Quality of Service: Senate takes centre stage

Features of the week:

Obviously awake to its responsibilities, the Senate Committees on Communications and Commerce recently held joint one-day public hearing on the increasing poor quality of service (QoS) among telcos and specifically the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators in the country, reports REMMY NWEKE.

From Lagos to Abuja:

Penultimate Friday at the one of the rooms at the National Assembly building in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, the long expected Senate public hearing on the increasing poor quality of telecommunications services in the country was held.

Although the event earlier scheduled to hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Onikan-Lagos on October 4, 2007 as announced by the representative of the Senate President, Dr. David Mark at the recently held two-day session of Africa Technology Congress (AFRITECC-07) in Lagos, via a legislative consultant, Mr. Davidson Oputteh in his address to the occasion.

He also said that the Senate was concerned over the increased rate of drop calls among all the telecommunications operators in the country and particularly on the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) networks.

However, on October 4, many Lagosians trooped to TBS without any sign of the committee only to hear later that it has been shifted to Friday, October 19 at the same venue, and was gathered much later to have been shifted to Abuja.

Worried by QoS:

The reason for the shifting was not immediately known as the Senate Chairman on Communications, Chief Sylvester Ndubuisi Anyanwu, recognised this fact and was mindful of it in his address. While apologising for the change of location and persistent postponement, he assured that the Senate has advanced plans to ensure that the public hearing is held nationwide, especially at the six geo-political zones of the country.

The keynote of event at the hearing was the position of the Senate as elucidated by the President, Dr. Mark, who said in his address before declaring the session open that there is no amount of excuse at this time that is acceptable to the House, especially when the operators would be smiling to the banks with their money while Nigerians who pay for ineptitude of their services lament.

Affordable Communications:

He equally used the opportunity to explained his position as the former Communications minister in the country of which the rumour has been making a round of being quoted as saying that ‘telephone is only for the rich.’

He clarified that he never said that but was concerned over the debt burden of the then Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), mostly by government agencies and top civil servants, hence he declared that only those who can afford telephone services should have access to it in terms of being able to settle their bills as at when and where due.

He later declared the public hearing opened before departing to attend to other state matters, but not without reiterating the Senate position, saying that there is no acceptable excuse for the increased drop calls among the telcos in the country, noting that something must be done very quickly too.

Welcoming participants at the public hearing, Senator Anyanwu flanked by other top members of the Senate Committees on Communication and Commerce, informed that under the oath of public hearing, nothing said in the floor of the House would be used against the individual.

He, however, warned of applying unpalatable comments and testimonials against anybody or corporate organisations and enjoined them to air their views respectfully, especially since the session was live on national television stations.

CPC rates MTN low:

Opening the floor was the nation’s Consumers Protection Council (CPC) led by its Director General, Mrs. Ify Umenyi, who outlined actions by her council and lamented the inability of telecommunications operators to compensate subscribers as at when due and fond of disobeying consumer protection guidelines.

She cited a case in hand with the recent plan advanced both her council in collaboration with the telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) only to be stopped by the court injunction granted the two GSM operators, namely MTN and Celtel.

However, MTN Nigeria was not kindly rated as the most arrogant telcom provider in the polity, which was equally applauded by the participants.

Unfortunately, when the time came for the telcos to make their presentations with the excuses by telco representatives that their chief executives were variously indisposed to attend the session.

Senate warns telco’s CEOs:

The Senate, therefore warned the chief executive officers (CEOs) of all the telecommunications companies in the country to desist from shunning it’s summon or face the wrath of the upper legislative house.

Speaking through Senator Anyanwu, the upper house expressed dismay over the inability of any of CEOs of telcos invited for the forum that were present, especially across the four Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators, namely the MTN, Globacom, Celtel and M-Tel.

Senator Anyanwu who presided over the public hearing stressed the importance of the CEOs of telcos, saying that it’s disheartening that they would be invited before the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they would send representatives.

Operating licenses may be withdrawn:

He also sounded a note of warning that the experiment at the public hearing should serve as the last, because his committee is capable of dragging such unsubmissive CEOs to the floor of the Senate to face probe and could even go the mileage of suspending the licenses of defaulting telco’s, after about three warnings.

