The Nation Newspaper

Category: Infotech

  • Telcos’ success strategies, by Ericsson, E&Y study

    Telcos’ success strategies, by Ericsson, E&Y study

    Ericsson and Earnest & Young (E&Y) have collaborated to identify three distinct strategies adopted by successful mobile operators, dubbed Frontrunners.

    According to them, successful operators share a common focus on network performance and customer experience; differentiation, innovation and technology approaches vary by strategy

    Frontrunner revenues grew at 9.6 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), their competitors at 2.7 per cent, while average in markets with no Frontrunners is -1.4 per cent (2010-2014)

    With traditional revenues under pressure and mobile data use soaring, operators have been forced to evolve both their networks and their business models. Some have been more successful than others. A study from Ericsson, in collaboration with Ernst and Young, has identified and classified these operators as Frontrunners. Between 2010 and 2014, Frontrunners enjoyed a 9.6 percent CAGR while competitors in their markets achieved only 2.7 percent.

    In undertaking this research, the results of which are launched , Ericsson has identified three distinct strategies adopted by Frontrunners. Significantly, what is good for the end user is also good for the operator.

    Frontrunner strategies are quality-led progression: These Frontrunners differentiate through high-performing networks and high brand preference; market-led adaptation: includes Frontrunners that differentiate through quick adaptation to market conditions; and offering-led transformation which refers to Frontrunners that differentiate by being first to enter the market with uniquely designed offerings

    The study also showed a number of ways in which Frontrunners are similar including their views on connectivity and services as differentiators rather than commodities, and their focus on innovating new revenue streams rather than maximizing old ones. Frontrunners display greater interaction between marketing and technical roles, rather than the traditional silos, and they leverage network performance by either utilizing superior network performance as a differentiator or by improving network performance to meet customer expectations.

    Speaking on the study, Executive Director of Nordic Advisory, EY, Martin Sebelius, said: “We clearly see that despite their different strategies, frontrunner operators share a common commitment to network quality. Not surprisingly, Frontrunners constantly seek new ways of challenging industry conventions to make connectivity more relevant to people, business and society.”

    Research Director, Mobile Infrastructure and Carrier Economics, Infonetics Research, now part of IHS Inc., Stéphane Téral, said: “This is a well-reasoned study that helps operators in different markets answer the universal question of where to invest and generate returns. Operators are trying to keep up with the growth in data traffic while facing significant economic conditions, including flat-to-declining revenue in often saturated markets. As it provides a nuanced view drawing on a global scope, this study is exactly what is needed for operators to thrive in any market condition.

    “In addition, mobile consumers are very savvy today and understanding what makes operators tick can help them make better decisions as to where to lock in their subscriptions — I think this study could be as interesting to consumers as it is to operators.”

    Head, Radio Strategic and Tactical Marketing, Ericsson, Patrik Cerwall said:: “We wanted to understand what makes operators successful in order to be the best partner to our customers. It may sound self-serving, but Frontrunners focus on growth, both enhancing the core business while at the same time exploring new markets and capabilities to secure future revenues, such as IoT (Internet of Things) and vertical solutions.

    “The journey toward 5G in 2020 will be marked by both new technology advances and new business models, but that transformation really started with the shift from voice to data-driven networking. The operators who are managing that transition successfully may provide the blueprint for success in 5G.”

  • Poor telecoms service quality unacceptable, says NCC

    Poor telecoms service quality unacceptable, says NCC

    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 held at the University of Lagos, Akoka said, he was worried by the development, adding that the Commission has 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 utilizes.

    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.

    He said it is common for comparisons to be made between the country and other parts of the world where service quality is great, adding that in making such comparison, it is too often forgotten that there is infrastructure deficit in the country. While monopolies in the developed parts of the world made enormous investments in infrastructure to sustain their markets, Nigeria was not as lucky as the fortunes of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) was mismanaged.

    “The dearth of fixed landline services brought about enormous pressure on mobile services which affected quality given the rate of subscription. Our situation resulted in mobile services providing the triple role of office, home and mobility services. While some countries such as the United Kingdom with less geographical spread have more than 50,000 base stations, Nigeria has about 25,000. So, the issue of infrastructure deficit in a country like Nigeria is bound to affect quality of service.

