Ericsson foresees ‘A Networked Africa’

Global leader in mobile telecommunications technologies, Ericsson, has foreseen ‘A Networked Africa’ in the next nine years, just as it formally launched its broadband initiative for the continent tagged ‘A Networked Africa’ in Lagos.

This, Ericsson said, gives it the insight of a better networked continent, which driving force for rejuvenated Africa would be based Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and is expected to transform other sectors of the economy including agriculture, health, transport, media and utilities.

The unveiling of the project was conducted by the duo of Vice President (VP) and Group Chief Finance Office (GCFO), Mr. Jan Frykhammar, and Head, sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Lars Linden.

Speaking at the occasion last Friday, Head, Marketing, Strategy and GIR, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Shiletsi Makhofane, noted that communications and connectivity would fundamentally impact and change the way African society function.

Opportunities in the industry, he said, have shown that Ericsson’s vision of 50 billion mobile connections by 2020, encourages the telecom industry to grasp additional growth in Africa and start the transformation that will drive beneficial changes in society, business and individuals.

“While telecommunications started off focusing on connecting places, it has evolved to connecting people and now Ericsson has its sights on a future that is fully integrated and networked where everything including devices that can benefit from a connection will be connected,” he said.

Predicting a networked Africa, Makhofane said he foresees an Africa where people would have greater control over their personal ecosystems; one would be able to plan the trip home based on real-time traffic information, manage utility bills remotely.

This, he said, would be in addition to interacting with everyday devices remotely too, stressing that the possibilities are endless.

“One could even purchase power for a country home and remotely control home electronics,” he said.

The aforementioned, he said, would be achieved leveraging on Ericsson’s technology leadership and extensive research and development capabilities.

“Ericsson plans to make the vision for A Networked Africa a reality by 2020 through commitment and focus on making mobile broadband a reality for all, ensuring rural connectivity and ultimately redefining rural and urban life in Africa,” he said.

Other top officials of Ericsson who attended the occasion included the Vice President Communications, Mr. Mwambu Wanendeya, and Head, Sourcing and Country Manager for Nigeria, Mr. Gary Dewing.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Sesan takes on youth advantage @ NDSF’11

Nigerian Ambassador to the World Summit Youth Awards and member of the United Nations of eLeaders on Youth, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Mr. Gbenga Sesan has given his backing to the 2011 edition of the Nigeria Digital Sense (NDS) forum.

Sesan, who is the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) gave his support while confirming participation at the third edition of NDS forum with theme: Internet Governance and Broadband Evolution in Nigeria, scheduled to hold on March 24 and 25 at the Golden Gate Paradise, Ikoyi-Lagos.

Making this disclosure at the weekend, the Executive Director, DigitalSENSE Africa, the organizers of NDS forum series, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said that Mr. Sesan would take on the sub-theme ‘Youth Advantage.’

She said that there is need to ensure that Nigerian youth are not left out of the Internet Governance by taking advantage offered by NDS forum on broadband evolution.

Mrs. Nweke equally said that Gbenga Sesan is expected to highlight some of these advantages at the forum to be presided over by former president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.

She expressed delight that the collaboration between PIN and DigitalSENSE Africa have continued to grow and enjoined other key stakeholders to emulate the support from PIN.

Mrs. Nweke also said that Sesan, who until 2009 was member, Coordinating Bureau, African Youth ICT4D Network and chairman, Youth Development Committee, Nigeria Internet Group is known for his role in nurturing of Nigerian youths to embrace ICT for development.

Additionally, she said that Sesan was a member, Presidential Task Force on the restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting sectors till 2008 and Nigerian representative, World Summit Awards Expert Panel between 2005 and 2009.

Mrs. Nweke noted that the PIN boss was a former vice chairman, African Technical Advisory Committee, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa until 2006, and a member, Group of 22 Experts on the Resolution of Nigeria’s Top Level Domain Issues (G22), Team Leader, Nigerian Youth Network on ICTs, including role as Nigeria’s first IT Youth Ambassador.

She recalled that Gbenga Sesan, an Ashoka Fellow has used PIN; a social enterprise to connect underserved people-groups with ICT-enabled opportunities and they have projects including Ajegunle.org, which is a capacity development initiative to connect the community’s youth with training, internship and mentorship opportunities and MISSPIN; a social campaign that is tackling cybercrime issues in Nigeria.

Originally trained as an Electronic & Electrical Engineer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Sesan completed management training at Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University and Santa Clara University.

His consulting experience includes assignments completed for numerous institutions, including Microsoft, Harvard University, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Freedom House, Res Publica, Computer Aid International, Heinrich Boll Foundation and the International Telecommunications Union.

Beyond Nigeria, Mr. Sesan has consulted and made presentations in various countries, including Austria, Belgium, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece and India.

Further, Sesan has made industry presentations at Italy, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom and United States, to name a few.

An author of a number of books, ‘Gbenga Sesan is an experienced technology researcher.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

MultiChoice’s dealer declares customer week for subscribers

A dealer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Tard Engineering Limited, last week, declared a two-day customers appreciation week for subscribers of Digital Satellite Television (DStv) products, reports CHARLES OKOH.

The Managing Director of Tard Engineering Limited, Mr. Abdulkarim Balarabe, said the customers’ appreciation week is designed to help subscribers and intending subscribers get on-the-spot answers to enquiries made regarding the DStv.

Balarabe said the appreciation week would also assist those customers who did not get complete system during the Incredible Promo Offer the chance to get a complete system.

“This is a week of appreciating our customers, for those who did not get DStv system; they can walk into our office and get a complete system within this period,” he said.

Commending the management of the company for the laudable initiative, Head, Corporate Communications Department, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Mr. Segun Fayose, said the customers’ appreciation week would encourage loyal subscribers of the DStv brand to know that MultiChoice has their interest at heart.

The image maker of MultiChoice Nigeria while apologizing to customers who could not get a system last December emphasized that bringing down the cost of single view decoder from N29, 900 to N9000, is a clear indication that the company has listening ears to its subscribers.

“DStv’s unparalleled family entertainment packages allow subscribers flexibility in price and choice without compromising quality or variety and the aim of this new pricing is to ensure that our decoders are found in every home” he said.

MultiChoice Nigeria, the subscription management company for DStv, currently has 23 super dealer outlets across the federation.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

ICANN’s webinar dwells on policy update

Global internet coordinating body, the Internet Corporate for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has called for invitation for participation in the upcoming ICANN policy meeting to be held in San Francisco in March this year.

