Zinox computerizes AU Summit in Gambia

Remmy Nweke

The Gambian government has demonstrated a strong vote of confidence in the global standards quality of Zinox Computers by entrusting the computerization of the forthcoming 7th African Union (AU) Summit in Banjul to Zinox (Gambia).

Head, Corporate Affairs at Zinox, Mr. Echika Ezuka, while disclosing this also said it came by the fact that last year Zinox successfully powered the e-Gambia project.

This development equally came as Zinox was recently ranked second to Hewlett Packard (HP) in computer sales in the country by the global research entity, International Data Corporation (IDC).

Described as yet another feat in the series of significant endorsements received lately by the Nigerian computer brand, Mr. Ezuka said Zinox in the new deal sealed in Banjul, recently by the firm’s Gambian subsidiary, would handle the full computerization of the AU Summit, including the Presidential Villas and the Media Centre with Zinox brand of Desktops, Laptops and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).

Zinox brand, he said, got the node following the Gambian government determination to achieve quality, technical integrity and high performance computerization embedded in Zinox systems.

Mr. Ezuka pointed out that the project is an initiative to promote e-governance and empower Gambians with access to reliable and affordable information and communication technology (ICT).

He also quoted a highly placed Gambian government official, saying that one critical reason why the government selected Zinox ahead of other global brands for this project was Zinox tenacity in providing at very short notice computers that are equipped with operating systems and software in French language for the francophone delegates and Heads of governments.

Others reasons noted by the sources included that the proven quality, technical integrity and high performance of Zinox systems as well as the fact that last year Zinox successfully powered the e-Gambia project.

He noted that despite limited resources, the Gambian government has attained much in tele-density than Nigeria by covering the entire country with fibre optic technology, which drastically reduced bandwidth cost and guarantees structured wireless access to the internet from anywhere in the country.

He recalled that the same reliability of Zinox systems was effectively demonstrated during the 2004 All African Games (COJA) and the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM), both hosted in Abuja as well as the Global AIDS events, all of which were successfully powered with Zinox IT products.

The Summit is the single most important political gathering of African Heads of States and Governments and will be preceded by a series of meetings by officials of the various governments beginning Sunday, June 25 and culminating in the Summit on Saturday, July 1.

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Taking IT to rural people, the NCS way

Features of the week:

Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has ended its weeklong national conference in Yola, Adamawa State, in north-eastern part of the country. REMMY NWEKE who was there reports that it’s a step worth sustaining for the sake of rural Information Technology (IT) penetration.

The 20th session of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) national conference and annual general meeting (AGM) held in Yola, Adamawa State, may have ended, but one thing that distinguished the event from others was the involvement of the local people.

FITPEN
Although the rural people were not part of the technical sessions, their presence sent some heart-warming message to the society at large and precisely the Nigerian IT professionals in diaspora.

Aligned with the theme of the conference, “Framework for IT Penetration in Rural Nigeria: Bridging Our Digital Divide” (FITPEN), the event was graced by about four different rural groups from various localities in Adamawa State.

These included the Urluma and Laduma dancers respectively as well as the Shira dance group from Michika local government area of the state.

In an exclusive chat with our correspondent after their performance, the leader of Shira dancers, Mr. Zira Tali, revealed that he has not touched a computer in his over 40 years on earth.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. John Vandu, the leader said his group was invited to perform and cheer-up the event for the computer people; NCS.

He further confessed that he has seen a Personal Computer (PC), thus aware something is called computer, but has not touched one.

Hence, he was very elated when asked if he would like to touch one immediately, the response came in affirmation. Then, Mr. Tali was taken to the lobby of the State Banquet Hall, Government House Yola, the venue of the event where he sat comfortably and fiddled with the mouse as directed, at which his pictures were taken.

Accompanied by one of the dancers and interpreter, Mr. Tali was all smiles as he fulfilled a long life dream; getting closer to a PC and to an extent touching it.

Message from Michika
One message here reminds us of how excited we were on our first encounter with PC and Mr. Tali is not left out.

But one quick thing that comes to mind is how to make this feeling permanent or beyond first encounter as was the case penultimate Tuesday; to deploying computers in the rural areas in order to make the likes of Mr. Tali more useful in this era. It is certain that if given a chance to learn more about PC to improve his farm chores, he would embrace it with open arms.

