Carib Scope

分类： technology

  • One in three formal businesses in the Dominican Republic already integrates AI into its daily operations

    One in three formal businesses in the Dominican Republic already integrates AI into its daily operations

    SANTO DOMINGO – A newly released bulletin from the Dominican Republic’s National Statistics Office has marked a key milestone in the nation’s private-sector digital transformation, reporting that 35 percent of formal Dominican companies with internet access have already integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations.

    The findings are drawn from the 2025 National Survey of Economic Activity (ENAE), which also measured that 94.7 percent of all Dominican companies now have access to corporate internet connectivity. This widespread digital infrastructure has laid a critical foundation for the adoption of advanced cutting-edge technological solutions across the country’s business ecosystem, the survey confirmed.

    Analysis of the data shows that organizational size is a major determining factor in AI adoption rates. Large enterprises with 250 or more employees lead the national tech transition, posting a 52 percent AI usage rate. Mid-sized firms, those with between 50 and 99 workers, follow closely with a 46.1 percent adoption rate, positioning the mid-tier business segment as one of the most receptive to operational innovation driven by AI.

    When broken down by productive sector, the report reveals an unexpected leading adopter: the mining and quarrying industry, which holds a 45.7 percent AI usage rate, outpacing all other major economic sectors. Two other sectors with heavy automation dependence rank high as well: construction at 39.1 percent and manufacturing at 38.1 percent. These figures highlight a deep, ongoing shift in the nation’s construction frameworks and industrial production processes.

    Even in the retail sector, 36.9 percent of connected formal businesses have implemented AI solutions, a statistic that underscores a broader national shift: artificial intelligence is no longer a distant future trend for Dominican commerce, but a standard operational resource embedded in daily business activity.

    Alongside rising AI adoption, the Dominican business landscape is undergoing a parallel profound transformation in digital transaction systems. Carlos Santelises, vice president of GCS International, explained that the country has progressed rapidly from legacy magnetic payment terminals to a consolidated ecosystem of contactless payments and instant mobile transfers.

    This evolution has created a simpler, faster transaction infrastructure that benefits formal businesses and plays an outsized role in advancing national financial inclusion. The new system allows consumers to complete payments, deposits, and withdrawals through banking sub-agents located in everyday businesses such as local pharmacies and neighborhood supermarkets.

    Santelises emphasized that digital transaction tools also help both entrepreneurs and regular consumers build formal credit histories. This opens access to regulated credit products through the formal financial system, pulling users away from unregulated informal lenders, while also allowing financial institutions to gain deeper, more accurate insights into customer behavior.

    However, the rapid expansion of corporate connectivity and digital payment systems has also brought new, pressing risks. With that, cybersecurity has become a non-negotiable priority for companies operating in this new digital ecosystem, as threats linked to emerging technologies continue to grow.

    Speaking during the recent Dominican Fintech Forum, organized by the national Fintech association ADOFINTECH, Santelises warned that the development of new digital financial products must be paired with robust risk mitigation systems to address widespread cyber vulnerabilities. Only strong security frameworks can ensure a reliably safe digital environment for businesses and consumers alike.

    For all companies integrated into the nation’s new digital and AI-powered ecosystem, specialized security infrastructure and rigorous data protection protocols are no longer optional add-ons. They are core, essential components to safeguard daily operations and maintain the hard-won trust of Dominican consumers.

  • Grenada’s next major export could be technology

    Grenada’s next major export could be technology

    As small island economies across the Caribbean look to diversify their revenue streams and build long-term, resilient economic growth, one Grenadian tech leader is making the case that the nation is primed to unlock massive potential through digital innovation. Speaking at a high-profile panel during the 22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) and the 5th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF), Cameron Philbert, Managing Director and Co-Founder of local creative technology firm Digital Growth Inc., laid out a clear vision for how information and communications technology (ICT) can transform Grenada’s economic landscape.

    Philbert shared the stage with fellow regional tech leaders Clevon Noel of Metarelic, Chad Fraser of Sonover, and Oluwatosin (Tosin) Ishmeal of Datanexis Technologies for the discussion titled *Beyond Connectivity: How ICT Companies Can Drive Digital Innovation, Cyber Resilience and Economic Growth in Grenada*. The panel focused on moving past the foundational goal of expanding internet access across the region to harnessing that connectivity for tangible, inclusive economic gains.

