Latest news with #Digicel
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Killer gangs are inches from ruling all of Haiti
The collapse of Haiti's government in April last year was a challenge but also an opportunity. An interim government called the Transitional Presidential Council was installed. A UN-brokered, Kenyan-led security mission arrived soon after. But a year later things are worse than ever. 'We are approaching a point of no return,' María Isabel Salvador, the UN's top official in Haiti, told its Security Council at a meeting on April 21st. Tasked with preparing for elections that in theory will be held in November, the council is now mired in allegations of corruption. The security force of around 1,000 people (less than half the number originally planned) has not been able to stem the chaos. Its funding runs out in September. The council is a 'transitional authority that controls nothing', says Claude Joseph, a former prime minister. 'It's an unsustainable catastrophe. We could lose Port-au-Prince at any time.' Port-au-Prince, the capital, now sees daily gun battles in which police and civilian vigilantes face off against a gang coalition called Viv Ansanm ('Living Together'). It has seized control of much of the city. The international airport has been all but shut down; the only way in or out is by helicopter, or by a barge that skirts the coast to bypass gang territory to the south. On May 2nd the United States designated Viv Ansanm and a sister organisation as terrorist groups, opening the door to tougher criminal penalties for those who provide them with money and weapons. The collapse of public life is accelerating. Most schools are shut. Cholera is spreading. The Marriott, one of the last functioning hotels, has closed its doors. Gangs have surrounded the offices of Digicel, Haiti's main cellular network, through which most people connect to the internet. 'If Digicel goes down, the country goes dark,' warns a security expert. The gangs don't need it. Increasingly sophisticated, they use Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system to communicate, organising themselves to the extent that they have been able to keep control over access to Haiti's ports. They also extort lorry drivers and bus operators moving along many of the country's main roads. The UN reports that in February and March more than 1,000 people were killed and 60,000 displaced, adding to the 1m, nearly 10% of the population, who have fled their homes in the past two years. Circulating videos show gang members playing football with severed heads, bragging: 'We got the dogs.' Central Haiti, once relatively peaceful, is fragmenting into fiefs. Mirebalais, a city which lies between Port-au-Prince and the border with the Dominican Republic, is now controlled by gangs. 'The country has become a criminal enterprise. It's the wild, wild West,' says a foreign official. Patience is running thin at the UN Security Council. The United States has already committed $600m to the security mission, but is unlikely to offer more. 'America cannot continue shouldering such a significant financial burden,' said Dorothy Shea, the US ambassador to the UN. Few other countries want to donate. The Transitional Presidential Council is so desperate that it is exploring deals with private military contractors. It has been talking to Osprey Global Solutions, a firm based in North Carolina. The founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, visited Haiti in April to negotiate contracts to provide attack drones and training for an anti-gang task force. The council declined to comment. The Haitian police are overwhelmed; an estimated 12,000 officers police a population that approaches 12m, barely half the UN-recommended ratio. Weak leadership, poor co-ordination with the Kenyan-led force, and calls for the ousting of the police chief point to deep institutional rot. In Canapé-Vert, one of Port-au-Prince's last gang-free pockets, a former policeman known as 'Commander Samuel' leads a vigilante group called Du Sang 9 ('New Blood' in Creole). Gangs have thinned its numbers. It is all that stands between them and the prime minister's office. Clarification (June 3rd 2025): Paragraph eight of this article has been amended to make clear that the council exploring deals is the Transitional Presidential Council. Sign up to El Boletín, our subscriber-only newsletter on Latin America, to understand the forces shaping a fascinating and complex region. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Irish Examiner
17-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Mick Clifford: Blended working not to everyone's taste
