IMEI-Database: Nigeria absence lamentable

Features of the week:

The missing of Nigeria and her telecom operators in the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) database hosted by GSMA, has become worrisome given the number of stolen phones in the country daily, and bad image thereof may dampen the nation’s effort in curbing telecommunications related crimes, reports REMMY NWEKE.

Introduction:
RECENTLY, reports have it that Nigeria is missing in the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) database (IMEI-DB). The IMEI-database is maintained by the umbrella body of mobile operators worldwide, the Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA) with offices in London and Ireland.

Nowadays, GSM and Third Generation (3G) devices are known worldwide to be very attractive to thieves and since year 2002, it has become imperative to use IMEI-DB to combat handset theft, unfortunately neither Nigeria as a leading country in the GSM market nor any of the four GSM operators has expressed interest in being part of the database, according to GSMA.

This development came in the wake of the recent pronouncement by industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the use of stolen handsets on the GSM networks in the country would be stopped in the near future.

This means that the estimated 35 million mobile handsets currently in use in the country are not safe and liable to be reused in any part of the world if stolen, just as they may never be recovered if lost.

What is IMEI?
IMEI is an exclusive 15-digit code used to identify an individual mobile device when it is used on GSM phone network. On the other hand, GSMA, founded 20 years ago, is a global trade association representing over 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 217 territories and countries globally, in addition to having in its membership spread over 180 manufacturers and suppliers as associates.

Investigations by Champion Infotel revealed that none of the GSM operators in the country has an IMEI affiliation with GSMA’s database, which is a global central database containing basic information on serial number ranging into billions of GSM and Third Generation (3G) devices. These include mobile phones, laptop data cards that are used worldwide on GSM networks.

This step by GSMA and manufacturers is to ensure that no two devices are made with the same IMEI, thus making it unique to each GSM device. And with this database, GSMA stores some basic information associated with the IMEI, which includes the manufacturer’s name and the model identifier of the associated handset and some of its technical capabilities such as frequency bands supported by the handset and the handset power class.

For this reason, network operators use the information therein in IMEI-DB to determine what types of devices are being used by their customers and associated features.

Black list:
In addition, the database supports what industry experts described as ‘black list,’ which is a catalogue of IMEIs’ that are associated with GSM or 3G devices currently denied service on mobile networks because they were suspected to have been reported loss, stolen, faulty or unsuitable for use.

Also, this kind of database hitherto known as the Central Equipment Identify Registrar (CEIR), acts as a central system for network operators to share their individual ‘black lists’ which means that any device denied service in view of being black-listed by a network will not work on other networks even if the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card in the device is altered.

In accordance with GSMA, everyday since 1996 the IMEI-DB has taken all the black lists from different operators around the globe and added same into one worldwide black list, pointing out that when an Equipment Identify Registrar (EIR) is connected to the database, it downloads the latest global black list for its own use locally.

GSMA informed that out of its 700 core operator-members from 217 countries, only a dismal 40 operators out of 20 countries are currently connected to IMEI-DB with only two coming from Africa, namely South Africa and Kenya. Other connected countries are Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

Six years of GSM in Nigeria:
It would be recalled that in year 2001, GSM premiered in the nation’s telecommunications sector following an auction for digital mobile license, which initially was given to three operators, namely MTN Nigeria, Econet now Celtel and M-Tel and subsequently the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom in 2003. This auction was tagged most successful and transparent in the history of Nigeria. This also paved the way for several Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), estimated to be over 60 billion as at first quarter of 2007, just as Nigeria is currently rated as the fastest growing mobile communications market on the continent and second to India globally.

Reacting to this report and why none of the operators, especially on GSM or the country made effort in engaging GSMA mostly on its IMEI database, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, at an interactive session in Lagos, said that though there is no feasible effort as of first quarter of 2007 in this respect, but that does not mean that NCC is not worried or doing anything about it.

He explained that it would be difficult for one operator to engage GSMA database on IMEI in the spirit of curbing mobile devices theft when others are not ready, adding that it must be holistic for it to be a success. He noted that NCC is waiting till such a time when the operators are ready infrastructurally before engaging GSMA on this issue.

GSMA decries Nigeria’s absence:
Responding to the Nigeria’s missing in its IMEI database, GSMA decried the absence, describing the situation as lamentable, according to the Director, Fraud and Security at GSMA, Mr. James Moran. “At present, there are no Nigerian operators connected to the IMEI database and I am not aware that any of them has any plans to do so,” he said.

Mr. Moran also said that efforts to contact Nigerian GSM operators in this respect in the past following media reports on increase of stolen mobile phones did not yield any fruit, even with the efforts of the regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

As said by him, efforts to join IMEI-DB heightened in year 2004 but did not last long as none of the operators eventually came up to endorse relevant papers officially, saying, “In 2004 it appeared that barring of stolen handsets was on the agenda and there was an expectation that the operators would commit to the initiative by signing a binding agreement. However, to the best of my knowledge nothing ever came of this.”

