Following conclusion of discussions between Emerging Market Telecommunications Service (EMTS) trading under the name of Etisalat Nigeria, has bought over the Third Generation (3G) license belonging to Alheri Mobile Services Limited.
Alheri Mobile Services Limited is a fully owned subsidiary of Dangote Group, Alheri Mobile is a holder of a 3G license for Nigeria.
Etisalat also said that the 3G services would be up and running commercially by mid 2011.
Confirming this to Champion Infotech, the chief executive officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans said that the agreed purchase of the license concludes the acquisition process, which puts Etisalat Nigeria in the position of having immediate access to the full use of a 3G license alongside other three Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications operators in Nigeria, including Glo, MTN and Airtel.
Mr. Evans noted that Etisalat was delighted to acquire the 3G license, which is an essential element of its plans for further developing the market for mobile broadband in Nigeria.
“We have placed a strong emphasis on offering data services to all our customers from launch through enabling edge on all our cell sites throughout Nigeria. Now with 3G, we can further develop our data and mobile broadband portfolio and offer our customers even higher levels of service. There is pent-up demand in Nigeria for Broadband and we intend to be leaders in satisfying it,” he said.
Equally commenting, the chairman, EMTS, Mr. Hakeem Bello Osagie said the acquisition of the 3G license is the professional way in which the negotiations were led by Mr. Aliko Dangote and his team.
”We look forward to further cooperation in the future," he said.
Managing Director, Alheri Mobile and Head of Dangote’s telecommunications arm, Mr. Boye Olusanya, said it makes sense for his firm to sell Alheri Mobile to Etisalat Nigeria as they believe that the market could only be sustained in the medium to long term.
“We intend to use the capital raised to develop our other assets in the telecommunications market and we look forward to continuing to deepen our relationship with Etisalat Nigeria,” he said.
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Exclusive@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news! By Remmy Nweke A new investigation has revealed that 80% of Nigeria’s offi...
Monday, December 06, 2010
Airtel says freedom in mobile is 2Good
Airtel Nigeria has said that freedom in mobile communications has been elevated as it introduced 2Good offer, which gives customers’ value on local calls and attractive call rates to the United States (US) on its network.
Head, Corporate Communications at Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah disclosed this , last weekend, saying that a new promo on all calls after the first minute of the day at 20 kobo per second has been introduced.
This, he said, would apply to all calls on its network and to other networks across the country for all local destinations and to the US.
“The 2Good offer gives Airtel customers the much awaited ‘Freedom’ to make calls at just 20 kobo per second after the first minute in the day,” he said.
Oparah explained that on the 2Good offer, for the first minute subscribers would pay 60 kobo per second and enjoys the benefits for all such calls in the rest of the day, stressing that the subscriber enjoys the freedom to make calls at this rate to any network in the country.
“2Good also brings this same freedom to make calls at the same 60 kobo per second for the first minute in the day and 20 kobo per second thereafter to all his family and friends in the US,” he highlighted.
Oparah quoted the Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Rajan Swaroop, as saying that with the launching of Airtel brand last month in the country, they had promised to deliver innovative, affordable and relevant solutions to bring about more freedom to the customers.
“Our 2Good promotion demonstrates our commitment to live up to that promise,” Swaroop said.
The new tariff offer from Airtel, Swaroop also said, clearly lives up to the expectations of Nigerians and the challenge laid down recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, while launching Airtel brand in Abuja.
Additionally, the chief executive officer, said, 2Good offers 20 free on net Short Messaging Services (SMSes) to every customer with N100 recharge every month.
“Airtel customers just need to send *446# to experience 2Good for 30days,” he said.
Swaroop further reassured that Airtel would be driven by its vision to be the most loved brand in daily lives of Nigerians.
“2Good offers Freedom to our customers to make more calls to their loved ones. This is the first of the range of our exciting products, with superior network and service, which would redefine ‘Freedom’ to mobile communications for Nigeria” he said.
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Head, Corporate Communications at Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah disclosed this , last weekend, saying that a new promo on all calls after the first minute of the day at 20 kobo per second has been introduced.
This, he said, would apply to all calls on its network and to other networks across the country for all local destinations and to the US.
“The 2Good offer gives Airtel customers the much awaited ‘Freedom’ to make calls at just 20 kobo per second after the first minute in the day,” he said.
Oparah explained that on the 2Good offer, for the first minute subscribers would pay 60 kobo per second and enjoys the benefits for all such calls in the rest of the day, stressing that the subscriber enjoys the freedom to make calls at this rate to any network in the country.
“2Good also brings this same freedom to make calls at the same 60 kobo per second for the first minute in the day and 20 kobo per second thereafter to all his family and friends in the US,” he highlighted.
Oparah quoted the Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Rajan Swaroop, as saying that with the launching of Airtel brand last month in the country, they had promised to deliver innovative, affordable and relevant solutions to bring about more freedom to the customers.
“Our 2Good promotion demonstrates our commitment to live up to that promise,” Swaroop said.
The new tariff offer from Airtel, Swaroop also said, clearly lives up to the expectations of Nigerians and the challenge laid down recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, while launching Airtel brand in Abuja.
Additionally, the chief executive officer, said, 2Good offers 20 free on net Short Messaging Services (SMSes) to every customer with N100 recharge every month.