Sidelined
In over 46 years of Nigerian nation, there have been lots of government’s strategies to curb poverty, for instance from Operation Feed the Nation to the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (NEEDS), yet none seems to have IT affiliation especially for the rural people.

According to the vice chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, in his keynote address to FITPEN-06, on “The Challenges of IT Penetration in Rural Area: Bridging Digital Divide,” over the years the nation has several programmes for arresting the poverty level of per capita income of the citizenry “but none has IT included.”

Prof. Ibidapo-Obe, represented by Prof. Charles Uwadia, said that clearly, digital divide creates what he described as “political gulf.” He enumerated some factors militating against even development in the urban and rural areas in the country, especially in IT.

These consist of lack of electricity power supply, good access roads, and cost of laying infrastructure among other socio-economic amenities.

“Information Technology remained the least developed,” he declared. Stressing IT importance to rural development, he said, it could boost farmers output, knowledge of improving product requirement as well as rural peoples’ social interactions.

This, he said, could be achieved by “setting up IT resource centres in the rural areas.” Prof. Ibidapo-Obe also pointed out that this step if adhered to, would arrest youth restiveness in some parts of the country.

In addition, it would enable farmers via the Internet to market their products with less meddlesomeness of middlemen, thus dealing directly with buyers and at the same time maintaining close relationship with their families in diaspora.

NCS position
For NCS, the focus this year at FITPEN, was the overall agenda of the NCS executive council, which aims at “creating wealth with IT,” according to its president, Dr. Chris Nwannenna.

He also noted that NCS has been the vanguard of strategies to achieving this, via promotion of indigenous expertise in software development and building of IT capacity to sustain the dream, even as results are very visible.

This, Dr. Nwannenna said, gave impetus to the recent government directive that all its agencies should make indigenous software products and services a priority choice for all applications and patronise same appropriately.

From Adamawa with love
For Adamawa State government, the august assembly of professionals and surge of visitors to the state was the first of its kind.

This position could not have been if not for favourable disposition to IT of the state governor, Alhaji Boni Haruna, who was ably represented at the occasion by the deputy, Alhaji Bello Tukur.

Congratulating NCS for the choice of Adamawa for its 20th session, Alhaji Tukur noted that rural areas are integral part of the country that cannot be ignored. He said, the nation’s most export produce originate from the rural communities.

He tasked Nigerians and NCS members precisely to be part of crusade to engender IT in the rural areas and dwellers.

“We have committed substantial fund to IT development in the state,” he asserted, even as Adamawa has embarked on IT strategic plan, which would facilitate universal payment system in the state.

Alhaji Tukur further enjoined NCS to work towards building an ‘India’ of our time, since India hinges majority of her foreign earnings on IT.

Summary
NCS above all, should come up with strategies to practically take IT to the rural communities. Although Yola confab could serve as a stepping stone and as noted by the first Nigerian computer scientist, Dr. Isaac Odeyemi, it is high time professionals begin thinking seriously about solar energy deployment so as to ensure e-inclusion of the rural populace.

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Why Nigeria’ll remain PC dumping ground

Remmy Nweke

REASONS have emerged on why Nigeria would remain a dumping ground for Personal Computer (PCs) among other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools.

The Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), has said that the dumping may persist in the country as long as economic situation remains unchanged.

Core situation in the reasons offered were economic wherewithal narrowed down to poor income which begets very poor purchasing power.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of CAPDAN, Mr. Godwin Enamoh, offered these reasons as to why the supposed fairly used market, particularly PCs would continue to strive, in an exclusive chat with correspondent.

While disagreeing with the word ‘dump’, he said it meant another thing which is harmful, hence insisting that what members of the group display for sale are fairly used PCs.

He also linked patronage of the so-called fairly used PCs to down turn in the economy of the nation which simultaneously affects the income and purchasing power of individuals.

Nigerians, he said, are eager to belong to the Information Society and further abridge the digital divide between them and the society.

“Most Nigerians cannot buy new PCs and they want to have PCs, so they can buy fairly used and use,” he decried.

