Over 50 California-based leading technology companies were on trade mission to this year’s edition of CeBIT.
Disclosing this, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California who led the delegation, said he was not disappointed with the world’s largest technology trade fair, which attracted more than 5,000 companies from all corners of the earth.
According to him, though the gathering seems to be at challenging times, which is strangling economies and businesses around the globe.
“Some may say that this is the worst time for a big trade show like this, but they could not be more wrong,” he said.
As said by him, this is the best time to have this kind of trade show, because in times of crisis we can respond in one of two ways.
“We can sit back and complain and whine and resign ourselves to defeat, or you can stand up, challenge yourself and challenge everyone around you to work even harder and you can refuse to fail. You can use a crisis as an opportunity to shine, an opportunity to leap past your competitors who are taking it may be easy and taking the easy way out. That’s what winners do. Losers whine, but winners move forward in a strong and powerful way,” he asserted.
CeBIT, he said, is all about pumping up businesses and finding new customers as well as pumping up the economy, stressing that in today’s economy the world is the marketplace.
“And that is why I have gone on trade missions. I’m a big believer that, if the world does not know about your products, then how do you expect them to be sold to the world? There is no way. So this is why I believe in trade missions,” he said.
Noting that his delegations have been in China, Japan, Canada, Mexico and is currently moving on to Europe, expressing optimism that the step would expand California’s markets and sell California’s products, with the believe that they are some of the best in the world.
He pointed out that when it comes to technology, he was not astonished to see his state to serve as the first trade show partner to CeBIT.
California, he said, is not just another state, but is more like a nation-state.
“California is the world’s eighth largest economy. We are the high-tech capital of the world, the entertainment capital of the world, the innovation capital of the world and the list goes on and on, because to be a Californian means to strive to be the best, to invent, to innovate and to create, to lead and not to follow,” he said.
Emphasizing that it was something that begun in a tiny garage and in Silicon Valley, this is where they built the blocks, the building blocks for the modern computer, where they were thought up and they were built.
California, he said, is also the birthplace of biotechnology, recalling that over 30 years ago two men, a venture capitalist and a California university professor, created the biotech industry over beers in a San Francisco bar over beers.
Presently, he said, his administration is investing billions and billions of dollars in stem cell research.
“We have the greatest universities, with the most sophisticated labs, doing the most cutting-edge research. We are always pushing the envelope, searching for that next great discovery,” he said.
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
BPP boss commends Galaxy Backbone Plc
Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr. Emeka Eze, has commended the management of Galaxy Backbone Plc (GBB) Plc for its commitment in delivering government’s objectives in setting up the company.
Eze, who gave this applause while on courtesy visit to Galaxy National Data Centre and Network Operating Centre, expressed elation.
Galaxy uses these centres to provide connectivity, co-location and other enhanced quality services to its customers in the public and private sectors including Government MDAs.
The Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, told Mr. Eze that the Federal Government had a clear and specific focus for setting up Galaxy Backbone as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the harmonization and integration of the deployment of ICT infrastructure and services to public institutions, underserved communities and other stakeholders based on economies of scale which will result in cost savings for all.
According to Ilukwe, this is line with a global trend that has witnessed Governments in India, South Africa, Malaysia, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, to mention a few, demonstrate the ability to use technology – ICTs - to positively transform their economies through improved public sector delivery of services to citizens and businesses.
Mr. Ilukwe therefore condemned the practice by government organizations who are duplicating efforts and wasting national resources in the face of global economic crisis through the award of contracts for ICT infrastructure and services that Galaxy is already well resourced by the Federal Government to provision.
Stressing that these measures would ensure undue approach to the utilization of ICTs is counterproductive to national development as the issue of interoperability and security of national data are compromised.
Later, the Director General and his team were conducted round the various top of the breed IT equipment installed at Galaxy’s Network Operating Centre as part of the NICEP network.
The team also inspected the company’s Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) project through which Galaxy enables the delivery of multiple, live synchronous e-learning lessons to an unlimited number of geographically dispersed students to either PC or TV-based classrooms using a friendly student/instructor interaction.
The IDL project, he explained, combines high quality bi-directional video, voice and educational tools like slide projection, whiteboard, chat and application projection.
Further, the BPP team toured the state of art National Data Centre where mission critical systems and applications can be hosted securely. In addition, organizations can utilize the data center to take advantage of dedicated Galaxy-managed servers; they can also co-locate their own servers or opt for bundled offers that include broadband connections and a mixture of other services such as multi-layered network security, management and monitoring.
Equally commenting, Head, Federal Public Sector, Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Frank Ugbodaga said “the facility tour affords us the opportunity to explore various ways that Galaxy can support the laudable work being undertaken by BPP and we also shared our roadmap for the development of ICT infrastructure and services in the federal public sector”.
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Eze, who gave this applause while on courtesy visit to Galaxy National Data Centre and Network Operating Centre, expressed elation.
Galaxy uses these centres to provide connectivity, co-location and other enhanced quality services to its customers in the public and private sectors including Government MDAs.
The Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, told Mr. Eze that the Federal Government had a clear and specific focus for setting up Galaxy Backbone as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the harmonization and integration of the deployment of ICT infrastructure and services to public institutions, underserved communities and other stakeholders based on economies of scale which will result in cost savings for all.
According to Ilukwe, this is line with a global trend that has witnessed Governments in India, South Africa, Malaysia, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, to mention a few, demonstrate the ability to use technology – ICTs - to positively transform their economies through improved public sector delivery of services to citizens and businesses.
Mr. Ilukwe therefore condemned the practice by government organizations who are duplicating efforts and wasting national resources in the face of global economic crisis through the award of contracts for ICT infrastructure and services that Galaxy is already well resourced by the Federal Government to provision.
Stressing that these measures would ensure undue approach to the utilization of ICTs is counterproductive to national development as the issue of interoperability and security of national data are compromised.
Later, the Director General and his team were conducted round the various top of the breed IT equipment installed at Galaxy’s Network Operating Centre as part of the NICEP network.
The team also inspected the company’s Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) project through which Galaxy enables the delivery of multiple, live synchronous e-learning lessons to an unlimited number of geographically dispersed students to either PC or TV-based classrooms using a friendly student/instructor interaction.
The IDL project, he explained, combines high quality bi-directional video, voice and educational tools like slide projection, whiteboard, chat and application projection.
Further, the BPP team toured the state of art National Data Centre where mission critical systems and applications can be hosted securely. In addition, organizations can utilize the data center to take advantage of dedicated Galaxy-managed servers; they can also co-locate their own servers or opt for bundled offers that include broadband connections and a mixture of other services such as multi-layered network security, management and monitoring.
Equally commenting, Head, Federal Public Sector, Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Frank Ugbodaga said “the facility tour affords us the opportunity to explore various ways that Galaxy can support the laudable work being undertaken by BPP and we also shared our roadmap for the development of ICT infrastructure and services in the federal public sector”.
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Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 debuts
The final version of the much expected Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) was penultimate Thursday released to the public, as reported by ZDNet.
Affirming this, head, Windows Business Group at Microsoft United Kingdom, Mr. John Curran, noted that the beta version proved that IE8 was technically faster than rival browsers such as Firefox and Google’s Chrome.
Yet, he admitted that the browsers all “rendered at about parity”, and any differences were only measurable in “fractions of seconds”.
Tests comparing IE8 with the beta of Safari 4 had not taken place because the latest version of Apple’s browser had not been available at the time, Curran said.
Many of the new features in IE8 are already available in rival browsers. One example is the InPrivate browsing mode, which opens up a fresh window that does not store the user’s browsing history.
This feature, he said, already exists in Chrome and Safari, even as the Smart Address Bar, which adds search functionality to the address bar at the top of the browser, resembles that of Firefox’s “Awesome Bar” and Chrome’s Omnibox.
If one tab in the browser crashes, it now no longer takes down the whole application. Again, this feature of running each opened tab as a separate instance can be found in Chrome.
The report further said that a major new feature of IE8 is what Microsoft calls “tab groups” which relate tabs, for example where one tab has been opened from another or both tabs were from the same site, colour-coded to make their relationship immediately apparent.
Stressing that the so-called “accelerators” are also new to IE8, but the feature allows users to select text on a webpage and then click on the selected text to bring up a list of possible actions, such as translating the text, using the text as a search string for Live Search, or looking for a selected post code on Live Search Maps. Accelerators also allow selected text to be shared instantly via social networking tools such as Twitter.
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Affirming this, head, Windows Business Group at Microsoft United Kingdom, Mr. John Curran, noted that the beta version proved that IE8 was technically faster than rival browsers such as Firefox and Google’s Chrome.
Yet, he admitted that the browsers all “rendered at about parity”, and any differences were only measurable in “fractions of seconds”.
Tests comparing IE8 with the beta of Safari 4 had not taken place because the latest version of Apple’s browser had not been available at the time, Curran said.
Many of the new features in IE8 are already available in rival browsers. One example is the InPrivate browsing mode, which opens up a fresh window that does not store the user’s browsing history.
This feature, he said, already exists in Chrome and Safari, even as the Smart Address Bar, which adds search functionality to the address bar at the top of the browser, resembles that of Firefox’s “Awesome Bar” and Chrome’s Omnibox.
If one tab in the browser crashes, it now no longer takes down the whole application. Again, this feature of running each opened tab as a separate instance can be found in Chrome.
The report further said that a major new feature of IE8 is what Microsoft calls “tab groups” which relate tabs, for example where one tab has been opened from another or both tabs were from the same site, colour-coded to make their relationship immediately apparent.
Stressing that the so-called “accelerators” are also new to IE8, but the feature allows users to select text on a webpage and then click on the selected text to bring up a list of possible actions, such as translating the text, using the text as a search string for Live Search, or looking for a selected post code on Live Search Maps. Accelerators also allow selected text to be shared instantly via social networking tools such as Twitter.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Mobile banking users hit 913m by 2014 – Berg Insight
Sweden-based Berg Insight, has released its latest study outcome with a predication that mobile banking users to grow upto 913 million in the next five years.
