APC’s Password manager wins Computing award

Features of the week:

Making life look easy is one hidden treasure of technologies as the American Power Conversion (APC) Biometric Password emerges the Champion Infotel’s Computing Best Password Solution for the year, reports REMMY NWEKE.

IN this era of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), one thing that has been very important to users of these tools is the safety of their information.

In order to ensure this, experts came up with the concept of pass-wording of files or systems especially on personal computers (PCs) and laptops.

But as time tick away, the need to password a lot of files on a computer transcends from being a safety or security solution to human headaches.

This became evident as some computers and laptops users forget
various security codes in the name of passwords at different
phases.

Hence, the American Power Conversion (APC) came up with a simple and secure way to remember passwords by introducing biometric security, otherwise known as APC Biometric Password Manager for PC and laptop users.

The product is an optical mouse with a personal fingerprint scanner that makes it easy for PC and laptop users to manage their passwords based on the leading radio frequency (RF) fingerprint sensor technology.

Biometric technology is defined as a process of recognizing unique physical characteristics of a user as a means of network identification.

APC said the product, a personal fingerprint scanner that facilitates password management for PC and laptop users is a solution that allows users to biometrically secure their PCs or notebooks, eliminating the need to memorise passwords.

This, APC said was introduced in reaffirmation of its vision of
"protecting data wherever created, transmitted or stored".

Having access to data while traveling or on the move, is critical for most successful and potential mobile professionals, as the Biometric Password Manager helps to address the important issues surrounding data protection, encompassing physical security and peace of mind.

Country General Manager for Africa at APC, Mr. Carl Kleynhans observed that today, many PC and laptop users have a multitude of passwords for their electronic mail (e-mail), online trading, shopping, and banking accounts. So, rather than memorise all of these different passwords, many choose to write them down on pieces of papers, which could be lost at any time or even viewed by others.

"The new APC Biometric Password Manager solves this by offering a convenient and secure method for users to access their password protected sites," he declared.

Explaining that the password manager permits up to 20 different individuals to store passwords on a single computer system, with each user enrolling by using a finger as their identification source.

The product, which has a sleek design allows for stable placement and accurate finger verification, as it comes with a six-foot Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable plus easy-to-use software and even compatible with Windows XP, ME 2000 and 98 operating systems.

According to him, the product software stores an unlimited number of log-in names, passwords and when used with Windows XP, for instance, the Biometric password Manager permits fast user switching where each user’s personal configurations and passwords are recognized on the shared laptop or PC with the touch of a finger.

He also explained that by deploying AuthenTec’s patented TruePrint
technology, the product scans fingerprints below the surface of the skin to the live layer or true fingerprint.

TruPrint, he said, is not affected by common skin surface conditions including dry, dirty, worn, calloused or oily skin that could affect other sensors’ based systems used in acquiring accurate fingerprint images for user authentication purposes. Thus, TruPrint is the only fingerprint sensor technology capable of acquiring anyone’s fingerprint under virtually any conditions.

"It is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese," he noted.

The manager further explained that Biometric Password Manager provide users with the features and benefits that includes convenience, in terms of being competitively priced as the first biometric solution scaled to the consumer’s budget; allowing registration of multiple users up to 20 individual fingerprints, fast user switching for Windows-based operators between registered users desktops and mostly on XP.

Hence, it was designed for accurate verification with its sleek innovative look for a stable placement and finger verification, even as it has plug and play step up medium that enables the making of fast and easy set up at anytime, anywhere.

In other words, the product offers protection as it eliminates password lists, file and folder encryption and limits access to computers by keeping out unauthorized users, just as it is backed with AuthenTec TruePrint sensor which is the leader in biometric sensor technology.

In addition, it has compatibility features which tolerate access with PC inbuilt with OmniPass authentication software that provides compatibility for a good number Windows range of operating systems.

And coming from a company founded in 1981 with headquarters located at West Kingston, Rhode Island, United States, the firm has since emerged as a leading provider of global, end-to-end solutions for real-time infrastructure.

APC’s proclaimed comprehensive products and services for home and corporate environments tend to improve the availability, manageability and performance of sensitive electronic, network, communication and industrial equipment of all sizes and probably at all levels with its Biometric Security system.