Mr. Moran also expressed disposition of GSMA to accommodate any of the willing operators to join in the fight against handset theft, emphasising, “GSMA is always willing to help operators combat handset theft and we are willing to work with, and support the efforts of the Nigerian operators if they wish to undertake any positive initiatives.”

Joining IMEI database is free:
He also said, GSMA has engaged operators in many countries around the world in relation to various initiatives to combat handset theft and he is ever-happy to offer the same help to the Nigerian operators, so as to allow them to benefit from the experience of GSMA expertise, noting that GSMA is well placed to help its members with the sharing of stolen handset data by offering the use of the IMEI database, that was introduced in 1996 to provide a facility to which GSMA members could connect to upload and download stolen handset data.

“We believe the IMEI database is a suitable vehicle to host a Nigerian national database and we have provided IMEI data sharing facilities to operators in many countries free of charge. We are currently working with operators in a host of other countries to ensure that they also have the necessary tools to allow them use the IMEI database,” the security chief said.

He underscored the resolve of GSMA to offer the Nigerian operators the opportunity to use the IMEI database as a facility to exchange stolen handset data and more willing to support them to establish a suitable solution for combating handset theft with maximum efficiency and minimum cost.

“We do not impose any sanctions on operators that fail to take remedial action as handset initiatives tend to be voluntarily undertaken in individual markets by industry working in partnership with government and law enforcement,” he informed.

GSMA encourages operators:
Mr. Moran explained that GSMA, recognises that unsupported deployment of EIR’s by member networks is of limited value in terms of effectiveness in combating handset theft. Although EIR deployment, and connection to the IMEI Database, could help, “it is critical that other parties who have an interest in combating handset theft can engage fully to implement appropriate crime prevention measures.”

He further gave some specifications mapped out by GSMA to encourage operators to include implementation by handset manufacturers, of which the industry agreed technical principles to be used in preventing the change of handset IMEI’s, use of the industry initiated IMEI reporting and correction process by handset manufacturers and operators to report and correct identified IMEI security weaknesses.

GSMA, he also said, assists in thorough investigation of mobile phone-theft related crimes by law enforcement agencies and the maintenance of appropriate statistics to measure the scale of the problem and to monitor progress made, maintaining that the introduction of specific legislation by national regulators/governments to criminalize the reprogramming of IMEI’s such as what has happened in France and the UK and is under consideration in a number of jurisdictions.

“It is hoped that a holistic range of measures, such as those listed above, will complement the deployment of EIR’s/CEIR and greatly enhance the value of each of the other measures in an effort to reduce handset theft related crime. Where this has happened, like the UK, handset theft rates dropped significantly in a short period of time,” he submitted.

Viability of managing anti-theft scheme by OPS:
Alternatively, reports have it that the Federal Government has planned to introduce an anti-theft scheme to be managed by a member of the organised private sector (OPS).

It was also gathered that NCC was overwhelmed by several firm’s expression of interest for the proposed scheme.

One of the top bidders is a United States-based firm, IDSV International, led by a Nigerian telecommunications specialist, Mr. Prince Uchendu, even as it was gathered that the core reason behind such motive was to avoid duplication of efforts by individual operators.

NCC boss, Dr. Ndukwe was recently quoted as saying, “A common platform would ensure that interoperability issues were easily overcome and stolen phones could be tracked and blocked easily across the networks of operators.”

According to him, each of the operators would have the software for monitoring mobile phones installed in the networks, the theft monitor cum administrator would keep a database of stolen phones, which would be made available to the networks whenever a phone is reported stolen.

Conclusion:
Six years down the lane of the new phase of telecommunications development, industry analysts though endorsed the need to get Nigeria on the right track. This they argued has become imperative given the image the nation has gotten through other sub-sectors criminal tendencies, such as from the financial and banking sectors.

Some stakeholders were of the opinion that by handing over the administration of anti-theft solution as being tinkered such as on the IMEI-database, would amount to exposing subscribers data to a third party which of course, in the first instance was not bargained for with the operators and may ignite some litigation and protests by both individuals and telecom consumers advocacy groups in the country.

In addition, it was strongly believed that one reason the operators seem not keen about involving themselves in the IMEI database for now was to optimise their penetration of which stolen phones seem to play key role; either stolen within the country or off shore, could be easily disposed in Nigeria at a very cheap prices, even as those unblocking stolen phones would form another battle ground for advocates of anti-theft schemes.

Noteworthy is that the mobile phone belonging to the 2006 murdered politician, Chief Funso Williams, was discovered at far away north from the west, where he was murdered and having been stolen and resold for N12,000, about half of its market price.

Although the act of deception is gradually creeping into the mobile communications in the country and it is believed that the earlier the nation through a collaboration between the GSM operators and the regulator, NCC join the IMEI database, the better image would be fashioned for Nigeria, even as it is expected that this would further boost investment and strengthen the nation’s seriousness in repositioning her from the corrupt and criminal bedevilled domain.