ICANN in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online noted that whether one plans to participate in the upcoming ICANN meeting in San Francisco remotely or in person, its vital to be reminded of the background and current status of each major policy issue currently under discussion in ICANN via the webinar.

Webinar is short name for Web-based seminar; a webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the World Wide Web (www). Essential feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements, namely the ability to give, receive and discuss information.

ITRealms Online gathered that ICANN’s policy staff would provide a briefing on Thursday 3 March at 13.00 and 20.00 UTC, to summarize policy issues across the different ICANN Supporting Organizations, namely the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) and Address Supporting Organization (ASO) amongst other topics.

Some of the updates expected via the webinar session include Registration Abuse Policies Recommendations (GNSO), New gTLD Recommendation 6 WG, Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery (GNSO), Recent WHOIS work, Country names study group (ccNSO), Delegation and Re-delegation Working Group (ccNSO), Joint DNS Security and Stability Analysis Working Group, and Global policy for handling recovered IPv4 address space (ASO).

Officials said that the two sessions would be duplicated and scheduled to accommodate different time zones.

Each session, ICANN said scheduled to run for 90 minutes, and would be conducted in English only.

Also, ICANN said, the meeting would run in Adobe Connect with a slide presentation along with a dial-in conference bridge for audio.

Participants, therefore, are advised to have opportunity to ask questions at the end of each session.

“During the course of the webinar, questions may be submitted using the chat function of Adobe Connect. If you are not able to participate in either of the live sessions, the slides and MP3 will be made available shortly after the meeting. The policy staff is always available to answer any questions that you email to policy-staff at ICANN,” part of the statement read.

However, intending participants have been advised to register to receive the call details, in addition to indicating which call they would prefer to join, 13.00 UTC or 20.00 UTC.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NCS, CPN at war with INEC over DDC machines

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) with the backing of the computer regulatory agency in the country, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) may be spoiling for war with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the deployment of Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines and its attendant hiccups during the on-going voters’ registration exercise without recourse to it.

NCS blamed these hiccups on INEC’s leadership under Prof. Atahiru Jega, for ignoring the computer body and regulatory organ, preparatory to the deployment of the DDC machines till date.

They insisted that INEC’s hiring of non-professional as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consultant cum advisor was at the root of the DDC machine challenges.

Giving insight to the position of NCS, its president, Prof. Charles Uwadia, said that INEC has violated the CPN Act 49 of 1993.

Prof. Uwadia listed the sins of INEC as far as the current deployment of Information Technology (IT) and DDC machines particularly to include the appointment of an ICT consultant and adviser; contracting three firms to deliver 132, 000 units of DDC machines for the forthcoming compilation of fresh voters’ registers without any recourse to the body and regulatory organ, CPN.

In addition, the computer society is against the fact that INEC conducted training for its supposed ad-hoc personnel who were not certified by either NCS or CPN via unknown and non-certified entity.

He recalled that on Friday, November 19, 2010, NCS had initially expressed its concern over the manner INEC was carrying on without recourse to the professionals; NCS and CPN

“We intimated you about our concern in the way and manner INEC was going about the very important task of applying IT for the 2011 elections,” he lamented, adding that they observed that the ICT Consultant cum Adviser engaged by INEC’s chairman is not a registered member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

“We had also observed that two of the contracting firms: Avante International Technology Incorporated and Haier Electrical Appliances Corps Limited are not registered with the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN),” NCS president decried.

NCS further stated that with the on-going, it is evident to IT professionals in the country that INEC has taken a stand to undermine the position and practice of professionals under Jega’s leadership.

“With these acts, it was clear to us that INEC had downgraded the critical issue of Computer Professionalism as regulated under Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) Act 49 of 1993,” they noted.

NCS reiterated its demands that all personnel carrying out core IT professional duties in the Commission should as matter of urgency be registered professionals as stipulated in Act 49 of 1993.

“That all persons to interface and operate the DDC machines must be trained and certified by professional institutions registered by CPN; That all contracting firms who are not registered with CPN should have their contracts revoked and that subsequently, only registered members of the Computer Profession should be considered for jobs involving computing machinery.”

The computer society additionally said that INEC should redress the identified lapses within one week; failing which legal action may be instituted by NCS against the Commission.

Just as NCS requested INEC to be transparent and fully unfold its strategies for deploying IT for the entire electoral process so that professionals could offer relevant advice where vital.

“We have since consulted our lawyers on the threat of legal action, and you will be duly informed on the next step,” he said, emphasising that events of the last couple of days have proved NCS’ fears and concern right.

“As you are aware, INEC commenced voters registration nationwide on Saturday 15 January, 2011; the exercise is expected to last for 2 weeks but has been extended by one week. As Nigerians, we are all living witnesses to the difficulties and challenges many Nigerians are having in participating in the exercise,” NCS boss said.

From the feedback received by NCS, mostly from members at various parts of the county the challenges and difficulties related to the DDC machines include “non-functioning fingerprint scanners, low sensitivity of fingerprint scanners, breakdown of the machines due to overheating, low level of battery backup, inability of INEC officials to properly use the machines or conduct basic troubleshooting in situations where the machines do not work.

Though, NCS blamed the bulk of the challenges on software, saying that even troubleshooting which could be carried out by certified computer professionals became a challenge, noting that lack of adequate training was a hindrance.

“We understand one of the contractors has not fully delivered its quota,” he lamented and called for adequate printer cartridges.

Most of these challenges, NCS said, could be categorized into hardware and software as well as operational.

“These are problems which we believe would have been largely prevented by proper specification of the hardware and software; appropriate testing and certification of the systems; adequate and appropriate training of personnel; and proper contingency and backup arrangement,” Prof. Uwadia said.

This situation, NCS believes, would have been mitigated if certified IT professionals have been fully involved in the planning and implementation of the whole exercise.

He emphasised that the voters’ registration exercise is fully situated within the IT domain and ought to have been treated as such.

“Unfortunately this has not been so. INEC, under the leadership of Prof. Atahiru Jega, has so far kept IT professional bodies; NCS and CPN, at bay for reasons best known to it,” the president submitted.

NCS is the acclaimed umbrella organization of all Information Technology professionals, interest groups and stakeholders in Nigeria.

Established in 1978 as the Computer Association of Nigeria, NCS is the national platform for the advancement of computer science and information technology and has membership across some Registered Interest Groups (RIG) including Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), and National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS).