All the representatives of GSM operators at the forum, which was monitored in Lagos on African Independent Television (AIT) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), were shunned as soon as they introduce themselves as representatives with flimsy excuses that their chief executives travelled out of the country or just arrived last night.

Senator Anyanwu equally advised all the representatives to wait after the session so as to take a new date for them accompanied by their chief executives to appear before the committee, but insisted that they take enough note on the reports from the forum, because they must respond to them.

Seeking affirmation from CEOs:

He stressed that the emphasise on these CEOs being present goes beyond mere explanation of technicalities of their operations, adding that the Senate intends to get affirmation from them too on whatever would be arrived at.

He further asked the GSM operators to come up with a working document on how to improve the quality of service on their networks when coming for the special session after they have taken their dates.

The Senate, he pointed out would like to see a working document on how they intend to solve the issues at hand, especially on the quality of service, which he said must be signed before the Senate and at least to solve the problem before December this year.

Also speaking at the forum, the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, endorsed the position of the Senate and said that there is no reason why the chief executives should not be present.

He pointed out that the poor quality of service did not start today or a week ago but had persisted over three months, therefore, the telcos could not fane ignorant of the situation and should have done a lot to alleviate the problems and compensate subscribers of telecommunications in the country adequately.

Although he decried the dragging of NCC to the law court by two of the GSM operators over compensation, he expressed optimism that eventually the court injunction would be vacated to enable NCC continue negotiation on how best to implement the proposed compensation.

ATCON backs Senate:

Corroborating Ndukwe, President, Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, lamented the poor behaviour of the absenting CEOs of telcos, especially the GSM operators and thanked the Senate for giving them another opportunity to make their case.

Describing the behaviour as professionally gross-aberration, he enjoined them not to repeat such act, but retrace their steps and always make themselves available for the highest legislative organ in the country, even as he advised them to go to the capital market, if their challenges borders on fund so that they could generate enough fund to run their business and make Nigerians part owners.

According to him, if Nigerians are part owners, they would go all miles in ensuring that the security of telecom installations are not left only to the police or security agencies.

Insensitivity of operators:

Equally, telecom subscribers, particularly on GSM platform have decried the recent court order on the proposed compensation plan by NCC.

The compensation due to have commenced by first week of October was stopped by a court order following an injunction granted MTN Nigeria and Celtel Nigeria through a Federal High Court Ikoyi-Lagos, presided over by Judge Daniel D. Abutu.

Notice of direction:

Champion Infotel recalls that mid last month, NCC had given notice of its intention to issue directive to prevail on GSM operators in the country including Glo, to compensate subscribers on their networks following an increased rate of poor Quality of Service (QoS) across these networks.

The directive would mandate the operators to compensate the over 38 million GSM subscribers in the country, depending however, on the category of traffic parameters experienced.

A letter to this effect addressed to the GSM operators and dated September 19 and 20 respectively, signed by the commission’s secretary, Mr. Felix Odeoye, stated that NCC has been inundated with complaints from subscribers on the issue of poor and unacceptable level of quality of services across the telcos.

Responding to the notice, the two out of the three GSM operators took NCC to court on October 2, to restrain the proposed directive supposed to have taken effect as from October 7, 2007.

NCC stopped:

Presiding on the matter, Judge Abutu, ordered the suspension of the notice pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice dated 2nd October, 2007, “from carrying into effect the direction intended by the notice of intention dated the 19th day of September 2007.”

A certified true copy of the proceeding endorsed by the Chief registrar, Federal High Court Ikoyi-Lagos, Mr. F.E. Dokubo, was made available to Champion Infotel.

Noteworthy is that NCC letter, required the telcos to pay compensation to the subscribers on their networks on monthly basis as long as the quality of service lasted.

Proposed compensation plan:

According to NCC, there would be N50 per subscriber monthly compensation where there was 2 to 5 per cent traffic channel congestion and 5 to 10 per cent would attract N100 per subscriber per month and congestion level over 10 per cent, equally would attract compensation of N175 per subscriber.

The commission, also said, that it may consider further sanctions if the congestion above this threshold is found to persist for extended period of time without being corrected to the satisfaction of the regulator.

The present direction, the commission said, is in accordance with the provision of Section 53 of the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003.

Reacting to the court order, most subscribers alleged insensitivity of the telcos to their plights, mostly Celtel and MTN who took NCC to court.

