The Nation Newspaper

Category: Infotech

  • Capacity expansion, key to service quality, says DBI chief

    Capacity expansion, key to service quality, says DBI chief

    Vice President of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Dr Okechukwu Ugweje has said expansion of the current capacities of the telcos, compelling them to do more and addressing the problem through the top bottom approach are some of the solutions to the persistent poor telecoms service quality.

    DBI is the manpower training institution of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). It is located in Abuja with campuses in Lagos and Kano.

    Ugweje lamented that poor service quality is real arguing that anybody who thinks it is not an issue in the industry is being economical with the truth. He identified network congestion as one major cause of poor service quality, adding that unless massive investment is carried out to strengthen the network, the issue will remain with the industry.

    “Qualty of service is a problem and anybody that tells you it is not a problem is being economical with the truth. One of the problems that cause quality of service issue is network congestion and the only way you can solve it is to expand the network. There are other issues in quality of service. Most of the telcos are aware that they do not have good quality service,” he said.

    He said the recent sealing of mega billion deals with both local and international finance houses is one of the efforts being made by the operators to correct the obvious disequilibrium between infrastructure and subscribers. According to him, the NCC is also not resting on its oars as it recently sanctions operators that failed to live up to the key performance indicators (KPIs) entered into with the NCC.

  • Where are internet capacities?

    Where are internet capacities?

    With many submarine cables in the country, it is expected that internet access will be smooth. But it is not so, despite the presence of Glo 1, MainOne, Sat 2 and other African Submarine Cables with landing points in Nigeria. Why is internet access hindered? LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

    Over the years, Director, Regulatory Affairs and Special Projects, Airtel Nigeria Osondu Nwokoro though a lawyer by profession, has become an expert in the information communication technology (ICT) space.

    So when he spoke on Policy and Regulatory Imperatives for Broadband Ubiquity in Lagos, everybody listened to him.

    Nwokoro defined broadband as the easier, faster and high speed internet access for data transmission and download, compared to traditional telephone and modem. Broadband supports real time internet radio, music, video, gaming, interactive services and others.

    He said the launch of the National Broadband Plan (NPB) 2013-2018 by the Federal Government is consistent with developments in other juris dictions, adding that it is a step in the right direction and showed government’s commitment to pursue a broadband agenda for the country.

    The Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP) defines ‘broadband as an internet experience where the user can access the most demanding content in real time at a minimum speed of 1.5megabytes per second (MBPS).’

    He said with six per cent broadband penetration in the country, it is both a challenge and an opportunity to meet the goal of realising a five-fold increase in broadband penetration by 2017.

    According to him the Broadband Commission for Digital Development charges that “access to broadband infrastructure and services must therefore be a top policy priority for countries around the globe, developed and developing alike as well as least developed countries,” adding that commission urges “governments and business to work together to develop innovative policy frameworks, business models and financing arrangements needed to facilitate growth in access to broadband worldwide.

    “We could not agree less with the statement in the NBP that the “the implementation of a NBP requires long-term commitment and significant action by federal, states and local governments, as well as, the executive and legislative branches of government – alongside strong private sector participation.

    Speaking on impact on the economy, he said wireless broadband is expected to contribute an additional N190billion to gross domestic product (GDP) next year while wireless broadband will have a direct revenue impact (spend on usage and devices) of N598billon or 0.7 per cent of GDP in next year.

    He added that its ecosystem value will be N124billion comprising consumer retail (m-commerce; m-Entertainment), financial services (m-banking), social services (m-learning, m-health, and m-governance) and corporate verticals (m-farming, m-enterprises, m-utilities).

    Wireless broadband will create N140billon of indirect value through productivity and efficiency gains in manufacturing, mining, industry, agric and services by next year.

    Head, Core Network Services, Cyberspace Network Limited, Osuere Peter said broadband is the totality that forms the entity for faster information delivery across a network. This network could either be digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber-optic, cable modem, satellite, wireless and broadband over powerlines (BPL).

    He said for internet and mobile banking, customers would be able carry on banking transaction activities via their fixed and mobile devices while e-commerce sites such as Konga, Jumia, olx have also emerged.