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Challenges before Bickersteth @ NIRA

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) recently appointed its pioneer chief operating officer, Mr. Sola Bickersteth. REMMY NWEKE in this report examines the challenges before the new officer in moving forward.


Recently, the Executive Board of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) proclaimed the appointment of Mr. Sola Bickersteth as the first Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the registry.

NIRA is the custodian of the nation’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) .ng on behalf of the Nigerian internet community since its formation in 2005.

According to the President of NIRA, Mrs. Mary Uduma, after handing over the letter of employment to Mr. Bickersteth at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, signed by her in company of the chairman, Establishment Committee of NIRA, Mr. Sekiri Shehu Mohammed, and given to Mr. Bickersteth on behalf of the organisation.

Expressing delight on the development, she said, it’s a landmark step by NIRA with the support of the Internet community in the country. Noting that this was in actualization of part of the cardinal promises of the current board after it’s inauguration in August last year; to transform NIRA as a world class organisation in the management of .ng.

Mrs. Uduma said that the new COO, who had since Monday, January 10, 2011, resumed duty has the blessing of the board to steer the management of the organisation and commended the Establishment Committee for the mission accomplished.

“I wish to thank the Chairman Establishment Committee and his members for job well done. I also wish to thank all for the constructive contributions in perfecting the exercise.

Congratulations to the Board and to Sola,” she declared, noting that the emergence of Bickersteth as the COO was heavily contested by two other contenders.

Adding his voice to the development of hiring a pioneer Chief Operating officer by NiRA, the vice president of the association and Managing Director, General Data Engineering Services Plc, Mr. Sunday Folayan, congratulated the board and Sola for the journey so far.

He described the achievement as a milestone worth rolling out the drums and raising the roof!
“I wish Mr. Bickersteth success in this assignment, and I know he will make the best of it, knowing the stuff he is made of. All the best,” Folayan said.

NIRA was founded on March 23, 2005 as a stakeholder-led organisation, charged with the management of the nation’s Country Top Level Domain Name (ccTLD), dot ng.

NIRA’s establishment was literally the end of a long period of inactivity and dispute on the appropriate management of this important national resource. The peaceful resolution coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) saw stakeholders’ participation within Nigeria’s Internet community in its formation.

In his remark, Mr. Bickersteth said he was excited to be found worthy to occupy the position of COO of NiRA and the first at that.

“I am extremely humbled by your endorsement and do not take it for granted ....” he asserted.
Bickersteth also promised to put in his best effort towards helping NIRA to achieve its goal of a world class organization that the Executive Board will be proud of.

While soliciting for the continuous support of the board, he noted that without their increased support, “there is very little that I can achieve.”

In addition, he solicited for advice, reprimand, suggestions and prayers to make the effort worthwhile for all members of the Nigerian Internet community.

“Your time, service and contributions to NIRA shall not be in vain and it shall also be to the benefit our nation and indeed generations to come,” he prayed.

For Mr. Bickersteth, he is determined to contribute to the growth of Nigeria using Information and Communication Technology as a platform for societal development.

Reputed player in the Nigerian Information Technology (IT) and services industry, Sola Bickersteth, has worked until recently as the General Manager, Group Strategy and Business Development at Chams Plc and the Executive Director, Naira.com Limited.

Sola who spent about three years at Chams plc, between February 2008 – August 2010, had some four-year plus stint at Naira.com Limited as its Executive Director, lasting between January 2004 – January 2008.

As Executive Director of Cosmos Technologies between 1996 and 2004, he led a team that pioneered the introduction of low cost satellite Internet deploying Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) in Nigeria and the setting up of the then Public Service Network, now known as ‘Galaxy Backbone,’ for the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Bickersteth bagged Bsc in Electronics and Electrical Engineering between 1986 – 1991 and was in 2009 at the Harvard Business School where he attended Executives’ Programme for Leadership Development (PLD) at Harvard Business School.

Sola has since resigned his position as member of the Executive Board of NIRA, having been elected in August 2010. He belongs to several professional organisations both locally and internationally.

As the General Manager, Development and Implementmentation at ChamsCity business unit; he designed and deployed required technical infrastructure; led group strategy and business development initiatives, overseeing day-to-day business and project management.

Prior to joining Panamsat, Bickersteth was the Director of eCommerce Solutions at Smartpay Nigeria Plc between 1998 and 2000, where he coordinated systems integration with banks, deploying eCommerce and web payment solutions in addition to supervising daily technical operations of the company.

Between 1994 and 1998, Bickersteth was the operations manager at Cosmos Technologies Limited and in charge of systems coordination and integration with clientele banks, organizing eCommerce and facilitating web payment solutions.

This came after he left MultiChoice Limited at its Port Harcourt office as the satellite installation engineer, where he saw to the installation of multi-point satellite television receivers, training and certification of technicians, sales and satellite TV business development.

Bickersteth’s professional achievements cut across the development of the world’s largest digital facility with Chams Plc, deployment of satellite communications hub with ViaSat Incorporated, growing electronic commerce solution within Smartpay Plc platform and exploitation of satellite internet solution using PanamSat Incorporated.

Mr. Bickersteth, a founding member of some key industry interest groups both in the country and continent-wise including the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and Africa Network Information Center (AfriNIC).

He also belongs to some industry groups namely, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Electronic Payment Association of Nigeria (ePAN) and Global Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Forum (GVF) to name a few.

Interestingly, Mr. Bickersteth was in year 2001 honoured with the ‘Innovation in Technology award’; the international golden award in satellite technology in 2004, while year 2005 saw his recognition as a recipient of Emerging Leaders in Technology in Nigeria award, Top contributors to Nigeria’s economy in 2007 and Guinness Book of World records in 2009 for his input in building ChamCity as the biggest one-city cyber café with over 1024 personal computers (PC).

Bickersteth’s immediate mandate promises to achieve self-sustaining income for the day-to-day operations of NIRA; improving the existing staffing and developing them to be competent and discipline manpower for the organisation.

He also intends to set up professional business office or offices for NIRA with a target registration of 250,000 on .ng domains at the earliest. This, he said, would be structured in a way that there would be regular interface to increase the number of active registrars and actively promote the auction of second tier domains through the involvement of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and telecom companies in the promotion of .ng domain acquisition.

While collaborating closely with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) to become more functional, Bickersteth plans to encourage authorities to license hosting of .ng domains via the conduct of regular industry training and certification programmes, thereby actively participating in international industry registry activities.

According to him, the ultimate aim is to substantially increase income from its present situation to world class self-sustaining organisation.