“Airtel customers just need to send *446# to experience 2Good for 30days,” he said.
Swaroop further reassured that Airtel would be driven by its vision to be the most loved brand in daily lives of Nigerians.
“2Good offers Freedom to our customers to make more calls to their loved ones. This is the first of the range of our exciting products, with superior network and service, which would redefine ‘Freedom’ to mobile communications for Nigeria” he said.
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Xmas: iZAP doles out additional 50% extra validity
In the spirit of the Christmas season, Starcomms plc has extended its validity period for its internet product, iZAP by 50 per cent.
The offer which commenced last week Thursday, according to its Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Mr. Tushar Maheshwari, allows subscribers on iZAP, would enjoy this till December 12 2010.
He said that all iZAP users except those on the 250 hours plan would get the bonus validity time, stressing that customers on the 250 hours already have the stretch three months validity on their subscription.
This largesse of the season which is expected to help IZAP customers, who activate or renew their subscription during the promotion period, browse the internet way into the new year before another renewal, will be enjoyed by all IZAP users in the country.
“With this, the customers can send and receive data messages all through the holiday period without the hassles of renewal that comes with their normal validity period. The extension comes automatically with new activation or renewal if it is done within the stipulated period of the promotion,” he said.
Maheshwari said that the company decided on it aware that the Christmas season is very crucial to Internet users both for their businesses and for pleasure.
“The company therefore believes that it is the right period to add value to their lifestyles,” he said.
Maheshwari further give instance customers on the hundred hours’ package will enjoy 45 five days of browsing time, stressing that this in effect signifies a roll-over of whatever number of hours is left on their package after the 30 days normal validity period of their subscription plan.
Starcomms iZAP, he noted, had in the last four years, ruled the world of internet products offered by telecommunication companies in the country for its speed, ease of use and value.
Since 2007, he said, the iZAP brand has been adjudged the Internet Product of the Year in the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards. This year the brand has won the same award at the African Telecom Hall of Fame.
IZAP is enjoyed by Internet users on Starcomms’ network in major Nigerian cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin, Calabar Warri, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Katsina and their surrounding towns and villages.
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The offer which commenced last week Thursday, according to its Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Mr. Tushar Maheshwari, allows subscribers on iZAP, would enjoy this till December 12 2010.
He said that all iZAP users except those on the 250 hours plan would get the bonus validity time, stressing that customers on the 250 hours already have the stretch three months validity on their subscription.
This largesse of the season which is expected to help IZAP customers, who activate or renew their subscription during the promotion period, browse the internet way into the new year before another renewal, will be enjoyed by all IZAP users in the country.
“With this, the customers can send and receive data messages all through the holiday period without the hassles of renewal that comes with their normal validity period. The extension comes automatically with new activation or renewal if it is done within the stipulated period of the promotion,” he said.
Maheshwari said that the company decided on it aware that the Christmas season is very crucial to Internet users both for their businesses and for pleasure.
“The company therefore believes that it is the right period to add value to their lifestyles,” he said.
Maheshwari further give instance customers on the hundred hours’ package will enjoy 45 five days of browsing time, stressing that this in effect signifies a roll-over of whatever number of hours is left on their package after the 30 days normal validity period of their subscription plan.
Starcomms iZAP, he noted, had in the last four years, ruled the world of internet products offered by telecommunication companies in the country for its speed, ease of use and value.
Since 2007, he said, the iZAP brand has been adjudged the Internet Product of the Year in the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards. This year the brand has won the same award at the African Telecom Hall of Fame.
IZAP is enjoyed by Internet users on Starcomms’ network in major Nigerian cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin, Calabar Warri, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Katsina and their surrounding towns and villages.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Lack of access to technology tops CTA survey
LACK of access to infrastructure and technology have been identified by the latest survey conducted by Brussels-based Centre for Technical Agriculture (CTA) as top on the main causes for inequity in closing knowledge gap in integrated water management for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.The survey also revealed that aforementioned is followed by uneven access to information and lack of laws to address such anomalies within the 29-member ACP nations.
According to the report on electronic consultation for the CTA seminar 2010, which just ended in Gauteng Province, South Africa and made available to ITRealms Online, the last round and the fifth of the survey in preparation for the seminar aimed at jump-starting the activities in the working groups and focused on equity, governance and institutional reform, adaptation strategies for vulnerable rural communities, and storage for adaptation.
The survey highlighted that the e-consultation group on equity made a start in collecting insights on the main dividing lines rural-urban, than men-women, sedentary farmers across herders, rich-poor with a proposed division being the arid zone or wet zone.
They also asked what the main causes for inequity could be with respondents listing mostly lack of access to infrastructure and technology, which was followed by uneven access to information and lack of laws.
Additionally, the survey noted that unequal land distribution, poor enforcement of rules and laws in addition to pollution or contamination of water among others.
ITRealms Online gathered that suggestions for the proposed action research were made as well and particularly using participative evaluation methods or compensates all actors; to ensure they could play their role.
Equally, the survey highlighted that training of all actors and organizing them into associations would pave the way for changing the mindset presently.
“Involve, from the beginning, all actors in your research. Each village has its particularities, so the approach should be flexible enough to deal with that,” part of the report read and advised against monetary or physical incentives so as to avoid biasing the process, and to make it replicable, even after funding is no longer there.