Therefore, Champion Infotel, finds it worthy awarding the Computing Best Password Solution to APC’s Biometric Password Manager for the year 2005.

NITDA inaugurates NITAC as NCS opposes merger plans

IN efforts to reposition the implementation of the Information Technology (IT) policy in the country, the National IT Development Agency (NITDA) has concluded plans to inaugurate tomorrow, Friday, a National IT Advisory Committee (NITAC).

This is coming as the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is opposed to the proposed merger of NITDA with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The committee to be made up of key and high-level experts would work towards harmonising inputs from stakeholders, according to the Director General of NITDA, Prof Cleopas Officer Angaye.

He made this disclosure at a reception organised by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of six professional groups in the country for him and special adviser to the President on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr. Emmanuel Arinze and special adviser to the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Ofili, in Lagos.

The inauguration to be held at the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NITDA boss said, would be a key organ in IT governance in the country.

“I am happy to announce today that after the initial delays
occasioned by necessary consultations, the date for the inauguration of NITAC has been fixed for December 2, 2005 at Abuja,” he declared.

Prof. Angaye explained that NITAC would be structured to have standing committees to address the four key steps, including an immediate review of the IT policy so as to bring it into alignment with current global trends and national aspirations, evolving issues of national network security.

Other immediate hurdle of the committee would be to facilitate the passage of the NITDA bill into an enabling law for the agency and enactment of other legislation to make electronic commerce and IT development easy in the country.

The onus is also on the committee to standardise by certification of software, hardware and firmware in line with the Institute of Electronic, Electrical Engineers (IEEE) specifications and guidelines developed in the country in partnership with stakeholders.

This is in addition to harmonization of ICT infrastructure in both the private and public sectors which would result into a national backbone.

He pointed out at the event chaired by the managing director of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, that chief among the standing committees soon to take off would be the Standards Committee, which he expects NCS to play a key role.

“Indeed, as soon as NITAC is inaugurated the Standards Committee is expected to swing into action,” he said.

The chief executive of NITDA also disclosed that by March next year, his office plans to establish a system testing laboratory to facilitate the processing of systems’ standardization and certification in Information Technology (IT) industry.

He maintained that his promise to propel buy made in Nigeria campaign would be strengthened when local products are benchmarked along international standards.

He appealed to NCS and other stakeholders to make unreserved inputs
and contributions to the standards committee process being established by NITDA.

Earlier in his address, NCS president, Dr. Chris Nwannenna solicited for collaboration with the government especially on the indigenous software promotion.

He also chided advocates for the merger of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Broadcasting Commission and NITDA, wondering the motive behind such an agitation.

“NITDA is not a licensing agency, but a development agency,” he said, stressing that NCC and NBC are commercially based organs and they have been very successful.

He noted that though this kind of merger exists in neighbouring Ghana and was supposedly proposed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he said, the Nigerian environment is not ripe for such endeavour.

Rather, Dr. Nwannenna said, that NITDA should be empowered with enough funding to deliver its IT policy implemenation promises.

CTO urges foreign ministers’ roles on MDGs

Chairman of the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO), Mr. Anthony de Bono, and the chief executive CTO, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah in the drive to stimulate government participation in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), have urged Commonwealth’s Foreign Ministers to work more closely with the organisation to facilitate their countries’ catch up with the implementation processes.

CTO is an international development partnership between Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, businesses and civil society organisations focused on information and communication technologies (ICT) and development.

The organisation also supports the international community’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and promote social and economic development, by delivering to developing countries unique knowledge-sharing programmes in the use of ICTs in the specific areas of telecommunications, Information Technology (IT), broadcasting and the Internet.

The two CTO officials made this call at a luncheon with Commonwealth Foreign Ministers attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta, at the weekend.

CTO delegation’s initiative, according to media contact, Mr. Marcel Belingue, was part of an effort to widen cooperation with member countries, not only through ministries of communications and telecommunications, but also through such departments and agencies that could also use ICTs to improve their efficiency and output.

The luncheon attended by over100 distinguished political and business leaders of Malta, he said, included two former Presidents, Messrs Guido de Marco and Joseph Bonnacci, as well as the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Don McKinnon, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and some 30 Foreign Ministers and 20 High Commissioners to the United Kingdom (UK) from member countries, and corporate heads such as the Chairman of Malaysia Telecom, Tan Sri Radzi Mansour.