According to him, the economic quagmire is with the government and not the citizens who want to improve themselves or individuals struggling to survive.

He, however, cautioned that those patronising second-hand, that is, fairly used PCs are doing so at their own peril, since they do not have any guarantee.

“If you buy, you buy for the sake of having good luck and if anything happens, you’re on your own,” Mr. Enamoh cautioned.

As much as he agreed that fairly used PCs among other ICT tools may not be good or best for individuals, traders and the economy, he likened their existence to temporary solution.

“When your hand cannot get to your back, you borrow something to scratch your back,” he explained.

He disagreed with the use of the word ‘dump’ because it was not the spirit behind some Nigerians importing ICT equipment at a low rate from abroad which are resold here.

Citing an instance, Mr. Enamoh noted that in advanced countries banks use PCs for about two years after which it would be discarded for a more modern system.

Emphasising that in developing nation like Nigeria, banks use PCs for upward of 10 years.“If banks cannot change PCs within two years, which is 24 months, how then are you expecting an individual to change and that’s where the economic factor comes in,” he submitted.

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Starcomms to roll out in South-East

Remmy Nweke

ONE of the first-four telecommunications companies in the country to get its Unified License, Starcomms Limited, has advanced plans to roll out in four cities including three in the south-east.

Chief executive, Starcomms, Mr. Maher Qubain disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos at the on-going West African International Telecommunication Exhibition (W.AfriTel-06) in Lagos.

He said that Starcomms is warming up to roll out services in Aba in Abia, Onitsha in Anambra State, Asaba in Delta State and Ibadan in Oyo State.

These cities, Mr. Qubain said would commence operation with about 50 base stations each.
All these came as the shareholders have approved $20 million for the expansion plans the telco is building in the four states.

He stressed that Starcomms is committed to telecommunications development and penetration in the country, just as it is ready for the market.

In furtherance to this, he said, Starcomms has just cleared some telecommunication equipment in excess of $30 million for Lagos expansion project.

As well, the telco is warming up for Maiduguri, even as its Evolution Data Only (EV-DO) was officially launched Tuesday.

According to him, the Unified License came with high responsibility and in order to show the seriousness of his firm, the expansion to the south-east has become absolutely necessary.

Mr. Qubain also revealed that about $100 million facility is being facilitated by undisclosed Nigerian banks to support the telco’s expansion project.

ITRealms Online recalls that on Saturday, May 13, this year, the nation’s regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced the award of the first batch of Unified Licenses to Starcomms Limited, Multi-Links Telecommunications Limited, Prest Cable & Satellite TV Systems Limited, and Intercellular Nigeria Plc.

According to the Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Dave Imoko, the award came after evaluation of their applications which were assessed to have met the approved criteria, including having an existing and operating network infrastructure, a customer base of at least 10,000 connected subscribers or justifiable evidence of financial capability for substantial network rollout.

Additionally, he explained that the awardees were up-to-date on submission of annual audited accounts, on payment of company tax, with equipment type approval and up-to-date in settlement of interconnection obligations.

NCC said, this license was granted to these companies to provide service on a non-exclusive basis in the designated license area and other operators or prospective operators can also be granted license in the same license area.

“Provision of services under the new Unified Licensing regime will be subject to the geographical limitations contained in the existing license. However, expansion to other regions can be allowed subject to availability of spectrum,” he noted.

At the expiration of the exclusivity period granted the digital mobile operators in February this year, a Unified Licensing regime adopted by the regulator after wide consultations with stakeholders commenced.

The new regime is anticipated to open up the telecoms market for players who are in a position to offer multiple services without being limited to either fixed or mobile services.

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CardExpo goes continental

•Records 42 firms

Remmy Nweke

The Nigerian initiative, Card Expo, organised annually by Intermarc Consulting has concluded arrangement to soon go continental.

Card Expo is a specialised exhibition focusing on electronic payment (e-payment) solutions which began five years ago.

This development came as this year’s card expo and conferences ended in Lagos with 42 firms exhibiting various products at the show.

Managing Partner, Intermarc Consulting, Mr. Adeyinka Adeyemi, disclosed this to ITREALMS Online at the conclusion of this year’s event in Lagos.