Another suggestion made was to absolutely involve a donor, because hydraulic structures are expensive in conducting of such survey to ensure equity is maintained.
On the need for governance and institutional reform, the CTA survey noted that when respondents were asked to prioritize on governance, the response was without doubt to focus on local level governance and on the option to work from the perspective of water user groups and farmer cooperatives, but also to look at capacity building, the need to bring all actors at local level up to speed to increase the chances of a fair outcome of governance processes.
The report, endorsed by the Director of CTA, Mr. Michael Hailu and Head of Communications at CTA, Ms Oumy Nidaye, suggested additional topic as in the link or absence of that link between watershed and administrative organization, stressing that the adaptation of strategies for vulnerable rural communities is very vital
As indicated by the survey, its objective for this group was to collect as many as possible context specific observations and experiences of action, which resulted in cases from Haiti, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Uganda, Burkina, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria.
The report also noted that obviously in such context and specific situations, the drivers are expected to be specific, more so, when combined, “the major drivers in these cases were considered to be climate change, environmental degradation the management of water resources, population growth, lack of knowledge and lack of investment.”
However, the last question, ITRealms Online learnt was on ‘communication’ to bring change, underscoring the fact that a wealth of suggestions came, but here too the context comes into play, for instance, at what time do people listen to the radio, so that messages would be effective.
As for who to approach, the suggestions vary from the traditional elders to ‘the young’ but there is consensus on the need for working with audio visual materials, urging involvement of community from the beginning in the whole process.
This came as the survey reflected that the biggest challenges in developing local storage was not a huge difference in answers, the report stated was because no forced ranking was applied.
Based on the survey, financing and equitable access to water came out first, followed by organizing the users with a suggestion on additional problem; the survey noted was the choice of the storage-technology.
“The answers could of course be seen as a reflection of the complexity of developing storage in an effective way,” participants agreed.
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Digital inclusion: NigComSAT to connect Nigerian villages
The dream of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSAT) Limited is to make every physical rural community in the country a virtual village through the deployment of satellite connectivity.
Managing Director, NigComSAT Limited, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai made this disclosure at the 4th IT Edge West African Convergence Forum in Lagos at the weekend, while speaking on ‘Satellite Connectivity Infrastructure and Broadband: The NIGCOMSAT Perspective’.
He said that satellite connectivity through communication satellites has a pivotal role to play in bridging the knowledge gap that exists in Nigeria and the entire African continent, noting that in the current situation of globalisation, the dream of NIGCOMSAT is to make the physical villages in nationwide and certainly across Africa into a single virtual village.
Ahmed-Rufai also disclosed how NigComSAT intends to achieve this including the deployment of global communication infrastructure - Communication Satellites and complementary ground infrastructures and subsequent integration into the global village.
“We desire to linkup the rural communities scattered around the country, Nigeria with the cities thus attempting to bring the rural communities up to speed with the ever dynamic and constantly evolving cities,” he declared, revealing some more strategies and objectives of this dream, comprising the use of satellite engineering and space technologies as an extraordinary vehicle to driver of National ICT revolution in pursuit of self-reliance and required skills for engineering and technology domestication.
This, he said, is consistent with the provision of secured satellite bandwidth and telecommunication services for defense, security outfits and other strategic telecommunications and broadcast needs of the nation.
NigComSAT, he said, is complementing existing terrestrial telecommunication infrastructures to promote universal access through affordable, high speed broadband telecommunication services.
Additionally, he said that NigComSAT is determined to bring about innovative, cost effective broadband and critical ICT backbone infrastructures with mobility services.
Pointing out that build a platform to diversify monolithic national revenue, NigComSAT, he said, would evolve co-operation strategies and collaborations through alliances, joint ventures and franchises for speedy realization of set objectives and goals.
He firm, Ahmed-Rufai said has the competence to customize and domesticate foreign technologies strategically to suit the needs of individuals and organisations by utilizing NIGCOMSAT Ltd Research and Development capabilities, as well as telecommunication network infrastructure and alliance with other network operators.
The delivery of strategic objectives, he said would boost knowledge-based economy for the nation; capacity building in software and hardware development, as well as employment generation.
The NigComSAT boss emphasised that information and knowledge are critical components of poverty alleviation strategies, which are necessary for breaking the chain of poverty so as to boost fiscal growth of a nation.
“NigComSat-1R (NigComSAT-1 Replacement satellite), can provide easy access to huge amounts of information useful to the poor as services can be provided to effectively reach economically underprivileged people with information that is relevant and useful to them,” he said.
Ahmed-Rufai was emphatic that with deployment of various services such as e-education, e-commerce, e-banking, the projected revenue potential for satellite based services is enormous, just as business transactions could be done on a real-time or near real-time basis between partners such as suppliers and customers locally and globally.
He claimed that capacity building in software and hardware development of the nation, seem to centre on vendor certification such as Microsoft Certified System Engineer and Oracle Database to name a few
“Today the highest level of skill Nigerian engineers can attain in the technology sector, whether hardware or software, is to obtain a vendor certification such as CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional), MCSE, ORACLE DBA,” he said, insisting there is room for improvement despite these certifications and that is where NigcomSAT comes in.
He pointed out that one of the fallout of space technology in a developing country like Nigeria is to create local demand for high skills in software and hardware development.