Speaking, Mr. de Bono said the major transformations that the CTO had undergone, especially in the last two years, was made possible because of the strong support the organisation enjoy from its member governments and ICT entities.

He pointed out that the role CTO has played in developing a Commonwealth Action Programme for the Digital Divide (CAPDD), was on the foresight that its implementation would take into account the peculiarities of each sovereign nation.

Considering the unique multi-stakeholder partnership organisation, owned simultaneously by governments, regulatory agencies and ICT operating companies, the CTO officials said it was necessary to engage Foreign Ministers, who in most countries are responsible for the development and management of the country’s entire relationship with external partners and entities.

In a video of the CTO screened for the guests, showed how it had adapted itself over the years to the specific needs of its member countries.

It was also reported in the clips that today, CTO is focussing among other things on national ICT planning and implementation, rural communications, an alternate dispute resolution centre, and continuation, expansion, and diversification of its 20-year-old flagship capacity building facility, the Programme for Development and Training (PDT).

In most member countries, governments’ ministries in charge of telecommunications and ICTs manage the relationship with the CTO, which the organisation said, is due mostly to the nature of the projects delivered by it.

The CTO officials also said that it had organised the meeting with the Foreign Ministers to broaden and re-enforce the formal links the body has with each member nation so as to strengthen relationships.

CTO chairman also advocated closer collaboration with specialised Commonwealth agencies, but more importantly, in the light of the multi-sectoral mainstreaming of ICTs in national development strategies and the role of external partners in the process.

Xmas rewards from Omatek

OMATEK Computers Limited, assemblers of Personal Computers, laptops and home entertainment equipment has commenced a reward initiative for its customers this Christmas season.

The company said it is offering gifts for patronage this season, even as its products are up for grabs at affordable prices.

In what the chief executive, Mrs. Florence Seriki described as “Bounty Xmas Offer” was introduced at the weekend as part of joining Nigerians in sharing love which is the reason for the season.

“We think this is the time to join Nigerians in sharing love. The season has come to give something special and do something you don’t do everyday. We are allowing individuals and corporate organisations to give out these products at very affordable price. You can’t get a better deal elsewhere. For us, this is the real deal to show and share love,” she said.

Mrs. Seriki also said that up for grabs include Omatek’s digital and plasma technologies products showcasing Digital Video Display (DVD) player bundled with the 42½ Plasma Television for home and office use.

The plasma technology screen, she explained is a secured digital cum high definition (SD/HD) version three of (NTSC/PAL) model that has a Low Voltage Data Signal (LVDS) Interface to offer some of the best picture quality that such a technology could offer as at today, especially using single pixel.

The 42½ (16:9) size and aspect ratio presents life-size image inside for more effective viewing in a corporate or home setting.

She further said, the pixel pitch of horizontal 1,095 by vertical 1.110mm with horizontal 2, 556 x V480 cells is to ensure better and fuller picture clarity. Also, the aspect ratio is in the range of 4:3, 16:9, Zoom1, Zoom 2, panorama.

This technology, she said, changes everything about viewing and entertainment and that is the reason Omatek have been able to re-define the home and office-place since the launch few weeks earlier.

“We have helped corporate offices particularly banks re-designed their front offices as many orders can prove. Now, we want to spread the beauty and the joy of these products to more organisations and individuals in the spirit of the season,” Mrs. Seriki said.

Omatek, she stressed is pushing its Intel driven Centrino laptop which comes Wi-Fi ready and offers about the fastest processing speed in a multi-task environment.

For the Xmas reason also, she said, the Durabook notebook, slim built and touted as the military-in-war brain machine because of its ruggedness and shock resistant is among the offer for the season.

“You could hit the notebook roughly on the ground and it will still remain intact body and data without any damage because it is shock-proof,” she declared.

Ekuwem: ICT evangelist

PHILOSPHY plus intellectualism plus spiritualism equal to success. These ideologies anchored on three concepts, is what makes Dr. Emmanuel Efiong Ekuwem, President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and Executive Vice Chairman, Teledom Group International Limited, too tick.