Huge profits, poor services:

A Lagos-based businessman, Mr. Levi Ugbaja said the action of the operators was not surprising, as they have continued to make huge profits in spite of poor services, which they render to the consumers.

While commending the NCC for taking a serious action to protect the subscribers, he said the telcos action depicts that they do not have subscribers at heart.

“We can now see clearly that these operators are only interested in our money and not the services for which we are paying the money”, he said.

Equally speaking, bank executive, Mr. Kunle Adegoroye, told correspondent that it appeared the telcos were happy with the current trend of poor quality of services while misleading the public that they are working towards resolving the matter.

“For how long do they want us to wait before enjoying the services which we have paid for? It is obvious that they are going to court to continue the massive exploitation of the subscribers and they will never win,” he said.

Part of things to come:

Above all, the Senate says its not relenting as plans have been advanced to strengthen the regulator, according to Anyanwu, as they have identified areas to strengthen the NCC to enable the commission to efficiently perform its duties.

He said that his committee has advanced plans to introduce new laws into the regulation of the sector that would tackle complaints against poor telecommunications services by various operators. This, he said would be achieved by strengthening the powers of the telecom regulator to facilitate the application of stiff sanctions against any defecting operator.

Part of the proposed laws, he said, would make it mandatory for operators to refund subscribers on established cases of call drops and call terminations or in any clearly established situations of poor service delivery, adding that the Senate, is of the opinion that Nigeria telecom subscribers are not getting the best yet, in spite of the infrastructural challenges in the sector.

“Some level of responsibility on the part of operators could lessen the problem and provide subscribers with the minimum service quality expected anywhere … We’re working to ensure that refunds are made to subscribers as is the case in many other countries,” he said.

Even as the Senate is mindful of the peculiar challenges facing the sector including inadequate power supply and insecurity of telecom facilities at some locations and would strive to work towards alleviating them.

He, however, warned that these challenges should not be used as an excuse to “rampantly and consistently deliver low service quality resulting into loss of money for subscribers which tantamount to extortion since subscribers are forced to part with money for services not rendered.”

The Senate Committee on Communications, he said, is already studying the existing laws with a view to reviewing and advising the assembly on the creation of entire new laws to accommodate the dynamics of the industry.

“We are looking seriously at the law that created the NCC. At the time the law that created the of the NCC was made, it may be adequate but a lot of changes have occurred and change is constant. Now we are working at new laws to accommodate the growth of the telecom industry. We would be looking at laws that would accommodate some of the lapses we have witnessed such as laws that would encourage the growth of fixed lines such as tax holiday and duty waivers among other incentives,” he said.

Senate is keen:

The Senate obviously appeared keen to address these challenges as said by Senator Anyanwu, in that the regulatory environment has done well to bring in investors but lots of work still need to be done at regulating the providers.

“The NCC needs some strength to regulate because most of these providers are getting too powerful. Some of them are disputing some of the things the NCC is trying to do to bring sanity to the sector. We as the Senate would not accept that. We are going through a stage that needs the NCC to be more empowered to regulate well. The challenges have moved from regulating to bring in investors to regulating to guaranty the good health and continuous growth of the sector by ensuring all operators comply with the common rule on best practices. There are some providers who have completely refused to obey the law.

The NCC as a regulator, he said, is empowered to give instructions that must be obeyed. It also need powers to apply appropriate sanctions, when those rules are broken, sue and be sued.”

Senator Anyanwu expressed dismay that the NCC does not prosecute but only give directives that are disregarded at will by operators which has put the regulator in a good position to defend the rights of subscribers.

Conclusion:

While urging the telcos to withdraw their case against NCC, the truth of the matter is that NCC needs more powers and thank God that the nation’s Senate seems to have realised this based on the recent public- hearing on QoS, although the hearing came very late according to some industry analyst, its better to be late than never.

Equally important as revealed by one of the contributors at the public hearing was that no subscriber could actually take the telcos, especially GSM operators to court except NCC. In other words, subscribers can only sue NCC in form of complaints and whatever is the outcome depends on how NCC handles a given case.

Another point of note remains that the Senate has awakened and in fact should stay awake after coming this far.

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Expert flays FG over NigComSat, Galaxy

The setting up of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSAT) Limited and Galaxy Backbone (GBB) Plc have been flayed by a telecommunications expert and President of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi.

