The Nation Newspaper

Category: Infotech

  • Nigeria requires $200b to develop broadband infrastructure

    Nigeria needs $200 billion to build and develop the requisite broadband infrastructure required to take the nation to the next level between now and 2019.

    KPMG’s Partner, Management Consulting, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, who spoke at an international forum to woo investors to the nation’s broadband sector, said over the past years, the country has witnessed massive investment, adding that the explosion in data brought about by the growth in the social media space has catalsyed the growth in broadband infrastructure in the country.

    He said in the micro wave and optic fibre infrastructure provision space, Nigeria has demonstrated a readiness to accommodate foreign investors who would only be required to plug into the existing infrastructure, adding however that there is still limited coverage.

    “In the metropolitan transmission ring, what you see is limited coverage. Only about 10 per cent of the cities and towns are covered today. Moving to the homes, we have extremely limited coverage. These two top layers provide a huge opportunity and gap in the broadband supply chain

    “For investors in this room, an estimated $200billion is required annually over the next five years to meet this infrastructure gaps. Nigeria offers the best returns on investments, according to recent studies,” Africa Telecoms & IT, quoted Tegbe as saying at a forum organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    According to Tegbe, the Open Access Model of making broadband ubiquitous being championed by the regulator aligns with the Federal Government’s National Broadband Plan, stressing that over the past years, the diversity and growth in the information communications technology (ICT) sector has been due largely to the regulatory environment which has been friendly to investment.

    He emphasised on the market potential of Nigeria which would always assure return on investment (RoI) to investors, adding that the World Bank has projected that the country’s population will overtake that of the United States (U.S) and even going to be the third largest populated country in the world next to China and India.

    Said Tegbe: “Interestingly, the World Bank has projected that Nigeria will surpass the U.S in population by 2050 and most likely to become the third largest population by 2050 after China and India with a population of about 460 million people. That represents the size of the population that the investors have the opportunity of exploring.”

    He said investors stood to gain incentives such as tax holiday and pioneer status in addition to a ready-made market as a result of the large population and current low spread of broadband which is also a potential high growth market because of the expansive uptake of smart devices in the country.

    He recalled that in less than three years, the Nigerian market had grown from being N162million in 2011 to N150billion to date, adding that it is the evidence of the widespread demand for broadband internet service. “Just in less than three years, this market has grown from N162million in 2011 to N150billion to date. This is evidence of the widespread demand for broadband internet service in Nigeria,” he said.

    Tegbe expressed confidence that with improved infrastructure spurred by foreign direct investment (FDI) that the market has the capacity for substantial growth in the next couple of years. He lamented that with existing gap between supply and demand in the broadband infrastructure across the country, the question whether the supply can match the demand, arguing that there are some gaps in the broadband market in Nigeria.

    According to him, there is already a glut in undersea cables in the country but lamented the absence of complementary hinterland and metropolitan fibre network usually referred to as middle mile and last mile.

    “We have currently about four submarine cables in Nigeria with terabytes capacity which only few countries in the world can actually match,” he said.

  • NCC’s 20 PCs not enough for 10,000 girls, say students

    Some students of Girls Senior High School, Agege, Lagos, have urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take a critical look at the number of students in their school with a view to increasing the number of personal computers (PCs) it gave the college.

    The students who spoke on the sideline after the official commissioning of a computer laboratory under the Digital Access Programme (DAP) of the NCC, expressed gratitude to the regulator for the gesture, adding that it will assist them to prepare very well for their final examination.

    “I have seen computers before but I have not interacted well with it. I sometimes go to cybercafé with my aunt who tries to teach me how to operate it. Now that almost all external examinations, including the one conducted by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are becoming computer-based, it will help us. I am grateful to the Commission. It will help us a lot but the PCs are too few for our population here,” one of the girls said.