An epitome of intertwining of fate, his humble beginning started as a pupil of
St. Paul's Catholic Primary School, Ofi Uda, Mbo local government area from a
strict discipline family, and later a seminarian at the Queen of the Apostles
Catholic Seminary, Afaha Obong, Abak in Akwa-Ibom State, Efiong Ekuwem seems to
have learnt to take after his elder brother, the Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese,
His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Ekuwem.

An alumnus of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) formerly University of Ife, Ile-Ife, he holds a Bachelors Degree in Engineering Physics and two Masters degree in Physics and Electronic and Electrical Engineering respectively, in addition to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Electronic and Electrical Engineering since 1992.

His post Ph.D fellowship research focused on Networking and Radio Propagation Laboratory at the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. Dr. Ekuwem is a fellow of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA/ICTP) on Intelligent Computer-based Real-time Environmental Data Collection, at E-Tel Snc Laboratory in collaboration with Radio Propagation Laboratory of the ICTP between 1993 and 1994.

Born on April 19, 1956, Dr. Ekuwem, a well traveled professional has attended over 46 conferences, seminars and workshops within the past decade, with over 66 publications to his credit both in locally and internationally reputed specialist journals.

These include "Internet Presence/Content and the Indigenous Software Industry: Wither Nigeria? delivered at the first Joint Action Committee on ICT Awareness and Development (JACITAD 2004); Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi): The Future Fusion of Internet and Wireless Access; 2nd Internet Convention 2003, Broadband Wireless Access Solutions as a Platform to Bridge the Digital Divide: A real life experience from Africa, School on Digital Radio Communications for Research and Training in Developing Countries, ICTP 2004, Italy.

Others include “Infrastructure Broadband Service Delivery in Africa – Potentials, AfriNet February 2005; Participation of Akwa-Ibom in the Digital Revolution: A Sure Way To Sustainable Wealth In The Global Knowledge Based Economy - Ibom Democracy Day Celebration Lecture, May 2005.

There is also “Strategy and Technique For The Design & Implementation Of A
Science & Technology Park With A Strong It Component, July 2005 as well as
Safe Internet Use, Seminar Safeguarding Family values on the Internet –
Constraints and Possibilities of Safe Internet Initiative HelmBridge Study
Centre, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria, December, 2004".

He also has to his credit "A Click To Real Wealth - ICT For Youth Empowerment In The Niger Delta, ICT for Nigeria Delta, June 2004. Business and Investment Opportunities in the Nigerian Telecom, Information and Communication Technology Industry, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Lagos, 27-28 July, 2004."

Ekuwem, whose Teledom Group, an indigenous company with expertise in Information Technology (IT) and wireless solutions provision, serves as the distributor of Alvarion Wireless Access products in West Africa; derived the firm's name from telecommunication kingdom.

His time at the Ministry of Aviation saddled him with the responsibilities to design, develop and construct computer-based instruments for introduction into the network of national meteorological telecommunication to ensure scalability to incorporate new technologies.

As coordinator of the RAI Task Team on the new technologies, he advised the RAI president on new technologies and the procedure for the introduction of same into national network; monitoring of global development in telecommunications for introduction and immediate past member, representing Africa at the Advisory Working Group (AWG) level of the World Meteorological Organisation's Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation (CIMO), before voluntarily retiring as a young Assistant Director Technical Services, crowning it by winning a 'Ministerial Award for Outstanding Productivity'.

His numerous papers and messages at public and private forums have been marked him out as a guru in telecommunication and IT, centering on sound management as a tool to improving and integrate the nation as well as Africa into the global ICT world.

Eloquent in English, French and Italian, Dr. Ekuwem, was recognized by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2001 with the Most Productive Order of Merit (NPOM) award and year 2002 Teledom Group under his distinguished leadership won the Regional Best Performance award as a distributor of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) equipment from the BWA world leader in collaboration with Israeli Alvarion Limited.

By December 2002, his community through the Ibaka Traditional Rulers Council in Akwa-Ibom, recognised his contribution in what was described as a diffusion of knowledge via Information Technology deployment, conferring on him, the 'Obong Ifiok' chieftaincy, meaning custodian of knowledge in the council area.