    In his remarks, Philbert pushed back against the common misconception that small nations cannot compete on the global technology stage. “There is no reason the next major technology success story, even the next tech unicorn, couldn’t come from Grenada. Our size does not have to determine the size of the opportunity,” he told attendees.

    For aspiring local tech founders, Philbert offered targeted, actionable advice that prioritizes impact over trendy ideas. He emphasized that emerging entrepreneurs should center their work on solving pressing, real-world problems rather than building products solely for their novelty or excitement. He also urged new founders to adopt a regional, export-focused mindset from the earliest stages of product development, rather than limiting their ambitions to Grenada’s small domestic market. “Building the technology is only half of the challenge. We have to deliberately build the channels that get that technology into other markets,” Philbert explained.

    To turn early ideas into sustainable, scalable businesses, Philbert argued that Grenada needs more structured support systems for young entrepreneurs and growing ICT firms. He called for expanded investment in dedicated support pathways including business incubators, structured mentorship programs, pilot testing opportunities, and partnerships that let emerging companies test their solutions with established local and regional organizations. These ecosystems, he noted, are critical to bridging the gap between a promising concept and a revenue-generating business.

    For established Grenadian businesses that have yet to fully embrace digital transformation, Philbert highlighted a untapped opportunity to boost efficiency and profitability by integrating targeted technology solutions. To help organizations identify these opportunities, Digital Growth Inc. is currently offering a complimentary digital assessment for businesses. The assessment analyzes current operations, customer engagement strategies, and growth potential, outlining clear recommendations for how technology can deliver measurable, bottom-line improvements.

    Founded in Grenada, Digital Growth Inc. specializes in creative technology and digital transformation services, supporting public and private organizations across the region to leverage technology to streamline operations, build custom digital solutions, and unlock new avenues for sustainable growth.

    This report was featured in NOW Grenada, which notes it does not take responsibility for contributor opinions, statements, or shared media, and provides a formal channel for reporting abusive content.

  • AI seen as affordable alternative for women entrepreneurs

    AI seen as affordable alternative for women entrepreneurs

    Female small business owners struggling to cover the cost of additional staff as they scale their operations have a new, low-cost tool at their disposal: artificial intelligence. That is the core message from Melissa Savoury-Gittens, president of the National Organisation of Women (NOW), who made the announcement during the official launch of NOW’s groundbreaking new initiative, “Build a Business with AI”. The program is a collaborative effort between NOW and Amplifi AI Inc, a firm specialising in expanding AI capabilities for everyday users, and was launched at the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs in Warrens.

    Savoury-Gittens explained that the program was developed in direct response to feedback from female small business owners who participated in NOW’s earlier digital marketing workshops. Many of these early participants shared that while their young ventures needed extra administrative support to grow, they simply did not have the budget to bring on a full or part-time paid assistant. This common bottleneck, she argued, is where AI can step in to fill the gap.

    “Many small women-led businesses need help, but they cannot afford to pay an assistant. That’s where AI comes in,” Savoury-Gittens said, outlining the wide range of day-to-day administrative tasks AI can handle for cash-strapped founders. From sorting and responding to emails, drafting replies to customer enquiries, organising daily and weekly calendars, to sending automated responses to marketing inquiries, Savoury-Gittens noted that AI can take over many time-consuming routine tasks that pull entrepreneurs away from core business growth work.

    Crucially, NOW’s leadership emphasized that the program does not aim to replace future human hiring. Instead, it is designed to support small business owners through their early growth stage, when budgets are too tight to add staff. “Instead of paying for an assistant, we’re going to teach you how to make AI your assistant that can do all the work for you so you can still advance in your business,” Savoury-Gittens explained. This approach lets founders scale their operations gradually, without being held back by administrative bottlenecks before they can afford to bring on human team members.

    Janelle Germain, chief executive officer of Amplifi AI Inc, added that the initiative also addresses a second major barrier to AI adoption: unequal access to high-quality AI skills training. Germain shared that Amplifi AI’s internal research found that even senior professionals often only understand the most basic functions of AI, with most people only associating the technology with consumer tools like ChatGPT, limited to simple tasks like writing emails or drafting short documents. In reality, she noted, AI has far broader capabilities that can drive major business growth—if users know how to leverage those tools effectively.