    Another student of the school said the gesture of the NCC is good but lamented that the PCs are far too few to make any appreciable impact in the short run on the students. She said: “You can see that this is a large school. You heard the principal saying the number of students in the school is about 10,000 and here are only 20 PCs. Anyway, the school authority will find a way of planning it in such a way that all of us will benefit.”

    Like the students, the school’s Principal, Tajudeen Adeyinka, expressed his gratitude to the NCC for the gesture. He however urged the regulator to explore the possibility of powering the facility with alternative energy source such as solar. He said this will reduce the cost of fuelling and maintenance of the generators.

    Speaking on the occasion, NCC Executive Vic Chair, Dr. Eugene Juwah said DAP is one of the programmes which the NCC introduced to bridge the digital divide existing in secondary schools, adding that its concept is a designation of a classroom fully equipped with computers and other ICT facilities, including a generator and internet connection to enable the schools and its immediate environment to have access to the internet.

    He said: “Many of the secondary schools, including those in remote villages of this country have testified to how this programme has facilitated their online examination activities such as subscription to JAMB, WAEC, NECO among other examinations.

    The idea is to ensure that students, who are the leaders of tomorrow, are early adaptors of ICT, especially the internet which has limitless resources. It is also designed for the surrounding communities to have access to the internet, especially when the students are not available to ensure maximum use of the bandwidth subscription for the affected school. So far, more than 200 schools have benefitted from DAP.

    “Apart from DAP which is designed for secondary schools, we also have the Digital Access Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) under which we provide about 110 computers to the beneficiaries to equip the lecturers with new ICT skills in order to impact same on their students. “So far, more than 300 institutions of higher learning in Nigeria have benefited from the programe since its introduction in 2008. This is in addition to the introduction of the Wireless Cloud, a complimentary package comprising of laptops with wireless internet facilities. Another 144 institutions, including some who already have ADAPTI, have benefited from the Wireless Cloud.”

    He said the key objectives of these programmes are to prepare the nation for a digital future and equip the youth with the necessary skills to tap into the potentials of the digital age, adding that in the case of DAP, it is aimed at building a foundation for young generation and to also prepare a good background for the broadband revolution that is being currently pursued by the commission.

    He added that the Commission is vigorously pursuing a programme to provide pervasive broadband availability and affordability across the country. He expressed hope that some of these programmes would create a fertile ground for usage and exploitation of broadband for the benefit of the economy.

  • Vodacom takes internet connectivity to Lagos school

    Vodacom Busines Nigeria has stepped in to  provide WiFi services for students and teachers in classrooms, laboratories, workshops and staff offices. The firm also sponsored a 250KVA powered generator to help keep the school connected during power outages. The firm donated the facility to the Federal Science and Technology College, Yaba, to help improve the productivity of the teachers and students of the school.

    Speaking on the occasion, its Managing Director, Guy Clarke said: “Internet penetration in Nigeria is still low, especially in public schools. With the Power to You Project, we aim to bridge the digital divide that exists in communities and schools without access to ICT. It’s for this reason that we’re proud to be able to provide this connectivity to The Federal Science and Technology College, Yaba.”

    Responding, the school’s Principal, Chris Ugorji said: “The vision of the college is to provide the scientific and technical skills, required to produce self-reliant young men and women, ready for tertiary institution and the ICT industry. The sponsorship of high-speed internet access and power generator by Vodacom guarantees this vision and we are happy to be beneficiaries of this project.”

    The Vodacom Power to You Project supports public and private schools in the country by ensuring that students and teachers have access to ICT and new telecommunication technologies.

    The power of the internet is invaluable and connectivity has the potential to transform education and accelerate economic growth in Nigeria.

  • WeChat, others boost learning at Babcock University

    WeChat, others boost learning at Babcock University

    Global mobile voice and text chat app, WeChat, has partnered with MrsCEOnaija.com, the online female-centric blog and several other organisations to promote a workshop to provide career counselling tips for graduating female students of the Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

    Speaking at the workshop which had ‘After Graduation, What Next?  It is Limitless opportunities,’ as its theme, WeChat’s Regional Manager, West Africa, Mr. Idemudia Dima-Okojie Dima-Okojie stressed the need for businesses in the country, especially, young start-ups to embrace and incorporate the mobile app technology in  business plans if they are to grow and become successful.