Last year, at the 10th anniversary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Obong Ekuwem was presented with ATCON's National Telecommunications Merit Award. He also emerged the Nigerian IT & Telecom Award Personality of the Year 2004, and received Distinguished Scientist Award by the Faculty of Science, OAU, Ife.

This year did not pass unnoticed as he was in the first quarter honoured
with the Kwame Nkrumah Africa Leadership Award in Ghana, just as he was
appointed in April, the Nigerian Representative to the ICTP (Trieste) – IT/BDT
(Geneva) on “ICT Technology Observatory and Training Unit”.

Last August also witnessed another honour for the custodian of knowledge when he was presented the Award of Excellence for contribution to the networking of academic minds and institutions for the exchange of scientific knowledge at the Nigerian Institute of Physics (NIP), during centennial anniversary of Albert Einstein's famous discovery of relativity, in commemoration of the World Physics Year, proclaimed by the United Nations (UN).

He belongs to a number of professional bodies namely, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), IEEE's Computer Society and Communication Society respectively and the Internet Society (ISOC) and Nigeria Internet Group (NIG).

His other caps outside Teledom Group include membership of Infrastructure committee of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group; Presidential committee on 419 on the Internet and cyber-crime; Nigerian Cyber-crime Working Group; infrastructure sub-committee of the National IT Strategic Action Plan and external member of Faculty Board of the Faculty of Technology, OAU Ile-Ife, as well as Chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigerian Universities Network (NUNet) and Nigerian Universities Management Information System (NUMIS) – NUNet/NUMIS.

As UNESCO’s ICTP Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Universities Network (NuNet), Dr. Ekuwem, is visiting associate to the ICTP under the umbrella of the Aeronomy Laboratory and Programme on Training and System Development in Networking and Radio communication; consultant to UNESCO (Nigeria office) on IT component of United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

Obong Ifiok was a winner of the Third World Academy of Science (TWAS) award for research on the effects of Meteorological phenomena on Radio Communication - Very High Frequency and Ultra-High Frequency (VHF/UHF), in the lower Troposphere. He also was principal investigator in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)/R experiments on radio propagation phenomena in non-ionized media focusing in Africa.

Ekuwem, is President of Knowledge Media International, publishers of IT Edge Magazine and web-based ITEdge online (ITEdgenews.com); Chairman, Mbo LG Economic Summit that has drawn up a roadmap for the economic empowerment of Mbo people via Local Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LEEDS); encompassing Ward Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (WEEDS), Village Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (VEEDS), Family Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (FEEDS), Personal Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (PEEDS).

Additionally, Dr. Ekuwem is currently a consultant to Akwa Ibom State government on Information Technology/Science and Technology Park, even as he presides over Technology Development Company Limited -local Hi-Tech development and Industrial IT, Web Inn Limited - web-based software development, and IT Mart Limited an InfoTech hardware supermarket.

Little wonder then that the likes of National e-Government Strategies (NeGst) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on IT services, seeking for his expertise as adviser, while availing Teledom the wherewithal to emerge the strategic partner to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the Public Service Information Network (PSNet).

However, as the current President, NIG, he anticipates to take Internet to the greatest height with a view to using it to boost the national economy. This was evident in his contribution to the resolution of the controversies surrounding the nation's Top Level Domain (ccTLD), dot ng, as soon as possible.

Ekuwem sees himself as some one the good Lord has spoiled, not in the negative sense but positive sense of it, because whatever he aspired for God has enabled him to achieve such.

Grateful for this, Ekuwem makes no pretension about his religion. Born a Catholic, his conviction in Catholicism has remained unwavering. This has helped him to use the little resources at his disposal to uplift the less privileged.

MTS goes to Abeokuta

IN a landmark move, pioneer wireless phone operator, MTS First Wireless, weekend, went live in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State with the commissioning of its new Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA2000 1X) network.

This would enable subscribers on the Abeokuta MTS network to be on numbering scheme of 039-70 XXXXX.
Head, Corporate Affairs at MTS, Mr. Reuben Muoka, disclosed this, saying that the launch of the company’s second service area network is coming barely a month of resumption of the new CEO of the company, Mr. Dem Eleso who had promised a rapid expansion of the MTS network.

