September 12th, 2017
Volume 10                                                                             A monthly newsletter for members by members
Image from Caribbean Buzz Helicopters
CANTO Disaster Risk Management Committee Supports CDEMA in Hurricane Irma Ravished Countries

An urgent request has been forwarded to members for assistance to our neighbors who have been devastated by Hurricane Irma and are currently grappling with the onslaught of Jose. CANTO is putting together a team of available experts that CDEMA can access for the Regional Response Mechanism in support of relief and response operations.
 
The Secretariat in conjunction with the CANTO Disaster Risk Management Committee have asked unaffected members to join in this exercise by identifying resources from their respective companies who can assist the CDEMA in this grave time of need.  At the moment, there is a need for Communications Specialists and RNAT experts. To date Cable & Wireless Jamaica and Cable & Wireless Barbados have responded to the call by offering resources and volunteering  their services.    
Kindly contact Gail Edwards at gedwards@canto.org if you wish to assist in this exercise.
CANTO 2017- REPORT

The 33rd Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition of CANTO took place on July 16-19th, 2017 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  The report gives a synopsis of the events including a the conference tracks.  

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony Part 1


Ms. Teresa Wankin, Secretary General, CANTO extended her gratitude to the attendees for being part of the CANTO Punta Cana experience. Underscoring the theme "Reimagining ICT as a Tool for National Growth and Development with focus on Big Data, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber security," Ms. Wankin touted CANTO's leadership role in the region facilitating the networking of the movers and shakers of ICT. The organization's role struck a balance between the political will of governments and the economic growth of its members.

 
Opening Ceremony Part 2 
Opening Ceremony Part 2
     
  Paying tribute to the location, Mr. Julian Wilkins, Chairman , CANTO, welcomed delegates and spoke of his experience working at the Antigua and Barbuda utilities company in the early days of cell phone usage on the twin island nation. He noted how cell phones went from being synonymous with wealth to being accessible to persons of all economic backgrounds. He also noted how the changing regional telecommunications landscape went from regulated brick and mortar operators to OTTs, faceless, distant entities which did not invest in the countries in which they operated.
 
CANTO Submits Response to ITU

Summary of Response
CANTO, the leading trade association for telecoms providers in the Caribbean region responds to the ITU. CANTO takes the view that regulations are to be applied to all the players in the same markets or not at all. Caribbean operators bear the costs of regulation while OTTs in the same Caribbean markets are not similarly regulated resulting in the services of telecom operators being uncompetitive. Moreover OTTs must pay their fair share of cost for using local networks in the Caribbean. They are not doing so but rather are being subsidized by Caribbean telecoms operators, Caribbean governments and Caribbean consumers.

 
Meet Director Charles Carter

What  is your personal vision/goal  for CANTO?
 
 My vision is to ensure that CANTO using the medium of telecommunications, serves as the catalyst for igniting the true magnificence of the Caribbean people.

  What keeps you connected to CANTO?
CANTO as an organisation is all embracing and completely focused on enhancing the lives of the people of the Caribbean
 
  Why did you become involved in the organization on the Board level ?
At the Board level there were a number of strong individuals whose hearts and souls were aligned in ensuring that Caribbean people should obtain the best that telecommunications could offer.  I was strongly of that view and wanted to contribute to that strong tradition.

  What would you tell a company/organization who is thinking of joining CANTO?
CANTO is the primary platform, if not the only platform in which a company can have access to all of the key stakeholders in the Caribbean telecommunications industry whether they be Operators, Regulators, Suppliers, Manufacturers, Government Ministers and Officers and Key Policy Decision Makers.


C&W Trials Gigabit LTE With Ericsson in Antigua and Barbuda

  •  Ericsson and C&W Communications have completed a Gigabit LTE trial in Antigua and Barbuda
  • The trial also covers a pre-5G network and represents a clear first step towards 5G in the Caribbean
  • The new technologies will enhance the user experience for C&W's mobile broadband subscribers and also be used for fixed wireless access

Read More  

Mark Your Calendars!!!


CARILEC to Host Smart Grid Symposium

CANTO Members Save 25% on Registration Code: CARICANTO25

Americas Service Providers and Suppliers Summit 2017 Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2017 Americas Service Providers and Suppliers Summit is open!  This year's conference will be held in Dallas, TX 18-22 of September. This is a historically well-attended event that you don't want to miss! And, as a CANTO member, QuEST Forum is extending to you a special $200 discount*! Simply use code
CANTOQFAMER17 during registration to save!  
 

My CANTO 2017 Experience
Jo-Elisa Clarke WTISD Video Competition Winner



WTISD Winner Receives Prizes
Jada Biggs with Elon Parkinson

Jada Biggs of Jamaica who won second place in CANTO's regional Annual WTISD - Video Competition received her prizes last week at Digicel's office in Jamaica.

Biggs won US500 and a tablet.   The prizes were handed over by member of the Marketing & Communications Committee & Regional Communications Manager of Digicel, Elon Parkinson.
 



   CANTO Represented by Director Melesia Sutherland


CANTO represented by Jimmy Rodrigues & Carmen Ramlal

CANTO represented by Secretary General Teresa Wankin    


CANTO represented by Chairman Julian Wilkins

3rd Ministerial Forum for Broadband Development in LAC
Digital Infrastructure and Digital Economy
Busan, Korea; September 24-26, 2017;
         CANTO represented by Secretary General Teresa Wankin  
   
  CANTO represented by Secretary General Teresa Wankin
  Tricia Balthazar & Carmen Ramlal



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