I have great social skills, says I to myself in the mirror this morning. Yes I do. No you don't, says anybody I subsequently asked. You're a disaster. Why this momentary lapse into introspection? It's because I am among the legions who now work remotely. This week, we were told that 'social skills have fallen off a cliff since the start of remote working'. This came from Neil McDonnell, chief executive of the small business group, ISME. He was reacting to, in 90% agreement with according to himself, an outburst by Denis O'Brien about the concept of remote working. O'Brien told a gathering in Dublin's Mansion House last Friday that working from home was 'a load of nonsense'. He suggested that the cultural change that has swept through the workplace since covid has impacted on the national work ethic. 'We have always had a great reputation in Ireland for hard work,' the former chairman of Digicel said. 'Unfortunately, there is now a pervasive, what I call 'entitlement culture', where graduates and young people are dictating their work practices to their employers. 'This lark of people saying, 'I'll come into the office on Tuesday and Wednesday; otherwise I'm going to be working at home', is a load of nonsense. I don't employ those kinds of people, and to be honest with you, I never will.' According to The Currency website, the comments were met with 'enthusiastic applause' from the audience at the Mazar's investor awards event. Others like the Social Democrats said Mr O'Brien had a 'brass neck'. Their spokesperson Sinead Gibney said what was a 'nonsense' was that the right to work from home in this country is so weak. 'Instead of taking advice from tax-exile billionaires, the Government should look at the facts,' she said. 'Regrettably, when I asked the Taoiseach today if this government intended to further bolster the right to work from home, he dodged the question.' Remote working is just another of a growing list of topics these days on which opinion is polarised. One is either for or against it. To somebody like Denis O'Brien, the concept is anathema but then he is a massively driven businessman for whom work is a lot more than just, well, work. He would not claim to be a paragon, or possibly even understand, the notion of a work-life balance. He didn't get where he is in terms of his wealth through a 40-hour week with appropriate breaks, shift allowance and paternity leave, all of which are important to plenty of people. And good luck to him. The world needs O'Briens in order to fuel economies, but it doesn't need too many of his ilk Remote working is just another of a growing list of topics these days on which opinion is polarised. Some people have difficulty in finding a place to live and remote, or more typically, blended working can facilitate living many miles from the office. Remote working has, for many, been the silver lining of the pandemic. It has transformed working lives. The jury is actually out in a global sense as to whether or not it has impacted on productivity. Has the change in culture led to some people taking the proverbial? Most likely, yes. But some people have always taken the proverbial, whether or not chained to a station in a designated place of work. A recruitment consultant who confided in me this week said that an issue that arises these days among prospective employees is the requirement to work from home in order to walk their dog. Suffice to say the dog needs walking but maybe priorities in such a scenario should be revisited. As for an 'entitlement culture', surely that is a product of a tight labour market. The balance of power between employer and prospective employee is a direct product of economic times. Productivity and creativity There are arguments that productivity for some has increased. In the days before the pandemic, it is safe to say that most people who were in attendance at the designated place of work were not productive for the full 40 hours. That's not suggesting laziness or bad management but just the nature of things. So even if the 40 are not put down at a work station at home, it doesn't follow that productivity has been reduced. Working from home has allowed people to compress, not compromise, productivity. To dismiss the cultural shift as 'a load of nonsense' is definitely nonsense, but there are aspects to remote working that have to be having an impact. In his address, O'Brien suggested that what has occurred has led to, among other things, a loss of energy, creativity, and ideas. Another source who gave me the benefit of their wisdom in this area described it as 'lateral information flow'. Or, if you will, the informal and often casual interaction, knocking together of heads, accidental brainstorming that can and does occur in a place of work. It is impossible to measure, but over the longer term its absence becomes obvious in results. In the first instance the loss accumulated falls on the employer but the loss of creative thought affects all in one form or another. This is the cost of the trade offs inherent in remote working and whether it's a bargain all round, too expensive, or simply a fair trade, is a long way off determining More importantly, and equally opaque in the short term, is the cultural impact of the loss of socialisation at work. This could have a serious impact on some among Gen Z who are either entering the workforce or are in the early straits of a career. This generation is the first to grow up largely through their phones in a world created by their parents. That has impacted on a basic level in their collective capacity for socialisation. How many teenagers do you know who even communicate with any regularity to another voice at the end of the line? Everything is via a screen. Then along came the pandemic at a vital period during their development, whether it was in school, third level education, or the early stages of a working life. The fall-out from that is only now being fully recognised and questioned. Entering the workforce after that kind of arrest in development can be no easy thing. Having available the choice of working from home is a no brainer for many, just one more reason why it's not necessary to leave the home and interact in person. Remote working is, on the whole, a hugely positive advance. But recognising the downside, particularly for newish entrants to the workforce, is necessary. Read More Jennifer Horgan: Luxury school trips deepen inequality and strain struggling families