With the aforementioned expose of Sola Bickersteth as the pioneer COO of NiRA, a lot of expectation is on board, but given his experience previously, there is hope and enthusiasm that he is a worthy candidate for the position, especially after scaling the NIRA’s Establishment Committee recruitment session.

All eyes is now on Bickersteth.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NIG demands amortised bandwidth access

Newly elected executive board of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), has demanded the amortization of the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NigComSAT) by the federal government to enable Nigerians gain improved access to appreciable bandwidth at a retail rate of about $30,000, about N4,500 per month.

This, the group said would boost businesses, especially the small and medium enterprises in the country.

The newly elected executive of NIG led by Mr. Adebayo Banjo made this known at the inaugural press briefing held last weekend.

Bandwidth is a data transmission rate usually set as the maximum amount of information transmittable per second along a channel, especially the Internet.

Adebayo said that NIG intend to seek and lobby for a retail rate of $30.00 (N 4,500.00) per month per Meg of bandwidth.

To this end, he said, NIG proposes options to stimulate the explosion of internet access that would bring about reduction in cost of bandwidth.

According to him, certain government owned assets could deliver bandwidth such as SAT-3 which has since been fully amortised.

NIG noted that NigComSAT should have its rates reduced to cover only the running expenses of the asset, stressing that in some instance like that of NigComSAT could be amortized since it was paid for with the tax fund by the government on behalf of the people of Nigeria.

“The cost for the satellite in the case of NigComSAT be given as a gift to the Nigerian people at large, and as such be considered amortised,” NIG president said.

On the possibility of non-workability of the aforementioned, he advocated, for a stimulus package, perhaps in a form of grant to privately owned submarine cables; Glo-1 and MainOne, to cover their invest cost and loans, in return government through the NCC to get a fix cost of bandwidth at the desired levels.

“Failing which a new submarine cable be donated by government, and handed over to a board of directors under the NCC to manage,” he canvassed, stressing that under this proposal, a suitable management could be structure for that purpose.

“Or sold at a discounted rate, with conditions on rates to an interested party,” NIG boss suggested.

Internet availability and use, NIG said, could only expand if the cost for bandwidth is brought down.

Banjo pointed out that the old Nitel once said that bringing down the price of lines would not translate into an increase in the number of lines or its availability.

Although the prices of lines where brought down following the use and availability went up to over 80 million.

“We don’t talk of 400,000 lines, we talk now of 80 million lines more than a 100 times what was previously available,” he said.

NIG, he noted, is a group with unique position as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that does not represent, any operator or regulator but dedicated to promoting Internet and its use in Nigeria, thereby representing the Nigerian people at Large.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Mastercard, Interswitch launch MasterCard Verve

Leading electronic payment and switching company, the InterSwitch Nigeria Limited and MasterCard International have consummated a partnership with the debut of MasterCardVerve debit card.

Confirming this in Lagos at a press meeting, Area Head, East & West Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at MasterCard International, Mr. Daniel Lanre Monehin, described the partnership as auspicious and something both companies have been working on for some times now.

He also said that the partnership was spurred by the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians at InterSwitch led by the Managing Director, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, which afforded MasterCard the opportunity to leverage on local enterprise to see the partnership through.

Monehin further said that with the partnership, MasterCardVerve is a single card for Nigerians, which could be locally and internationally in making payments.

“It’s a fully Nigerian card,” he declared, stressing that it is a payment card that could be used in every payment channel across the globe.

He disclosed that Skye Bank has indicated interest in rolling out the latest payment solution for Nigerians, even as other banks are welcome to key into the new product.

Monehin noted that the conditions for customers to get the MasterCard Verve depend entirely on the executing banks.

Director, Payment Solutions, Interswitch, Mr. Charles Ifedi, said that the MasterCard Interswitch partnership is a milestone in the history of the company because it enables
Interswitch to provide cardholders with what they really deserved, which is more convenience at home and abroad.

The deal, he said, was based on the fact that Nigerians believe that anything can happen, hence very resilient and patient.

Expressing appreciated to Mastercard team for accepting the partnership, Ifedi noted it’s a partnership that began years back.

“We are basically aligning our operations to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulations. So expect very great things from this partnership,” he said.

Vice president for MasterCard, Middle East and Africa Mr. Michael Miebach said the event was the first of its kind between Mastercard and Interswitch which resulted in the MastercardVere debit card.

“This card in Nigeria is very significant to us,” he said, stressing that one thing about cash is that it’s very challenging and insecure to handle, so the partnership an alternative option.

Currently, he said MasterCard has 1.6m cards issued and about 22m transactions daily.

“This is the first global product of its kind,” he declared.

Emphasising that MasterCard Verve debit cardholders would be the first cardholders in Nigeria to have local and international acceptance and be able to access a range of value added services.

Equally speaking, the Group Chief Marketing Officer, Interswitch, Mrs. Tito Adeniyi-Aderoju pointed out that it has been a long journey that has gotten to its destination to the extent of going public.

She commended members of joint team from both Interswitch and Mastercard, while calling on Nigerians to embrace it.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Internet Governance: Ewelukwa to address eCommerce

A Senior Teaching Fellow in International Trade Law with the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, has confirmed his participation at this year’s Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF), which focus is on Internet Governance and Development in the country.

Disclosing this, the Executive Director, DigitalSENSE Africa, the organizers of NDSF, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke noted that the theme for this year is on ‘Internet Governance and Broadband Evolution in Nigeria.’

She also said that Dr. Ewelukwa’s participation would be on a paper presentation entitled ‘The Legal Framework for E-Commerce and M-Commerce in Africa: Nigeria as a Case Study.”

She quoted an abstract submitted by Dr. Ewelukwa, as indicating that within the past two decades, there has been a phenomenal increase in the electronic commerce (e-commerce) mode of transacting businesses, with billions of dollars spent online globally every year by business people that meet in cyberspace to transact in various goods or services.

As said by her, while the United States and the European Union are currently market leaders in ecommerce, the increasing deployment of broadband internet in African countries like Nigeria, Rwanda and Kenya hold promises for these countries to also tap into this market may be the key to unlocking the full trading potentials of their citizens, and ultimately contributing to overall economic growth and development.

Also, she described as fascinating the rapid adoption of mobile commerce (m-commerce) in many African countries, of which Nigeria has through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently licensed over 15 companies.

Pointing out that with an increasing number of Africans now using their mobile phones to transfer money, it eases payments for goods or services electronically.