    “Sometimes when the regulator reels out some of these challenges, especially those outside its immediate control, it is misinterpreted as giving excuses for the service providers. But as a regulator who must show clear understanding of the issues, we refused to play the ostrich,” Juwah said.

  • ‘Why MTN is supporting local app developers’

    ‘Why MTN is supporting local app developers’

    Global system for mobile communication (GSM) service provider, MTN, said it is building a robust distribution platform to enable millions of Nigerians access locally-relevant mobile software applications at zero data cost to deepen the industry and enhance the fortune of apps developers across the country.

    The telco said it was motivated by the need to enable local app developers make money in the increasingly competitive mobile app space dominated by Blackberry World, Google Play, Windows Store and App Store.

    To make this happen, MTN said it will open up its network that has over 60 million mobile subscribers to the local app development community.

    It said it is part of its one-week apps awareness campaign targeted at encouraging the download of free app downloads.

    Its Chief Marketing Officer, Adebayo Adekanmbi, who spoke during the MTN APPtitude Conference in Lagos said the telco intends to ensure that more apps get into the hands of Nigerians. He said: “We have organised all Nigerian-centric apps in a portal and through our special gateway Nigerians can access digital content at no cost. We are making it open for all developers in the country to join MTN by bringing the APK for their apps so that we can put it in the hands of Nigerians.”

    Analysts say the liberalisation of the telecoms sector has been of immense benefit to the country as it has given rise to a new class of tech-preneurs that specialise in the development of mobile applications that have been very useful in solving contemporary problems.

    Traffic, healthcare, education, transportation, e-commerce, tourism and hospitality among many others are some of areas these applications have been addressing.

    According to them, the huge strides being recorded in mobile applications development is going unnoticed because Nigerians are unable to quickly find relevant apps, without the distractions of applications that are only useful to people in North America and Europe.

    “Every Nigerian can now download any app relevant to them free of charge for the next one month,” Adekanmbi said, adding that the telco will also assist Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to convert their websites into apps.

    He said 99 per cent of Nigerian- centric websites have long Uniform Resource Identifier (URLs), which are difficult to remember, hence, customers hardly visit these pages more than once thus making the an urgent need to simplify access in order to grow uptake and consumption of digital services inevitable.

    Adekanmbi said through the campaign, MTN is playing a critical in democratising the internet as it looks to allow the generality of the Nigerian populace access relevant digital content.

    Speaking on the occasion, Co-founder, Co-Creation Hub (CC-HUB), Femi Longe, urged local developers to build apps that address the daily activities of the people of Nigeria.

    CC-HUB is an innovation centre dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity. It is located in Yaba, a Lagos community that is fast turning out to be Nigeria’s Sillicon Valley.

  • Phone: Samsung Galaxy S6

    Phone: Samsung Galaxy S6

    I have  never been a big fan of Samsung phones. They’ve always being packed with great technology — the best displays, cameras, and processors — but all of that was overshadowed by poor hardware design and software bloated with too many unnecessary features.

    Samsung sold more phones than anyone original equipment manufacturer (OEM) else, but sales slowed and profits fell last year as other Android-phone manufacturers made similar devices at half the cost and Apple finally released two big-screen iPhone models.

    So Samsung started from scratch with its newest phone, the Galaxy S6. It has a new design constructed out of metal and glass and is the first Samsung phone to rival the iPhone in build quality.

    The Galaxy S6 has already gone on sale, starting at about $650. It’ll come in a version with a curved screen, called the Edge, that’ll cost about $100 extra. All the major US carriers will offer various on-contract prices and payment plans.

    The Galaxy S6 is the first Samsung phone I’ve enjoyed using, and it’s easily the best Android phone available today.

    And I bet it’ll be the best smartphone, period, for a lot of people.

     

    Design

     

    As pretty and solid as the Galaxy S6 is, I have one major gripe. It’s clear Samsung looked to the iPhone 6 for inspiration. From the front and back, the Galaxy S6 looks a lot like previous Galaxy phone models. But the rounded metal frame and punched-out speaker holes are remarkably similar to the iPhone 6.