    This lack of accessible training has created a new digital divide, Germain argued. People with the financial means to pay for specialised advanced AI training can upskill and get ahead in their industries, while those who cannot afford these costly programs are locked out of the benefits of AI technology. The “Build a Business with AI” program is designed to close this gap by making practical, business-focused AI training free and accessible to members of NOW, removing the cost barrier that keeps many female founders from learning these valuable skills.

    Beyond the new AI initiative, Savoury-Gittens also touched on broader challenges facing NOW as it continues its work advancing and empowering women across the region. She acknowledged that the organization is facing a general decline in volunteerism, which has strained its capacity to deliver programs, but noted that NOW is in a stronger position today than it was a decade ago. Even as more women move into positions of public and private sector influence, she cautioned, the work of advancing gender equality and supporting women’s economic empowerment is far from over.

    “We still need to continue to fight for women, and we still need to continue to help advance and empower our women,” Savoury-Gittens said. To address the growing scope of NOW’s work, she argued that the organization’s presidency should eventually transition from an unpaid volunteer role to a paid, full-time position, given the massive volume of work required to support the organization’s programs and members. Savoury-Gittens added that NOW currently receives only minimal government funding, forcing the organization to rely heavily on partnerships, sponsorships, and grants to sustain its operations and continue expanding its support for women. “That’s why we need partners, and that’s why we’re out there always asking and pleading to get sponsorship, grants, and all those other things we’re trying to get so that we can sustain the organisation,” she said.

  • Dominican AI aviation initiative SARA wins Most Disruptive Award at Women in Tech LATAM 2026

    Dominican AI aviation initiative SARA wins Most Disruptive Award at Women in Tech LATAM 2026

    An innovative Dominican artificial intelligence solution built exclusively for the global aviation sector has captured international acclaim, taking home the prestigious Most Disruptive Award at the 2026 Women in Tech LATAM Awards, held August 27 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

    Developed by veteran Dominican air traffic controller Olga Isabel Pérez Encarnación in partnership with digital creative firm Nolim Studios, SARA — short for System for Aviation With Real-time AI — beat four other Latin American finalists to claim the top prize in its category. The award not only recognizes the project’s groundbreaking innovation but also qualifies it to represent the entire Latin American region at the 2026 Women in Tech Global Awards, scheduled to take place later this year in Paris, France.

    Unlike generic AI tools, SARA is purpose-built as a smart assistant for aviation stakeholders. It delivers instant, verified access to critical aeronautical data, equipping air traffic controllers, pilots, flight dispatchers, and other industry professionals with actionable insights to streamline day-to-day decision-making. Developers highlight that the system prioritizes speed, reliability, and traceability for all information provided, while directly addressing a longstanding industry pain point: the heavy cognitive load that comes with sorting through and processing massive volumes of scattered aeronautical data.

    Beyond its functional innovation, the tool carries meaningful cultural legacy: its name was chosen to honor Sara Castaños, the first woman to work as an air traffic controller in the Dominican Republic.

    Currently, SARA is undergoing real-world testing and evaluation by aviation professionals and students across six countries. The project also forms the foundational research base for an international academic proposal exploring the responsible and effective integration of artificial intelligence into aviation operations. Following its recent award win, the development team is now refining a new production version of the tool, which is set to launch first in the Dominican Republic and the United States. Longer-term plans also include rolling out specialized AI training workshops for aviation workers, with a focus on building technical literacy, critical thinking, and responsible AI adoption across the industry.

    This is not the first time SARA has earned global recognition. In 2025, the project won the first phase of the ENAIRE Open Innovation International Business Ideas Competition, hosted by Spain’s national air navigation authority, where it outperformed more than 70 competing submissions from across the world.

    The Women in Tech LATAM Awards are a regional initiative of Women in Tech Global, an international non-profit founded by Ayumi Moore Aoki dedicated to advancing women’s and girls’ participation and leadership in technology and STEAM fields.