Hi Dubai
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
e& Partners with Digicel to Strengthen International Voice Services and Combat Telecom Fraud
e& has partnered with Digicel Group to enhance the quality and security of Digicel's international voice services across 24 markets in the Americas, marking a major move in the global telecom landscape. Under the strategic agreement, e& will manage inbound and outbound international traffic for Digicel, streamlining operations and improving service performance. This collaboration also focuses on implementing advanced AI-driven technologies to detect and prevent fraud, a growing concern in the telecommunications sector. The initiative will provide both companies with real-time monitoring, threat mitigation tools, and robust security protocols aimed at protecting users, operators, and the broader telecom ecosystem. With rising threats and evolving technologies, the partnership is designed to set a new standard for operational resilience and security in international voice traffic management. By aligning their expertise, Digicel and e& are not only boosting technical capabilities but also future-proofing operations amid industry shifts such as the rise of OTT platforms and VoLTE. The collaboration supports Digicel's wholesale strategy by optimising costs and reinforcing its market position. Nabil Baccouche, Group Chief Carrier and Wholesale Officer at e&, said the partnership aligns with e&'s strategic expansion, particularly as the company establishes its wholesale hub in Miami. He emphasized the importance of delivering high-quality, innovative, and secure services across the Caribbean and the Americas. Liam Donnelly, Digicel Group Chief Business Officer, noted that the alliance enhances customer experience and opens the door to broader international business opportunities. As telecom providers face increasing challenges, this partnership between e& and Digicel represents a forward-looking approach to operational excellence, fraud resilience, and long-term growth in international communications. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
E& and Digicel Group announce strategic partnership to enhance international voice services Aaross the Americas
Caribbean, Abu Dhabi – e& and Digicel Group have announced a strategic partnership to enhance Digicel's international voice services across the Americas. Under this collaboration, e& will serve as Digicel's partner in 24 markets for inbound and outbound international traffic, optimizing operations and elevating service quality. As fraud threats within the telecommunications sector continue to grow in scale and complexity, Digicel and e& are reinforcing their joint commitment to protecting the industry through the deployment of cutting-edge, AI-driven fraud detection and prevention technologies. This strategic initiative will empower both companies with real-time monitoring capabilities, proactive threat mitigation, and enhanced security protocols—protecting customers, operators, and the broader telecom ecosystem. By combining their global expertise and technological leadership, Digicel and e& are setting a new benchmark in international voice traffic management and fraud resilience. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in establishing more resilient, secure, and trusted ecosystem for the telecommunications industry. By adopting an innovative approach, Digicel continues to refine its wholesale strategy in response to evolving industry trends, including the rise of OTT services and VoLTE. This partnership will enable Digicel to optimize costs, streamline infrastructure investments, and strengthen its market position. 'Leveraging our extensive expertise in international voice solutions, our partnership with Digicel Group is fully aligned with e& Carrier & Wholesale's strategy to expand our global footprint and deliver next-generation voice services across key international markets,' said Nabil Baccouche, Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer at e&. 'As we establish our Wholesale's strategic hub in Miami as one of our key locations for the region, this collaboration reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality, secure, and innovative telecom services across the Caribbean, Americas and beyond. Together, we are setting new benchmarks in international voice traffic management and fraud prevention, ensuring long-term growth and scalability for both organizations.' With its deep industry knowledge and technical capabilities, e& will play a key role in supporting Digicel's ambitions to enhance customer experience, improve operational resilience, and future-proof its international voice services. 