According to him, plans have been advanced to take Card Expo to various regions on the continent, which he said, would soon begin with central or east Africa.

Despite not disclosing the exact place of call for the next expo, he expressed optimism that Card Expo would now involve regional roadshows across all the countries at any region where it will be held.

This, Mr. Adeyemi said, would afford exhibitors to be part of the roadshow as an additional option and avenue of gaining attention of these regions.

He also noted that this year’s CardExpo was rich in participation considering the quality of banking and financial institutions that took part.

“By this time last year we have over 90 banks, but now after the recapitalisation and consolidation, we now have quality 25 banks and most of then participated at the expo this year,” he said.

Some of the participants, he said, have found local partners and others already consummated business deals to supply some products.

He also said this shows that the CardExpo is making relevant impact anticipated.

“Definitely, this would encourage these companies especially foreign ones to participate next time,” he declared.

Although he affirmed that the conferences did not witness participation of the populace so as to improve upon the awareness of e-payment in the country and the sub-region.

Mr. Adeyemi noted that the exhibition was a beehive of activities that has continued to grow.

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Experts advocate 5yr e-payment strategy for Nigeria

CONCERNED Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts have advocated for a five-year electronic payment (e-payment) strategic development plan for the nation by the government.

Experts, who made this call at the recently ended 6^th edition of the West Africa Card Expo 2006, included Messrs Mac Atasie and Ayo Arise, the Managing Director, Netzon Limited, and Card Technologies respectively.

They pointed out that the five-year e-payment strategies would pave the way to chart a new course for the industry in Nigeria.

Also tagged ‘Vision 2010’ the strategy is probably to come up with a comprehensive developmental roadmap to leapfrog e-payment deployment and penetration in the country.

According to Mr. Atasie, this could take off as National e-Payment Stakeholders forum facilitating a guided framework, that would eventually recommend improvement to what is on the ground already.

He stressed that the group should be empowered to continually recommend e-payments initiatives to the regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Membership should be drawn from stakeholders and relevant regulatory organs of government and in ICT sector while honest brokers should be appointed as facilitators,” Mr. Atasie asserted.

The strategy, they also noted must encompass frameworks geared towards stimulating the adoption and usage of electronic payment products and services especially among the populace.

For Mr. Arise, card issuers, merchants as well as card holders have roles to play in managing likely fraud in the e-payment system, thus endorsing the call for outlined strategies to ensure growth in the country.

Just as relevant cybercrime laws should be put in place to allay the fears of the populace and international communities in transacting online with Nigerians.

They also called for dedicated fund to be mobilised from financial institutions in the country, similar to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) funds.

This will be channelled in promoting e-payments across various communication media.

Specifically, he advised card holders to be security conscious when using an Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and offered some tips including that users should never disclose personal identification (PIN), never use an ATM with blank screen, do not force your card into the card slot, stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as a shield to make sure nobody sees your keying in your PIN.

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Khera harps on motivation

Remmy Nweke

A United States-based management consultant and motivational guru, Mr. Shiv Khera has told the Information Technology (IT) experts in the country the importance of being a winner in their chosen area of operation.

He said that winners in the sector amongst others do not do different things to emerge where they are, but engage in doing things differently.

Mr. Khera spoke in Lagos, at a three-day seminar for selected stakeholders sponsored by a leading IT distribution firm, Redington Nigeria Limited.

Dwelling on the theory of motivation, attitude, ambition, leadership, teamwork and self-esteem, otherwise known as (MAALTS), Mr. Khera said this theory usually unveils the secrets of success.

Therefore, making it easy for anyone desirous of success in a chosen field to succeed and see things positively.

He pointed out that factors based on good qualities are already embedded in an individual but may be deficient in required quantity.

As said by him, passion, intelligence, honesty, team spirit, commitment and consistency to name a few counts among relevant skills that could be acquired.

Top on this list, the motivational speaker noted, is attitude, saying it is critical base for success, while stressing that other factors stimulating attitude include environment, experience and educational background.