    He described the mobile phone business as one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world, with the smartphone practically taking over the lives of half the world’s population. According to him, today at least 50 per cent of the global smartphone users are hooked on touchscreens and mobile apps, especially the latter, due to its inherent benefits for business.

    He said WeChat app has been enhanced with several features to help businesses reach out and interact with both their customers and prospects. One of these features,  he said, is the Official Account, whereby companies and organisations open an account within the WeChat app.

    “With these Official Accounts on our app, these organisations can now interact with their customers and prospects like never before, and more and more businesses are utilizing this feature. Today we have the likes of Etisalat, Airtel, MTN, Jobberman, Dstv, Super Sport, Jobberman, Careers24, Beat FM, and many more on our Official Accounts platform.

    “With this feature, customers can now follow and interact with their respective telecoms service providers, make payments on Dstv, listen to live radio and text into TV programmes, apply for jobs instantly on Jobberman and lots more. All these can be done within the app, thereby helping the user save the data consumed by using multiple apps and browsers to carry out these transactions,” he said.

    Founder of MrsCEOnaija.com, Mrs. Tolulope Adedejian, said the organisation was established to help raise financially empowered females for more balanced homes and community, by inspiring, coaching, enabling and facilitating women to have enhanced sources of income, either through career progression or business start-ups.

     

  • Airtel unveils Wi-Fi service

    Airtel unveils Wi-Fi service

    Airtel  Nigeria, has launched ultra-high speedWi-Fi service to enhance customer data experience in Lagos.

    With this development, residents and visitors to Lagos will have access to super-fast internet in public places and be able to connect wirelessly to the internet through their smart phones, tablets, laptops and other smart devices.

    The service is available to all mobile phone users irrespective of their network and as part of the incentives; Airtel also offers free 15 minutes per month to every user.

    Already, Wi-Fi hotspots have been deployed to Ozone Cinema, Yaba, Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island and Alausa Shopping Mall, Ikeja.

    Its Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Maurice Newa, described the service as a major milestone in the company’s effort to strengthen its relationship with customers.

    “This serviceis designed to delight our customers with ultra-high speed internet service. We want to connect with them in smarter and rewarding ways, to fulfil their communication needs,” he said.

    According to him, as an innovative company, Airtel will continue to redefine the telecoms landscape with revolutionary products and services that will provide rewarding experience to its customers.

    “Our mission is to enrich the lives of Nigerians through the provision of exceptional experience and the introduction of this service is an attestation of our commitment,” he said.

    He noted that at full implementation, the service will be rolled out in malls, airports, universities and other areas of public interest in other major cities in the country.

    To enjoy this service, customers will need to purchase data bundles which are categorised into five time-based bundles; 30mins, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours and five hours respectively.

    The bundles can be purchased using Airtel recharge cards and debit cards while Airtel subscribers can buy bundles with their airtime. The service, which is also aimed at promoting the use of internet, will provide customers wider opportunities to connect with friends, family and business associates.

  • Media digital migration: Understanding the times

    Media digital migration: Understanding the times

    There is no denial that the future of the media is digital communication which became the concern for the Board of Directors, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) during a recent meeting.

    The Board expressed worries over the seemingly lack of progress in the Digital Migration process in West Africa, especially in view of the internationally mandated deadline for all countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.

    Interestingly, more audience explore the digital space than majority of media professionals and the risk of this is that information is becoming less verifiable considering the level of internet saturation.

    On the other hand, a few of those who are apparently able to use digital communication among media owners and practitioners may not even be well informed as to the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ of the cyber space.

    Meanwhile, there was an internationally mandatory June 17 deadline of migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, which is obviously not fulfillable.