“The quest for space technology also challenges the industry—from the metallurgy to the electronics, instrumentation and software industries to come up with products required by the emergent space industry,” he said.
Nigeria, he said, would become an attraction for experts and professionals from all over the world, when the small and medium scale industries start to produce products and offer services required by space industry.
“This will lead to direct employment generation. It will also create a ripple effect: high skilled workforce attracting more investment and more investment attracting higher skilled workforce,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Managing Director, NigComSAT Limited, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai made this disclosure at the 4th IT Edge West African Convergence Forum in Lagos at the weekend, while speaking on ‘Satellite Connectivity Infrastructure and Broadband: The NIGCOMSAT Perspective’.
He said that satellite connectivity through communication satellites has a pivotal role to play in bridging the knowledge gap that exists in Nigeria and the entire African continent, noting that in the current situation of globalisation, the dream of NIGCOMSAT is to make the physical villages in nationwide and certainly across Africa into a single virtual village.
Ahmed-Rufai also disclosed how NigComSAT intends to achieve this including the deployment of global communication infrastructure - Communication Satellites and complementary ground infrastructures and subsequent integration into the global village.
“We desire to linkup the rural communities scattered around the country, Nigeria with the cities thus attempting to bring the rural communities up to speed with the ever dynamic and constantly evolving cities,” he declared, revealing some more strategies and objectives of this dream, comprising the use of satellite engineering and space technologies as an extraordinary vehicle to driver of National ICT revolution in pursuit of self-reliance and required skills for engineering and technology domestication.
This, he said, is consistent with the provision of secured satellite bandwidth and telecommunication services for defense, security outfits and other strategic telecommunications and broadcast needs of the nation.
NigComSAT, he said, is complementing existing terrestrial telecommunication infrastructures to promote universal access through affordable, high speed broadband telecommunication services.
Additionally, he said that NigComSAT is determined to bring about innovative, cost effective broadband and critical ICT backbone infrastructures with mobility services.
Pointing out that build a platform to diversify monolithic national revenue, NigComSAT, he said, would evolve co-operation strategies and collaborations through alliances, joint ventures and franchises for speedy realization of set objectives and goals.
He firm, Ahmed-Rufai said has the competence to customize and domesticate foreign technologies strategically to suit the needs of individuals and organisations by utilizing NIGCOMSAT Ltd Research and Development capabilities, as well as telecommunication network infrastructure and alliance with other network operators.
The delivery of strategic objectives, he said would boost knowledge-based economy for the nation; capacity building in software and hardware development, as well as employment generation.
The NigComSAT boss emphasised that information and knowledge are critical components of poverty alleviation strategies, which are necessary for breaking the chain of poverty so as to boost fiscal growth of a nation.
“NigComSat-1R (NigComSAT-1 Replacement satellite), can provide easy access to huge amounts of information useful to the poor as services can be provided to effectively reach economically underprivileged people with information that is relevant and useful to them,” he said.
Ahmed-Rufai was emphatic that with deployment of various services such as e-education, e-commerce, e-banking, the projected revenue potential for satellite based services is enormous, just as business transactions could be done on a real-time or near real-time basis between partners such as suppliers and customers locally and globally.
He claimed that capacity building in software and hardware development of the nation, seem to centre on vendor certification such as Microsoft Certified System Engineer and Oracle Database to name a few
“Today the highest level of skill Nigerian engineers can attain in the technology sector, whether hardware or software, is to obtain a vendor certification such as CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional), MCSE, ORACLE DBA,” he said, insisting there is room for improvement despite these certifications and that is where NigcomSAT comes in.
He pointed out that one of the fallout of space technology in a developing country like Nigeria is to create local demand for high skills in software and hardware development.
“The quest for space technology also challenges the industry—from the metallurgy to the electronics, instrumentation and software industries to come up with products required by the emergent space industry,” he said.
Nigeria, he said, would become an attraction for experts and professionals from all over the world, when the small and medium scale industries start to produce products and offer services required by space industry.
“This will lead to direct employment generation. It will also create a ripple effect: high skilled workforce attracting more investment and more investment attracting higher skilled workforce,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Etisalat roams prepaid subscribers @ 9 destinations
Etisalat Nigeria has extended its roaming service to the prepaid subscribers on the network in order to avail them the opportunity of enjoying its services at affordable costs wherever they may go.
The chief commercial officer (CCO), Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, confirmed this, last weekend, disclosing that this service is currently available in nine popular destinations across
Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe.
He explained that prepaid roaming enables Etisalat subscribers on that platform to make and receive calls as well as send and receive Short Messaging Service (SMS) while in other countries outside the Etisalat Nigeria network. The service however applies only in countries where operators have signed agreements with Etisalat Nigeria.
“It is available to subscribers using the easy starter, easy cliq and elite world prepaid packages,” he said.
Etisalat’s subscribers, he said, could now travel with assurance that they would always stay in contact with their loved ones and business partners.
“Communication with ease is one of our hallmarks and we are excited to provide this service and more to our esteemed subscribers,” he said, stressing that Etisalat would still extend prepaid roaming services in the future to other countries with partner operators.
At present, he said, the prepaid service is accessible by default in nine countries, namely United States of America, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Cameroun, Benin Republic and India.