This addition, he said, coincided with the coronation ceremonies of the Alake of EgbaLand, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

MTS also becomes the First among the private telecoms operators to launch
services in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The chief executive also pointed out that initially, a limited service area of Egbaland, Abeokuta, will be available while services would be extended to other areas as soon as possible.

"We are excited about this development which marks not only the First, but a significant step in taking the MTS footprint outside Lagos and its environs", Mr. Eleso said.

He said the roll out presents a significant opportunity for MTS stakeholders, especially the potential subscribers in Abeokuta who will begin to enjoy the kind of affordable wireless telephony and Internet services currently being enjoyed by MTS subscribers in Lagos.

Mr. Eleso also said it is the new vision of the new MTS to let subscribers
outside Lagos to experience the affordable services offered by MTS in
Nigeria.

He said subscribers using MTS services in Lagos could now travel to Abeokuta by roaming their lines, while those entering Lagos from Abeokuta can do the same, as the two networks will offer the same quality of voice, SMS and Internet services.

Currently, MTS offers integrated telephony services including wireless voice telephony and Internet services using desktop and mobile phone handsets.

APC backs NICOMM-05

End-to-end global power solution provider for infrastructure, American Power Conversion (APC) sponsored the closing cocktail at the just ended 11th edition of the annual International Telecom Exhibition and Conference (NICOMM 2005), in Lagos.

NICOMM is organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) to showcase and keep tab on investment opportunities in the nation’s telecommunications sector and consider ways of harnessing the great potentials in the industry.

The three-day event rounded off with a cocktail at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos was facilitated by APC.

The expo which enabled industry operators to showcase their products and services to the market,created further awareness for new products and services in the sector.

District manager for Nigeria and Ghana at APC, Mr. Charles Iyo, while encouraging participants on optimisation of the company’s InfraStruXure offering, said it enables organisations to increase availability, improve adaptability and speed of deployment as well as lower total cost of ownership (TCO) within their Information Technology (IT) environments.

He explained that InfraStruXure is an on-demand architecture for network-critical physical infrastructure (NCPI).

The InfraStruXure design, according to him, integrates power, cooling, rack, management and services, allows the selection of standardised, modular components to create a customised solution.

Country General Manager for Africa at APC, Mr. Carl Kleynhans also noted that businesses across Africa are adopting APC’s InfraStruXure offering to flexibly add capacity as the company grows.

"This allows organisations to purchase only what is needed at present while still permitting future growth," Mr. Kleynhans said.

Stressing that, InfraStruXure allows IT managers should choose from a number of standardised components to create a customised solution.

"This approach provides the reliability, affordability and predictability of standardised solutions, yet is completely customised to meet their specific needs," he said.

Glo mobile adds new communities

Globacom, the Second National Operator, (SNO) has taken its services to more towns in Delta, Niger and Bayelsa states.

A step which SNO described as part of its objective to bring telephony to all Nigerians in cities and hinterlands.

This follows the switching on of Globacom’s base stations in Ozoro, Ororokpe, Emevon, Eku, Obiaruku, Oleh, Agbarha-Otor, Ofuma and Kwale in Delta State while those in Wushishi and Brass in Niger and Bayelsa states respectively also became operational a few days ago.In a press statement made available to Business Champion from Globacom, additionally the operator is now live in Alkeri, Bara and Akko along Bauchi-Gombe road.

Business Champion recalls that in Bayelsa state, Glo recently rolled out in Kaiama, Amasoma and Opoku .

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Globacom, Mr. Mohammed Jameel said the firm’s activities hinged on patriotism, enhanced value proposition and empowerment of the people.

"We are proud of our modest contributions to the socio-economic progress in the country, particularly in the area of job creation, provision of telecom services and social responsibility constructs," he said.

Stressing that this is a self-appointed task and Globacom is determined to remain on that path of honor.

"We are challenged to seize the initiative to help appoint a new direction for our fatherland. Our vision is to build a truly Nigerian company … the biggest and best in the continent." "Our modest strides in barely two years of operations portend greater heights for Globacom and indeed Nigeria", Mr. Jameel said.

With this development, Glo mobile has now recorded coverage of 32 states nationwide and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Globacom also said, plans have advanced for the remaining four states to be launched soon.