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3G is our ticket to converged economy

- Madueke

CHAIRMAN of the Interconnect ClearingHouse Nigeria (ICN) Limited, Admiral Alison Madueke (retd) has lauded the four potential licensees in the Third Generation (3G) platform, declaring that it is the nation’s ticket to converged economy.

Champion Infotel recollects that a fortnight ago, telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) proclaimed that four companies have successfully scaled through the first hurdle on the proposed plan for the licensing of the 2 Gega Hertz Spectrum, otherwise known as Third Generation (3G) in the country.

The companies are Alheri Engineering Company Limited, Celtel Nigeria Limited, Globacom Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

Speaking at the Titans of Tech awards and gala night held in Lagos, weekend, Admiral Alison Madueke, said that the commencement of 3G is expected to move the country a step forward in the midst of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among nations of the world.

“3G is our ticket to the converged economy and it has been playing pivotal roles in all strata of the economies where it has taken off,” he said.

Admiral Madueke who was a former military administrator of Anambra State also commended NCC for taking the initiative of granting licenses to telcos to offer 3G services.

He noted that with the commencement of 3G offerings in the country, NCC had once again demonstrated the reasons behind the creation of interconnect exchange licenses to ease the process of payments and increase access to services in the converged environment.

“The clearing houses would play a leading role in ensuring equitable and transparent capture of all transaction and subsequent settlement of charges following the advent of the converged service provisioning,” he said.

Admiral Madueke said that the good news about the coming on stream of the likes of ICN, is that it comes backed with bank guarantees, stressing that what the clearing houses have been tasked to do is to eliminate constant disputes among telecom operators in the country, especially on Call Detail Records (CDR) by ensuring that statements of debts are made timely.

He pointed out that with the confidence created on clearing houses and in the system, operators would be willing to accept calls from other operators at ease.

“It follows therefore that more calls, whether voice or video, would be completed using interconnect clearing houses as a result of more transparent traffic flow, higher capacity and efficient routing,” he said, adding that this would bring about less number of links required by each operator thereby reducing the cost and time of interconnection.

He also tasked Nigerians to embrace the future by allowing technology, those who drive it and stands to benefit from it to advance, saying it would lead to greater innovation, economic growth, increased tax revenues and a stronger Nigeria.

Further, he agreed with the organisers of Titans of Tech, saying that behind all the impressive development are people who had the vision, put down the money, braved the odds and persisted until the result that are seen today were berthed.

In his goodwill message to the event, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, gave kudos to NCC for its foresight in liberalising the nation’s telecommunications industry and asked Nigerians to join forces with telecom companies in moving the nation’ forward.

Equally, his counterpart in the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo tasked Nigerians to always be the watchdog of telecom infrastructure in the country so as to sustain the growth and service offerings to the populace.He also said that long road awaits the nation’s telecom if infrastructure is not protected and power supply hiccups arrested.

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NITEL sacks 29, more imminent

THE Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), last weekend, sacked 29 staff, even as more sack is imminent at the national operator.

Since the acquisition of NITEL, last June by the management of Transnational Corporation (TRANSCORP), estimated 12,000 employees of the company have been laid off, in spite of the inability of Transcorp to put money down for the running of the organisation.

Confirming the latest sack, Deputy General Manager (DGM), Corporate Communications at NITEL headquarters in Abuja, Mr. Bala Ibrahim Abdulkadir, informed Champion Infotel that the sack is an on-going thing and is part of organisational restructuring embarked upon by the new owners of NITEL, that is Transcorp.

“Yes, 29 were sacked last Friday and it is part of the restructuring of the company; just part of the restructuring process and in line with industry standard,” he said.

He also confirmed that last November, about 7,000 staff, were relieved of duty at NITEL, just as he said that any problem associated with NITEL landlines could be network hiccups as everything has been set in motion to be working well.

Champion Infotel investigations revealed that estimated 12,000 employees have been sacked since purported completion of the acquisition, which is still a puzzle to most stakeholders on the move to raise the share and ‘preferred bidder’ option that was introduced on the disposition of NITEL.

Sources close to NITEL also informed that every month this has become an exercise, alleging that probably this is a move to reduce the personnel level in the organisation, which some stakeholders said was over blotted by the NITEL management prior to the acquisition.

Further investigations showed that the NITEL Lagos zonal headquarters located behind the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Onikan-Lagos, has become a ghost of itself as less staff are evidently seen at the premises.

One of our sources also suggested that instead of sacking all these people now, why don’t the management simply request them to reapply so as to assess them from that point rather than throwing them out through one door and engaging new hands shortly afterwards from another door.

It would be recalled that since the acquisition, no real major transformation has taken place in the offering of NITEL except for the stoppage of regional categorization of calls and reviewing of tariffs during the second week of November, 2006, even as the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, handed over the management of NITEL to Transnational Corporation (Transcorp).

According to Mr. Abdulkadir, the review cut across its fixed and wireless Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) offerings.

He explained that the latest tariff structure received the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approval and took effect from last October.