“To enjoy the service, subscribers need only switch on their handsets upon arrival at their various destinations. Prepaid subscribers who intend to use their Etisalat numbers while abroad would however be required to load airtime on their phones that would be sufficient to make calls for the duration of their stay or take Etisalat Nigeria recharge cards with them to recharge their lines while abroad.
Ammar said the recharge feature works while prepaid subscriber roams, reminding that to recharge, they should dial *222*recharge number*recipients number# from any Etisalat line.
Already, he said, Etisalat Nigeria has commenced a promo with attractive rates on calls from the UK to all destinations excluding satellite destinations at N99 and calls emanating from South Africa to all destinations excluding satellite destinations at N130 only.
“The promo begins on November 26, 2010 and ends January 31, 2011,” he said, just as Etisalat offers postpaid roaming in 180 countries with over 500 operators.
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The chief commercial officer (CCO), Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, confirmed this, last weekend, disclosing that this service is currently available in nine popular destinations across
Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe.
He explained that prepaid roaming enables Etisalat subscribers on that platform to make and receive calls as well as send and receive Short Messaging Service (SMS) while in other countries outside the Etisalat Nigeria network. The service however applies only in countries where operators have signed agreements with Etisalat Nigeria.
“It is available to subscribers using the easy starter, easy cliq and elite world prepaid packages,” he said.
Etisalat’s subscribers, he said, could now travel with assurance that they would always stay in contact with their loved ones and business partners.
“Communication with ease is one of our hallmarks and we are excited to provide this service and more to our esteemed subscribers,” he said, stressing that Etisalat would still extend prepaid roaming services in the future to other countries with partner operators.
At present, he said, the prepaid service is accessible by default in nine countries, namely United States of America, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Cameroun, Benin Republic and India.
“To enjoy the service, subscribers need only switch on their handsets upon arrival at their various destinations. Prepaid subscribers who intend to use their Etisalat numbers while abroad would however be required to load airtime on their phones that would be sufficient to make calls for the duration of their stay or take Etisalat Nigeria recharge cards with them to recharge their lines while abroad.
Ammar said the recharge feature works while prepaid subscriber roams, reminding that to recharge, they should dial *222*recharge number*recipients number# from any Etisalat line.
Already, he said, Etisalat Nigeria has commenced a promo with attractive rates on calls from the UK to all destinations excluding satellite destinations at N99 and calls emanating from South Africa to all destinations excluding satellite destinations at N130 only.
“The promo begins on November 26, 2010 and ends January 31, 2011,” he said, just as Etisalat offers postpaid roaming in 180 countries with over 500 operators.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Nokia introduces SMS warranty scheme
Worried by spate of market infiltration by the grey market, Nokia has divulged some clues on how to detect fake devices in the market place by introducing the SMS Warranty Awareness scheme.
Head, Care Services at Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Silvin Sinan, said they owe it a duty to enlighten their customers to avoid them falling prey to vendors of counterfeit devices.
According to him, Nokia, reputed for mobile devices has advanced strategies to inform customers through Short Messaging Service (SMS) if their phone is genuine and has warranty.
The SMS Warranty Awareness drive will be focusing on educating customers at point of sale before and after purchase of their Nokia phones.
He explained that to determine if a device being bought is genuine or not, all the buyer needs to do is send an SMS of the IMEI number, which is available on the phone package to 32053. The buyer will then receive a reply that the phone has a 12-month Nigeria-warranty.
Sinan advised that non-receipt of this SMS is evidence that the phone being purchased is probably a counterfeit device.
This new system, he said, now offers Nokia faithful an easier way to determine if their phone has a valid warranty, which starts from the date of purchase and guarantees the user of repair at no cost and even replacement in the event of malfunction.
“Willful damage of the device is however not covered by the 12-month warranty,” he said.
ITRealms Online, recalls that Nokia prides itself as the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices based on market share.
Beyond this, Nokia’s leadership status as a manufacturer of devices, is fast becoming a leading solutions provider in the converging Internet and communications industries; providing internet services that enable users to experience media, messaging, maps and games.
It recently launched the Nokia N8, which is considered one of the smartest phones on the Nokia stable, which is yet to hit African market, but is expected before the end of this year.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Head, Care Services at Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Silvin Sinan, said they owe it a duty to enlighten their customers to avoid them falling prey to vendors of counterfeit devices.
According to him, Nokia, reputed for mobile devices has advanced strategies to inform customers through Short Messaging Service (SMS) if their phone is genuine and has warranty.
The SMS Warranty Awareness drive will be focusing on educating customers at point of sale before and after purchase of their Nokia phones.
He explained that to determine if a device being bought is genuine or not, all the buyer needs to do is send an SMS of the IMEI number, which is available on the phone package to 32053. The buyer will then receive a reply that the phone has a 12-month Nigeria-warranty.
Sinan advised that non-receipt of this SMS is evidence that the phone being purchased is probably a counterfeit device.
This new system, he said, now offers Nokia faithful an easier way to determine if their phone has a valid warranty, which starts from the date of purchase and guarantees the user of repair at no cost and even replacement in the event of malfunction.
“Willful damage of the device is however not covered by the 12-month warranty,” he said.
ITRealms Online, recalls that Nokia prides itself as the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices based on market share.
Beyond this, Nokia’s leadership status as a manufacturer of devices, is fast becoming a leading solutions provider in the converging Internet and communications industries; providing internet services that enable users to experience media, messaging, maps and games.
