ICT
C3 secures legal hearing over CI$1.4M unpaid fees
(CNS): Internet provider Infinity Broadband, known as C3, the only locally-owned communications company in the Cayman Islands, is locked in a legal battle with the utilities regulator, OfReg, over CI$1,400,000 in unpaid fees. C3 believes the government hasn’t properly legislated to collect this coercive revenue from ICT firms, which it contends is a 6% tax […]
Communications outage resolved ahead of storm
(CNS): OfReg said that all communications services were restored at around 2:30am on Tuesday after an issue that mainly impacted Flow and Digicel’s business customers. The regulator said it was now awaiting the final outage resolution reports, which are expected within 14 days from the date of resolution, when a “thorough review to assess the […]
Cayman is regional leader in 5G network availability
At the Caribbean Spectrum Management Conference held in Jamaica earlier this year, the Cayman Islands was singled out as being ahead of the curve in the region when it comes to wireless broadband connectivity. Both Flow and Digicel launched 5G services in June.
OfReg ‘protecting’ public with satellite internet ban
(CNS): OfReg has stopped a number of stores and vendors in the Cayman Islands, including Cost.U.Less and Shop Smart Cayman, from selling satellite internet terminals, claiming that this is to protect consumers. But not everyone agrees with the decision, given the erratic, costly and often poor service provided by existing communication companies.
Sub-sea cable may be taken on by private firm
(CNS): Government’s plans to finance a third sub-sea communications cable may have changed, but it’s not clear from Infrastructure Minister Jay Ebanks’ opaque answer to questions in parliament last week when he said that an undisclosed private sector company had offered to build it and Cabinet was exploring that option.
Worldwide IT crash impacts local gov’t systems
(CNS) UPDATED 1pm: A massive technology failure caused chaos around the world Friday as PCs at banks, businesses, flights and hospitals crashed when something went wrong with a security software update. Hundreds of thousands of computers were hit when the cyber-security firm CrowdStrike encountered problems with its software designed to protect Microsoft Windows devices from […]
Redacted report reveals little to justify subsea cable
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has released a heavily redacted outline business case, compiled by consultants Grant Thornton, on the government’s plans for a new telecommunications submarine cable. Key details have all been omitted, such as costs (estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars), its length and where it will be linked […]
Objector says cell tower would spoil community
(CNS): An application by telecommunications company Logic for a 70-foot communications tower is facing an impassioned objection from one resident in the area, who claims that it would pose health risks and ruin the aesthetics of the community. Logic wants to erect a Sabre monopole antenna on Newport Avenue, George Town, behind the main hospital […]
Ministry refuses release of study on proposed subsea cable
(CNS): The planning and infrastructure ministry has released some documents relating to the proposed new undersea communications cable and the recruitment of the project manager and team, as well as the basics of the CI$1.3 million contract with Cambridge Management Consultants. However, an external study, which CNS understands is the Outline Business Case, that should […]
Ministry dodges questions on sub-sea cable contracts
(CNS): The Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure (PAHI) has told CNS that answers to questions we asked about the modernisation of the submarine communications cable, a relevant report and the proposed spending for the project will all require a freedom of information request. On 22 November, the ministry issued a vague press release […]
OfReg opens probe into Flow’s 911 outage
(CNS): OfReg has opened an investigation into the unscheduled outage of Flow’s fixed-line network last week which impacted 911 emergency calls. While Flow mobile lines to 911 were unaffected by the outage, in a press release the utilities regulator expressed “deep concern” and said an inquiry is now underway.