    It has also led to the provision of public services such as driver-license application, international passport, national ID card registration and e-government solutions, adding that the implementation of regulatory framework and policies to promote electronic transaction such as the Cashless Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also a great boost.

    According to the ambitious targets of the NBP, fixed broadband targets for cities (which is currently standing at 1.5per cent) expected to go up to 10 per cent next year in the short term, 16 per cent medium term of 2018 and long term target of 25 per cent by 2020. Penetration level which stands at 0.5per cent, will move up gradually to 3.3 per cent, 5.3 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.

    For national broadband targets, current level is 35 per cent while short term target is 60 per cent (2015). For medium term (2018), 80 per cent is targeted while 95 per cent is targeted by 2020 as long term target.

    Penetration currently is at six per cent. It is expected to go up steeply to 21 per cent; 42 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.

     

    Challenges

    The Nigerian broadband technology infrastructure has grown up to an appreciable level in some very specific places and at different degrees.

    According to Peter, while the growth is on, the industry is faced with a major challenge of the reliability of the services provided.

    This means e-business services being provided and the broadband technology infrastructure platform must both be reliable.

    Nwokoro said fixed infrastructure is not available in Nigeria and the cost and burden to put same in place is daunting. Wireless is the only viable option for broadband penetration.

    Another challenge is paucity of spectrum. According to him, NBP acknowledges the need for spectrum for mobile broadband and proposes to publish plan for freeing up spectrum for long term evolution (LTE) rollout this year, conduct licensing of 2.5/2.6gigahertz (GHz) spectrum and facilitate accelerated wireless infrastructure expansion and upgrade with operators.

    “Nigeria remains at risk of not meeting International Telecommunications Union (ITU’s) 2015 timeline for analogue broadcast switch off.  Without concerted action by the country to address the delayed implementation of analogue-digital broadcast switchover earlier scheduled for June 2012, the NBP proposals remains at risk,” he warned, adding that the 700/800 megahertz (MHz) digital dividend and 2.5/2.6GHz spectrum availability could be delayed till 2016 or beyond.

    Another issue is that of right of way (RoW) permits and other planning approval processes and associated charges between different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) at federal, state & local levels remain a strong disincentive for infrastructure development.

    Though NBP proposes to secure RoW waivers with states and also pursue expedited RoWs. achieving this goal between the three tiers of government remains a daunting challenge.

    Other challenges are device ownership and access points which are key to adoption and utilisation.

    He said: “The NBP proposes to challenge OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to produce sub $30 access devices to reduce cost of ownership and thus facilitate uptake by the broader subscriber base.

    “NBP also proposes to deploy local access points (in NIPOST premises and local government, (LG) Headquarters) to facilitate access within 2km for people who cannot afford own access devices.”

    He added that in spite of all the promises of the market size, major OEMs are unwilling to site assembly plants in the country for device manufacture because of unstable electricity supply, intellectual property rights issues and obstacles in the business environment.

     

    Way forward

    Mandate should be given to the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) to articulate a spectrum roadmap to address timely availability, cost-effective pricing and licensing of the 700/800 MHz Digital Dividend spectrum band to support mobile broadband penetration.

    Another is resuscitation of the NFMC and expansion of its membership to incorporate private sector representation.

    Nwokoro said consideration should be given to the 900 MHz and 2.5/2.6 GHz spectrum re-farming to support mobile broadband on LTE while spectrum policy and regulation to support flexibility must be put in place to support regional integration.

    Transition to a converged regulatory and spectrum environment by the merger of NCC and NBC consistent with international best practice is another plausible solution.

    Peter stressed the need to have quality data centres in the country while efforts must be made to have solutions that could bring together independent broadband technology platforms to function as a single unit

    He said: “We must move to monitor and measure the protection policies for infrastructures. We must have business boundaries. Accelerated growth and development comes as a result of subscriber satisfaction and loyalty. This could only be achieved by service and broadband technology reliability.”

  • NCC braces for spectrum auction

    NCC braces for spectrum auction

    •’Low participation not our doing’

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it has started a process that will lead to the issuance of another spectrum license to operators in the country pursuant to Federal Government’s national broadband plan.