Equally speaking, Dr. Ewelukwa noted that while these technological innovations are very commendable, “it is important that they do not run ahead of laws that ensure their legal utilization and proper regulation in respective jurisdictions.”

Ewelukwa pointed out that his paper would analyse the legal framework for e-commerce and m-commerce in Africa specifically focusing on Nigeria, which according to statistics has the highest percentage of mobile phones with Internet access in the continent.

He wondered if Nigerians legally enter into online business transactions, what contractual communication validly undertaken through text messages are there to adequately and legally protect them from various risks associated with businesses using these modern forms of business communication.

“Are there other non-legal constraints that can impede the uptake of e-commerce and m-commerce in Nigeria,” he further wondered, stressing that these are some of the questions that will be addressed in his paper.

“It will be argued that a lot still needs to be done to ensure the stability of the legal and regulatory framework for electronic and mobile commerce in Nigeria, and give confidence to those that transact business through these means,” he said.

Noteworthy is that Dr. Ewelukwa is a Barrister and Solicitor as well as Managing Director of a London-based African Legal Consulting Limited.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

World Bank votes N10.8bn on broadband

A total of $71.5 million about N10,875,865,043.64 billion has been voted by World Bank for broadband development in the across Africa, reports CHARLES OKOH.

World Bank also said that three major projects across Africa have been earmarked to boost Information Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and access.

The $71.5 million projects are aimed at buttressing services in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.

A press statement made available to ITRealms Online, World Bank said, Liberia and Sierra Leone would receive line of credits from $25.6 million and $31 million respectively. This, World Bank officials said would boost their ICT sectors.

The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome would receive a grant of $14.9 million from the Bank for its component of the Central African Backbone Programme.

The money, according to the World Bank, is part of a $300 million West Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (WARCIP).

World Bank further said, the projects have two main components comprising technical assistance and capacity building.

“The first component will seek to create an enabling environment through provision of technical assistance and capacity building for legal and regulatory reform; and will develop public private partnership arrangements for the infrastructure to be developed,” part of the statement said.

Nigeria, this was seen as a boost to the continents efforts to stabilize the ICT sector across the region.

“We should see this as a step in the right direction for countries that have for far too long been left outside the range of international lenders,” said one Nigerian government official.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Tizhe to chair Titans of Tech 2011

President of the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Mr. Ibrahim Tizhe, has been confirmed as the chairman of the 2011 edition of the Titans of Tech conference cum exhibition billed for Lagos, between March 17 and 18, 2011.

Managing Consultant, Technology Africa, organiser of Titans of Tech conference, Don Pedro Aganbi, disclosed this at the weekend, observing that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has indeed transformed the global economy and connected people and markets in ways never imagined.

He quoted CPN President as saying that the theme of the conference, ‘Promoting Economic Development Through Effective Cyber Security’ is timely as it would lend weight to existing efforts to increase awareness on the issues, challenges, opportunities in cyber security in Nigeria.

He noted that CPN, as the legal entity charged with the control and supervision of the Computing Profession in the country, would support initiatives that seek to boost the nation’s economic development through reducing the risk of conducting business transactions online. Mr. Tizhe explained that a better understanding of the concept would enhance the quality of government’s policy, enable the National Assembly to legislate appropriately, help service providers see opportunities for business development and jumpstart economic activities generally.

Aganbi further said, to realise the full benefits of the digital revolution, users must have confidence that sensitive information is secure, commerce is not compromised and the infrastructure is not infiltrated. This is why a forum on cyber security is imperative at this time.

“Cyber security is about building confidence and security in the use of ICTs. It is about protecting personal information by responding, detecting and preventing attacks. Cyber security is about decreasing cyber crimes” he said.

Pointing out that Nigeria clearly needs a comprehensive framework to ensure coordinated response and recovery by the government, the private sector, and individual users to a significant incident or threat.

Nigeria, he said, needs to conduct a national dialogue on cybersecurity to develop more public awareness of the threat and risks and to ensure an integrated approach toward the Nation’s need for security and the national commitment to privacy rights and civil liberties.

This is the purpose of Titans of Tech 2011 – to create opportunity for dialogue.

The two day Titans of Tech lecture and exhibition, now in its sixth year has been described severally as the biggest information technology (ICT) expo and lecture in West Africa. The second day of the conference is dedicated to the youths and it is tagged The Nigerian ICT Youth Summit.

The Nigerian ICT Youth Summit is designed to bring together under one roof youths and ICT professionals for intelligent discourse and to chart a course for the future of Nigerian youth.

Over 5,000 visitors, 200 delegates 24 exhibitors and 10 ten speakers from Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia are expected to grace the two-day Titans of Tech 2011 edition.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Omo-Ettu, Cohen lead speakers @ Mobile Web confab

Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector would today begin the hosting of a two-day conference on Mobile web.

This is coming as the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu and Director of Google Ideas, Mr. Jared Cohen, would lead speakers at the two-day event, which holds at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Managing Director of the organizing firm, All amber, Mr. Matthew Dawes, disclosed this in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, saying that the event is specifically aimed at high-level strategists.

According to him, Mr. Omo-Ettu, the President of ATCON, would deliver the opening address at the Mobile Web West Africa conference, this Wednesday, February 2, 2011.

He also said that Director of Google Ideas, Mr. Jared Cohen, has confirmed he would present the keynote address for the second day of the event.

Equally, he said that industry leaders InMobi, MapIT and Sponge have agreed to significant sponsorship packages and in doing so have joined Fontera, ConnectNigeria.com, the World Wide Web Foundation, the W3C Mobile Web Initiative, StartupsNigeria.com, Web Trends Nigeria and others in partnering with All amber.

Dawes noted that the extremely strong industry wide support for the event is attractive.

“Six key representatives from Google will attend Mobile Web West Africa, including business and product leaders from Africa, Europe and the USA,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Dawes said that AppCircus Developer Competition would provide an opportunity for developers and start-ups to win prizes and foster business opportunities.

He further said that attendees would have the opportunity to gain and exchange knowledge on harnessing the potential of the mobile internet and applications on mobile devices in Africa.

The Mobile Web in Africa series of events is firmly established as the industry’s most progressive and interactive mobile-focused events, bringing together all the major stakeholders.

Other key contributors for Mobile Web West Africa include Obi Asika (Storm 360), Lola Masha (Google), ‘Gbenga Sesan (Paradigm Initiative Nigeria), Yomi Adegboye (MobilityNigeria.com), Russell Southwood (Balancing Act), Alex Meisl (Sponge) and Kenneth Omeruo (TechTrends Nigeria).