He also said that their emergence in the first place was an aberration to liberalisation of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector and competition, because it creates undue monopoly.

Champion Infotel recalled that the unfortunately aspect of the set up has been that both companies emanated from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), who he said should concentrate on research for development and desist from establishing controversial entities to compete with the private sector, such as the NigComSAT and Galaxy Backbone Plc.

President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi in an exclusive chat with Champion Infotel, over the confusion that has bedevilled the ministry, even as these entities have duplicated functions, lamented the situation.

For instance, NigComSAT claims to be a company under the Federal Ministry of Science Technology with a mission to assuming the leading communication satellite operator and service provider position in Africa, through its C, Ku, Ka and L bands offering.

NIGCOMSAT also claims to be a public private partnership with the private sector envisaged to have a controlling share with the initial contract to build the satellite signed in 2004.

While Galaxy Backbone Plc, which acquisition of the Galaxy Information Technology & Telecommunications Limited (GITT) owned by the Jigawa State government is yet incomplete, prides itself as a Nigerian company committed to building a nation-wide Internet Protocol (IP) communication backbone that would support voice, data and video connectivity for government at all levels and to the private sector in general.

Just as GBB Plc plans to operate a single nation-wide platform to provide network services to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as manage all national databases and transversal applications and services for all MDAs.

Champion Infotel investigations revealed that both public-owned companies were set up at the time liberalisation and commercialisation of public entities had commenced in the country, which resulted in the privatisation of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its subsidiary Mobile Telecommunications Limited (M-Tel).

Reacting to the confusion in the FMST as inherited by Mrs Grace Ekpiwhre as the current Minister, Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, NIG president lamented the situation and said that the wrong steps could be retraced by focusing on research and development (R&D).

He pointed out that over the years, Nigerians have indicated preference for a private sector driven economy, and for government to set up Galaxy and Nigcomsat as public-owned businesses is inconsistent with this notion.

Without loosing sight of commendable efforts of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in launching the NigComSAT satellite, he decried the setting up of a public company to run it, saying, “it may be going too far.”

According to Mr. Ajayi, public funds are generally used to conduct research and he considered the launch of the communication satellite as one of those experiments.

“After launching the satellite the government ought to have left the operation of the satellite, which is purely business to business men,” he advised.

Similarly, Mr. Ajayi who equally is the chief executive of a leading Internet Service Provider (ISP), PiNet Informatics Limited, condemned the setting up of Galaxy Backbone, saying it should not be a private sector company.

“Setting up a government company where all ministries, department and agencies of government buy bandwidth and other Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) services is creating an undue monopoly,” he declared, stressing that these reminds one of the NITEL of old.

He pointed out that such companies are never known to be efficient, since they do not have to be creative, innovative and aggressive to get customers.

“Government will end up paying for their inherent inefficiency,” he predicted.

Mr. Ajayi further said that government should promote competition to encourage innovations.

He stressed that the argument that government will save money if they buy their bandwidth from the same source run by government does not really hold water.

“Who says government cannot aggregate their bandwidth and ask the existing providers to bid for it and give the job to the lowest bidder. Why do we have to create a government company for this purpose?” he wondered.

Mr. Ajayi, insisted that FMST should focus on research and development and not be burdened with operational activities like overseeing Galaxy, NigComSat, rural telephony and other stuffs that are even better suited under the Ministry of Information and Communication.

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NIXP berates InterStella on N10bn claim

The Nigeria Internet Exchange Point (NIXP) Limited, has berated Interstella Communications Limited, for claiming over N10 billion from the Federal Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other government agencies over an alleged breach of service exclusivity granted it.

Reacting to the claim, which was awash in the media at the weekend, the management of NIXP, the current managers of the nation’s Internet Exchange Point (IXP), described the claim as voracious.

Champion Infotel calls to mind that recently Interstella took NCC and other government agencies to court including the Ministry of Science and Technology, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Galaxy Backbone Plc, claiming N10 billion over alleged breach of service exclusivity granted earlier.

Interstella led by Mr. Obi Thomson is also combating the setting up of the Nigeria Internet Exchange Point (NIXP), a government-backed initiative to keep internet local internet traffic within the country, contending that its formation by NCC breaches service exclusivity provision of license granted Interstella by the regulator.

However, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) was equally reported to have commenced intervention process to broker peace in the dispute over control of Nigeria ‘s Internet space.

Irked by the claim, NIXP management in a rejoinder made available to Champion Infotel stated that the amount of money claimed by InterStella to have spent so far on infrastructure was quite a huge sum compared to the cost of even setting up any IXP in the world.

According to the rejoinder endorsed by NIXP chairman, Mr. Chima Apugo Onyekwere and the Managing Director, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, considering the fact that IXPs do not have sophisticated equipment in conducting the business of exchange point, but a layer of two devices that intern connects Internet Service Providers (ISP) and other telecommunications operators, hence the claim was totally unacceptable.

“ … The amount of money they claimed to have spent so far on infrastructure was quite a huge compared to the cost of setting any IXP in the world, considering that IXPs do not have sophisticated equipment, but rather a layer 2 device that interconnects ISP and other telecom operators, thereby making their claim totally absurd,” they said.

In addition, NIXP also noted with interest that an ISP, which commenced business just 10 years ago in 1996, with live Internet Protocol (IP) connections and legally licensed to carry Internet traffic, would find Interstella position ridiculous.

“This is so, as they had to use a gateway to communicate between networks and their customers. Is the gateway (Interstella) is proposing different from that obtained then? Where was Interstella when NITEL operated the exclusive gateways in the country?” they wondered.

Equally NIXP wondered what became the state of all the equipments deployed with government funding through NITEL amounting to several hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Maybe government should also sell, the SAT 3 from Transcorp to this group as this fibre connection forms part of the Gateway they referred to. Is the Gateway (Thompson) is proposing any thing different from an IP pipe into the international community?” NIXP further wondered.

Explaining further the essence of NCC setting up NIXP following a former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s participation at the World Summit on the Information Society (WISIS) held in Tunisia in 2005, pointed out that today the agenda is to reduce the price of bandwidth, so it could be more affordable and not to have companies seeking to hide under an exclusive positions at the detriment of developing a holistic Internet community for the populace.

“An issue that NCC has tried to address by such initiatives as helping funding Internet Exchanges to enable our local traffic remain local while promoting the use and commercialisation of huge communication tool that will enhance the life our people,” NIXP said.

They further submitted that going by the comments made by Interstella, it means that the present advancements in the banking sector is bound to fail, as the company would control IP allocation and deployment, stressing that this cannot be allowed to happen, especially now that the country is in a democratic dispensation.

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ComputerWarehouse wins Sun MicroSystems award

Computer Warehouse Ltd, the hardware subsidiary of the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) has won yet another Sun Microsystems Partners’ Award as Sun Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Disclosing this, the Group Managing Director, CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, said that the presentation of the award was recently held at Sun Systems annual Partner Symposium conference at Misty Hills in Muldersdrift, Gauteng, South Africa.

According to him, Channel Partners from across the continent gathered at the event to obtain insight to Sun’s strategy, partnering approach and technology road maps.

He also revealed that the highlight of the event was the Partner Awards ceremony, where SUN SSA honoured partners for their achievements in sales and service performances for the year 2007.

The awards, he said, recognised best performing partners for the entire SSA region cutting across South, West, East and Central Africa respectively.

The award for Top Performance Services Partner for SSA, he said, went to Computer Warehouse Ltd from Nigeria, based on its delivery of excellent services and support to clients in addition to the most new businesses in the services category.

Mr. Okere who received the award said his firm is highly elated for the recognition.

“We’re highly elated by the recognition of our efforts with this award, and we dedicate it to our customers who continually challenge us to higher levels of service and our colleagues who diligently strive to rise to the bar.”

He equally said that the award would encourage CWG onto greater heights in her quest to provide excellent support services on the Sun Microsystems technology.

Champion Infotel recalled that CWL over the years has won other Sun awards at the Partners conferences including ‘Most successful partner 2004 Fiscal year’ and ‘best marketing partner in 2003.’

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Chams to deploy N5bn e-payment terminals

Chams desire to source for N5 billion at the capital market is to facilitate deployment of its ChamAccess service terminals nationwide.

Champion Infotel recalled that just recently, one of the nation’s leading Information Technology (IT) solutions provider, Chams Nigeria Limited, took a decision to shop for N5 billion at the capital market, which was weekend endorsed by the shareholders.