    The Commission also absolved itself of any blame for the dismal participation of operators at the last auction in Abuja, arguing that its responsibility was to provide the level playing field for all participants while the decision of who participated or did not was purely that of the investors.

    Its Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo who spoke with The Nation on the sideline of a forum in Lagos said the NCC has started another process that will see another auctioning of spectrum in the 2.6 gigahertz (GHz) band to complement the one issued earlier in the year in which Bitflux, a relatively unknown IT firm beat Globacom to clinch the license.

    He said: “Participation at the last bid round for spectrum was very low because people knew that this particular one is coming. This is a question of choice and it is purely a business decision of the organisation. You have of two options and you ask yourself- Should I go for this one? if I go for this one am I going to have enough money to participate at the next one when it comes? Or should I just wait for this one because they don’t deliver the same kind of value? The 2.3GHz is for bulk that is wholesale. This one coming soon is different. So the point is that this one is different and people did their business plan and looked at the numbers. If the numbers added up for them to go ahead, they will go but if the numbers do not add up, they will keep their funds.”

    “Ours is to create a level playing field for the investors while the investors will make their investment decision of whether to invest or not. Some important thing is that some level playing field has been created. Twenty-seven companies indicated interest when we did the last one in Abuja but only two got to the final stage. The other people that dropped by the way said it was based on their business plan.”

    Ojobo said the number of times the regulator auction spectrum is a function of the availability of its availability, adding that as the nation prepares for the analogue switch off next year, more frequencies would be vacated by the broadcast industry for telecommunication. He said ubiquitous availability of broadband itself is a function of the availability of spectrum.

    He said: “The issue of broadband is about spectrum because there are areas of Nigeria that it will be very difficult to take optic fibre cable. In places such as that, we will use wireless to bridge the gap because optic fibre cable is wired. So, the 2.6 GHz that NCC is preparing to auction will deliver wireless services. Then remember that preparations are also in top gear to license infrastructure providers (Infracos) to complement the efforts. Seven companies will be licensed one in each of the six geo-political zones of the country while one will serve Lagos. Already, the process to do the first phase of licensing is on and we are hoping it will be concluded before the year runs out.”

  • Samsung expands retail presence

    Samsung expands retail presence

    Samsung Electronics West Africa, in partnership with accredited local partners, has stepped up its nationwide market expansion drive with massive roll out of Samsung brand stores across the country.

    In a statement, the firm said the retail expansion drive is designed to provide Nigerians with an exciting avenue to interact with Samsung’s full range of audio visual solutions and an extensive range of premium household appliances in one easily-accessible location, whilst creating widespread destinations where consumers can experience firsthand Samsung’s extensive product ecosystem and receive personalised service from trained sales consultants.

    Its Director of Consumer Electronics, Mr. Sunil Kumar, described the move as a confirmation of Samsung’s effort to make connected lifestyle products and solutions more accessible, and to offer the most consumer-centric engagement in a retail environment.

    “Over the years, Samsung has made strong in-roads with its consumers in Nigeria. We consider the country as a key entry point into Africa. With the growing importance of the region as a primary world market for our premium consumer electronics, maintaining a strong top-of-mind position in Nigeria holds considerable importance for us from a business perspective. Our ongoing expansion drive in the country marks our commitment to delivering excellent products and services to our consumers. We see bright prospects for Nigeria’s future economically, and we expect consumer sentiment to remain positive and indeed move from strength to strength.

  • Smile Communications bags ICT award

    Smile Communications bags ICT award

    Smile Communications, a broadband service provider has been awarded the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Investment Operator of the Year, for its massive investments in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) broadband service, in ensuring that Nigerians have easy access to fast internet service.

    The company was recognised alongside other operators by the Nigerian Telecoms Awards, which held its tenth ceremony with fanfare in Lagos at the weekend.

    Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and the Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, who presented most of the award plaques, commended Smile Communications and other award recipients for emerging winners at this years’ awards.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the company, its General Manager, Sales and Distribution, Mr. Kenneth Esenwah expressed happiness over the award, and explained that the company’s vision to offer fast internet service to Nigerians is beginning to yield results as more Nigerians are benefiting from the affordable and fast internet service that is being offered by Smile.