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

W.Afritel gets June date in Lagos

The 11th edition of the West African International Telecom and Information Communications Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel) would hold in June this year.

The organisers led by Mr. Mkpe Abang, Editor-in-Chief, IT & Telecom Digest, sole Nigeria Agent for W.Afri.Tel informed ITRealms Online at the weekend that the 2011 edition has been scheduled to hold over three days, from June 7-9, at the new Eko Expo Hall in Lagos.

He also said that the readiness of his team heralds an unbroken run of the event that commenced in June 2001, thereby reaffirming W.Afri.Tel as the pioneer, most consistent and leading technology exhibition in the sub-region.

He said that W.Afri.Tel true to type gathers leading telecom industry companies, mobile phone operators, Internet Service providers, value services providers, equipment vendors, satellite companies and technology solutions providers, among others, from within and outside the sub-region, and indeed, across Africa, Europe, America and Asia, seeking to get prime spots.

While those making inquiries have made physical contacts and held discussions with the organisers, others, owing to distance and time, have taken advantage of the internet to make useful enquiries regarding space booking and exhibiting at W.Afri.Tel 2011.

“We have practically been inundated with enquires and requests, either by phone or by email; many others have had meetings with us with a view to booking and confirming their participation at W.Afri.Tel 2011,” he said, stressing that as a rule, spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Companies that previously exhibited at W.Afri.Tel, he said, know of this policy and are already making focused efforts to confirm their bookings.

Since making its debut in June 2001 shortly before the full take off of GSM operations in Nigeria, W.Afri.Tel has taken place in June every year, thereby giving operators and vendors, experts and governments, regulators and manufacturers from across the world a platform to showcase their products, services and technologies as well as cross-fertilising ideas in building a robust telecom industry for Nigeria, and indeed, West Africa.

Equally speaking, Managing Director of Exhibition Management Services (Pty), organisers of W.Afri.Tel, Mr. John Thomson, said they have always put the West African sub-region on the cutting edge of technology.

“With the newest technologies, innovations, services and products are showcased at W.Afri.Tel first for West Africa. This year’s event promises to go even a big step further, especially as it marks the tenth anniversary of the commencement of GSM operations in Nigeria, a hugely successful revolution of which W.Afri.Tel predates its commencement, thereby confirming our commitment to grow this sector for all Africans,” he said.

W.Afri.Tel 2011 will be staged alongside the third edition of the West African ICT (WAFICT) Congress, organised by IT & Telecom Digest in conjunction with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Ericsson supports China Unicom on GPON deployment

Leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators, Ericsson is supporting China UniCom’s first large-scale gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) deployment.

Affirming this to ITRealms Online, Head, Corporate Public & Media Relations, Ericsson West Africa, Ms Omasan Ogisi, said that Ericsson is to supply the relevant equipment for over 10 provinces across China for the deployment of the service.

Additionally, she said the supply would enable high-speed broadband access for millions of Chinese subscribers.

The new deal, she said would meet the needs of millions of Chinese people requiring an enhanced experience when accessing internet and streaming real-time multimedia applications.

Under the contract, she said in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online that with Ericsson’s high capacity EDA 1500 GPON system, China Unicom would offer the highest speed and capacity broadband access on the market. The contract marks China Unicom’s first
large-scale deployment of GPON technology.

"The GPON infrastructure and smart management system will enable China Unicom to roll out fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-building across the country faster and at a lower cost," she said, stressing that this allows the company to better meet the growing demand of data traffic and triple play services among Chinese consumers.

Head of Ericsson Region China & North East Asia, Mr. Mats H Olsson, noted that this deal is a milestone in the globalization of GPON; a new path China Unicom has taken reaffirms the potential of GPON in China and around the world.

"Ericsson is one of the few qualified GPON vendors in China, and we are proud to be powering China Unicom in its mission to stay ahead of the competitive broadband market with our industry leading solution," he said.

He also said that benefiting from its global GPON footprint; Ericsson has now become a mainstream broadband supplier in China, providing GPON to all three of the country’s telecom operators as well as some leading cable TV operators. Today, the majority of the provinces and regions in China are using Ericsson’s GPON solution.

He explained that Ericsson’s Deep Fiber Access is a complete end-to-end solution of passive fiber, outside plant components and active equipment along with a comprehensive service offering.

While he said, the EDA broadband access equipment portfolio provides simple, smart and scalable solutions for high-speed, multimedia rich, next generation IP-based networks.

The world’s leading operators have selected Ericsson’s innovative Deep Fiber Access deploying the EDA GPON, EDA P2P, EDA WDM PON and EDA DSL solutions in more than 145 FTTX and 110 copper-based networks around the globe.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

eWorld, eBusiness Life join forces on broaband summit '11

Two leading Nigeria industry entities, eWorld Magazine and eBusiness Life Communications Limited have joined force to engage stakeholders at the 2011 annual Broadband Summit.

Chief executive officers of the two organisation, Mr. Aaron Ukodie and Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, confirmed this in Lagos, saying that the joint event tend to chart the next growth road map for the industry, especially in the broadband.

They explained that the partnership was borne out of the need to channel their focus on a consolidated and common industry growth strategy capable of furthering build-up to the event and ensure mass participation by all stakeholders.

The summit which theme focuses on “Strategies for driving Broadband Revolution and Mobile Ecosystem,” they said is aimed at bringing ICT stakeholders together to map out ways of utilizing the expected abundant bandwidth and focusing on the most viable ways for Broadband deployment in Nigeria.

Further they said it would broaden the perspective and ensure that attendance to the event slated to hold in Lagos on February 24, 2011, is not divided.

Mrs. Emuophedaro said that working together on this event would make it more focused and achieve better result that would benefit the industry as a whole.

“It will also ensure that we do not work across purpose, but work together on a common goal,” she said.

She noted that with the landing of submarine cables on the shores of Nigeria and the expected deluge of internet related activities, stakeholders at the event are expected to point out ways to further ensure the profitable use of available bandwidth to boost economic and social activities in the country.

“They are also expected to proffer direction to the deployment of broadband services around the country,” she said.

Analysts have noted that with the reality of the availability of Broadband technology on ground, the country would have to look for ways of channeling available bandwidth and ensuring that it gets to the hinterlands. “The biggest challenge might be last mile deployment. But how do we go about it? This is one of the things stakeholders will tell us at the event”, Mrs. Emuophedaro said.