According to report, worldwide number of users of mobile banking and related services is forecasted to grow from 20 million users in 2008 alone at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 89.0 per cent to reach 913 million users in 2014.
Asia-Pacific, the report said, is expected to become the most important regional market, accounting for 65 per cent of the total user base.
Mobile banking, Berg Insight report also noted, is anticipated to play a key role in bringing financial services to people in the Middle East and Africa.
While in Europe and North America, the report predicted that the technology will mainly serve as an extension of existing online banks as mobile handsets become more widely used for Internet access.
“By 2014, Berg Insight forecasts that mobile banking will attract 110 million users in Europe and 80 million users in North America,” part of the a press statement the firm’s chief executive, Johan Fagerberg, made available to ITRealms Online revealed.
Telecom Analyst, Berg Insight, Mr. Marcus Persson, pointed out that mobile handsets are in an excellent position to become the primary digital channel for providers of banking and related financial services on emerging markets.
“People who sign up for their first mobile subscription today will likely open their first bank account in the coming years and thus join the modern financial system.
Mobile operators can play a vital role in this development and will have the opportunity to take an active part in the creation of some of tomorrow’s most important financial institutions based in Asia and Africa,” he said.
Equally, the report indicated that besides traditional retail banking, it also identified international money transfer as a potential revenue source for mobile industry players.
Further, Berg Insight forecasted that 5–20 per cent of the international money transfers currently handled by various formal or informal agent networks will be carried out using a mobile handset by 2014, thus generating about US$ 170–680 million in service revenues.
Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry, producing concise reports that offer key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in our focus areas with a vision to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers.
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According to report, worldwide number of users of mobile banking and related services is forecasted to grow from 20 million users in 2008 alone at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 89.0 per cent to reach 913 million users in 2014.
Asia-Pacific, the report said, is expected to become the most important regional market, accounting for 65 per cent of the total user base.
Mobile banking, Berg Insight report also noted, is anticipated to play a key role in bringing financial services to people in the Middle East and Africa.
While in Europe and North America, the report predicted that the technology will mainly serve as an extension of existing online banks as mobile handsets become more widely used for Internet access.
“By 2014, Berg Insight forecasts that mobile banking will attract 110 million users in Europe and 80 million users in North America,” part of the a press statement the firm’s chief executive, Johan Fagerberg, made available to ITRealms Online revealed.
Telecom Analyst, Berg Insight, Mr. Marcus Persson, pointed out that mobile handsets are in an excellent position to become the primary digital channel for providers of banking and related financial services on emerging markets.
“People who sign up for their first mobile subscription today will likely open their first bank account in the coming years and thus join the modern financial system.
Mobile operators can play a vital role in this development and will have the opportunity to take an active part in the creation of some of tomorrow’s most important financial institutions based in Asia and Africa,” he said.
Equally, the report indicated that besides traditional retail banking, it also identified international money transfer as a potential revenue source for mobile industry players.
Further, Berg Insight forecasted that 5–20 per cent of the international money transfers currently handled by various formal or informal agent networks will be carried out using a mobile handset by 2014, thus generating about US$ 170–680 million in service revenues.
Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry, producing concise reports that offer key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in our focus areas with a vision to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers.
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NCC seeks study on MDGs
THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for conduct of studies on the impact development of telecommunications on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and boosting penetration in rural telephony.
NCC in a public statement signed by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, said that the commission plans to institute consultancies on impacts of the developments in telecommunications on MDGs, telecommunications penetration in rural Nigeria and opinion poll rating on regulatory transparency and effectiveness of the commission.
According to NCC, interested consultants must have proven and demonstrable expertise in telecommunications and the information and communications technology spheres.
It further requested interested consultants to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Nigerian telecommunications market as well as the subject of consultancy; methodology and work plan with specific time lines for the execution of the consultancy, for which interest had been expressed; experiences of the firm in consulting on telecommunications cum ICT or related markets as well as experience and qualification of key personnel, including CVs.
It also requested prospective candidates to separate expressions of interest and proposals for each study, provide title for each consultancy boldly written at the top right hand corner of the relevant envelopes and send to the Head, Economic Analysis and Corporate Planning, Nigerian Communications Commission, Maitama District, Abuja.
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NCC in a public statement signed by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, said that the commission plans to institute consultancies on impacts of the developments in telecommunications on MDGs, telecommunications penetration in rural Nigeria and opinion poll rating on regulatory transparency and effectiveness of the commission.
According to NCC, interested consultants must have proven and demonstrable expertise in telecommunications and the information and communications technology spheres.
It further requested interested consultants to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Nigerian telecommunications market as well as the subject of consultancy; methodology and work plan with specific time lines for the execution of the consultancy, for which interest had been expressed; experiences of the firm in consulting on telecommunications cum ICT or related markets as well as experience and qualification of key personnel, including CVs.
It also requested prospective candidates to separate expressions of interest and proposals for each study, provide title for each consultancy boldly written at the top right hand corner of the relevant envelopes and send to the Head, Economic Analysis and Corporate Planning, Nigerian Communications Commission, Maitama District, Abuja.