    The other day, my colleague had her white iPhone 6 on her desk next to my white Galaxy S6. From certain angles, it was tough to tell which phone I was looking at. I’m glad Samsung started taking design seriously, but it’s a shame it looked to the iPhone for inspiration, especially considering it has been accused of doing just that in the past.

    imilarities aside, I really like the look and feel of the Galaxy S6. It always irked me that Samsung consistently had the best hardware but wrapped it all in kitschy faux leather or dimpled plastic that looks like a Band-Aid. The Galaxy S6 is built like the premium device it was meant to be, and it’s a refreshing new step for Samsung.

    The Edge model, which is essentially the same phone except with a curved screen, is unique and much more beautiful than the regular Galaxy S6. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s worth the extra $100 and the hit you take on battery life. Even Samsung admits it made the Edge just to look pretty. The curved screen serves very little purpose other than to draw attention.

    The new design comes with some sacrifices. Samsung had to ditch a lot of features fans loved like a removeable battery, waterproofing, and a slot to add extra storage. There was a minor uproar in the Android community after Samsung announced the Galaxy S6 because of that, but I don’t think its a big deal. The entry-level Galaxy S6 comes with 32GB of storage, twice the storage of the iPhone. That should be plenty for most people. Apple, HTC, and Motorola have all proved unibody phones with built-in batteries have mass appeal and don’t hurt the user experience. If anything, Samsung is way behind the competition by offering that now.

     

    Hardware

     

    The Galaxy S6’s camera is the best one I’ve ever used on a smartphone. Period. When I compared the iPhone 6 camera with the Galaxy S6 camera, I found that the Galaxy S6 took better pictures under most circumstances, especially in low light.

    But the real key feature is how easy Samsung made it to use the camera. A double tap of the home button launches the camera app so you can start shooting right away. The camera sensor is always on too, so you don’t have to wait that extra beat for the image to appear on your screen. Even if the Galaxy S6 camera was slightly worse than the competition, the ability to take shots so quickly still gives it an edge.

    Samsung also improved the fingerprint sensor embedded in the Galaxy S6’s home button. Last year’s model required you to swipe your finger across the button just right to unlock the device. And even then, it didn’t always work. The Galaxy S6’s fingerprint sensor is perfect. You just lightly rest your finger on the button and — poof! — the phone unlocks. It hasn’t failed on me once. (Eventually, the fingerprint sensor will be used with Samsung Pay, Samsung’s mobile payments system that will launch in the summer).

    The screen is wonderful too. At 5.1 inches, it’s a little bigger and a lot sharper than the display on the iPhone. Samsung has always made the best displays, and this is no exception.

    But the screen comes with a drawback. I noticed the battery life is a little worse on the Galaxy S6, likely because the screen is sucking a lot of power. I could make it through a full day on a charge, but just barely. You’ll likely find yourself charging your phone during the day just to be safe.

    Good news, though: The Galaxy S6 comes with a special plug that charges it a lot faster than normal chargers, which is perfect if you’re in a jam but don’t have enough time to charge your phone all the way. It’s also one of the few major smartphones that support wireless charging right out of the box, a feature I can’t believe isn’t standard on all phones these days. (I’ve loved plopping my phone on Samsung’s wireless pad at the end of the day. There’s no need to worry about fiddling with a plug.)

     

    Software

     

    Samsung is famous for bogging down its phones with apps and superfluous features. But with the Galaxy S6, a lot of that has been stripped out and cleaned up to the point where I don’t even feel like I’m using a clunky Samsung phone.

    The standard apps for calendar, messages, and email are all designed well and dead simple to use. And instead of relying on its own services, Samsung has teamed up with Microsoft, so you get Skype, OneNote, and the online storage service OneDrive right of the box. (If you’re still a fan of Samsung’s apps, you can download them through Samsung’s app store.)

    The user interface is better, too. Unlike years past, Samsung didn’t meddle too much with Android’s basic design, which is excellent on its own. Menus, notifications, and settings are much easier to manage no

    Courtesy: Business Insider

  • Apple, Android app makers snub Microsoft’s overtures

    Apple, Android app makers snub Microsoft’s overtures

    Microsoft’s plan to make its new version of Windows a mobile hit by letting it accept tweaked Apple and Android apps has met an obstacle: some of the software developers the company needs to woo just aren’t interested.

