Reflections on CANTO 2011

Editorial (English)

Under the theme “Shaping the Future of Information and Communication” the 27th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition was held in Paramaribo Suriname, between during July 10th to 15th. The event brought together key players from across the industry, network operators, service providers, equipment suppliers, government ministers, regulators, and representatives from academia and multi-lateral agencies. Over five hundred persons made the journey to Suriname, bringing their diverse and global perspectives to bear on ICT development in this region. In the keynote address at the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) emphasized the role of ICTs, in particular, universal access to broadband, in enabling economic development. He stressed that as more and more individuals, businesses and governments get online greater focus on cyber security is needed.

CANTO Caribbean Round Up - August 2011

Liberalization in Guyana as well as new pay-TV service offerings took the headlines in recent weeks, while more regional IXPs seem on the cards before year end. After more than two years in the making, on August 5 Guyana’s government made its first real concrete gesture toward liberalizing the telecoms market. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds presented to the national assembly bills for a new telecommunications act and amendments to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) act to open and liberalize the sector, largely led by former government telco GT&T, which since 1990 has been controlled by US company Atlantic Tele-Network. The new telecommunications act seeks to attract new market players, and improve the quality and variety of services. It will also create a new agency for frequency management and grant new licenses to GT&T, Digicel and some existing ISPs.

Extend your mobile brand abroad

Introduction

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) that are successful in their home country usually have good market shares and well known brands. They find it important that their customers stay connected, wherever they are. For customers who travel abroad, MNOs offer international roaming solutions so -though expensive- their customers can stay connected in foreign countries in. But what about people that have emigrated and will only return to their home country as visitors? How do these stay connected to their family and friends in the country they left?