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‘09-WAFICT fuels telecom growth’
The organizers of the West African Information and Communications Technology Congress (WAFICT Congress 2009), said weekend, that this year’s edition has been planned to grow the nation’s telecommunications sector.
A press statement from the organizers made available to ITRealms Online, they reiterated that as the world’s attention turns to Africa for investment in telecommunications and information and communications technology, experts will gather in Lagos, for the 3-day brainstorming on how new technologies could be deployed to fuel telecom growth in the sub-region.
The press statement endorsed by the Editor in chief of IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Mkpe Abang, indicated that the conference, with the theme “Harnessing New Technologies for Telecom and ICT Growth in West Africa,” will run from June 2-4, alongside the highly successful West African International Telecommunications and Information Communications Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel).
Scheduled to hold at the Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos, WAFICT Congress 2009, he said, is being organised by his firm as the sole Nigeria agent for W.Afri.Tel exhibition.
Participants for the conference, he said, will be drawn from operating ICT and telecom companies, GSM and CDMA operators, the banking sector, the legal profession, the oil and gas sector, government agencies, regulatory bodies, consumer advocacy groups, the academia, value added service providers and Internet Service Providers, among others.
Abang also explained that WAFICT 2009 is already getting high level support from across the West African sub-region, as regulators from Ghana, Benin Republic, among others, have confirmed they would join their counterpart in Nigeria, alongside experts to be drawn from across the world, to give impetus to the growing interest in West Africa’s telecom sector.
“WAFICT is the product of the growing demand by the West African ICT industry for a conference that seeks to find solutions to their numerous challenges, which limit the sub-region from fully optimising the new technologies that are being churned out day by day,” he said.
Asserting that as a responsible entity, they have consistently nurtured the African ICT sector for almost 10 years now.
“ IT & Telecom Digest saw the urgent need to bring to the sub-region this conference, especially as the magazine is Sole Agent for W.Afri.Tel, which is West Africa prime ICT event, which began in 2001 and running year after year with attendant growth,” he said.
Equally, he said, that the conference will bring together, experts, regulators, operators, government officials, various professionals and people from the academia from the highest level, as decision makers to find ways of taking West Africa’s telecom sector to the next very important level.
“We’re in an era where technology available today becomes obsolete the next day; and, West Africa is particularly fortunate, because rather than worry about legacy technologies, we are using cutting edge, latest technologies as they are being introduced,” he said.
Pointing out that the challenge therefore is how to ensure that these technologies deliver value for time, money and energies.
“How do we ensure that the return on investment (ROI) for operators in the sub-region continues to be attractive so as to engender more investment? How do we ensure that the technologies deployed here are environmentally friendly and pose no danger to the societies? These are some of the many issues that experts from across the world, will be discussing during WAFICT 2009,” he disclosed.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A press statement from the organizers made available to ITRealms Online, they reiterated that as the world’s attention turns to Africa for investment in telecommunications and information and communications technology, experts will gather in Lagos, for the 3-day brainstorming on how new technologies could be deployed to fuel telecom growth in the sub-region.
The press statement endorsed by the Editor in chief of IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Mkpe Abang, indicated that the conference, with the theme “Harnessing New Technologies for Telecom and ICT Growth in West Africa,” will run from June 2-4, alongside the highly successful West African International Telecommunications and Information Communications Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel).
Scheduled to hold at the Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos, WAFICT Congress 2009, he said, is being organised by his firm as the sole Nigeria agent for W.Afri.Tel exhibition.
Participants for the conference, he said, will be drawn from operating ICT and telecom companies, GSM and CDMA operators, the banking sector, the legal profession, the oil and gas sector, government agencies, regulatory bodies, consumer advocacy groups, the academia, value added service providers and Internet Service Providers, among others.
Abang also explained that WAFICT 2009 is already getting high level support from across the West African sub-region, as regulators from Ghana, Benin Republic, among others, have confirmed they would join their counterpart in Nigeria, alongside experts to be drawn from across the world, to give impetus to the growing interest in West Africa’s telecom sector.
“WAFICT is the product of the growing demand by the West African ICT industry for a conference that seeks to find solutions to their numerous challenges, which limit the sub-region from fully optimising the new technologies that are being churned out day by day,” he said.
Asserting that as a responsible entity, they have consistently nurtured the African ICT sector for almost 10 years now.
“ IT & Telecom Digest saw the urgent need to bring to the sub-region this conference, especially as the magazine is Sole Agent for W.Afri.Tel, which is West Africa prime ICT event, which began in 2001 and running year after year with attendant growth,” he said.
Equally, he said, that the conference will bring together, experts, regulators, operators, government officials, various professionals and people from the academia from the highest level, as decision makers to find ways of taking West Africa’s telecom sector to the next very important level.
“We’re in an era where technology available today becomes obsolete the next day; and, West Africa is particularly fortunate, because rather than worry about legacy technologies, we are using cutting edge, latest technologies as they are being introduced,” he said.