    Windows phones accounted for just three per cent of global smartphone sales last year, compared with about 81 per cent for devices with Google’s Android system and 15 percent for Apple and its iOS system, according to research firm IDC. One reason is that Windows doesn’t run as many or as attractive apps as its rivals.

    To boost sales of its phones and new operating system, Microsoft said last month that it would provide tools to software developers to make it easier to design apps for Windows based on apps that run on Android or Apple. But because so few people use a Windows phone, most developers remain focused on the more popular systems and don’t see a need to develop apps for Windows. They also said they doubt how easy the new tools will be to use.

    “Windows phone will have to gain a significant share of the market before this becomes something that saves us time and/or money,” said Sean Orelli, a director at app development firm Fuzz Productions in New York, which makes apps related to Citibank, the New York Post, and Conde Nast, among others.

    For Microsoft, the world’s biggest software company, there’s a lot at stake this summer as it rolls out Windows 10, the first operating system designed to run on PCs, tablets and phones. If developers don’t embrace the new platform, it will seriously damage the prospects of the new operating system, which Microsoft hopes will power one billion devices in two or three years.

    Interviews with more than a dozen developers found just one planning to move an app from Apple or Android to Microsoft MSFT.O. That’s King.com, which ported its popular Candy Crush Saga game from iOS to Windows 10 “with very few code modifications” and will be installed automatically with upgrades to Windows 10, according to Microsoft. King.com confirmed the move but declined to comment further.

    Eight developers said they aren’t planning to develop for Windows 10 at all. Four who already have Windows apps said they would continue to do so.

    Because Microsoft hasn’t actually unveiled its new set of tools to turn apps into a Windows format, developers did not rule out any move, and a Microsoft spokesman said that “it is still early” and many software companies want to explore the tools over the coming months.

    More and better apps might attract more people to buy a Windows phone or tablet, Microsoft reasons. Only six of the top 10 free apps on iPhone are available for Windows phone, and of those, two are made by Microsoft itself. In the past Microsoft has paid developers to create Windows apps.

    Failure to attract the apps would not be fatal for Microsoft, which is growing more reliant on its Office, server software and cloud computing services, but it would be a sign that Microsoft is losing its hold on personal computing, in a world where phones are expected to outsell PCs by more than six to one by 2017.

    Because of that trend, “it’s going to be hard for developers to prioritize building for Microsoft,” said John Milinovich, Chief Executive of URX, a mobile ad service that creates links between apps.

    Windows, closely tied to the stagnant PC market, is a big but static business for Microsoft. It’s likely worth $20 billion in revenue this fiscal year, analysts say, compared with almost $30 billion for its Office business, out of total expected annual revenue of $93 billion. The company’s server software and cloud-computing businesses are growing much faster, with cloud-computing revenue forecast to triple to $20 billion by 2018.

  • Bharti Airtel secures $22b credit line

    Bharti Airtel secures $22b credit line

    Chinese banks have granted $2.5billion in credit lines to Bharti Airtel, the Indian telecoms group, in one of the biggest Beijing-backed financings for an Indian group to date.

    The $22billion in business deals was signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China.

    In meetings with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders, Mr Modi sought to strengthen commercial ties between India and its more prosperous neighbour as well as ease tensions over their disputed 4,000km Himalayan border. China had already promised $20billion of infrastructure during Mr Xi’s visit to India last year.

    “We are very keen to develop the sectors where China is strong, We need your involvement. The scope and potential, the breadth and length of infrastructure and related developments is very huge in India,” Mr Modi told Indian and Chinese business executives in Shanghai.

    According to Financial Times, Airtel said it had agreed a $2billion credit line from China Development Bank (CDB)— which it called the single largest bilateral commitment by CDB to any telecoms operator globally and the largest to a private Indian company — and a further $500million from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Loan maturities extend up to nine years.