Affirming this development, Chairman of Chams Nigeria Limited, Prof. Adebayo Akinde, at the end of the firm’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos at the weekend, said that fund would be used to boost diffusion of its ChamAccess in the country.

ChamsAccess are multi application terminals used for telephony, recharge voucher vending, Internet access, bill payment, advert, games to name a few.

Prof. Akinde who presented the results of the 2006 financial year and the six months of 2007, added that the firm’s turnover for the year ended December 2006, was N1.095 billion.

Chams, he said, made a profit of N399 million as against N136 million and profit after tax of N21.7m made in the previous year of 2005.

He also said that Chams performance was however very impressive in the current year, where it had recorded a turnover of N3.079 and a profit after tax of N965.9 between January and June 2007.

Based on the company’s performance, the board of directors proposed a dividend of 70 kobo per share.

Additionally, a bonus share issue of four new shares for every share held would be given to all existing shareholders on the company’s register as at close of work on October 24th 2007.

“Such shares will rank pari pasu in all respects with the existing share of the company,” he said, stressing that this largesse was received with great applause and commendation by members of the company.

Akinde and the Chief Executive Officer of Chams Nigeria Limited, Mr. Demola Aladekomo, sought and obtained approval of the members to embark on a private placement shortly.

He equally said shareholders fund have increased to N897.6m after the last private placement that took place in 2006.

He further explained that the terminals have been accepted as a means of payment and transactions, after the proof of concept done in selected locations in Lagos, Abuja, Igbinedion University in Edo state and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Osun state.

Commenting, Managing Director, Chams, Mr. Aladekomo said, the firm would also set up an electronic payment/transaction switch in the country, just as the firm was part of the success recorded by the nation’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) via the successful printing of over 70 million INEC voters ID card within a period of 12 weeks.

He pointed out that the job could not be successfully accomplished by an international firm, which had earlier won the contract despite of having more than 52 weeks to deliver.

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ICANN releases factsheet on IPv6

The global Internet coordinating agency, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has released a fact sheet on Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) aimed at the Internet’s vital expansion.

ICANN also said there is widespread agreement within the technical community that the Internet’s current system based on IP version 4 (IPv4)is unable to cope with the network’s expansion.

General manager of public participation at ICANN, Mr. Kieren McCarthy, informed that the release of factsheet covering Internet Protocol 6 was intended to provide an explanation of the protocol upgrade for a non-technical audience in the hope of enlarging public understanding surrounding this and related issues.

“The factsheet briefly reviews the technology behind IPv6, explains why it is needed, why uptake has been slow, and outlines why a move to the protocol should be considered soon by many organisations and governments,” he said.

He also said that the factsheet continues what has been a popular series of short, clearly written, guides covering topical technical issues in which ICANN is involved.

ICANN in the executive summary made available to Champion Infotel stated that there is widespread agreement within the technical community that the Internet’s current system is unable to cope with the network’s expansion.

“Every device attached to the Internet needs its own unique address. The “free pool” of existing addresses will run out completely within five years,” ICANN said.

In addition, the proposed solution, ICANN said, is an updated system running on Internet Protocol version 6, or IPv6.

“IPv6 adoption has been slow. Since it is not directly compatible with the current IPv4 system, there is inertia to the move,” ICANN highlighted, adding that this delay has become a matter of increasing concern.

“It is important that companies, governments and regulatory authorities understand the issues surrounding IPv6 and why its use should be encouraged,” the global Internet agency said.

ICANN further stated that every device connected to the Internet needs an address, but those addresses are rapidly being depleted.

“As unlikely as that may seem, the system put in place in 1977 assumed that four billion separate addresses on the network would be more than sufficient,” ICANN said, stressing that the Internet’s enormous success and growth has seen those addresses rapidly taken up.

“Within the next five years, and possibly sooner, the “free pool” of addresses – those that have not yet been used or assigned will run out,” ICANN explained.

As a result, ICANN pointed out that unless a method of providing more addresses is introduced, the Internet’s growth would become increasingly constrained over the next decade.

Fortunately, ICANN pointed out that Internet engineers foresaw the problem and back in 1996 devised a solution that would provide 340 zillion separate addresses.