    However, the Board observed that given the pervasiveness of television as a source of information for a large proportion of the population in West Africa and prevalence of analogue television sets in the region, the obvious inability of countries to meet the agreed deadline has potentially serious implications for access to information and freedom of expression in the region.

    These concerns of the MFWA’s Board are contained in an 11-point Resolution adopted at the end of its two-day meeting held in Benin Republic on Friday, May 29.

    “The Board also expresses deep concern about the low level of public awareness of the digital migration process and calls on the media and civil society groups in West Africa to support public education efforts to prepare citizens in their respective countries for the digital migration,” the Resolution noted.

    The Resolution urged governments in West Africa to prioritise the safety of journalists in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, and the recent UN Security Council Resolution on the Safety of Journalists.

    The Security Council Resolution (Resolution 2222) adopted on May 27, 2015, urged Member States of the United Nations to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference.

    The Board’s Resolution also covered other critical issues relating to freedom of expression and press freedom in the West Africa region including concerns about lowering professional standards among the media in the region, the need for states to decriminalise defamation and the need for governments and regional bodies in West Africa to make significant investments in ICTs and work collaboratively to promote internet rights and freedoms.

    Consequently, the ways and manners of accessing information have fast moved from analogue to digital. It is therefore worrisome to discover that media houses still do not understand the times.

    Perhaps, it could be possible for media practitioners to relate with the magic of digital communication when they consider copies of their newspapers sold and returned or when they measure audience viewership for the broadcast folks.

  • ‘Poor telecoms service quality unacceptable’

    ‘Poor telecoms service quality unacceptable’

    The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Eugene Juwah has said the poor telecoms service quality operators are offering subscribers is unacceptable to the Commission, adding that the regulator will continue to do the needful to achieve the highest degree of service quality in the country.

    Juwah, who spoke at the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) forum at the University of Lagos, Akoka said, he was worried by the development, adding that the Commission had summoned several meetings with the operators to express customers’ dissatisfaction with a view to improving the situation.

    Represented by the Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, he, however, said there are challenges which must first be addressed before service quality would be improved.

    Those challenges include but are not limited to inadequate power supply, multiple taxation and regulations, vandalism of telecom infrastructure, right of way (RoW) challenges, and infrastructure deficit among others.

    “Only the elimination of some or all of these will provide the critical success factors in finally eradicating quality of service challenges,” Juwah said, adding that the regulator is not complacent over the issue.

    During the public hearing held by the National Assembly in 2008, power was considered to have contributed more than 40 per cent to service quality challenges.

    Telecoms depend on power to run 24/7. Just as individuals in Nigeria generate their power, so has telcos being generating much of the power it utilises.

    The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has put the estimated cost of running two generators in each of the over 25,000 base transmission stations (BTS) in at about N5 billion monthly. ATCON says while service provider spends 80 per cent operating expenditure (OPEX) on power generation, in Malawi, it is just some five per cent. This captures the explanation as the service providers would have been in a position to channel more resources to tackling the issues of service quality.

    Juwah said : “We have a very nagging issue of regulations and taxes awaiting the telecom operators at different levels of government. Some of these regulations are made outside of the purview of the telecom regulator. There are states and local governments where telecom infrastructure is seen as fertile ground for improving internally generated revenue as these infrastructures must be available to make services possible. In some areas, state governments, local governments, or even some federal government agencies have had to force a close down of base stations with the implication of disconnecting many localities from the network thereby adding to the challenge”

    On RoW, he lamented that governments at various levels, individuals or communities, prevent the service providers from installing equipment without which there will not be good quality of services.

    “Some of us may not be aware. But the truth is that for almost five years, the Federal Capital Territory Administration  stopped issuance of permits to telecom service providers to BTS on account of fear of defacing the city. Yet, residents would expect services to be of high quality,” he lamented.

    Vandalism of equipment has become common where criminals vandalise expensive transmission lines laid with fibre optics or where road constructions or similar situation results in cutting off transmission cables with multiple negative effects on service quality.