Mr. Khera, who is the founder, Qualified Learning Systems Incorporated, and has authored several inspirational books, emphasised that he had his own share of failure until he attended a lecture facilitated by renowned Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

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Globacom presents six Kia Picanto, other prizes in Kano

Remmy Nweke

AT a carnival-like occasion, the Second National Operator (SNO) Globacom, last Tuesday, gave six Kia Picanto cars, six 5KVA generators and 48 cheques of N25,000 each, to lucky winners who emerged in a draw held on June 2, this year.

The winners emerged in the Glo 180 cars in 180 days promotion, just as the presentation was made by the former executive governor, Kano State, Mr. Kabiru Gaya, who handed over keys to some of the winners, expressing delight that SNO brought its generosity to the northern region of the country.

“I am delighted that this kind of thing is coming this way,” he said.

Equally at hand to present prizes was the crown prince, Kano emirate and district head of Daula, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

The six winners include Mr. Simeon Emmanuel, a policeman, Mr. Kazeem Olatunji from Bauchi State, Zakare Adamu from Kaduna, Mr Matthew Anya and Mr. Gbenga Kayode from Kano State.

According to one of the winners, Mr. Emmanuel, Glo has doubled his joy as he said that the draw came a day after his wife was delivered of a baby boy.

Also favoured by the promo in terms of consolation prizes include James Onoja, a soldier in the Nigerian Army, Olubukola Olukoya, Chinwe Eze, Ibrahim Yusuf, Saidu Abubakar.

Speaking at the occasion, the regional manager Kano at Globacom, Mr. Femi Ogunlusi, noted that indeed, the SNO is putting back into the Nigerian society part of its profit through the promotion.

ITRealms Online recalled that just a fortnight ago, about 60 winners received various prizes in Ibadan.

Till date, 32 cars, cash prizes worth N2.4 million and 12 5KVA generating sets have been given out in the Glo Jumbo promo, even as the next set of draws will hold in Port Harcourt and Ilorin.

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NIG takes campaign to Yola, Warms up for ULR seminar

Remmy Nweke

PRESIDENT, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and chief executive PiNet Informatics Limited, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, has taken his local content campaign to Yola, venue of the just concluded national conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

This is coming as NIG has teamed up with telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in putting up a one-day seminar on the Unified Licensing Regime (ULR).

The seminar is billed to take place in Lagos, tomorrow, Thursday, June 22.

Mr. Ajayi said its time for the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders to reflect on possible explosion of immense local content from Nigeria to be regularly uploaded to the World Wide Web (www).

This, he said, would give the nation needed attention in the crusade to reposition her economy in this 21st century.

Additionally, he said, there are several local content waiting to be tapped and uploaded for the rest of the world to use.

Mr. Ajayi noted that exploiting local content would also open up another vista about Nigeria and at the same time revenue for the stakeholders.

In his goodwill message to the 20th national conference, Mr. Ajayi who doubles as chief executive, PiNet, an Internet Service Provider (ISP), enjoined stakeholders to join forces with NIG in getting this mission accomplished in no distance time as it would uplift the nation globally and content wise.

In a related development, NIG has teamed up with NCC in organising a one-day seminar on the Unified Licensing Regime, billed for the center of excellence, tomorrow.

According to the Publicity Secretary, NIG, Mr. Qasim Akinreti, the one-day seminar is projected to provide a forum for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country among stakeholders to discuss the potentials and opportunities available in the ULR as it affect their operations.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, he said, would present the lead paper, while other distinguished speakers in the ICT industry would examine topics such as the “Role of Internet Service Providers in Unified Licensing Regime, and the Internet Exchange Point (IXP): A critical Infrastructure in the Unified Licensing Regime.

Other sub-themes, he said, would cut across “Any space for Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) operators in the Unified Licensing Regime? Financing Internet Service in the Unified Licensing Regime, Consumers expectations in the Unified Licensing Regime, The Future and Fusion of Wi-Fi and WiMAX in the Unified Licensing Regime, even as the NIG president, Mr. Lanre Ajayi would take participants on “Opportunities and challenges for Cybercafé Operators in the Unified Licensing Regime.”

He further said that special guests of honour include the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Tuner Isoun and his counterpart in Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo.

NIG was founded over 11 years ago as a non-governmental organisation charged with championing Internet deployment and penetration in the country.