“To give an idea of the scale, if all existing four billion Internet addresses were contained inside a Blackberry phone, the new system would fill a container the size of the earth,” ICANN said.

Adoption of that solution called Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) has been slow, just as the benefits of IPv6 are long-term.

Technical workarounds, ICANN noted allows for continued use of the existing Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) system, which also allow several devices to share one Internet address.

ICANN clarified that the slow movement to IPv6 has caused increasing concern in the technical community and relaxed expectation of movement has moved to active promotion of IPv6 adoption.

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How to recognise online UPS’ – Kleynhans

Regional director for Africa at APC-MGE, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, has explained the difference between the two kinds of online uninterruptible power supplies (UPSes) by APC, so as to afford the consumers the opportunity of having clear picture of what could solve their needs.

According to him, APC-MGE has two online UPS, namely the Double and Delta Conversion respectively.

For him, the Double Conversion On-Line UPS is the most common type of UPS above 10kVA and operates in much the same manner as the Standby UPS except that the primary power path is the inverter instead of the AC mains.

He added that in the design of Double Conversion On-Line operation, failure of the input AC does not cause activation of the transfer switch.

This, he said, is because the input AC is not the primary source, but is rather the backup source.

“Therefore, during an input AC power failure, on line operation results in no transfer time,” he said.

He stressed that the on line mode of operation exhibits a transfer time when the power from the primary battery charger, battery, inverter power path fails.

This, he explained could occur when any of the blocks in this power path fails, hence the inverter power could also drop out briefly, causing a transfer, if the inverter is subjected to sudden changes in the load, or if the inverter experiences an internal control glitch.

“Contrary to popular belief, Double Conversion On-Line UPS systems do exhibit a transfer time and in actual installations may transfer as frequently as standby type UPS systems; however on line UPS transfers are not related to AC input power failures as they are in a standby UPS,” he said.

Mr. Kleynhans emphasised that both the battery charger and the inverter convert the entire load power flow in this design, which causes undesirable heat and results in reduced efficiency.

Due to practical design constraints, he said, that UPS below 10kVA, which are represented as Double Conversion On-Line UPS are always working like the Standby On-Line Hybrid type.

On the Delta Conversion On-Line UPS, he said, was designed via a technology that was recently introduced to eliminate the drawbacks of the Double Conversion On-Line design and is available from 5kVA and greater.

“Like the Double Conversion On-Line design, the Delta Conversion On-Line UPS always has the inverter supplying the load voltage,” he said.

However, he warned that the additional Delta Converter also contributes power to the inverter output and under this condition of AC failure or disturbances, this design behaves identically to the Double Conversion On-Line.

While during steady state conditions the Delta Converter allows the UPS to deliver power to the load with much greater efficiency than the Double Conversion design.

“It obviously saves energy to carry the package only the difference (delta) between the starting and ending points,” he said.

Even as the Double Conversion On-Line UPS converts the power to the battery and back again whereas the Delta Converter moves much of the power from input to the output directly.

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Portable numbering plan to boost market evolution – Ndukwe

Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has said that the proposed introduction of portable national numbering apart from enthroning convergence in the polity would boost market evolution.

Speaking at the four-day workshop organised by NCC in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Lagos, Dr. Ndukwe, who was represented at the occasion by the former Communications Minister and NCC commissioner, Chief Olawale Ige, noted that Nigeria as leading country on the continent in terms of mobile communications, has continued to record success, even as Nigeria has surpassed South Africa, having achieved 44 million subscribers against South Africa 40 million.

He described the proposed portable numbering plan as a cornerstone for market evolution and growth.

According to the EVC, introduction of numbering is a critical component towards provision of communications services that would impact on how operators conduct business, and services are rolled out as well as how subscribers would behave in the near future.

Dr. Ndukwe who dwelt on ‘Numbering and Convergence: Cornerstone of Evolving Communications,’ said numbering would allow the nation to efficiently manage this valuable but limited asset, thus impacting on the productivity and competitiveness of the country.

Hence, he looks forward to the national numbering plan adding value by way of promoting economic growth through fair competition.

“Every operator would have equal rights to this national resource,” he said, stressing “No numbers, no services, no business and no competition.”

He emphasised that the proposed number plan would promote service innovation intended to generate more revenue, just as new services would not be restricted to numbering constraints.