In the same light, Mr. Ukodie noted that with the partnership, all participants would also partner to move the industry forward as a body.

Mr. Ukodie, the major objective of setting up and operating a unified ICT infrastructure platform and a national network backbone is to realize the MDGs through the facilitation of digital inclusion of underserved areas and rural communities. This, she observed, will be one of the focal points of the event.

The event is geared towards brining key stakeholders together to examine current successes and chart a new course for the future of Broadband connectivity in Nigeria.

The duo added that the summit would look at ways of ensuring availability of Broadband services to consumers all over the country, while underlining profitability for service providers.

Expected speaker at the event are decision makers from both government and private sector drawn from the various sectors of the economy.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Airtel honours 10 outstanding staffers

Airtel Nigeria has expressed satisfaction with 10 outstanding employees for exception performance.

The recognition came at the Employee Communications Forum held in Lagos with the presentation of the prestigious Airtel Nigeria Functional and Service Excellence Awards.

Five employees were presented with Airtel Functional Excellence Awards while another five went home with the Airtel Service Excellence prizes.

Disclosing this, Public Relations Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine gave the names of the recipients in the Functional Excellence awards to include Olachi Oruye of the Technical & Network Assurance team in Technical Group; Chukwuemeka Adigwe, Payphones Acquisition, Usage & Retention (Marketing Group); Kehinde Adewusi, Web, Intranet & Interactive Systems (IT Services Directorate) Team member; Lucky Ubani of Regulatory Economics (Regulatory and Government Affairs Directorate) and Babatunde Olaniyan, Manager of Commercial Legal in the Legal Directorate.

On the other hand, the Airtel Service Excellence Awards went to Kathryn Edionseri, the Team Lead at the Lagos Call Centre; Oluwaseyi Temowo, Shop staff in Lagos Region; Iquo Inyang of Customer Query Resolution; Ifeoma Otaru, a Member of the High End Service Experience team in the Credit Control and Olusegun Ogunmefun of the Contact Centre, Forecasting & Planning team all of the Customer Service Directorate.

The award recipients were honoured in the presence of top Airtel principal officers, including Manoj Kohli, the Chief Executive Officer/Joint Managing Director of Airtel International; Inder Walia, the Group HR Director of Bharti Enterprises; Rajan Swaroop, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director; Deepak Srivastava, the Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director of Airtel Nigeria and Jubril Saba, Human Resources Director in Airtel Nigeria.

All the recipients were presented with mouth-watering gift vouchers and commendation letters signed by Rajan Swaroop, the company’s Chief executive officer.

Speaking at the occasion, Rajan Swaroop, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, stated that the mobile operator’s decision to reward the outstanding contributions of top performing employees is in consonance with Airtel’s commitment to raising the bar of employee engagement and motivation in recognition of the critical role and importance of employees in the realisation of its vision.

While praising the awardees for their passion and commitment, he reiterated the company’s commitment to creating a world class Nigerian company that will be targeted by top talent, loved by more customers and benchmarked by more businesses. He added that Airtel Nigeria will always create exciting reward schemes to delight and reward all its employees.

The Airtel Employee Communications Forum, a quarterly initiative, also provided the company an opportunity to share its operating plans for the quarter with all staff just as it created a platform to get feedback from personnel in different units of the business.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Glo reduces price of internet modem

The second national operator, Globacom has reduced the price of its Third Generation (3G) Internet modem from N8,500 to N5,000.

Officials of Globacom said that the latest reduction in prices of the modern makes it the most affordable product of its kind in the market, just as the modems are available in all Gloworld
Shops nationwide and some selected dealers.

Head of Glo 3G and Blackberry Sales, Wunmi Jewesimi, confirmed this, saying that the company also reduced the monthly rental fee for its Always Max plan and increased the data volume for the package.

Details of the revised offer, Jewesimi said, shows that subscribers of Always Max package would now enjoy a 25 per cent reduction in rental fee as they would henceforth pay just N7,500 instead of N10,000 charged previously.

In addition, Jewesimi said Glo has reduced tariff while the data volume for the package gives all-day internet access for 30 days, which has been increased from 5 Giga Bytes (GB) to 6GB.

Also Jewesimi said Glo’s data volume on the G300 pack with 90 days validity has been increased by over 100 per cent, which is from 4GB to 9GB.

“This enables subscribers to the package to download much more than they did before now at no additional cost,” the head of 3G said.

According to Jewesimi, the revised packages offer more value to the customer and are the best 3G internet packages in the industry in terms of value and pricing.

“The Always Max subscriber makes a savings of N2,500 every month and is able to do more with the increased data volume. The G300 customer has also been empowered to do much more with the additional 5 gigabytes,” Jewesimi said.

Other packages on the Glo 3G Plus High Speed Internet offer include the Always Min package which gives the user a month all-day access to the internet for N5,000, the Always Day pack with a fee of N500 for all day access for 24 hours and the G100 which has a monthly fee of N6,000 with 100 hours, all day access.

There is also the Flexi pack which is in two categories: the G Work package attracts N6,000 monthly charge with 8a.m to 9p.m access for 30 days and the G Leisure which has a monthly fee of N5,000 for 30 days access from 8p.m to 9a.m every day and all day during weekends.

Equally, Jewesimi noted with this high speed internet experience available, users of Glo 3G modems are guaranteed effortless browsing and download on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and much more.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Internet Solution spends N1.6bn on data center

Internet Solutions (IS) West Africa has said it invested $11 million, about N1,672,550,033.57 billion in the past two years of its operation in Nigeria in building data centres.

IS is a joint venture between Nigerian shareholders BSML and Dimension Data.

Making this disclosure in Lagos, the Managing Director, Internet Solutions for Africa, Mr. Derek Wilcocks, in the main time, the company has invested an estimated 11m in Nigeria in effort to build out data centres for corporate Nigeria.

He noted that Internet Solutions, a leading internet and communications service provider said they are gearing up for more investment into the Nigeria’s Information and Communications industry.

Wilcocks also said that for public and private sector organisations a new technology tagged ‘S-curve’ is on the table.

“From 2010 and beyond we will really begin to see rapid and simultaneous incremental developments coming and businesses have to adjust to take advantage of these,” he said.

Wilcocks stressed that key dimensions effective businesses manage their information are areas like content where the sheer volume and incredible richness of information is changing the shape of the Internet itself, forcing organisations to rethink everything.