Pointing out that the challenge therefore is how to ensure that these technologies deliver value for time, money and energies.
“How do we ensure that the return on investment (ROI) for operators in the sub-region continues to be attractive so as to engender more investment? How do we ensure that the technologies deployed here are environmentally friendly and pose no danger to the societies? These are some of the many issues that experts from across the world, will be discussing during WAFICT 2009,” he disclosed.
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Nigeria, China sign new deal on NigComSAT-1R
•Reps applaud.
Nigeria, weekend, signed a new deal with China for the replacement of the faulty communications satellite-1 tagged NigComSAT-1R, at the cost of $157m, about N23.1 billion at the instance of China.
This is coming as House of Representatives has canvassed support for NigComSAT, saying that if well managed, revenue accruing to the nation via the investment will surpass that of oil and gas.
The latest deal which was consummated in China saw the Nigerian team led by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku and Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat) Chief Executive, Mr. Ahmed Rufai signing on behalf of Nigeria, while China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) President, Mr. Yin Liming, endorsed for the Chinese government.
House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology, Chairman, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade and his deputy, Mr. Ibrahim Khalid were at hand to witness the new deal in Beijing, China.
Commenting on the development, Akinlade noted that revenues from satellite communications could upsurge proceeds from oil and gas if the country invested in not only the provision of satellite backbones, mostly for the science and technology evolution.
ITRealms Online recalls that NigComSAT-1, the Africa’s only communication satellite developed fault last November.
Both Akinlade and Khalid agreed at an interactive session with journalists at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Beijing expressed conviction that satellite communications holds great potentials for the nation’s economy and would re-focus the country from unwholesome dependence on the crude oil export to the more endearing communication satellite industry with its potential to help the country effectively cross the digital divide.
“Nigeria started on satellite technology too late. Our coming to China has opened our eyes to see the great value satellite can add to any country’s economy. Besides generating many jobs, it helps in healthcare delivery through telemedicine, in electronic education, security surveillance, telecommunications services and many others,” said Akinlade, stressing that Nigeria’s undue reliance on oil and gas revenue have proven to be economically retrogressive.
He also said that Nigeria as a nation should give other aspects of national life a chance to thrive.
“That is our candid opinion to Nigeria and if we adopt satellite communication and promote same, we are most likely to derive more benefits from it than oil,” Akinlade declared and urged the federal government to increase the budgetary allocations on science and technology.
According to him, government current financial investment on science and technology was too meager and insufficient to generate the desired impact.
“We came to China at the instance of the House of Representatives. Now, we have seen and submit that if Nigeria is to be taken seriously, there should be adequate funding for science and technology.
The lawmakers said that because of lack of information flow originally from the NigComSat group, public perception was distorted.
“Nobody knew what was going on until the satellite failed. Then, we were mandated by the entire house to investigate the circumstances leading to the fall of NIGCOMSAT-1 and we have been able to get to the root cause of the problems.
In fact, the Chinese people have also thrown some more light on the circumstances that led to the fall. We have been able to identify that it was a technical error, not human. So we understand it better now and are conscious of the potentials it has for Nigeria,” he said.
For his colleague, Khalid, the Committee was in China to investigate the circumstances of the failure that led to the de-orbiting of NIGCOMSAT-1 and the possibility of China becoming a trusted ally in Nigeria’s satellite aspiration.
“Unknown to many Nigerians, the Chinese satellite industry has been around for well over 40 years and has recorded far more successes than those of the West. We were here to ascertain whether the Chinese have the capacity to partner with us on the project,” he assertion, pointing out that it’s a good news that China agreed to foot the entire replacement bill of $157m and that is very great.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Nigeria, weekend, signed a new deal with China for the replacement of the faulty communications satellite-1 tagged NigComSAT-1R, at the cost of $157m, about N23.1 billion at the instance of China.
This is coming as House of Representatives has canvassed support for NigComSAT, saying that if well managed, revenue accruing to the nation via the investment will surpass that of oil and gas.
The latest deal which was consummated in China saw the Nigerian team led by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku and Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat) Chief Executive, Mr. Ahmed Rufai signing on behalf of Nigeria, while China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) President, Mr. Yin Liming, endorsed for the Chinese government.
House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology, Chairman, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade and his deputy, Mr. Ibrahim Khalid were at hand to witness the new deal in Beijing, China.
Commenting on the development, Akinlade noted that revenues from satellite communications could upsurge proceeds from oil and gas if the country invested in not only the provision of satellite backbones, mostly for the science and technology evolution.
ITRealms Online recalls that NigComSAT-1, the Africa’s only communication satellite developed fault last November.
Both Akinlade and Khalid agreed at an interactive session with journalists at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Beijing expressed conviction that satellite communications holds great potentials for the nation’s economy and would re-focus the country from unwholesome dependence on the crude oil export to the more endearing communication satellite industry with its potential to help the country effectively cross the digital divide.