    During her visit to Cartagena for the awards ceremony, Pérez Encarnación also led a community-focused educational outreach activity at local Cecilia Porras School, where she introduced students to hands-on aviation and technology learning materials. The donation included a prototype air traffic control board game, an educational coloring book explaining aerodrome movement zones and flight instruments, and a flight simulation joystick developed by Andrés Carpio Andújar, a finalist from the second edition of *Quiero Ser Piloto*. Attendees also got to experience robotics and virtual reality demonstrations and screenings of *Quiero Ser Piloto* episodes, and all materials were donated to the school to support ongoing STEM learning.

    These outreach efforts align with Pérez Encarnación’s broader mission to expand accessible aviation education under the Master The Skies and *Quiero Ser Piloto* brands, which operate with support from Editora El Nuevo Diario and other local partners.

    With more than 10 years of on-the-job experience as an air traffic controller at the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Pérez Encarnación brings unique insider expertise to the project. She holds dual degrees in Air Traffic Control Technology from the Higher Academy of Aeronautical Sciences (ASCA) and Social Communication from Universidad O&M, and works as a journalist specializing in science, technology, innovation, and aviation, allowing her to connect industry expertise with public outreach.

    She is also the creator and executive producer of *Quiero Ser Piloto*, a televised aviation competition that provides training opportunities and scholarships for young people pursuing aviation careers. The program, produced in partnership with Editora El Nuevo Diario and co-produced by Irving Novas, was named runner-up at the 2024 Air Traffic Management Awards, presented at Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.

  • The Caribbean Does Digital Government Well – Up to a Point

    The Caribbean Does Digital Government Well – Up to a Point

    The United Nations’ E-Government Development Index, a leading global benchmark for digital public service delivery, assesses how easily citizens and businesses can access government offerings online – from business registration and tax filing to official document requests – instead of waiting in in-person lines at government offices. Rankings are calculated on a 0 to 1 scale, based on three core pillars: the scope and quality of online public services, the robustness of national telecommunications infrastructure, and the level of digital human capital across the population. The 2024 iteration of the survey reveals that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has posted a generally solid performance in digital public service advancement. Of the 14 CARICOM member states evaluated in the index, six managed to score above the 2024 global average score of 0.64. The Bahamas leads the regional pack with a score of 0.71, with Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Jamaica recording scores just slightly lower to round out the region’s top four performers. The majority of the bloc’s remaining member states fall within a tight mid-tier ranking range, reflecting relatively consistent baseline digital capacity across most of the region. Haiti stands out as a notable outlier, posting the region’s lowest score at just 0.21, far behind the rest of the CARICOM bloc. Despite the broad progress across most of the region, the most critical takeaway from the 2024 data is the existing regional performance ceiling. The UN categorizes nations with scores above 0.75 into its “Very High” e-government development tier, the group that includes the world’s leading digital public service innovators. As the 2024 data makes clear, no CARICOM member state has managed to cross this threshold to join the ranks of global digital leaders. While the region has successfully built widespread basic digital public service capacity across most of its member states, it has not yet produced a single nation that can compete as a true global front-runner in e-government development.

  • Grenada’s digital push accelerates

    Grenada’s digital push accelerates

    Against a backdrop of accelerating global digital change, small island nations across the Caribbean are stepping up efforts to build inclusive, future-ready digital ecosystems, and Grenada has emerged as a key player advancing this regional agenda. At two major recent governance forums hosted on its soil, local and regional tech leaders have emphasized that digital progress depends not just on building new infrastructure, but updating policy and legal frameworks to match the speed of technological innovation.

    From August 24 to 26, Grenada played host to the 22nd Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) and the 5th Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF) at the Radisson Beach Resort in Grand Anse. Held under the overarching theme “Connectivity to Capability: Shaping a Resilient, Trusted, and Innovative Digital Caribbean”, the gathering brought together regulators, policymakers and youth stakeholders to address gaps in the region’s digital development. On August 25, a dedicated press conference on the sidelines of the forums centered on Grenada’s ongoing digital transition and the shared challenges facing Caribbean nations.

    Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), outlined the core infrastructure requirements that underpin meaningful digital transformation across the region. Critical assets, he explained, include upgraded submarine communications cables, local data centers capable of hosting regional information, standardized digital identity systems and accessible electronic payment networks. Taylor stressed that local data hosting is not just an infrastructure priority, but a key requirement for upholding regional and national data sovereignty, allowing Caribbean nations to control their own digital information rather than relying on foreign hosting providers.