It recently launched the Nokia N8, which is considered one of the smartest phones on the Nokia stable, which is yet to hit African market, but is expected before the end of this year.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Glo lifts Ajegunle with customer centre
Globacom has lifted the Ajegunle suburb of Lagos State by opening its customer service centre known as Gloworld, at Mobil Road, Ajeromi Ifelodun council area.
Welcoming Glo team at the opening session, the Baale of Alayabiagba Land, Dr. Yaya Olayiwola Adeshina–Ojora, said that the ceremony symbolizes the concern of Glo in being its customers.
The Baale, who was joined at the facility by the Cantonment Commander of Arakan Barracks, Colonel Richard Duru and the Divisional Police officer of Ajeromi, Mr. Chinedu Sylvia, a Chief Superintendent of Police, noted that since the advent of Global System for Mobile (GSM), Gloworld is only of its kind in the area.
“In the history of this land, there has not been such a facility for my people, I am delighted that that Globacom has brought its services close to Ajegunle people,” he said, assuring support to facilitate the successful operation of the new Gloworld.
In his remarks, Colonel Duru applauded the chairman of Globacom for establishing a company that is touching the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Globacom has proven that it is not just about making money. Here we have a company that is impacting the lives of ordinary people, giving hope to Nigerians and creating employment,” he noted.
On her part, Head, Gloworld Nigeria, Mrs. Shade Olusope, said that the new shop at Ajegunle was strategic as the town is a microcosm of Nigeria and a bubbling business district.
Gloworld, she also said, has been designed to bring all telecoms sales and after-sales service as close as possible to the consumer.
Therefore, she appealed to subscribers to take advantage of the doorstep shops to register their SIM cards, stressing that more outlets would still be opened around the country before the year is over.
Also speaking one of the business owners in the area and chairman, Foto Fab industries, Chief Fab Uche commended Globacom for the choice of Ajegunle as location for the outlet, saying that it was a heavily populated area which was good for business.
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Welcoming Glo team at the opening session, the Baale of Alayabiagba Land, Dr. Yaya Olayiwola Adeshina–Ojora, said that the ceremony symbolizes the concern of Glo in being its customers.
The Baale, who was joined at the facility by the Cantonment Commander of Arakan Barracks, Colonel Richard Duru and the Divisional Police officer of Ajeromi, Mr. Chinedu Sylvia, a Chief Superintendent of Police, noted that since the advent of Global System for Mobile (GSM), Gloworld is only of its kind in the area.
“In the history of this land, there has not been such a facility for my people, I am delighted that that Globacom has brought its services close to Ajegunle people,” he said, assuring support to facilitate the successful operation of the new Gloworld.
In his remarks, Colonel Duru applauded the chairman of Globacom for establishing a company that is touching the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Globacom has proven that it is not just about making money. Here we have a company that is impacting the lives of ordinary people, giving hope to Nigerians and creating employment,” he noted.
On her part, Head, Gloworld Nigeria, Mrs. Shade Olusope, said that the new shop at Ajegunle was strategic as the town is a microcosm of Nigeria and a bubbling business district.
Gloworld, she also said, has been designed to bring all telecoms sales and after-sales service as close as possible to the consumer.
Therefore, she appealed to subscribers to take advantage of the doorstep shops to register their SIM cards, stressing that more outlets would still be opened around the country before the year is over.
Also speaking one of the business owners in the area and chairman, Foto Fab industries, Chief Fab Uche commended Globacom for the choice of Ajegunle as location for the outlet, saying that it was a heavily populated area which was good for business.
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Cisco lowers video conferencing cost by acquiring Tandberg
In effort to lower the cost of bandwidth for video conferencing technology, Cisco has acquired, Tandberg, a global video communications company.
This, Cisco said would be enhance its Cisco Telepresence by offering higher quality video conferencing solutions.
With the close of this transaction, last weekend, Cisco officials said it would create an extensive combined product portfolio, accelerate Cisco's vision of changing the way people communicate and collaborate by delivering simple, unique and interoperable collaboration experiences for customers globally and Nigeria in particular.
Speaking on the latest development, Managing Director, Cisco Nigeria, Mr. Richard Edet, noted that Cisco’s acquisition of Tandberg portends great benefits for all the firm’s customers in Nigeria.
Now that Tandberg is a part of the Cisco TelePresence portfolio, he said, the Tandberg product line would automatically extend Cisco Collaboration video offerings from immersive rooms to mobile Personal Computers (PCs), by way of enabling innovative architecture features and end-user applications.
“Most importantly, all of this will be possible in spite of the bandwidth challenges in Nigeria as Tandberg technology will enable high quality video conferencing over lower bandwidth,” he observed.
Edet explained that through this combined offering, the Cisco TelePresence business provides customers with access to a fully integrated architecture, a comprehensive network-based endpoint and infrastructure portfolio; designed to help provide multivendor interoperability and a suite of unique experiences, customizable applications and flexible deployment models.
Cisco TelePresence solutions power the new way of working, where everyone, everywhere can be more productive through face-to-face collaboration in addition to enhancing customers’ accessibility, flexibility and scalability in gaining the benefits of global video collaboration.
Edet, further said that the acquisition of Tandberg is a very important step for customers in the journey to put Nigerians at the center of collaboration and change the way they work.