    “These financings further complement the strong collaboration with Chinese partners,” said Bharti Airtel, which announced a “strategic collaboration” with China Mobile in March. Bharti is already sourcing equipment from Chinese equipment makers Huawei and ZTE, putting the new lines of credit squarely within China’s existing practice of financing projects overseas that enable business for Chinese companies.

    The deal is one of the first since CDB’s capital injection last month, with a mandate to finance projects under Mr Xi’s “one belt, one road” initiative to promote Chinese industry overseas.

    Other big Indian groups that have benefited from Chinese bank credit include Essar Oil and the Reliance group of Anil Ambani, which secured a $1.2billion loan from three Chinese banks, including CDB, in 2012.

    Among other agreements signed during Mr Modi’s visit, India’s Adani Group and China’s Golden Concord Holdings said they would set up an integrated solar photovoltaic industrial park, while Welspun Energy of India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s Trina Solar for the production of photovoltaic cells and panels.

    Mr Modi’s government, elected a year ago, has announced ambitious plans to install 100 gigawatts of solar electricity capacity by 2022.

    “India is ready for business,” Mr Modi said in China before heading to its northern neighbour Mongolia. “I strongly believe that this century belongs to Asia.”

    In Mongolia, he announced a $1billion line of credit for the country, upgraded bilateral relations to a “strategic partnership” and called Mongolia “the new bright light of democracy in our world”.

    Mongolia is an active democracy and has had several peaceful transfers of power between parties since the fall of the Soviet Union, which is unusual among soviet satellite states.

    Trade and other ties between India and China have been surprisingly thin since Silk Road traffic slowed 1,000 years ago but have quickened in recent years as India taps Chinese financing and engineering for its infrastructure needs.

    The two countries also signed a joint accord on climate change, reminiscent of the agreement signed between the US and China in November. India and China called for developing countries to fulfil pledges of financing and technology transfer. Neither China nor India has yet submitted its detailed commitments ahead of an international climate change meeting in Paris in December.

  • Zinox chief urges Buhari on knowledge economy, others

    Zinox chief urges Buhari on knowledge economy, others

    The Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo-Stan Ekeh has urged the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari to build a knowledge-driven economy, invest in infrastructure and rebuild the ailing national economy to boost development and economic prosperity of the people.

    Ekeh, who spoke in Lagos during the official unveiling of the partnership between Technology Distributions (TD), a subsidiary of Zinox Technologies and EMC, global players in the data storage field, said the nation will witness technological explosion soon. According to him, with a population of 180million people without birth control, he said the nation is now breeding kids that are “digital from birth.”

    He assured the partners that the worst is over for the country as the new leadership will do the needful to oil the engine of the  economy, adding that the strategic initiative will go a long way in enhancing the profile of technology distribution and penetration on the continent for the benefit of all.

    Managing Director, EMC, Levant and Emerging Africa Region, Mr. Nazim Fraijat, said the addition of TD to EMC’s Global Business Partner Programme is in line with the organisation’s desire to deepen the pace of technological innovation in the West African sub-region and on the continent as a whole.

    He said: “We are happy to officially welcome Technology Distributions into our Business Partner Programme. Our delight further stems from TD’s status as one of the biggest and most structured ICT distributors in Nigeria and the West African region as a whole.

    “In view of our desire to make further in-roads into sub-Saharan Africa, we are confident that this partnership with TD will undoubtedly accelerate the rate of access to the wide range of innovative solutions that EMC is known for world-wide.”

    General Manager, EMC West Africa, Mr. Nicholas Travers, who delivered the keynote presentation, traced the organisation’s global trajectory and competence in the areas of storage, cloud computing, data security, content management and Big Data. According to him, EMC which is already a renowned global leader in the storage and information technology (IT) field, also has key interest in West Africa and Nigeria in particular.

    In his view, this interest is justified by the short space of time in which EMC has expanded its operations in Nigeria, going from having a single employee in 1999 to employing about 45 workers at present, while maintaining offices in Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.

    Ekeh said the pact with EMC serves to reaffirm TD’s prime position as the major driver of technological revolution in Africa. Ekeh, who commended EMC’s growth after just six years of operations in the country, also encouraged solution providers and resellers to take advantage of the unique opportunity offered by the partnership to grow their businesses.