    Grenada has already taken a major legislative step to advance its goals, passing the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) legislation through the national Senate during a July 10 sitting. Vincent Roberts, Chairman of Grenada’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC), noted that the regulator does not develop strategic direction in a vacuum. Instead, it aligns all its work with national government policy, collaborating closely with executive bodies to deliver on the country’s digital transformation vision.

    To illustrate the tangible benefits that integrated digital government can deliver to ordinary citizens, Roberts used the common example of passport applications. Currently, many citizens are required to physically carry verified documents such as birth certificates between separate government departments, even when the state already holds an official, verified copy of the document in its own systems. By breaking down data silos and improving interoperability between different government agencies, the new digital framework will eliminate this redundant step, cutting down on unnecessary in-person visits to government offices and removing the burden of repeatedly submitting information that public institutions already possess.

    While digitalization opens new opportunities for economic growth and improved public services across the Caribbean, it also presents a growing set of unaddressed regulatory challenges. Taylor highlighted that emerging technologies ranging from generative artificial intelligence to low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite deployments have already outpaced many existing regional and national regulatory frameworks, alongside persistent threats to digital security including cybersecurity breaches, ransomware attacks and growing public concerns over personal data privacy. For the region as a whole, he argued, the central challenge is building flexible, adaptive legal and regulatory systems that can evolve alongside new technologies rather than becoming outdated shortly after they are adopted.

    For Grenada specifically, the transition to a fully digital public sphere extends far beyond simply moving existing government services onto online platforms. As the country continues to roll out new digital infrastructure, unified national identity systems and interconnected public service networks, policymakers and regulators must also ensure that parallel frameworks for legal compliance, personal data privacy and cybersecurity are updated at the same pace to protect citizens and build trust in the new digital systems.

  • Move Over, Facebook: ‘Yerisoh’ Gains Thousands of Users in Days

    Move Over, Facebook: ‘Yerisoh’ Gains Thousands of Users in Days

    In a remarkable turn of events for Belize’s local tech ecosystem, a new Kriol-language social media platform called Yerisoh has exploded in popularity, drawing thousands of users in just 48 hours and sparking a nationwide wave of national pride that has overshadowed global giants like Facebook and TikTok.

    Developed by 33-year-old self-taught local coder David Godinez, Yerisoh was built to give Belizeans a dedicated digital space to celebrate their unique identity through shared content including humor, traditional recipes, local music and everyday life moments. Godinez described the project as ‘Belize distilled’ — a small, unique corner of the internet built exclusively for the Belizean community to showcase what makes their culture distinct.

    “I thought it would be cool to have our own sliver of the internet,” Godinez explained in an interview. “My Belizean people are the most beautiful people, and I just wanted to build something that lets us showcase that through music, food, all the jokes.”

    The platform’s interface follows a familiar text-focused format similar to X (formerly Twitter) and Threads, with custom features that encourage users to create posts called ‘yeris’, share local cuisine recipes and discover regional music. Sign-up only takes a few simple clicks, lowering the barrier to entry for users of all technical backgrounds. In less than two full days post-launch, Yerisoh crossed the 3,000 user mark — a milestone that even caught the attention of Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño, who has since created an account.

    The momentum has also extended beyond Belize’s borders: Belizean communities living in the United States have flocked to the platform, pushing it up iOS and Android app store rankings across the country. Godinez said the outpouring of public support has been far beyond what he expected, with the developer often finding himself scrolling the app just to laugh and share content from other users.

    For Godinez, the support from all corners of the community, including the Prime Minister’s participation, has been a tremendous honor. While Yerisoh is not intended to be a political platform, the developer says he hopes to open a channel for constructive dialogue between government leaders, including members of the cabinet, and ordinary Belizeans.

    “Having a dialogue is so important,” Godinez noted. “Truly an honor to have the support from the highest office in the land, and I would love to be able to work with the government to keep the platform connecting people.”

    Yerisoh is currently available for free download on both iOS and Android devices. Godinez is continuing to roll out updates and improvements to the platform, and has encouraged Belizeans at home and abroad to keep supporting the local project as it grows.