“Nigeria started on satellite technology too late. Our coming to China has opened our eyes to see the great value satellite can add to any country’s economy. Besides generating many jobs, it helps in healthcare delivery through telemedicine, in electronic education, security surveillance, telecommunications services and many others,” said Akinlade, stressing that Nigeria’s undue reliance on oil and gas revenue have proven to be economically retrogressive.
He also said that Nigeria as a nation should give other aspects of national life a chance to thrive.
“That is our candid opinion to Nigeria and if we adopt satellite communication and promote same, we are most likely to derive more benefits from it than oil,” Akinlade declared and urged the federal government to increase the budgetary allocations on science and technology.
According to him, government current financial investment on science and technology was too meager and insufficient to generate the desired impact.
“We came to China at the instance of the House of Representatives. Now, we have seen and submit that if Nigeria is to be taken seriously, there should be adequate funding for science and technology.
The lawmakers said that because of lack of information flow originally from the NigComSat group, public perception was distorted.
“Nobody knew what was going on until the satellite failed. Then, we were mandated by the entire house to investigate the circumstances leading to the fall of NIGCOMSAT-1 and we have been able to get to the root cause of the problems.
In fact, the Chinese people have also thrown some more light on the circumstances that led to the fall. We have been able to identify that it was a technical error, not human. So we understand it better now and are conscious of the potentials it has for Nigeria,” he said.
For his colleague, Khalid, the Committee was in China to investigate the circumstances of the failure that led to the de-orbiting of NIGCOMSAT-1 and the possibility of China becoming a trusted ally in Nigeria’s satellite aspiration.
“Unknown to many Nigerians, the Chinese satellite industry has been around for well over 40 years and has recorded far more successes than those of the West. We were here to ascertain whether the Chinese have the capacity to partner with us on the project,” he assertion, pointing out that it’s a good news that China agreed to foot the entire replacement bill of $157m and that is very great.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Adenuga, Ovia top list of Legends @ Titans of Tech
Chairman of the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga and his counterpart at Visafone Communications Limited, Mr. Jim Ovia, have been touted to be among the four Legends of Technology icons to be unveiled at the forthcoming Titans of Tech in Lagos.
Also listed for the Legends of Technology are Chief Executive officer, Chams Plc, Mr. Demola Aladekomo and his counterpart in Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki.
Organisers of Titans of Tech, informed weekend that these personalities will be inducted into the ICT hall of fame at a gala night slated for April 9, 2009 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos where they will be presented with their medals.
Managing Consultant, Titans of Tech, Don Pedro Aganbi, said in Lagos that the award is designed to celebrate hi-tech revolutionaries, trail-blazers, pioneers, men and women of entrepreneurial integrity who are behind the technological wind of change that is blowing across our nation, Nigeria.
“Nigerians remember Adenuga fondly for his timely intervention in the telecommunications arena, where he appears to hold the aces that determine the pace of play. It would be recalled that Globacom’s historic introduction of Per Second Billing and subsequent crashing of SIM price did not only skew the GSM equation in its favour but has continued to hold a lot of implications for the fledgling Nigerian telecommunications sector,” he said.
Noting that today, Globacom has been adjudged the fastest-growing telecoms operations in Africa and the third fastest in the world, with an active subscriber base currently in excess of 20 million, just as the company has operations in Benin Republic and Ghana and is known to be exploring other opportunities across the African continent and beyond.
According to him, Demola Aladekomo is a highly experienced IT practitioner with some of the landmark achievements in the industry associated to him, arising from his visionary capacity in IT. Aladekomo was responsible for the establishment of the first wide area networking on PC in Nigeria.
Additionally, Chams under his leadership was the first company to venture into card technologies in Nigeria and the applauded success story of Valucard is his brainchild.
Under his leadership, Chams, today, has six thriving subsidiaries. With ChamsCity holding the world record for the largest number of PCs in one digital mall at a time and has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. ChamsCity offers 1000 fully networked PCs in one location that enables processing and activation of a wide range of transactions simultaneously. It is a world class Digital Mall that facilitates transactions in payment, identification, pleasure and large-scale data management. It provides a cashless, innovative and pioneering environment for digital transactions.
On the founder of Visafone, Mr. Jim Ovia, the company that lately revolutionised the face of mobile telephony in Nigeria, connecting 2.5 million subscribers in its first year of operation
Also a co-founder and pioneer Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Ovia, he said, has been in the vanguard of promotion and propagation of Information and Communication Technology in the country. He is the Chairman of the Nigeria Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and also Chairman, National Information Technology Advisory Committee [NITAC]. He is the proprietor of the proposed University of
Information and Communication Technology, Agbor, Delta State, among others.
For Mrs. Florence Seriki, the organisers said she started out in 1986 as a youth corper with the NNPC, by teaching the Who-is-Who in the financial and oil industry how to type with the computer when it was only the big companies that could acquire it. “She is today the only female among the managing directors of the four companies making Nigeria proud in the area of locally made PCs.
Omatek, which she manages, is the first computer factory in Africa to locally produce completely knocked down casings, completely knocked down speakers and to locally produce home entertainment speakers, ranging from two-in-one speakers to five-in-one With a very large factory at Ojota, Lagos from where she manufactures her products, she has touched every sector for the economy in addition to sharpening the skills of students of tertiary institutions who come for industrial attachments.