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APC unveils BladeReady

Remmy Nweke

Global end-to-end infrastructure solution provider, American Power Conversion (APC), has unveils Blade Ready programme, multi-vendor approach to assist enterprises in planning and implementing high density applications such as blade servers.

Country General Manager, Africa at APC, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, said the programme unites APC with vendors through its complementary network-critical physical infrastructure (NCPI) technologies by delivering comprehensive interoperable products, solutions and services for blade NCPI environments.

BladeReady members, he said, would facilitate enterprises assess, design, procure, stage, implement and interconnect blade servers and related equipment, just as they would include a group of strategic, best-in-class hardware and software vendors that help enable operational excellence and compatibility with blade network environments.

He noted that Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are recognising this platform as a factor that saves space and improves serviceability.

“However, these high density environments entail power consumption and heat output unlike anything data centre managers have dealt with in the past. This is literally hot, new technology,” he said.

Also according to forecast by industry research firm, the International Data Corporation (IDC), global blade server shipments will account for 25 per cent of worldwide server shipments in the next three years.

Pointing out that blade server shipments are growing at a compound annual rate of 54 per cent per year from 2005 to 2009.

He further emphasised that planning blade server deployments is a technical challenge. While power consumption within a rack often exceeding 3,000 watts, which creates thermal hot spots in the data centre, new approaches to cooling are required.

On the other hand, BladeReady programme is a single source for a wide variety of resources including APC’s Blade Readiness Assessment Service - the first step in understanding the right approach to these challenges.

Equally available, he said, are white papers, build out guides, total cost of ownership (TCO) planning guides and more.

Stressing that APC sets the standard for power backup and distribution, cooling solutions, and related NCPI solutions such as its InfraStruXure architecture and through its NetBotz division, APC also offers IT professionals a suite of security management products such as video surveillance and an array of environmental sensors that identify and resolve events before they result in downtime.

“With the recent launch of InfraStruXure systems for high density, APC continues to set the standard for new approaches to high density data centre infrastructure,” Mr. Kleynhans said.

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Starcomms EV-DO @ W.AfriTel, ends Easter promo

Remmy Nweke

LEADING Unified License compliant, Starcomms, has finalised plans to display its latest in shelf product, Evolution Data Only (EV-DO) solution at this year’s West African International Telecommunication (W.AfriTel) exhibition, just as the telco ended its Easter promotion.

W.AfriTel is an annual event for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exhibitions and conferences which began Tuesday and is billed to last till Thursday, in Lagos.

Commercial Director, Starcomms, Mr. Prakash Pantham, while disclosing the readiness of his firm, said visitors to Starcomms stand at the three-day show would have the rare opportunity of buying EV-DO at a discount price.

“Visitors to Starcomms stand between 12 noon and 1pm each day, would be entitled to take part in a special auction, where some high-profile products of the company would be sold at give-away prizes,” he said.

Mr. Pantham also said the newly launched technology, EV-Do which sell for N45,000 would be on offer at the exhibition for N35,000.

He said, it is a gesture of goodwill from the telco to its increasing number of subscribers and at the same time adding excitement to this year’s edition of W.AfriTel.

EV-DO, he said, is the latest generation ultra-speed mobile wireless broadband Internet service and the first deployment of its kind by any telecommunications operator in West Africa, which is already on sale to corporate and individual customers.

Meanwhile Starcomms, has ended its Easter Gift promo with a draw in Lagos, even as winners emerged.

The draw saw a Lagos based civil servant, Ms Anne Modupe-Uaifo, with phone number 01-8164794, coming out as the star prize winner of two return tickets to London.

Ms Hafsat Abubakar with 064-981212 and Saheed Ismail, 064-4981333, both Kano based subscribers, also won the two 42-inch plasma television sets.

Apart from the return tickets and the television sets, winners also emerged for other categories of prizes, including four 2-door refrigerator, 50 DVD players and 100 hi-fi music sets.

Equally, over 10,000 T-shirts and face caps were also on offer for the promo.

Starcomms Chief Executive, Mr. Maher Qubain, said the Easter Gift Promo just like the company’s other promotions, was a way of rewarding its subscribers, who believe in the ability of the company to deliver on its promises of world class services.