  • Tribune publisher Dupuch-Carron wins prestigious African Innovation Excellence Award

    Tribune publisher Dupuch-Carron wins prestigious African Innovation Excellence Award

    In a high-profile gala ceremony hosted at London’s Hilton London Kensington Hotel, Robert Dupuch-Carron — a prominent Bahamian media leader and tech innovator — has been honored with the African Innovation Excellence Award for his trailblazing $427 million Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) project. This one-of-a-kind infrastructure initiative is set to deliver integrated live flight tracking, coordinated search-and-rescue operations, and real-time meteorological data across the entire 173,000 square miles of Bahamian sovereign territory, filling a critical gap in regional safety and climate monitoring.

    The award was officially presented to Dupuch-Carron by Elvis Iruh, founder and chair of the Voice Achievers Awards program, and HRH Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin, a Yoruba royal and past recipient of the honor. Established as an annual recognition program, the Voice Achievers Awards celebrate individuals who have driven transformative advancement for African nations, their citizens, and global diaspora communities. Headquartered in the Netherlands and organized by Voice Magazine publisher Iruh, the program has honored more than 490 distinguished leaders since its launch — including former African heads of state, senior government officials, diplomats, and other influential figures. It is widely regarded as the United Kingdom’s leading platform for highlighting excellence across African, Caribbean, and global diaspora groups.

    A senior official delegation from The Bahamas traveled to London for the ceremony, led by Minister of National Security Myles Laroda, Bahamian High Commissioner to the UK Andrew Gomez, and Michael Strachan, the country’s ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Also in attendance were key BACSWN leaders including chief executive Patrick Rollins and senior vice president of infrastructure Adam Darville, alongside Dr Rohil Raghavan (CEO of Abu Dhabi-based Response Plus Medical, the Middle East’s largest pre-hospital emergency care provider) and prominent Bahamian business leader Vince McDonald.

    Accepting the award, Dupuch-Carron — who also serves as publisher of *The Tribune* and founder of BACSWN — shared that the project is the culmination of nearly a decade of work, crediting his wife Elizabeth as an indispensable partner to the initiative and its success. The Dupuch-Carron family carries a long legacy of public service and media leadership in the Caribbean: Robert’s grandfather, Sir Etienne Dupuch, was one of the most influential journalists in Caribbean history, and his mother Eileen Dupuch Carron recently retired after 65 years as publisher and editor of *The Tribune* — a tenure widely recognized as the longest in global newspaper publishing. Since 1840, seven members of the family have served in the Bahamian Parliament.

    Awards chair Iruh explained that the selection committee prioritized Dupuch-Carron for his commitment to expanding his family’s legacy rather than resting on past achievements. “He is not content to rest on the family’s achievements. He is building a future upon them,” Iruh noted. Event organizers also highlighted BACSWN’s strategic partnership with Response Plus Medical, which is designed to strengthen emergency medical response capacity across The Bahamas’ sprawling archipelago of islands.

    In his acceptance remarks, Dupuch-Carron shared the personal origin story of the project, recalling that the idea took root nine and a half years ago, when he narrowly survived Hurricane Joaquin on Crooked Island. “As an island boy, I’m really humbled by the international recognition of BACSWN,” he said. “I think the lesson that can be learned is that you’re not that which you were born into; it’s who God created you to be. I think it’s a testament to the ingenuity of Bahamians, to the creativity of Bahamians, that we as a people can meet and compete on a global stage. It is wonderful that you can have a vision and it then becomes a team’s common goal.”

    BACSWN has already secured major international backing, including support from leading U.S. aerospace and defense contractor Raytheon. Gene Welch, executive director at Raytheon, praised the project’s groundbreaking scope, noting that BACSWN’s integrated transformational network for aviation, climate tracking, and severe weather monitoring outperforms equivalent infrastructure in many other industrialized nations. The initiative, Welch said, propels The Bahamas into a global leadership position in live flight tracking, environmental infrastructure, and real-time meteorological services for its national airspace.

  • Caribbean urged to turn digital connectivity into global competitiveness

    Caribbean urged to turn digital connectivity into global competitiveness

    The 41st Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition hosted by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) has wrapped up its four-day convening in the region, bringing a clear, actionable message that the Caribbean must advance its digital journey far beyond just establishing basic connectivity.