The Legends of Tech recognition is an initiative Technology Africa a media firm in 1997 to report issues, trend, innovations and developments in ICT the world over with special focus on Nigeria and the African continent. The Titans of Tech annual lecture/expo, FinanceIT Summit (FITS) and National IT Youth Rally and the ICT merit awards are some of its flagship events.
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Also listed for the Legends of Technology are Chief Executive officer, Chams Plc, Mr. Demola Aladekomo and his counterpart in Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki.
Organisers of Titans of Tech, informed weekend that these personalities will be inducted into the ICT hall of fame at a gala night slated for April 9, 2009 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos where they will be presented with their medals.
Managing Consultant, Titans of Tech, Don Pedro Aganbi, said in Lagos that the award is designed to celebrate hi-tech revolutionaries, trail-blazers, pioneers, men and women of entrepreneurial integrity who are behind the technological wind of change that is blowing across our nation, Nigeria.
“Nigerians remember Adenuga fondly for his timely intervention in the telecommunications arena, where he appears to hold the aces that determine the pace of play. It would be recalled that Globacom’s historic introduction of Per Second Billing and subsequent crashing of SIM price did not only skew the GSM equation in its favour but has continued to hold a lot of implications for the fledgling Nigerian telecommunications sector,” he said.
Noting that today, Globacom has been adjudged the fastest-growing telecoms operations in Africa and the third fastest in the world, with an active subscriber base currently in excess of 20 million, just as the company has operations in Benin Republic and Ghana and is known to be exploring other opportunities across the African continent and beyond.
According to him, Demola Aladekomo is a highly experienced IT practitioner with some of the landmark achievements in the industry associated to him, arising from his visionary capacity in IT. Aladekomo was responsible for the establishment of the first wide area networking on PC in Nigeria.
Additionally, Chams under his leadership was the first company to venture into card technologies in Nigeria and the applauded success story of Valucard is his brainchild.
Under his leadership, Chams, today, has six thriving subsidiaries. With ChamsCity holding the world record for the largest number of PCs in one digital mall at a time and has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. ChamsCity offers 1000 fully networked PCs in one location that enables processing and activation of a wide range of transactions simultaneously. It is a world class Digital Mall that facilitates transactions in payment, identification, pleasure and large-scale data management. It provides a cashless, innovative and pioneering environment for digital transactions.
On the founder of Visafone, Mr. Jim Ovia, the company that lately revolutionised the face of mobile telephony in Nigeria, connecting 2.5 million subscribers in its first year of operation
Also a co-founder and pioneer Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Ovia, he said, has been in the vanguard of promotion and propagation of Information and Communication Technology in the country. He is the Chairman of the Nigeria Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and also Chairman, National Information Technology Advisory Committee [NITAC]. He is the proprietor of the proposed University of
Information and Communication Technology, Agbor, Delta State, among others.
For Mrs. Florence Seriki, the organisers said she started out in 1986 as a youth corper with the NNPC, by teaching the Who-is-Who in the financial and oil industry how to type with the computer when it was only the big companies that could acquire it. “She is today the only female among the managing directors of the four companies making Nigeria proud in the area of locally made PCs.
Omatek, which she manages, is the first computer factory in Africa to locally produce completely knocked down casings, completely knocked down speakers and to locally produce home entertainment speakers, ranging from two-in-one speakers to five-in-one With a very large factory at Ojota, Lagos from where she manufactures her products, she has touched every sector for the economy in addition to sharpening the skills of students of tertiary institutions who come for industrial attachments.
The Legends of Tech recognition is an initiative Technology Africa a media firm in 1997 to report issues, trend, innovations and developments in ICT the world over with special focus on Nigeria and the African continent. The Titans of Tech annual lecture/expo, FinanceIT Summit (FITS) and National IT Youth Rally and the ICT merit awards are some of its flagship events.
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FG backs NCC on DAP, SABI roll out
The Federal Government, last weekend, declared support for two schemes being championed by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), namely the Digital Awareness Project (DAP) and the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI).
Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, gave this indication at the commissioning of two DAP Centres located at Barewa College, Zaria, and Yusuf Aboki Secondary School, Shika, both in Zaria, and the Advanced Digital Access for Tertiary Institutions, ADAPTI, at Ahmadu Bello University in Kaduna State.
He said that the support is paramount to ensure that Internet and broadband services are taken to semi urban and remote areas of the country to ensure that all citizens benefit from the potentials and resources so the global digital economy.
According to Bilbis, these projects were initiated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, with the support of his ministry in response to the digital information gap existing in the country.
“The project is a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to promote access to information and communications tools which is essential not only for education but for all aspects of human existence,” he said.
Equally, he said, the Federal Government, through his Ministry, would continue to give the necessary support to the Commission to succeed in this initiative and similar ones such as SABI and the Wire Nigeria Project (WIN), which will all contribute to the faster roll out of broadband and Internet connections across Nigeria.