‘It is always our desire at Starcomms to give back to our subscribers, who spend their hard earned money on our network. They are the reason we are in business so we always strive to satisfy their yearnings of unparalleled services and reward them for their loyalty to us and that is what we have done through this promo,” he said.

In order to demonstrate the twin attributes of transparency and integrity, which the company is noted for, telecommunication journalists from various national media organisations were invited to pick all the winning entries.

The promo, which kicked off on April 3, ended on Wednesday, May 31, 2006.

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Nokia explains support for LEAP

Remmy Nweke

Communications giant, Nokia, has explained its recent support for a Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa.

The support came in the form of renewed commitment to the NGO which was not disclosed in figures for the next two years but expected to affect the lives of over 360 youth nationwide within the period.

Country manager, Nokia Networks Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Revmatas, said that Nokia’s reason for supporting LEAP Africa was established direct relationship which is in line with the telco values for people and community where Nokia operates.

“Wherever we operate in the world, community involvement is an intricate aspect of our mission and helping to prepare future leaders to be actively engaged citizens and leaders in their local communities.”

This, he said, is very strategic to Nokia mission statement for global involvement, stressing that the latest support is a way of spelling out Nokia’s positive impact on society which transcends immense research and development efforts.

“The cutting edge products and services which it continuously churns out and their impact on business and economic productivity,” he said.

Also commenting, Area Manager for Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia, Nokia Customer and Market Operations, Mr. Vithesh Reddy, said the telco has been engaged in funding the training of youth peer leaders in HIV/AIDS prevention in the last eighteen months.

“LEAP Africa’s considerable progress with this program encourages us to commit to supporting an expansion of the programme, to include the core of the Youth Leadership Programme of LEAP, which will run for another two-year period,” he said, even as it is now supported by the International Youth Foundation, a global NGO.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LEAP Africa, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, noted that with the latest support her organisation has committed to expanding the scope and impact of its core Youth Leadership Program.

“This initiative will focus on training 500 young people in life and leadership skills and assisting them to implement high impact community change projects along seven thematic areas that include education, business and economic development, health, law, media, arts and culture, science and technology and the environment” she declared.

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VoIP forum gathers momentum

Remmy Nweke

The third African Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) forum slated for Lagos next month has continued to garner support, just as the African Internet Service Providers Association (AfrISPA) and ISP Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) have expressed support for the forum.

The forum scheduled to hold between July 31 and August 3, with the theme “The developmental and business imperatives of Internet Protocol (IP) telephony in Africa,” is being hosted by foremost organiser of computing and communication events, AITEC Africa, in partnership with leading Nigerian ICT magazine, IT Edge.

Already, the forum is enjoying the support of major industry groups in Nigeria, such as the Nigeria Internet Group, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), and the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), as well as Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON).

While ATCON is the umbrella body for telecommunications operators in Nigeria, the NIG is the country’s leading interest group for the promotion of Internet diffusion and the NCS is regarded as Africa’s biggest body for computer (ICT) professionals.

“This is a welcome change in event themes and focus. We are glad to associate with an event of this nature that seeks to focus on one of the most important issues in the industry today,” said Dr Chris Nwannenna, president of NCS in Lagos.

To the NIG, the Forum promises to incite positive input from stakeholders on IP which tended to be viewed by suspicion by a section of the industry.

“Now the industry has a chance to talk sincerely and objectively on a technology that is changing everything,” said Lanre Ajayi, president of NIG.

The forum which is being organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which has taken a lead among African regulators in addressing the issue of IP technology with a view to stimulating continuous growth in the industry.

The NCC is held in high esteem globally for its forward and practical approach in adopting regulatory and technology policies that have helped position Nigeria as one of the fastest growing communications markets in the world.

And for ATCON president Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, “This is very exciting. The industry is a dynamic one and certainly VoIP would not cease to be a major issue for a long time.”

The African VoIP Forum ushers in opportunities for exhibitors and delegates to explore diverse opportunities offered organisations and individuals by IP technologies.

