TATT to convene workshop exploring opportunities of the digital economy<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Regional stakeholders will this week engage in interactive sessions on \u201cExploring Innovation in Transactions & Financing in the Caribbean,\u201d organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) sub regional headquarters for the Caribbean\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Internet content providers focus on the Caribbean<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Much ink has been spilt and many hands wrung over how slow and expensive the Internet is in the Caribbean\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaica company chosen for IDB entrepreneurship event<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 A company from Jamaica is among 12 startups from Latin America and the Caribbean chosen to participate in an innovation and entrepreneurship event, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), that\u00a0brings together some of the most creative minds in the world to share ideas on how to tackle and solve development challenges by leveraging the power of art, culture and technology\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

UWI Students More Equipped in Building Apps<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Heading towards the end of an app workshop that has been going on for this week, a number of UWI students will be more equipped when it comes to building Apps\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

With new technology Digicel can quadruple internet speeds<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Group and Huawei Technologies have successfully tested a new technology on its fibre to the home network which could quadruple the internet speed customers now experience\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Computer lab for Beach Allen<\/h4>\n

Saint Kitts and Nevis <\/em>\u2013 The Beach Allen Primary School has received a new computer lab, donated by the Rotary Club of Liamuiga\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Selection of CEO for TELEM could not take place — No Advice from Corporate Governance Council submitted to Government.<\/h4>\n

Sint Maarten <\/em>\u2013 The meeting held on Friday morning with the Supervisory Board of Directors of TELEM Group of Companies namely Constance Steven, Kendall Dupersoy and Paul Marshal and the Shareholder (Council of Ministers) for the shareholder to announce which of the two candidates they selected for the vacant CEO position\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Free Microsoft Software for non-profit organisations<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Non-profit organisations across Trinidad and Tobago will receive free access to Microsoft Office 365, and this is being done in an effort to propel social development in the country\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Social media being used for mischief’<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Acting Minister of National Security Stuart Young yesterday lamented that social media was being used for mischief\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, 28 May 2016<\/h3>\n

Science, maths and technology are it!<\/h4>\n

Barbados <\/em>\u2013 People who study science, mathematics and technology thoroughly will have a better quality of life than those who do not\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Gov\u2019t tables telecoms, PUC bills<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 The government on Tuesday tabled two bills signalling renewed efforts to liberalise the telecommunications sector\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Digicel Play launches new channels<\/h4>\n

Trinidad and Tobago <\/em>\u2013 Digicel Play customers in Tobago were the first to experience two new channels\u2014Catch and Catch 2\u2014on the company\u2019s Fibre TV service. CEO Garvin Medera made the announcement at a media event at the company\u2019s office on Shirvan Plaza\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, 29 May 2016<\/h3>\n

Cuba to expand Internet access in public areas, private businesses<\/h4>\n

Cuba <\/em>\u2013 Cuba seeks to expand Internet access throughout the island, particularly with public Wi-Fi spots and selected private businesses\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Only half of the 90,000 laptops project\u2026MP\u2019s children held key positions<\/h4>\n

Guyana <\/em>\u2013 An ambitious project initiated in early 2011 by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration to distribute 90,000 laptops to poor families was fraught with management problems and questionable costs\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

There should be a frequency audit<\/h4>\n

Guyana<\/em> \u2013 Dear Editor, There are a lot of people in this country parading as experts in numerous areas, when in fact it is clear that they are not\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamaican tech entrepreneurs line up for regional pitch competition<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 Nine local entrepreneurs are set to compete for a share of US$75,000 ($9.3 million) in cash and prizes in the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge mobile application business competition\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

NCB Granted Approval For Mobile Money<\/h4>\n

Jamaica <\/em>\u2013 National Commercial Bank Jamaica (NCB) has obtained approval from the central bank to launch its suite of mobile money services\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

Local currencies a drag on Digicel revenue growth<\/h4>\n

Regional <\/em>\u2013 Growth at Digicel, the mobile phone operator owned by Denis O\u2019Brien, has been dented by foreign exchange volatility, which may weaken the company\u2019s ability to pay its debts, according to the international debt rating agency Fitch\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image credits: \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Yon Garin<\/a> (flickr); \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>; \u00a0Wikipedia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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