    He said: “TD has maintained its position as the leader of the ICT distributor space over the years despite strong competition in the market place. This is why we see this partnership with EMC as strategic as it will go a long way to expand access to technology on the continent, especially considering the status of EMC as a major player in the global IT scene.

    “I wish to encourage all of our solution providers and resellers to take advantage of the unique partnership being officially unveiled, especially in view of the sheer scale of TD’s wide reach and after-sales support infrastructure which is unmatched in the sector as well as the innovative solutions in storage and data which EMC brings to the table.

    “Despite the current state of pessimism in the economy due to falling oil prices and the fluid state of the naira, I must reassure you that there is much to be hopeful about in Nigeria’s business space. We are Africa’s biggest economy and we have the right calibre of people in the incoming administration who will build on the gains recorded by the outgoing administration.”

    Managing Director, TD Solution, Mr. Etiene Etukudoh, who spoke about TD’s strong market presence and brand portfolio, also expressed delight at the partnership,  affirming its strategic importance as the company enters its 16th year of operations.

  • How to delete your Facebook account

    Signing on to social media platforms such as Faceboook, Superchat, Vine, Tumblr, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Linkedln, Instagram, Pinterest, Badoo and others could be very easy. Most times, people sign on to some of these platforms only to discover they are no longer catching the fun that initially goaded them to sign on.

    While some married men and women have complained about being harassed on the platform, some people have consummated their marriages through the platform. Others yet say they have met people that have changed their life stories for good.

    Cybercrooks and bullies are also not too far from these platforms, intimidating both the old and young while some people are contended with posting goofy pictures on these platforms.

    According to PC PRO, an online ICT platform, if you’re yearning for a Facebook-free lifestyle, these simple guide to deleting your Facebook account will help you.

    Before it begins,  please be sure you want to delete your account, not just temporarily remove it. Following these steps will lead to permanent removal of your account and all its data, which cannot be undone.

    If you just want to take a break without deleting your account, you can follow Facebook’s instructions for deactivating your account here.

     Log into Facebook

    First, for security reasons, you will need to log into Facebook. If you’re deleting an account you haven’t used in a while and have forgotten your password, you will need to reset it. You can find instructions for how to do that here.

    Download your Facebook data

    As this deletion process is permanent, you may wish to save your data first. You can do this by clicking on the down arrow in the top right hand corner of the screen and select Settings.

    You will be presented with a list of general account settings, at the bottom of which is a link to “download a copy of your Facebook data”, where you can do exactly that.

     Contact Facebook

     Facebook doesn’t make it easy to delete your account, and has buried the request form deep in its help pages. To make it easier for you, we’ve linked to it here – you will need to be logged in to continue.

     The final step

    You will now get a pop-up window warning you, once again, that this is a permanent decision and asking you to re-enter your password. You will also need to enter a CAPTCHA, then click “OK”.

  • How to achieve connectivity, by Huawei

    Chinese multinational, Huawei Technologies Company Limited has identified factors that will promote better connectivity in Nigeria and other developing countries, arguing that effective connectivity will improve the living standards of the people across board.

    In its Global Connectivity Index (GCI) on West Africa 2015 unveiled at Huawei Cloud Congress (HCC) West Africa in Lagos, the tech firm lamented that Nigeria ranked  47th in GCI, adding that the country  is nonetheless among top three emerging broadband markets.

    Huawei therefore said an increase in datacenter investment and developing economies need to move from investing in supply to building demand. It said these are the factors that will enhance better connectivity, arguing that learning from developing countries’ success will also help the country to become Global GCI leaders.

    Speaking on the GCI, President, Huawei Western Africa Region, Mr. Peng Song said: “The Global Connectivity Index is not merely a ranking of countries. We see it as a platform to partner with policymakers and enterprise leaders to identify, harness, and create new digital economy opportunities with the aim of building a Better Connected West Africa.”

    According to the firm, Nigeria has a small fixed base but huge potential in the uptake of mobile products as it is one of the world’s largest mobile subscriber markets and offers impressive opportunities primarily in the mobile broadband space, where rapid m-Commerce uptake is driving market growth. Nigerian’s are the highest number of internet users in Africa all of which accumulates to an improved potential within the country.