  • Dearth of spectrum threatens broadband plan targets

    Lack of spectrum to drive the penetration of wireless broadband may scuttle the short, medium and long term ambition of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) of the Federal Government, The Nation has gathered.

    Under the NBP, for cities, accessibility through wired medium currently (2013) stands at 1.3 per cent with short term goal (2015) of 10 per cent, medium term (2018) 18 per cent and long term target (2020) of 25 per cent. For penetration, the current level stands at 0.3per cent while short term goal is 3.3per cent, medium; 5.3 per cent while long term is 8.3 per cent.

    For national target, availability through wireless currently stands at 33 per cent, with short, medium and long term targets of 60, 80 and 95 per cent respectively. For penetration or usage, it currently stands at 6 per cent with short, medium and long term ambition of 21, 42 and 76 per cent respectively.

    But one of the frequencies that will make this happen are still with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and there is no indication that it will be freed up soon to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for auctioning to operators.

    According to sources, the spectrum is called 2.6 gigahertz (GHz) and it ranges from 2.5GHz to 2.69Ghz. The source before now, it was used by the NBC licensed operators who are licensed to do Muti-channel Multi-point Distribution System (MDDS).

    MDDS is defined as a wireless system consists that of head-end equipment (equipment for satellite signal reception, radio transmitter, other broadcast equipment, and transmission antenna) and reception equipment at each subscriber location (antenna, frequency conversion device, and set-top device). MMDS transmits on Super High Frequency (SHF) microwave frequencies and can be encoded for pay-for-view and subscriber services, all from studio facility.

    According to the source, by the time the allocation was made at the international Telecommunications Union (ITU) for the frequency to also be used for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT), the NCC contacted the National Frequency Management Committee (NFMC) and which requested the NCC and NBC to work out the modalities for the release of the band. A committee was subsequently formed for that purpose.

    According to ITU, “long term evolution (LTE)-Advanced and “WirelessMAN-Advanced” should be accorded the official designation of IMT-Advanced. Advanced systems include new capabilities that go beyond IMT-2000, widely deployed since 2000 and referred to as 3G mobile technologies. ITU has now specified the standards for IMT-Advanced, the next-generation global wireless broadband communications that provide access to a wide range of packet-based telecommunication services supported by mobile and fixed networks.

    Director, Spectrum Administration, NCC, Dr Nwaulume Augustine confirmed that indeed a committee has been put in place but unsure whether it will get the spectrum freed for the NCC. He said: “That committee is still working. I don’t know if it is possible for the licence to be auctioned this year based on the fact that not so much progress has been made with regard to getting it freed from those users.

    “But I am very sure that by the first or second quarter of next year, something would have happened because it is very important.  It is very vital to wireless broadband,” He spoke on the sideline at a capacity training forum for journalists in Lagos.

  • How winners emerged for Jerusalem pilgrimage, by MTN

    How winners emerged for Jerusalem pilgrimage, by MTN

    The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, has said the 20 customers who emerged winners and have been sent to Jerusalem for the holy pilgrimage were selected electronically, adding that the sponsorship was in appreciation of the life-enriching Christian Value Added Services (VAS) they subscribed to.

    Speaking on the electronic selection process of the customers, he explained that subscribers were selected, based on the Christian VAS they subscribed to.

    Represented by the telco’s Senior Manager, Segment, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, she said: “The selection was based on the daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs, prayers, hymns, religious callertunez and other spiritually uplifting and faith enriching content, they subscribed to. The lucky winners were therefore selected through a draw.

    “This is one of the ways we decided to reward our Christian subscribers for their adoption of our Christian VAS. Every subscriber is important to us and we must show appreciation. We will keep going the extra mile to show just how much we care.”

    She admonished the pilgrims to remember Nigeria in their prayers as they embark on this journey, due to the challenges facing the nation at this time in its history.