Mr. Abdulkadir added that a minute call on NITEL line for local or urban calls on either fixed or wireless CDMA attracts N13.65 kobo at peak periods and N12.01 at off-peak periods, whereas a national call on the same services would attract N16.20 at peak periods and N14.26 during off-peaks.

He further clarified that this showed a decrease in the cost of national calls and an increase in the cost of local calls to reflect the company’s tariff “re-balancing strategy in response to the dictates of the telecommunications industry.”

He also said that calls to its mobile subsidiary, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTEL) under the current review attracts 0.40 kobo per second (kps), while calls to other mobile GSM networks is 0.50 (kps).

In addition, NITEL had stated in the new tariff structure that local cum urban calls were calls from a NITEL line to be terminated within the same city calling code, while national calls were calls within the network to a location which uses a city code different from that of the caller.

As said by the DGM, the new tariff structure was part of the re-balancing and re-strategisation efforts aimed at providing best quality and widely available services to customers.

“The company will continue efforts in this direction with a view to enhancing its customer base and regaining its place in the telecommunications market,” he said.

Mr. Abdulkadir equally pointed out that international call charges however, remained unchanged, noting that international call tariffs were last reduced four years ago by about 60 per cent.

On the other hand, its subsidiary, MTel was reported to have resuscitated about 60 base stations in the South West, although the effect is yet to manifest in MTel skeletal services.

However, investigations further revealed that despite the slash in its call tariffs, NITEL has continued to witness dwindling fortune since the advent of GSM and liberalisation of the telecommunications, even as continues liberalisation of the market has not been helpful to the first national carrier till date.

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Place of ICT in April polls

Market Intelligence:

LISTENING to the immediate past Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat Lagos, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani at the weekend during the Patitos Gang, a current affairs discussion group on television, as a special guest of the Bull’s Eye segment, that technology has come to stay in this country.

He predicted that the April 2007 elections would be a different one, because, according to him the technology brought about by the advent of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) among other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools would come to play.

Fr. Ehusani noted that he does not expect rigging during the election, but if at all, it would not be monumental as it used to be. He cited an instance with the use of mobile camera phones during the elections, stressing that party agents who feel things are getting out of hands could simply use their camera phones, take shots and send it through the Short Messaging Service (SMS) to their party leaders and many other persons as the person may wish.

He pointed out that these shots could also be tendered in a law court or tribunal in the case of discontents and litigations that may follow after the elections.

Re-echoing this fact, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took senior media practitioners on tour of its warehouses to drive home its preparedness, just as its chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu briefed the Council of States at the weekend, reiterating the readiness of the commission to ensure that election is free and fair.

He hanged his belief on the ICT deployment by the commission, which included circuit television sets mounted at designated places, especially its warehouse locations in addition to know the movement of electoral machines nationwide.

According to him, ICT tools have been deployed to report directly to the headquarters network server in Abuja, even as INEC has its own network infrastructure to forestall dependence on private Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for its data delivery, during and after the election.

Prof. Iwu also said that with its own network INEC would be able to transmit its own data without hitches, and has since commenced training of its technical staff.

He equally reported in the media as declaring, “If the election was to be held two weeks before the actual date, INEC should have been ready,” stressing that they at INEC have put everything in place to ensure that the election is not rigged and is successful as well as transparent as possible.

He told newsmen that so far, the ballot boxes for the elections were ready and by the same token, a good percentage of INEC ballot papers have arrived and the Commission had taken delivery of most of the forms needed for the elections.

For him, Nigerians should not misconstrue the relaxed environment at the commission’s headquarters to mean nothing was happening, because INEC now has a central depot in Abuja outside the Commission’s headquarters, assuring that INEC was on top of things and that by God’s grace, “elections will be held without hitches on the dates stipulated by the Electoral Act 2006, namely April 14 and 21, 2007.”

The aforementioned shows that although the nation may not be deploying the electronic voting system purely, but the steps taken so far by INEC is worth commending and sustaining for future electoral process. Industry observes, thus pray that the involvement of ICT in this year’s general election in whatever form should aid the process.

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.XXX TLD divides Internet community

THE 28th public session of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in the Portuguese city of Lisbon, may have ended, but it ripples have left the global Internet community divided, especially on the rejection of the .XXX sponsored Top Level Domain (TLD) application.

.XXX, according to free and open source software (FOSS)-based encyclopaedia, Wikipidia Online, is a proposed TLD intended as a voluntary option for sexually explicit sites on the Internet. The name is inspired by the former “X” rating, commonly now associated with pornographic movies as “XXX.

It would be recalled that this was the third time this TLD has been sponsored by ICM Registry and it received ovally rejection for the trice.

But following the most recent rejection of the TLD by the global Internet co-ordinator, ICANN at the Lisbon meeting which ended Friday, March 30, 2007, Internet community has been left at cross roads.

Notable among the issues on .XXX was series of online attacks on directors of ICANN, mostly on those who voted against the idea by the proponents of .XXX, of which one of the directors Ms Susan Crawford came under severe assault.