    Covering 50 countries including Nigeria among others and 90per cent of the world’s population, the GCI shed light on the growing opportunities around the world.

    While majority of developed countries are “Leaders” in the index, the United States ranked the highest among surveyed countries with Sweden, Singapore and Switzerland leading the GCI.

    Chile, China, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led the developing markets, with all three ranking in the high teens to low 20s overall. Developing market leaders are characterised by strong mobile adoption and overall access that is often comparable to developed markets, while typically lagging behind in terms of data center investment and other core elements of ICT infrastructure. Datacenter investment by developed countries is three times that of developing countries, which is the major catalyst of cloud proliferation as “the edge does not exist without the core.”

    Overall, the 2015 GCI showed that 20 per cent growth in ICT investment will increase a country’s GDP by one per cent. It also identified five enablers of digital transformation – data centers, cloud services, Big Data, broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies represent the targets that stakeholders should focus their investments on in order to most efficiently transform their economies for the digital age.

    According to the GCI, all economies are digitising, and the GCI provides a guide of who’s ahead, who’s behind, why, and who is poised to move up or back.

    Huawei forecasts that by 2025, as many as 100 billion connections will be generated globally, 90 per cent of which will come from intelligent sensors. This increase will be attributed to enterprises becoming enabled by the internet.

    By leveraging connectivity to streamline business processes, reduce costs and improve efficiency, enterprises will drive innovation and move the focus from a consumer

  • Consumption is Nigeria’s power problem, says Omatek’s CEO

    Indigenous computer manufacturing firm, Omatek Ventures has said the problem with Nigeria’s power sector is not essentially in the area of generation and distribution but consumption, adding that so much energy that should have been freed into the manufacturing sector is wasted.

    The Group Chief Executive Officer, Omatek Ventures, Mrs Florence Seriki said the new hybrid of power solutions of the firm will reduce power consumption by between 70-90 per cent and save substantial money.

    She said the hybrid solution of battery, inverter and solar matched with light emitting diode (LED) bulbs will reduce power consumption and waste.

    The Omatek chief said the solutions are the most cost efficient solar power solutions that could be deployed to schools, small businesses and big organisations in the country.

    “Our problem is not generation or distribution of power. It is our wasteful habit of power consumption. The use of our solar/LED solution can result in provision of power and in significant operational and maintenance cost savings for factories, schools, public offices, hospitals, hotels and SMEs in the country,” she said, adding that power is usually wasted when people switch on security lights and go to work.

    Already, the company has commissioned its 50KVA 3-phase off-grid solar solution factory that will represent the solar solution for factories, banks, telecommunications firms, government and other organisations that require big power installations.

    Off-grid solutions, on-grid solutions as well as LED bulbs are available for customers at affordable prices. Omatek Solar Solution is a hybrid solution that provides 24 hours lighting/power solution, while providing 70 – 90 per cent cut/deduction in power consumption and drastically reducing power consumption by an average of 90 per cent on the overall, grid, thus enhancing growth in the real sector and general economic development.

    Mrs Seriki, who spoke in Lagos, listed some of the benefits of Omatek Solar Powered Solution to include noise free, zero heat emission, brighter lighting, zero contribution to global warming, eco-friendly solution, no maintenance costs, local content, health and safety benefits, long-life LED Bulbs (three to five years) and cost saving.

    “We have installed these solutions in schools, homes, offices and factories and we are proud to inform you that the education sector welcomed the initiative since it supports the provision of power and green energy that powers school hostels and all reading areas with 24 hours lighting,” she said, adding that the initiative bridges the digital gap in the schooling system, as students cannot read in darkness.

    The benefits of commercial-scale solar energy extend far beyond the revenue you’ll generate each month. Solar benefits the world economically, environmentally and socially.

    Seriki said Omatek’s solution can be installed faster than other traditional or renewable power plants. It produces local, on-site energy, which reduces the need for extensive high-voltage transmission lines or a complex infrastructure. “It is particularly reliable over the long term. With no moving parts, fixed photovoltaic systems last longer than other energy sources.