    According to him, Smile Communications saw huge business opportunity to serve the Nigerian internet market, even though it entered into the market at a time when security challenges were serious issues to national broadband rollout. “We came into the market in 2013 when Nigerians were having difficulties with slow speed internet service and within a short period of time, we changed all of that and today, Nigerians on the Smile network are enjoying fast internet service at affordable rates,” Esenwah said.

  • Stars assemble for TD Mobile launch

    Stars assemble for TD Mobile launch

    Leading musician, Iyanya, will lead other artistes such as Naeto C and J. Martins, who have been confirmed to perform at the launch of TD Mobile in Lagos.

    According to a statement, TD-Mobile is the digital lifestyle and highly mobile products distribution arm of Technology Distributions Limited that has already signed distribution agreements with world-class mobile products manufacturers such as Lenovo, Nokia, HP, Zinox, Toshiba, Dell and others.

    Head, Marketing, TD-Mobile, Mrs. Gozy Ijogun, said the firm is everything about Original Digital Mobile (ODM) products such as smartphones, phablets, tablets, laptops and  mobile printers from world class manufacturers for all highly upwardly mobile resellers/partners in Nigeria who really deserve the best with peerless after-sales services.

    Mrs. Ijogun said: “What differentiates TD-Mobile from other distributors is that we are focused on digital mobile products direct from manufacturers and we take responsibility for all our products. The market is full of fake products and we thought we should define this market for the good of the country. We have in the past six months hired smart and well educated Nigerians with style to drive the vision of the founders of Technology Distribution. .We are everything about digital lifestyle mobile products distribution and this forthcoming launch is a statement of intent to provide ready access for all to cutting edge mobile technology for business and pleasure. We have invited selected partners nationwide for this great evening which is an eye opener to modern digital lifestyle mobile products distribution. Trust me, TD-Mobile will be a rewarding experience for the whole of Africa.”

  • Financial phishing on rise, experts warn

    Financial phishing on rise, experts warn

    Experts have warned about a substantial increase in the number of global financial phishing in spam and other online security breaches.

    Phishing is technically referred to as ‘the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, online’.

    Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons, Tim Akano had earlier warned that there will be seven biggest and most dangerous information technology (IT) security threats this year.

    He said: “They are malware, ransomware, advanced persistent threats, spear phishing, social network attacks, cyber attacks on banks and telecoms, and cloud backlash. When a user receives an email with a link to download an attachment and the user activates and clicks the download, from that moment, the user device has been compromised.”

    Data released at Kaspersky Laboratory lamented that there was a 7.9per cent increase in number of scam emails the used the names of reputable banks and other institutions.

    Security Solutions Director at Westcon, Andrew Potgieter said: “Recent data released from Kaspersky Lab suggests that there was recently a 7.9 per cent increase in the amount of scam emails that make use of the names of reputable banks, payment services, online stores and similar organisations. The figures are staggering and the team advises that these messages represent nearly 42 per cent of all phishing messages. The hardest hit has been PayPal and references to the company have triggered the most dramatic increase in alerts from Kaspersky Lab’s anti-phishing.”

    In addition, the Labs indicate that overall, the share of spam in overall email traffic has increased by 2.2 per cent in July, bringing it to 67 per cent. The United States (U.S.) is the leading country of origin for unsolicited email: one sixth (15.3 per cent) of all global spam was sent from the U.S. Russia keeps its long-standing second position in this ranking with 5.6 per cent of all spam; this, however, is 1.4 per cent less than in June. China remains in third place, supplying 5.3 per cent of global spam.

    According to biztechafrica.com, the long hot summer in the Northern Hemisphere left its mark, adding that in particular, the Russian segment of the internet saw a surge of spam messages advertising sun protection and items to battle the heat. Also in July, Kaspersky Lab’s experts recorded an increase in the number of spam emails offering a variety of summer goods like air conditioners, cooling fans, sunscreen films for windows, bottled water and sunglasses.

    Summer also means holidays, and since everyone wants to look their best on the beach spammers didn’t forget to offer some help. There were quite a number of spam emails in July advertising all types of skin care cosmetics and seasonal discounts from beauty shops and parlours. Kaspersky Lab’s experts also discovered video tutorials advertised as “beauty secrets” revealed by a renowned stylist.