    Its Chief Marketing Officer, Bayo Adekanmbi explained that the strategic focus for this initiative is to show support to MTN Christian subscribers.

    “We are committed to the total well-being of our customers as we strive to make their lives brighter through our propositions, products and VAS. This is one of such initiatives aimed at uplifting and encouraging our subscribers to get closer to God. Through our bold new digital VAS, we will keep them connected to their Maker on a daily basis.”

    He went further to state that the company will continue to provide exciting innovative initiatives geared at enhancing its customers’ whole new digital experience, while encouraging them to be better in their various fields of human endeavour.

    The pilgrims, who departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at the weekend, will be spending eight days in the holy land. They were full of excitement and praises for MTN, as regard the rare privilege the company has given them in fulfilling a life-long desire through the all-expense paid trip.

    One of the pilgrims, Bolaji Adeola, from Ondo state said before their departure, “I really feel blessed being among the selected few. Going to Jerusalem is like a dream come true. I have always wished for travelling to the holy land to build my Christian faith and God has used MTN as an instrument to make my dream come true. I am very grateful to MTN for this rare and wonderful opportunity. This journey to Jerusalem will uplift my spiritual life and move me closer to God.”

  • How to bridge rural-urban digital divide, by HIS Towers

    Executive Vice Chairman & Group CEO, HIS Towers, Issam Darwish, has said one of the best ways to bridge existing digital gap between rural and urban communities in the country is through the deployment of mobile application to the agriculture sector that engages the mass of the people.

    Darwish who spoke against the backdrop of the firm’s sponsorship of a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit with Enabling a More Productive Nigeria: Powering SMEs as its title, said the launch of the report coincided with the World Economic Forum on Africa, which sets out the factors that empower small and medium enterprises (‘SMEs’) and looks to identify both what is driving growth as well as the issues that are holding them back.

    He said: “One way to lessen the urban-rural digital divide is to deepen the application of mobile to agriculture, the sector in which the majority of Nigeria’s rural dwellers work. Combined with improved mobile networks in rural regions, the penetration of ICT across wider geographies will significantly support favourable income distribution trends throughout the continent.

    “Many of us are interested in Nigeria’s future prosperity, yet little is known about the universe of Nigerian SMEs and the entrepreneurs behind them, particularly the obstacles and enablers of their growth.

    “This report recognises the efforts of government institutions in supporting SMEs but also importantly shines a light on the innovative thinking embedded in this vital part of Nigeria’s economy. It helps us all to understand what can be done to support their growth and drive their productivity.

    “The importance of mobile telecommunications and its role as a leapfrog technology is readily apparent from this study, affirming our belief that an enhanced mobile network materially contributes to the growth of both urban and rural businesses, with the potential to reduce societal inequality.

    “For IHS this report is fundamental to our business. Our belief is that the future economic and social development of Africa will be accelerated exponentially by mobile connectivity, and our team of over 2,000 engineers in five countries is focused on making this happen. We are committed to developing the communities we serve, and to help people and businesses across the region build a powerful, prosperous future.”

    He said the report looks at SME productivity across five categories – policy, transport, technology, energy and finance, combining SME interviews from across the country, with expert insights.

    According to him, the findings suggest that Nigeria’s government has supported SMEs by reducing the costs of registering a business and through the launch of SME-targeted funds, adding however that further attention should be given to the tax system because Nigerian SMEs are subject to complex and overlapping rules which need to be streamlined and simplified.

    In addition, import and customs charges are often unpredictable and costly, placing an additional burden on businesses, with no recourse available through official channels, he lamented.

    On infrastructure, the report explores how SMEs are being affected by mobile networks, transport and power deficits. While transport projects and power privatisation are underway, these will take time to deliver benefits. In the interim, SMEs are adopting innovative technologies – from solar panels to cloud computing. ICTs in particular are being used for remote work, mobile marketing and new product development such as apps and mobile services. The next technology productivity boost will come from strengthening ICT network quality across Nigeria’s territory.