“We strongly believe that TelePresence along with Cisco's entire rich collaboration portfolio, powers this new way of working where everyone, everywhere, can be more productive through the pervasive use of video and face-to-face collaboration. Now, that the bandwidth challenge can be fully addressed, our customers can enjoy all these features and move their businesses to the next level," he said.
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This, Cisco said would be enhance its Cisco Telepresence by offering higher quality video conferencing solutions.
With the close of this transaction, last weekend, Cisco officials said it would create an extensive combined product portfolio, accelerate Cisco's vision of changing the way people communicate and collaborate by delivering simple, unique and interoperable collaboration experiences for customers globally and Nigeria in particular.
Speaking on the latest development, Managing Director, Cisco Nigeria, Mr. Richard Edet, noted that Cisco’s acquisition of Tandberg portends great benefits for all the firm’s customers in Nigeria.
Now that Tandberg is a part of the Cisco TelePresence portfolio, he said, the Tandberg product line would automatically extend Cisco Collaboration video offerings from immersive rooms to mobile Personal Computers (PCs), by way of enabling innovative architecture features and end-user applications.
“Most importantly, all of this will be possible in spite of the bandwidth challenges in Nigeria as Tandberg technology will enable high quality video conferencing over lower bandwidth,” he observed.
Edet explained that through this combined offering, the Cisco TelePresence business provides customers with access to a fully integrated architecture, a comprehensive network-based endpoint and infrastructure portfolio; designed to help provide multivendor interoperability and a suite of unique experiences, customizable applications and flexible deployment models.
Cisco TelePresence solutions power the new way of working, where everyone, everywhere can be more productive through face-to-face collaboration in addition to enhancing customers’ accessibility, flexibility and scalability in gaining the benefits of global video collaboration.
Edet, further said that the acquisition of Tandberg is a very important step for customers in the journey to put Nigerians at the center of collaboration and change the way they work.
“We strongly believe that TelePresence along with Cisco's entire rich collaboration portfolio, powers this new way of working where everyone, everywhere, can be more productive through the pervasive use of video and face-to-face collaboration. Now, that the bandwidth challenge can be fully addressed, our customers can enjoy all these features and move their businesses to the next level," he said.
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ATCON spoils for war with NITDA boss
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) may be spoiling for war with the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Angaye over his recent comment on political will as a retarding factor for his agency’s ineptitude.
ATCON also said that the use of lack of a political will as an excuse to hide poor performance is not acceptable.
ATCON president, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, while reacting to the comment credited to Prof. Angaye on ‘Why ICT is not growing,” where Angaye was quoted as saying that inadequate political will power, insufficient support ICT infrastructure and skill human power were the bane of Nigeria’s e-readiness, noted the need to draw a line between performance and culpability.
But recalling that lawfully based on NITDA Act of May 2007, Angaye’s agency is empowered to receive and use the National Information Technology Development Fund Levy (NITDF) to promote the development of information technology in the country to make the difference, ATCON leadership, was not contented with Angaye’s excuses using lack of political will for the lack of performance by his agency.
According to ATCON’s Omo-Ettu, an integral and sometimes unhealthy part of discourse has been the incessant carping about the failures and inadequacies of the political and socio-economic system, stressing that whilst there is some merit in such arguments, saying it’s disgusting to hear a political office holder blaming the state of affairs and is disturbing when it comes from supposed highly trained professionals, even as some of these officer got their training at the nation’s expense and, sometimes, are put in a position of implementing reform, yet they fail to deliver.
“It leaves us in a state of apoplexy but it is particularly galling when those who have the opportunity to change the system churn out the same old tired reasons of claiming ‘lack of funding’ or ‘lack of political will’ as reasons for poor performance,” he said in a press statement entitled “NITDA: Straddling the line between performance and culpability.”
Omo-Ettu also cited the comment attributed to Prof. Cleopas Angaye, on why Nigeria has had low success in ICT to ignorance on the part of the leaders and lack of political will as responsible for the poor state of affairs in ICT development of the country.
“The timing and indeed the inaccuracy of this interjection, at a time when our march towards creating a true ICT industry out of the present fledging telecom, broadcasting and computer industries is already playing in injury time, should attract our collective gaze at the performance of the Professor in allowing if not bringing about this precarious situation,” ATCON bemoaned.
For ATCON, if Prof. Angaye’s argument is anything to go by, given that he took office almost five years ago then it is certainly the case that Nigeria had fallen in its global competitiveness rating under his watch.
This, he insisted, indicates at best, the ineffectiveness and at worse incompetence of NITDA under his watch.
“Either way, the industry and indeed the nation can ill afford it. A bad situation is made infinitely worse by the Professor’s disingenuous assertions of a lack of political will as there are few things that better express a political will than the government’s approval of a recommendation of establishment of NITDA as an agency to implement the prescriptions of the National Information Technology Policy as postulated by its professional class and installing an eminent scholar of his ilk as its executive head,” he observed.
Arguing that in reality, Prof Angaye’s position is a clear abdication of responsibility, which obviously places the responsibilities on his lap.
“It is about time that he accepted the unambiguous truth that he does and should bear responsibility for the diminution in our global competitiveness rating, the failure to provide the necessary awareness platform for mass education as enshrined in NITDA’s mandate, and should it be the case, the political will which should see us further than we are now,’ Omo-Ettu said.