Efforts, he noted, are being put in place by NCC to extend these services to all parts of the country, so as to cover all the six geopolitical zones.
Also speaking at the event, chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu, accompanied by members of the Committee at the event, said that National Assembly would provide all the legislative support needed for the implementation of these projects, including approving the appropriate budgets as it has proven to be a very beneficial development project in Nigeria.
Additionally, he said, the National Assembly will ensure that this project is sited in all the geographical zones and that where the students and neighbouring communities utilize this very well, the Senate will encourage the NCC to put more DAP and ADAPTI infrastructure for the schools.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, said the first phase of the Program was launched in October 2004 with the selection of twelve educational institutions spread across all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“Today, about 221 schools and colleges have benefited from this initiative while this is being complimented by the School Access Programme in which the Universal Service Provision Fund Secretariat has targeted for provision of similar facilities and infrastructure,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, gave this indication at the commissioning of two DAP Centres located at Barewa College, Zaria, and Yusuf Aboki Secondary School, Shika, both in Zaria, and the Advanced Digital Access for Tertiary Institutions, ADAPTI, at Ahmadu Bello University in Kaduna State.
He said that the support is paramount to ensure that Internet and broadband services are taken to semi urban and remote areas of the country to ensure that all citizens benefit from the potentials and resources so the global digital economy.
According to Bilbis, these projects were initiated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, with the support of his ministry in response to the digital information gap existing in the country.
“The project is a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to promote access to information and communications tools which is essential not only for education but for all aspects of human existence,” he said.
Equally, he said, the Federal Government, through his Ministry, would continue to give the necessary support to the Commission to succeed in this initiative and similar ones such as SABI and the Wire Nigeria Project (WIN), which will all contribute to the faster roll out of broadband and Internet connections across Nigeria.
Efforts, he noted, are being put in place by NCC to extend these services to all parts of the country, so as to cover all the six geopolitical zones.
Also speaking at the event, chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu, accompanied by members of the Committee at the event, said that National Assembly would provide all the legislative support needed for the implementation of these projects, including approving the appropriate budgets as it has proven to be a very beneficial development project in Nigeria.
Additionally, he said, the National Assembly will ensure that this project is sited in all the geographical zones and that where the students and neighbouring communities utilize this very well, the Senate will encourage the NCC to put more DAP and ADAPTI infrastructure for the schools.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, said the first phase of the Program was launched in October 2004 with the selection of twelve educational institutions spread across all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“Today, about 221 schools and colleges have benefited from this initiative while this is being complimented by the School Access Programme in which the Universal Service Provision Fund Secretariat has targeted for provision of similar facilities and infrastructure,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Bilbis commissions ADAPTI in Kaduna
Minister of State for Communications, Alhaji Aliyu Ikra Bilbis, at the weekend, opened the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) sponsored Advanced Digital Access Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) in Zaria, Kaduna State.
ADAPTI is one of the three projects designed to improve access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the Internet for the beneficiary schools and communities in the country.
Bilbis launched the ADAPTI located at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, equipped by NCC with Internet ready-laptops for wireless Internet access for the institution, as well as two secondary schools including Barewa College, Zaria and Yusuf Aboki Secondary School, Shika, Zaria, which benefited under the Digital Appreciation Project (DAP).
According to the NCC spokesman, Mr. Reuben Muoka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu and his counterpart at the House Committee on Communications, Hon. Dave Salako, led their members to the ceremonies.
Even as Kaduna State Government was represented at the occasion by a high ranking functionaries.
Mr. Muoka also said the telecom regulatory body is committed to pursuing the ideals and similar projects that are being spread across the country to enhance access to the Internet and ICT within the academic environment and their neighbouring communities, and unserved and underserved areas of the country.
He explained that DAP programme is designed to provide Internet access to the beneficiary schools while these facilities are made available to the neighboring communities at the end of school hours.
Similar facilities have been provided in place like Enugu and Osun among all the six geo-political zones of the country.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
ADAPTI is one of the three projects designed to improve access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the Internet for the beneficiary schools and communities in the country.
Bilbis launched the ADAPTI located at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, equipped by NCC with Internet ready-laptops for wireless Internet access for the institution, as well as two secondary schools including Barewa College, Zaria and Yusuf Aboki Secondary School, Shika, Zaria, which benefited under the Digital Appreciation Project (DAP).
According to the NCC spokesman, Mr. Reuben Muoka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Sylvester Anyanwu and his counterpart at the House Committee on Communications, Hon. Dave Salako, led their members to the ceremonies.
Even as Kaduna State Government was represented at the occasion by a high ranking functionaries.
Mr. Muoka also said the telecom regulatory body is committed to pursuing the ideals and similar projects that are being spread across the country to enhance access to the Internet and ICT within the academic environment and their neighbouring communities, and unserved and underserved areas of the country.
He explained that DAP programme is designed to provide Internet access to the beneficiary schools while these facilities are made available to the neighboring communities at the end of school hours.
Similar facilities have been provided in place like Enugu and Osun among all the six geo-political zones of the country.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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