Announcing AfrISPA’s and ISPAN’s support for the event, ISPAN president Mr. Sam Adeleke expressed the hope that the forum would play a benchmark role in encouraging progressive and effective regulation of VoIP throughout the continent.

“We encourage fellow ISPs, as well as regulators, to attend from throughout Africa so that we can form a continental body of knowledge on best practice in this crucial area for the future of telecommunications development,” he said.

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Siemens, Belgacom collaborate on ROADM

Remmy Nweke

Siemens Communications is collaborating with Belgacom ICS in developing the first telecommunications network based on the Reconfigurable Optical Add and Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology in continental Europe.

This innovative concept not only increases the flexibility and the overall quality of the network, but also reduces provisioning time while significantly lowering costs.

The new fiber-based network (PEN4FUTURE) will link 16 European telecommunications nodes and enable Belgacom ICS to offer its customers transmission capacity up to n x 40 Gb/s wavelengths.

The PEN4FUTURE project relies on Siemens’ Surpass hiT 7500 platform, a future-proof solution that allows the optical transport of applications on regional up to ultra-long haul networks through a flexible Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) architecture.
The main advantages of this brand new technology for Belgacom ICS’ customers are quality, reduced costs and flexibility.

The ROADM technology and its optical multi-degree nodes, customers could now not only benefit from optical restoration and protection, but also from significantly lower operational and investment costs compared with the previous DWDM generation technology.

The plug and play as well as fully tunable ultra-long haul transponders dramatically reduce the time to deploy.

This technology also enables Belgacom ICS to deliver a large variety of client interfaces up to native 40 Gb/s.

Belgacom ICS’s new optical backbone will be linked to 16 network nodes in 7 European countries, namely Belgium, France, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and at a later stage Italy. The deployment is phased from May to August 2006.

Christian Unterberger, President of Fixed Networks at Siemens Communications, said, “We are very pleased to have been selected over our competitors for what is a first in continental Europe. Belgacom ICS is an ambitious international operator and this commercial success shows that our solution really is the most suitable for the current requirements of pan-European network operators.”

Bridget Cosgrave, CEO of Belgacom ICS, adds: “It is very important for Belgacom ICS to offer its customers a solution with the highest flexibility and quality, reliable operation and fast provisioning times at the best price. With Siemens’ new optical network, we will be able to reinforce our position as leader in the Global Telecom’s market and gain a competitive advantage by introducing this type of new technology.”

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Experts advocate 5yr e-payment strategy for Nigeria

Remmy Nweke

CONCERNED Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts have advocated for a five-year electronic payment (e-payment) strategic development plan for the nation by the government.

Experts, who made this call at the recently ended 6^th edition of the West Africa Card Expo 2006, included Messrs Mac Atasie and Ayo Arise, the Managing Director, Netzon Limited, and Card Technologies respectively.

They pointed out that the five-year e-payment strategies would pave the way to chart a new course for the industry in Nigeria.

Also tagged ‘Vision 2010’ the strategy is probably to come up with a comprehensive developmental roadmap to leapfrog e-payment deployment and penetration in the country.

According to Mr. Atasie, this could take off as National e-Payment Stakeholders forum facilitating a guided framework, that would eventually recommend improvement to what is on the ground already.

He stressed that the group should be empowered to continually recommend e-payments initiatives to the regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Membership should be drawn from stakeholders and relevant regulatory organs of government and in ICT sector while honest brokers should be appointed as facilitators,” Mr. Atasie asserted.

The strategy, they also noted must encompass frameworks geared towards stimulating the adoption and usage of electronic payment products and services especially among the populace.

For Mr. Arise, card issuers, merchants as well as card holders have roles to play in managing likely fraud in the e-payment system, thus endorsing the call for outlined strategies to ensure growth in the country.

Just as relevant cybercrime laws should be put in place to allay the fears of the populace and international communities in transacting online with Nigerians.

They also called for dedicated fund to be mobilised from financial institutions in the country, similar to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) funds.

This will be channelled in promoting e-payments across various communication media.

Specifically, he advised card holders to be security conscious when using an Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and offered some tips including that users should never disclose personal identification (PIN), never use an ATM with blank screen, do not force your card into the card slot, stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as a shield to make sure nobody sees your keying in your PIN.

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