These, he said, comprised five Cs, namely content, carrier, collaboration, community and commerce.

Wilcocks noted that collaboration and community involves blogging and social media, companies have to take online communities more seriously.

On commerce on the internet, he said, this has exploded with Africa and Nigeria leading the world in areas like mobile banking and cloud providing infrastructures, platforms and applications in a flexible and on-demand manner is at the heart of the future business strategies of giants and start-ups alike.

Equally speaking, Managing Director, Internet Solutions West Africa, Mr. Steve Herridge, said his firm is already responding to these trends in order to more effectively meet clients’ requirements by investing even more in the Nigerian and West African market.

“We are very keen to introduce innovative and relevant services to the Nigerian market that are already being deployed in other parts of the world. Our MPLS VPN (Virtual Private Network) service using our cloud capabilities are already available to the Nigerian business and other services like WebEx a unified conferencing and content sharing collaboration tool are already well on their way to being deployed later this year.’

Mr. Herridge further said that all of these investments demonstrate Internet Solutions commitment to the West African market and especially Nigeria.

According to him, most importantly is for IS assist local clients to take advantage of the global trends stemming from digital content, online collaboration, online communities, electronic commerce, and cloud computing.

“It is our belief that the Nigerian market offers a lot of value to the investor looking to operate within the African telecommunications market. We know that the market penetration of Internet Access in Nigeria will continue to grow and we are positioning ourselves to be prepared for the world beyond just mere connectivity,” he said.

Internet Solutions prides itself with over 27 years experience as an independent company, culminating in operations in over 50 countries worldwide and with more than 11,000 staff, ITRealms Online recalls that Dimension Data was acquired in the last quarter of 2010 by NTT Docomo of Japan for US$ 3.2 billion and delisted from the London Stock Exchange.

NTT is the second largest telecommunications operator worldwide, employs more than 200,000 people and has revenues exceeding US$ 110 Billion per annum. NTT’s investment in Dimension Data represents a major capital inflow for Africa and demonstrates a strong commitment to the future of the information and communication technology market in Africa.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Cisco boosts borderless network solutions

Cisco Nigeria has launched new range of switching, routing, security and wireless portfolios products and services across all the functional elements of its borderless network architecture, reports CHARLES OKOH.

These included the high-performing and density catalyst switch, adaptive security appliance firewall and compact ASR 1000 router in their classes; new entry-level 802.11n wireless access points for smaller businesses; and new and enhanced smart services offerings.

Presenting these products to customers in Lagos, the General Manager, Cisco Nigeria, Mr. Richard Edet, said last week that Information Technology (IT) managers want to use the network to support the needs of the business, adding that business is changing and IT mangers are under increasing pressure to make the network available to anyone, anywhere, anytime and on any device, especially in a secure, reliable, seamless manner.

“This is precisely the challenge that the Cisco borderless network was designed to address. This third expansion of the borderless networks portfolio is designed to help customers reach new levels of innovation and participation by engaging their customers and employees to create entirely new ways of doing business,” he said.

Also, he said, a new network and application velocity network service was announced to accelerate application performance physically and virtually.

The new products and professional and technical services, Edet said, extend the borderless networks portfolio to address the growing need for high-performance, reliable and secure application delivery from a smaller number of consolidated data centres to a growing number of wired and wireless endpoints, while optimising overall resource utilization and footprint.

Cisco, he said, is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, adding that this year celebrates 25 years of technology innovation, operational excellence and corporate social responsibility by the company.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Olufuye joins UN-IGF Working Group

The President of the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Dr. Jimson Olufuye is to represent the World Information Technology and Services Alliance in the United Nations’ Working Group on Internet Governance.

Confirming this, the Public Policy Director at (WITSA), Mr. Anders Halvorsen, said that the appointment follows the outcome of his organisation’s meeting on December 21, 2010.

Olufuye who also is the vice chairman of WITSA for sub-Saharan Africa was formally appointed by the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) as a representative to the new working group on Internet Governance.

“As one of only five business representatives globally, Dr. Olufuye will play an instrumental role in influencing the recommendations from the working group, which will be presented to the CSTD at its 14th session in Geneva on May 23-27,” he said.

Additionally, he would participate in both working group meetings, taking place in Montreux, Switzerland on February 25-26 and in Zurich on March 24-25, this year respectively.

“Please join me in congratulating Jimson on this important appointment,” Mr. Halvorsen declared.

He listed members states and other stakeholders that constitute the working group on improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to comprise Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Ghana, Greece, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lesotho, Lithuania, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tunisia and the United States of America.

Although one nomination from the Group of Eastern Europe is still outstanding, he noted that the Business Community has Ms Marilyn Cade, CEO and Principal, mCADE LLC - ICT Strategies, Mr Patrik Faltstrom, Distinguished Consulting Engineer, Cisco Systems –Sweden, Mr. Jimson Olufuye, President Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) & Vice-Chairman WITSA (Sub-Saharan Africa), Nigeria, Mr Christoph Steck, Public Policy Director, Telefonica South Africa, and Ms Theresa Swinehart, Director - Global Internet Policy, Verizon.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

DCC bags outstanding VPN award

The communications subsidiary of the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), the DCC Networks has bagged ‘The Most Outstanding Corporate Virtual Private Network (VPN) of the Decade’ at the West African Digital Awards held recently.

Head, Marketing Communications for CWG, Mr. Chidi Okpara said that this is an indication that DCC Networks has continued to wax stronger beyond a decade.

He also said that this has been achieved by making key statements through the provision of innovative technologies to the financial institutions, telecoms, oil and gas as well as government establishments.

The company, he said, has strength to lead the pace within the industry which earned it some recognition at the recently held West African Digital awards.

He said that over the past decade, DCC Networks has provided solutions and services in the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT); Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) and Systems Integration using Cisco solutions, power solutions and managed services with a 24 by 7 help desk that provides first level support to her customer.

He pointed out that in response to customer’s needs and with the spirit of innovation CWG and its subsidiaries including DCC have sustained this commitment.

DCC, he said, has evolved into a business providing fibre optic solutions to corporate Nigeria with key Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partners comprising Gilat Satellite Networks, Cisco Systems, Avaya Communications and Helios Towers to name a few.

Reacting to the award, Head, Business Sales at DCC, Mr. Sylvester Ekpo, dedicated the award to their customers who believed in them and up till date regard them as trusted advisers in their journey towards technology innovation and advancement.

He also promise that DCC would continue to deliver excellent services to all its customers now scattered across major cities in Africa.

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D