Although, votes on .XXX penultimate March 30, saw ICANN board voting 9 against 5 to obstruct the introduction of the new .XXX domain name space for non-technical reasons.

Justifying her reasons, however, for supporting the obstruction of the TLD, Ms Crawford said in her blog that though she did not regret her vote, but lamented the module ICANN was introducing in the Internet polity.

She pointed out that there are two issues to be considered critically here, which include the allegation that ICANN only creates problems for itself when it acts in an ad hoc fashion in response to politically motivated pressures.

Second, she said, is that ICANN should take itself seriously as a private governance institution with a limited mandate and should resist efforts by governments to veto what it does.

Some of the stakeholders who reacted to her blog comment, including Wendy Seltzer, a California based lawyer and Vittoria Bertola, a cyber lawyer, lambasted ICANN for not following due process.

For Bertola, ICANN is yet to follow due process either in accepting or rejecting the TLD applications, describing the action as “quite a bad process” beginning with the inability to decipher the concept of ‘sponsorship’, pointing out that there was however, discussion on whether the criteria were met
Bertola also noted that there was no discussion on whether ‘adult entertainment’ as X rating is often called is good or bad and whether it should be censored.

Also reacting to Susan’s blog, Wendy Seltzer, wondered if the latest rejection would hold, that is if ICM would not litigate the option.

Seltzer equally said the rejection was weak and unprincipled, stressing, the path the board took was troublesome.

“As a board, we cannot speak as elected representatives of the global Internet community because we have not allowed elections for board members,” Seltzer said, adding that .XXX application does not present any difficulty, technically and even if it does, “we do not, as a group, claim to have special technical expertise.”

According to him, although he did not support the idea of .XXX, he was convinced that ICANN should not be in the business of judging ‘good ideas’ or making content-based judgements about new TLDs.“ICM jumped through the procedural hoops ICANN set, it would not cause technical problems in the root, and so should be entitled to its domain,” Seltzer said.

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NEPAD e-Schools ready for launch in South Africa

ALL is now set for the official commissioning of the New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) electronic schools (e-schools) initiative in South Africa.

Currently, African countries taking part in the demonstration include Nigeria, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda and South Africa.

It would be recalled that this initiative was first announced in 2003 at the Africa Summit of the World Economic Forum in Durban, South Africa, tasking NEPAD e-Schools project to focus on providing end-to-end Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions that would connect schools across the continent, through NEPAD e-Schools network in addition with the Internet solutions as well as provision of content, learning material and the establishment of health points at schools.

Confirming this development, Communications Manager at NEPAD e-Africa Commission, Mr. Samuel Mikenga, said that South African Government, HP Consortium, Cisco Consortium, Oracle Consortium, and NEPAD e-Africa Commission, have joined hands for the successful launching of the NEPAD e-Schools demonstration project on April 17, 2007, at Maripe Secondary School in Mpumalanga Province.

He also said that the launch has been planned to cover six schools across South Africa, even as the country is the seventh country to launch the project after Uganda, Ghana, Lesotho, Kenya, Rwanda, and Egypt.

Mr. Mikenga noted that President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, has been slated to grace the occasion with his top cabinet ministers, diplomats, development partners and private sector representatives.

The NEPAD e-Schools initiative is a project under the auspices of the NEPAD e-Africa Commission, the ICT task team responsible for developing the NEPAD ICT programme and implementing related projects.

In each of the participating countries, the programme aims to transform African secondary schools into NEPAD e-Schools within five years of implementation commencement date and all African primary schools within 10 years of implementation starting date.

Entirely, over 600,000 schools across the continent are expected to benefit from the project and its aligning ICT values, while connectivity would be established to the NEPAD e-Schools via satellite network.

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Teledom, Omatek boost Dash PC, Akinsanya

EXECUTIVE Vice Chairman of Teledom Group International, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, and chief executive, Omatek Computers Limited, Mrs. Florence Seriki, have given boost to the two youngsters, Davidson Oseremen, 10 and Rilwanu Shittu, 11, who assembled Personal Computer (PC) under the name of Dash Computers as well as 13 year-old principal of Asia-American Computer College, Lagos, Ms Mary Akinsanya.

The support came as Dr. Ekuwem promised to donate the sum of N150,000 to encourage both the Dash team and Ms Akinsanya for emerging the winners of the Revelations of the year at the Titans of Tech gala nite and their desires in the industry, even as Mrs. Seriki pledged to provide more training for the duo in her Ikeja factory, in order to equip them adequately for the choice they have made in venturing into computer manufacturing in the country.

Both Dr. Ekuwem and Mrs Seriki made their supports known at the gala nite and presentation of prizes by the organisers of Titans of Tech in Lagos at the weekend, just as they were moved by desire of the youngsters to develop technically.

Also, the duo reacted on the development expressing excitement as they promised not to disappoint their admirers.

Champion Infotel recalled that both Oseremen and Shittu now chief executive officers at DASH Computers are students of Derogos Private Academy Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb; were discovered recently after about two-week training session by the New Horizons Computer Learning Centre Ikeja-Lagos.