    Drawn together for the event were cross-sector stakeholders spanning senior government leaders, independent regulatory bodies, regional and global telecommunications providers, leading technology firms and community representatives, all gathered to align on a shared vision for the Caribbean’s digital transformation and long-term economic competitiveness. Themed “Elevate the Caribbean: From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness,” the annual gathering centered on the urgent need for sustained cross-sector investment, continuous technological innovation, and collaborative action to help the region unlock the full economic and social value of its expanding digital infrastructure.

    Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Caribbean – the parent company of major regional telecom operators Flow, BTC and Liberty Business – emphasized that while widespread connectivity has already driven profound positive change across the Caribbean, regional stakeholders cannot pause their progress at this milestone.

    “Connectivity has transformed the Caribbean, but our ambition cannot stop there,” Smidts stated, noting that the next chapter of the region’s digital evolution will depend on far closer coordination between public and private sectors, regulators, industry players and local communities. “We cannot build a globally competitive digital Caribbean in isolation. It will take the courage to invest, the willingness to innovate and a shared commitment to turn ambition into action.”

    Beyond overarching calls for collaboration, conference sessions delved into key priority areas that will define the region’s digital trajectory, including the rapidly growing influence of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks and cloud computing. Attendees also highlighted the critical importance of strengthening cybersecurity defenses, expanding access to digital skills training for regional workforces, and building more resilient digital infrastructure that can withstand disruptions from climate events and other threats.

    As the event’s headline sponsor for the fifth consecutive year, Liberty Caribbean took a leading role in shaping discussions across all core topics, from cybersecurity and 5G rollout to broad-based digital transformation, cross-sector partnership building, and the shifting future of work in an increasingly digital regional economy. The company leveraged the high-profile platform to engage directly with government officials, regulators and industry peers, reiterating that ongoing, open collaboration is the only path to successfully advancing the Caribbean’s shared digital development agenda.

  • Chinese humanoïde robot Unitree breekt records op de beurs

    Chinese humanoïde robot Unitree breekt records op de beurs

    On a watershed Wednesday for the global humanoid robotics industry, leading Chinese commercial humanoid robot developer Unitree Robotics made a blockbuster debut on Shanghai’s STAR Market, with its share price surging more than 620% from its initial offering price. The spectacular opening rally sent the Hangzhou-based firm’s market capitalization soaring to a peak of 445 billion yuan, equivalent to roughly $66 billion — a seven-fold jump from its pre-IPO valuation of around 61 billion yuan ($9 billion), which was set at an initial offering price of 50.8 yuan per share.

    Founded in 2016 by engineer Wang Xingxing, Unitree Robotics has emerged as one of China’s most high-profile and commercially successful humanoid robotics manufacturers. The company first gained global attention through viral demonstrations of its humanoid robots performing dynamic dances and martial arts routines, showcasing the firm’s advanced motion control technology. Last year alone, Unitree delivered more than 5,500 humanoid robots to customers across the world, cementing its status as a leading player in the early commercialization of this cutting-edge technology. Most recently, the company unveiled its latest flagship model, dubbed the ‘Superman’, which the firm says is capable of jumping up to two meters in height and reaching a top speed of 12.66 meters per second.

    Industry analysts note that the overwhelming investor enthusiasm for Unitree’s IPO reflects the company’s unique strong position in a nascent market with few established, scalable competitors. “Unitree is one of the only humanoid robotics companies in the world that actually generates real revenue, is profitable, and operates large-scale production,” explained Rinat Mirzaitov, founder of industry research firm Humanoid Analytics. Even so, Mirzaitov cautioned that Unitree does not yet hold a dominant position across the full humanoid robotics market, and faces the key challenge of translating its current hardware innovation lead into widespread, practical commercial applications across different sectors.

    The rapid growth of China’s humanoid robotics sector comes as the industry has become a key focal point of technological competition between the United States and China. Last month, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump issued an import ban on Chinese-manufactured humanoid robots, citing vague national security concerns. According to financial services firm JPMorgan, China already controls roughly three-quarters of the global market for humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles. Industry projections forecast explosive growth for the sector over the coming decade: global annual humanoid robot sales are expected to skyrocket from $2 billion in 2025 to as much as $300 billion by 2035.

    Unitree’s blockbuster debut underscores both China’s expanding leading role in this high-growth advanced technology sector and the extremely high expectations that global investors hold for the future commercial development of humanoid robotics.