Pointing out that no one is better placed to engineer the necessary reforms in the aforementioned realms than the head of NITDA. Just as he maintained that the DG, in his official role, must accept that the buck stops with him and the use of the excuse of lack of a political will as a fig leaf to hide poor performance is no acceptable.
“His utterances are really an own goal as they beg the following questions,” he said, wondering how Angaye would define the performance of an organization which is dwindling and what he would say of the head of such an organization if they had been at the helm for four years?
“And would he recommend that organization stick or twist with such a head?” he asked, advising him to recognize the fact that carping is easy especially if you have no responsibility to effect change, insisting that when you do have such responsibility, action is what is required.
ATCON president emphasised that there are risks and costs to a programme of action but they are far less than the risks and costs of comfortable inaction for not only does it flag up his own failings, it belittles the collective action of those who, against all odds, have got the nation where it is today.
“However a simpler and more important lesson is to understand that those in glass houses should not go about throwing stones,” ATCON boss counseled, explaining that if the likes of ATCON refuse to react to this bothersome underestimation of the collective mood, people like Prof. Angaye would think majority of the industry experts are merely idiots.
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ATCON also said that the use of lack of a political will as an excuse to hide poor performance is not acceptable.
ATCON president, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, while reacting to the comment credited to Prof. Angaye on ‘Why ICT is not growing,” where Angaye was quoted as saying that inadequate political will power, insufficient support ICT infrastructure and skill human power were the bane of Nigeria’s e-readiness, noted the need to draw a line between performance and culpability.
But recalling that lawfully based on NITDA Act of May 2007, Angaye’s agency is empowered to receive and use the National Information Technology Development Fund Levy (NITDF) to promote the development of information technology in the country to make the difference, ATCON leadership, was not contented with Angaye’s excuses using lack of political will for the lack of performance by his agency.
According to ATCON’s Omo-Ettu, an integral and sometimes unhealthy part of discourse has been the incessant carping about the failures and inadequacies of the political and socio-economic system, stressing that whilst there is some merit in such arguments, saying it’s disgusting to hear a political office holder blaming the state of affairs and is disturbing when it comes from supposed highly trained professionals, even as some of these officer got their training at the nation’s expense and, sometimes, are put in a position of implementing reform, yet they fail to deliver.
“It leaves us in a state of apoplexy but it is particularly galling when those who have the opportunity to change the system churn out the same old tired reasons of claiming ‘lack of funding’ or ‘lack of political will’ as reasons for poor performance,” he said in a press statement entitled “NITDA: Straddling the line between performance and culpability.”
Omo-Ettu also cited the comment attributed to Prof. Cleopas Angaye, on why Nigeria has had low success in ICT to ignorance on the part of the leaders and lack of political will as responsible for the poor state of affairs in ICT development of the country.
“The timing and indeed the inaccuracy of this interjection, at a time when our march towards creating a true ICT industry out of the present fledging telecom, broadcasting and computer industries is already playing in injury time, should attract our collective gaze at the performance of the Professor in allowing if not bringing about this precarious situation,” ATCON bemoaned.
For ATCON, if Prof. Angaye’s argument is anything to go by, given that he took office almost five years ago then it is certainly the case that Nigeria had fallen in its global competitiveness rating under his watch.
This, he insisted, indicates at best, the ineffectiveness and at worse incompetence of NITDA under his watch.
“Either way, the industry and indeed the nation can ill afford it. A bad situation is made infinitely worse by the Professor’s disingenuous assertions of a lack of political will as there are few things that better express a political will than the government’s approval of a recommendation of establishment of NITDA as an agency to implement the prescriptions of the National Information Technology Policy as postulated by its professional class and installing an eminent scholar of his ilk as its executive head,” he observed.
Arguing that in reality, Prof Angaye’s position is a clear abdication of responsibility, which obviously places the responsibilities on his lap.
“It is about time that he accepted the unambiguous truth that he does and should bear responsibility for the diminution in our global competitiveness rating, the failure to provide the necessary awareness platform for mass education as enshrined in NITDA’s mandate, and should it be the case, the political will which should see us further than we are now,’ Omo-Ettu said.
Pointing out that no one is better placed to engineer the necessary reforms in the aforementioned realms than the head of NITDA. Just as he maintained that the DG, in his official role, must accept that the buck stops with him and the use of the excuse of lack of a political will as a fig leaf to hide poor performance is no acceptable.
“His utterances are really an own goal as they beg the following questions,” he said, wondering how Angaye would define the performance of an organization which is dwindling and what he would say of the head of such an organization if they had been at the helm for four years?
“And would he recommend that organization stick or twist with such a head?” he asked, advising him to recognize the fact that carping is easy especially if you have no responsibility to effect change, insisting that when you do have such responsibility, action is what is required.
ATCON president emphasised that there are risks and costs to a programme of action but they are far less than the risks and costs of comfortable inaction for not only does it flag up his own failings, it belittles the collective action of those who, against all odds, have got the nation where it is today.
“However a simpler and more important lesson is to understand that those in glass houses should not go about throwing stones,” ATCON boss counseled, explaining that if the likes of ATCON refuse to react to this bothersome underestimation of the collective mood, people like Prof. Angaye would think majority of the industry experts are merely idiots.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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