Introducing the whiz kids earlier, Managing Director, New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano said they are products of a training programme his firm organised at the school recently.

The two Junior Secondary School (JSS) students of Derogos, he said, successfully built their own computers, Dash Computers, which is the word deriven from their names, that is, the first two letters from their name, Davidson, and the surname of Shittu.

The whiz kids who spoke to newsmen on their work said that they could compile a computer in 45 minutes.
On the other hand, Ms Akinsanya apart from being a principal has about 15 books to her credit.

Also speaking the Co-ordinator Titans of Tech night, Don Pedro Aganbi, noted though the event was a part of activities to mark 10-year anniversary of ICT Africa, a programme currently running on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), it was a way of hosting a historical data of individuals, organizations and institutions who by dint of hard work, foresight and commitment to purpose became the reason for the tremendous leap the nation has experienced in the deployment and use of technology.

He pointed out that Titans of Tech was like a hall of fame on ‘who’ has done ‘what’ in the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Nigeria, to serve as historical platform where others could become add up in the future.

This, he said made the event unique, hence, it was organized and executed as such, “because besides the individual’s factors, what may eventually take prominent feature is the rapid pace, which the use of modern technologies has penetrated the life of Nigerians.”

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EMV certification for ATMC

INDEPENDENT Automated Teller Machine Deployer (IAD), ATM Consortium (ATMC), has completed Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) certification interface, making it the first independent ATM operator in the country to implement the highly secured chip-based e-payment platform.

ATMC which also operates the QuickCash brand of ATM network, said the EMV certification interface was part of the pre-requisites for the acceptance of Visa International payment card transaction on QuickCash ATMs.

Managing Director, ATMC Nigeria, Mr. Noble Ekajeh, said that his firm and ValuCard Nigeria Plc, jointly acquired the Visa transactions in the country, even as interconnectivity and interoperability pilot scheme commenced in 2006 after the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which he noted would initially run for a six-month pilot phase.

He also said that the pact enables all QuickCash ATMs deployed by ATMC to accept Visa International card payment products, stressing that the EMV standard defines the interaction at the physical, electrical, data and application levels between chip cards and its card processing devices for financial transactions.

He explained that EMV is the international standard for interoperation of chip cards and chip capable ATMs and Point of Sale (PoS), for authenticating credit and debit card payments and that the name EMV was deriven from Europay, MasterCard and Visa; three companies that originally cooperated to develop the standard.

“With the completion of the interface certification, ATMC will soon commence acceptance of Visa cards on any of its QuickCash ATM where Visa cardholders see the Visa acceptance sign. This exercise, which would commence in phases, would begin with 61 NCR brands of ATMs on its network, while the Wincor and Diebold brands of its cash machines would follow soon,” he said.

Mr. Ekajeh emphasised that with 61 locations spread across Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Benin and Enugu in the initial pilot phase, the QuickCash ATM network has become the most widely deployed and single largest Visa card accepting ATMs in Nigeria.

He pointed out that his company is pleased to accept the use of Visa payment cards, an internationally renowned electronic payment brand at its ATM facilities.

As said by him, ATM usage is all about convenience and ATMC is determined to continue to offer this by providing the widest acceptance possible to foreign and locally issued cards.

“With the launch of this new acceptance service, a combined user base of over 300 million cardholders worldwide now has access to our ATM facilities. We take great happiness in making it possible for cardholders of the largest payment association in the world to access their money in Nigeria through QuickCash ATM footprint. This attests to our commitment to continuously offer customers privileged ATM access, innovative and value-add services wherever they are in the country,” Ekajeh said.

He added that this new development would especially encourage foreigners to spend locally as they would no longer need to go through the difficulties and dangers associated with conversion of foreign currencies to local currency through bureaux de change.

The Managing Director of ValuCard Nigeria Plc, Mr. Kyari Bukar, also applauded the tenacity and foresight of the management of ATMC for the bold step in joining the global payment system, as the teeming number of Visa cardholders in Nigeria would now have more access to ATMs.

“By this achievement ATMC would contribute significantly in migrating Nigerians to the card culture, which in the long run would help to positively stimulate the economy,” he said.

Senior vice president and Visa Nigeria Country Director, Mr. Stephen Hobbs, noted that the initiative represents a major milestone in the establishment of a secure electronic card payment infrastructure in the country, from which Nigerians could take advantage.“With this initiative Nigerians and international travellers can benefit from safe and convenient access to cash as and when they need it,” he said.

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VIA launches Nano-based ITX mainboard

INNOVATOR of Personal Computer (PC) platform solution provider, VIA Technologies Incorporated, has launched its Nano-based ITX mainboard into the global market.

Revealing this, the International Relations Officer at VIA, Mr. Richard Brown, said that the 12 by 12 centimetre (cm) VIA European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) approved NX-series known as ITX mainboard is so far, the most powerful, most efficient and most media-rich Nano-ITX mainboard.