  • Cloud computing IT game changer, says Vodacom

    Cloud computing IT game changer, says Vodacom

    Vodacom Business Nigeria has said the adoption of cloud computing by business organisations will ultimately lead to significant reduction in the costs of doing business by both small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and big units.

    It however lamented that businesses in the country are still lagging behind with only a third of them currently using cloud technology.

    Its Executive Head, Cloud and Hosting Services, Nkosi Kumalo said: “Cloud is the ultimate place to do Business. Most chief information officers (CIOs) spend their time managing complex IT delivery however, by adopting cloud technology; corporates have reduced their total cost of operation (TCO) and increased productivity. Cloud technology transforms the way we do business.”

    Speaking on Utilising Cloud As Key Business Tool, at the CIO forum sponsored by Vodacom Business Nigeria in Lagos, he urged firms still doing business in the usual way to start thinking about looking inwards by embracing cloud technology.

    Kumalo stated that factors driving cloud adoption include improved connectivity, reduction in IT costs and the retention of key skills. “Companies can no longer afford to invest too much of their capital expenditure (CAPEX) into IT infrastructure as this is an expensive, long-term investment,” he added.

    According to him, despite this increased interest in cloud technology across Africa, it is evident that the major adaption inhibitor is the security of cloud computing.

    Kumalo who responded to questions raised around cloud security at the forum said: “We have taken care of the fears around security; our solutions are designed to incorporate the very latest in security technology. Our cloud security solution ensures that your business critical applications are safe. We also have cloud backup and Archiving Solutions offering customers full redundancy for business continuity and disaster recovery.”

    As companies establish confidence in cloud solutions, they will move more of their solutions into the cloud, however, to achieve this, it is important that enterprises partner with a company that has a robust network and relevant skills to deliver the value that the Cloud promises.

  • Wiko challenges OEMs

    Wiko challenges OEMs

    An obscure smartphone maker in France has created a successful European challenger to tech giants Samsung and Apple. Wiko is majority-owned by Chinese technology group Tinno Mobile and its phones are manufactured in China.  It has also become a popular brand in Portugal and Italy.

    Wiko has eight per cent of the French market, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, which measured “triple-digit growth across Europe” for the brand in the past year.

    The company has plans to take the brand into countries where inroads have already been made by Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei and ZTE to bring down the price of smartphones.

    It will start selling handsets in the UK this autumn, according to David Garcia, head of International Development at Wiko, followed by parts of Africa such as the Ivory Coast and Senegal, the Middle East and Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

    Wiko was established in February 2011 by a French businessman Laurent Dahan. Its head office, design and marketing teams are based in Marseille.

    Garcia said the heart of the group was in Europe, but there was support from its Chinese partner.

    “There is a European brain and atmosphere that would not be possible if we were based in China,” he said. “You need to be based in Europe to understand European needs.”

    Even so, he admits that making phones would not be possible in Europe. “You can think in Europe but you have to make it somewhere else.

    You need your costs in China to stay competitive.”

  • Microsoft partners ISPON

    Microsoft partners ISPON

    Microsoft Nigeria has  the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), in a move designed to foster the growth of the software ecosystem.

    Speaking during the presentation of the certificate of membership to Microsoft Nigeria along with a handover of a white paper on the sustenance of a strategic partnership between the two organisations, ISPON President, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr. reiterated the resolve of ISPON to build indigenous capacity by bolstering software local content.  It will also strive to protect and advocate intellectual property rights as it concerns indigenous software development through its various channels and events, adding that Microsoft has a key role in the realisation of these goals.

    Country Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Kabelo Makwane, expressed satisfaction with the approach of ISPON in addressing these key issues, stressing that the partnership should be on a long term basis judging by the enormity and importance of the issues identified.

    Makwane urged ISPON to facilitate a strong software industry which will speak with one voice, thereby lending credence to the advocacy of its cause.

    ISPON’s immediate past President, Mr. Chris Uwaje, praised the new, welcoming Microsoft on board. He urged the company to assert its role in the development of the software ecosystem as Nigeria.

    He said the country has a pool of young talented software developers, a large percentage of which will be churned into the software ecosystem in the next decade creating a vibrant software industry.