'Our partnership with e& enables us to optimize operations and elevate the quality of services we deliver to our customers. It also opens the door to broader partnership opportunities across international business lines - creating value for both our organizations and the customers we serve.' Said Digicel Group Chief Business Officer, Liam Donnelly. About e& e& is a global technology group committed to advancing the digital future across markets in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. With the group's financial performance in 2024 showing a consolidated revenue of AED 59.2 billion and a net profit of AED 10.8 billion, e& continues to maintain its position as a financial powerhouse, reflected by its strong credit rating and solid balance sheet. Founded in Abu Dhabi over 48 years ago, e& has evolved from a telecom pioneer into a technology group. Its footprint now spans 38 countries, offering a comprehensive portfolio of innovative digital services ranging from advanced connectivity, entertainment, streaming and financial services to AI-powered solutions, cloud computing, ICT, cybersecurity and IoT platforms. The Group is structured around five core business pillars: e& UAE, e& international, e& life, e& enterprise and e& capital, each catering to distinct customer and market needs. These pillars empower e& to lead in various sectors, from telecom and digital lifestyle to enterprise services and venture investments. The ongoing strategic investments in AI, IoT, 5G and cloud services reinforce its leadership in the global technology landscape, driving the future of smart connectivity and innovation. Driven by innovation, sustainability and a commitment to digital empowerment, e& is set on creating a smarter, more connected future for individuals, businesses and communities. About Digicel Enabling customers to live, work, play and flourish in a connected world, Digicel's world class LTE and fibre networks deliver state-of-the-art mobile, home and business solutions. Serving nine million consumer and business customers in 25 markets in the Caribbean and Central America, our investments of over US$5 billion and a commitment to our communities through our Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago have contributed to positive outcomes for over 2 million people to date. With our Connecting. Empowering vision at the heart of everything we do - supported by our DIGI values of Diversity, Integrity, Growth and Innovation - our 5,000 employees worldwide work together to make that a powerful reality for customers, communities and countries day in, day out.
Al Etihad
05-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
e&, Digicel Group to enhance international voice services across Americas
5 May 2025 18:19 ABU DHABI (WAM)e& and Digicel Group have announced a strategic partnership to enhance Digicel's international voice services across the Americas. Under this collaboration, e& will serve as Digicel's partner in 24 markets for inbound and outbound international traffic, optimising operations and elevating service fraud threats within the telecommunications sector continue to grow in scale and complexity, Digicel and e& are reinforcing their joint commitment to protecting the industry through the deployment of cutting-edge, AI-driven fraud detection, and prevention strategic initiative will empower both companies with real-time monitoring capabilities, proactive threat mitigation, and enhanced security protocols—protecting customers, operators, and the broader telecom combining their global expertise and technological leadership, Digicel and e& are setting a new benchmark in international voice traffic management and fraud collaboration marks a significant step forward in establishing more resilient, secure, and trusted ecosystem for the telecommunications adopting an innovative approach, Digicel continues to refine its wholesale strategy in response to evolving industry trends, including the rise of OTT services and VoLTE. This partnership will enable Digicel to optimise costs, streamline infrastructure investments, and strengthen its market Baccouche, Group Chief Carrier and Wholesale Officer at e&, said, 'Leveraging our extensive expertise in international voice solutions, our partnership with Digicel Group is fully aligned with e& Carrier & Wholesale's strategy to expand our global footprint and deliver next-generation voice services across key international markets."As we establish our Wholesale's strategic hub in Miami as one of our key locations for the region, this collaboration reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality, secure, and innovative telecom services across the Caribbean, Americas and beyond. Together, we are setting new benchmarks in international voice traffic management and fraud prevention, ensuring long-term growth and scalability for both organisations.'With its deep industry knowledge and technical capabilities, e& will play a key role in supporting Digicel's ambitions to enhance customer experience, improve operational resilience, and future-proof its international voice services. Digicel Group Chief Business Officer Liam Donnelly commented, 'Our partnership with e& enables us to optimise operations and elevate the quality of services we deliver to our customers. It also opens the door to broader partnership opportunities across international business lines - creating value for both our organisations and the customers we serve."