“VIA EPIA NX-series mainboard, the highest performance, most power efficient and feature-rich Nano-ITX platform ever,” he said.

He explained that it was designed for ultra compact embedded systems with demanding digital media requirements, such as slimline Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) PCs and digital signage, small but powerful set top boxes and next generation car PCs.

He further said the VIA EPIA NX takes the Nano-ITX mainboard to the next level by boasting the latest generation VIA processors based on the ‘Esther’ core offering the VIA V4 bus, highly effective power management and the world’s most advanced hardware security.

In addition, he said, that the ITX mainboard is available with the 1.5 Gega Hertz (GHz) VIA C7 processor, or the 1.2 GHz VIA Eden processor for the fastest fanless configuration.

“The VIA EPIA NX offers a host of advanced multimedia features through the VIA CX700M2 system media processor,” he said, adding that this all-in-one digital media Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) chipset integratible into the VIA UniChrome Pro II 2D/3D graphics core has an extensive array of high end audio and video technologies,” he said.

This, he said, include Vinyl Multi-channel HD audio, hardware MPEG-2/-4 and WMV9 video decoding acceleration, and a built-in HDTV encoder up to 1080i for the richest entertainment experience.

The Assistant Vice President, VIA Platform Solutions Division, VIA Technologies, Mr. Daniel Wu, noted that better multimedia within increasingly smaller, slimmer packages, is clearly the main trend in consumer information and entertainment systems, and defines the design of this latest generation Nano-ITX mainboard.

“The powerful, feature-rich EPIA NX will help fulfill the Nano-ITX new vision by enabling quieter, more space-saving and reliable embedded systems, further promoting the adoption of the x86 platform in everyday systems,” he said.

Mr. Wu also said that by measuring just 12cm x 12cm, the powerful, VIA EPIA NX Nano-ITX mainboard is available with the VIA CX700M2 system media processor features, which allows the VIA UniChrome Pro II 2D/3D graphics core, and boasts the VIA Chromotion CE video display engine, including an integrated High Definition Television (HDTV) encoder that utilizes an advanced ASIC with VIA’s Advance ProScale Technology to scale the input resolution for 640x480 up to 1024x768 encode for 1080i, 720p standard HDTV resolution output, as well as hardware decoding acceleration of MPEG-2/-4 and WMV9 video.

“The latest high definition audio is supported through VIA Vinyl 8-channel HD audio, and a rich range of display options includes an integrated Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) connector on a pin connector for an additional LVDS panel through an appropriate daughterboard, plus a TV-out connector for S-Video, component and composite display outputs for unparalleled flexibility,” he said.

Mr. Wu stressed that the VIA EPIA NX Nano-ITX mainboard has two Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connectors for full featured native SATA II RAID 0, 1, 0+1, configured using the VIA DriveStation SATA RAID with the VIA CX700M2, an Ethernet port for seamless broadband connectivity with the optional upgrade of Gigabit Ethernet, and supports up to 1GB of DDR2 400/533MHz SO-DIMM memory.

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Adebayo, Uwaje, Odusote lead winners @ Titans of Tech

CHAIRMAN of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo and Director, Information Technology (IT) unit at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mrs Ibukun Odusote, as well as the chairman of Connect Technologies Limited, Chief Chris Uwaje, led 20 others, recognised at the Titans of Tech awards, last Saturday.

While Mr. Adebayo who also is the General Manager, VGC Communications Limited picked the prize as the Telecom Personality of the Year, Mrs Odusote shined as Female IT personality of the Year, whereas Chief Uwaje also known as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) oracle, was recognised as the IT Personality of the Year.

Speaking after receiving their awards, Mr. Adebayo dedicated his prize to the Nigerian ICT media, Mrs. Odusote was full of praises to God, even as Chief Uwaje told Champion Infotel that focus should be on the youth so as to ensure that they are well directed and positioned to take up the mantle of navigating the ICT train.

The three prizes were presented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Calene Alaja-Brown, even as the chairman, Interconnect ClearingHouse Nigeria Limited, Admiral Alison Madueke, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and Senior Specialist at the United States Commercial Section, Lagos, Mr. Anayo Agu, also assisted in presentations.

Others recognised at the ceremony included Omatek Computers Limited as the Computer of the Year, Speedstar Beta Computers as the Personal Computer (PC) brand of the year, Linkserve was named the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the year, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) came top with the Total Solution company of the year with its subsidiary DCC Satellite picking the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Company of the year and SystemSpecs Limited took home the Software Company of the year, X-trac from Infosoft went away with the indigenous software company prize of the year.

Also recognised were the New Horizon Computer Learning Centre as IT Training Company of the year, Derogos Private Academy was named the ICT-driven secondary school of the year, InterSwitch bagged the e-payment company of the year, University of Benin was presented with the ICT-driven public university of the year, while Covenant University got that of the private university of the year.

Celtel Nigeria got the prize for Most Innovative GSM Company of the year, MTN Nigeria clinched the GSM company of the year, and Globacom grabbed the GSM Brand of the year with its Rule Your World.

Equally, the prize for the most improved Personal Computer (PC) brand of the year went to Brain Computers, Flash-Me-Cash was adjudged the Bank Technology Product of the year, while the ICT driven bank of the Year went to UBA.In addition, Revelation of the Year prize went to the 13-year old principal of Asia-America Computer College, Ms Mary Akinsanya as well as Masters Davidson Oseremen, 10 and Rilwanu Shittu, 11, computer technicians and chief executive officers of DASH Computers, respectively, just as the special lifetime achievement award went to chief executive of Chams Technologies, Mr. Demola Aladekomo for his pioneering role in electronic payment system in the country.

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Motorola unveils two digital 2-way radios

UNITED States-based mobile communications giant, Motorola, has unveiled two digital 2-way radios into the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) market.

Thus making Nigeria the first on the continent to witness the launch of the digital two-way radios. The launch, organised in conjunction with its largest country enterprise distributor, Briscoe Technologies, was held in Lagos.

Disclosing this to newsmen recently, the Distributor Development & Training Manager, Motorola Channel & Growth Operations in the Middle East and Africa, Mr. Sigay Puneenberger, said the latest in stock is known as Mototrbo series and boasts of twice the talk channels of conventional analogue two-way radio systems in addition to unique features which include the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Mr. Puneenberger, accompanied by Motorola Manager, Middle East and Africa, Ms Susan Sauerman and chief executive, Briscoe Technologies Nigeria, Chief Emmanuel Ekong, also said that the GPS could be used for tracking and Internet Protocol (IP) data applications and is set to improve on workforce productivity in Nigeria for professional organisations involved in transport, education, construction, manufacturing, and security among others.

He added that a training session was held for the launching of its MotoWi4 portfolio, which includes Mototrbo product as well as other wireless broadband solutions that deliver unprecedented bandwidth coverage through broadband technology for virtually all applications deployed for daily use by service providers, governments and its agencies as well as businesses.

Equally, commenting, Motorola’s Africa Sales Manager, Mr. Laurent Tribout, said that essentially, Mototrbo affords workers to use an all-in-one unit instead of having to carry a separate pager and mobile devices about.
“So it provides a broad range of functions combined into one device and communication becomes easier and yet more efficient. Whether via text messages or via voice call, employers can now feel confident about reaching their colleagues, quickly and easily, whenever necessary,” he said.

Mr. Tribout explained that the shift to digital two-way radio solutions may be daunting for organisations using analogue hitherto, which could cause some delay before migration to the digital radio system now available in the Nigerian markets.

“Mototrbo’s comprehensive dual mode includes both analogue and digital options, which for instance, includes an analogue repeater as well as the digital-based mobile and portable units, data applications, accessories and services,” he said.

Mr. Tribout added that it is possible, easy and affordable for professional businesses to migrate to a digital platform at their own pace.

The sales and marketing manager at Briscoe Technologies, Mr. Aloy Ezugwu, pointed out that professional organisations operating across a wide range of industries need improved workforce productivity, operational efficiency and increased mobility, with constant connectivity.

“I am pleased that Motorola has come to Lagos to tell us more about the performance benefits we can expect from the MotoWi4 solution and to explain how it would allow us to meet the present and future needs of businesses for whom the most effective, clear and fast communication is critical,” Mr. Ezugwu said.

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Southwest ends Celtel Me2U campaign in style

THIRD Generation (3G) compliant telcom operator, Celtel Nigeria, at the weekend, took its sharing formula on the network, Me2U to the South-Western state of Ibadan, for Easter thrilling of residents accompanied with a musical performance tagged Celtel Me2U Concert.

Head, Public Relations, Events and Sponsorship at Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, said that the show, held at the popular Adamasingba Stadium, in the heart of the ancient city, is the grand finale of several events organised by the South-West region to introduce Me2U to customers and provide an experience for subscribers in the area.

A press statement endorsed by PR specialist at Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine also quoted the General Manager, South-West Region, Mr. Akin Braithwaite, as saying that the concert featured many wave-making artistes such as P-Square, Ruggedman, African China, Olu Maintain, Fuji Maestro, Obesere and Ibadan-based Taiye Currency.

He stressed that the event was yet another opportunity to have a bond with residents of Ibadan and the entire Southwest region during the festive period.

Mr. Braithwaite enlightened that the concert “is a demonstration of Celtel’s passion for making life better for the people through entertainment, the biggest and the best in the South-West this season.”

He pointed out that though admission to the show is free, everyone who activates a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card at the gate will be rewarded with a gift and a ticket for a lucky dip, which offers the possibility of winning various prizes during the event.

He further said that the concert was the culmination of several consumer contact activities, which included a series of road shows and service demonstration sessions in launching of Me2U, as well as the country’s first flat tariff options recently introduced on the network.

According to him, Celtel is a customer-focused organisation, hence, “we decided to cap our marketing activities with a musical show which will give our esteemed customers the opportunity to relax, get entertained and bond with their friends and family and Celtel.”

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