He citied an example with the mobile lines and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers would now have common short codes, premium or toll-free numbers, and special services numbers.

Therefore, he expects better subscriber satisfaction and ease of use as an important design goal, maintaining that competition drives better service quality and more new services.

“More usage would translate into more revenue for operators,” he noted, adding that it’s a win-win proposition that would empower subscribers to manage their ‘personal brand’ with freedom to change operators at will.

“It enables fair competition amongst operators and allow innovation to flourish with greater return on investment,” he declared, thereby rewarding creative marketing, service features, pricing models, and high quality with growth in subscriber numbers, and revenue, accompanied by the expected rise in the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).

Convergence, on the other hand, he said, reduces inter-machine trunking traffic with tendency to simplify and efficiently transport long distance and transit traffic.

This, he said, would enable optimisation of offnet traffic and interconnection tariffs as well as subscriber access to voice mail and other application services.

“Convergence delivers enhanced services with Voice over Broadband (VoBB) service at business and residential areas, thus improving in-building mobile coverage,” he said.

There also would be fixed and mobile convergence (FMC), while application innovation using advanced service creation, integrating voice calls, web services, presence, location and group lists among others.

While soliciting the support of all stakeholders in the nation’s Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), NCC boss said that Nigeria is at a pivotal point of growth, adding that relevant infrastructure needed to be in place to allow for further expansion.

“We need to re-examine our national numbering place … It’s a must for growing economy,” he asserted.

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Senate to strengthen NCC on regulation

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has identified areas it could strengthen the telecommunications regulator in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) so as to efficiently perform its duties.

Senate Committee chairman on Communications, Senator Sylvester Ndubuisi Anyanwu, gave this indication at the end of the one-day public hearing on Quality of Service in Abuja, while interacting with newsmen.

He said that his committee has advanced plans to introduce new laws into the regulation of the sector that would tackle complaints against poor telecommunications services by various operators.

This, he said would be achieved by strengthening the powers of the telecom regulator to facilitate the application of stiff sanctions against any defecting operator.

As said by him, part of the proposed laws would be to make it mandatory for operators to refund subscribers on established cases of call drops and call terminations or in any clearly established situations of poor service delivery.

Senator Anyanwu added that at the Senate, they are of the opinion that Nigeria telecom subscribers are not getting the best from telcos.

“Some level of responsibility on the part of operators could lessen the problem and provide subscribers with the minimum service quality expected anywhere. We’re working to ensure that refunds are made to subscribers as is the case in many other countries,” he asserted.

Members of the National Assembly and especially the Senate, he said, are mindful of the uncommon challenges facing the sector including inadequate power supply and insecurity of telecom facilities at some locations.

He warned that these challenges should not be used as an excuse to “rampantly and consistently deliver low service quality resulting into loss of money for subscribers which tantamount to extortion since subscribers are forced to part with money for services not rendered.”

On NCC, he identified lack of sufficient empowerment by law to enforce its own regulation, adding that his committee recently held the first Telecom Stakeholders meeting in Abuja, and warned that some deceitful actions of operators could undermine the effectiveness of the regulator at securing the interest of all stakeholders in the sector particularly subscribers.

Already, he said, the committee is taking second look at the existing laws with a view to reviewing and advising the assembly on the creation of entire new laws to accommodate the dynamics of the industry.

“We are looking seriously at the law that created the NCC. At the time the law that created NCC was made, it may be adequate but a lot of changes have occurred and change is constant. Now we are working at new laws to accommodate the growth of the telecom industry,” he said.

The committee, he equally said would examine laws that would accommodate some of the lapses currently witnessed such as encouraging the growth of fixed lines through tax holiday and duty waivers among other incentives.

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Danisat launches TC 500, 700 radios

Danisat Communications Limited, one of the nation’s leading telecommunications service provider, has lived up to its promise by launching the HYT 2-way radios, TC 500 and TC 700, at this year’s Nigeria International Communications Exhibition also known as NICOMM-07 in Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director, DaniSAT Communications, Mr. Aigbo Emigbuan, informed that the latest two-way radios came as a result of partnership deal DaniSAT recently entered with a Chinese firm and have been categorized into two, namely commercial and professional series.

He explained that these two categories were classified as very rugged with a higher performance ratio as well as cost effective.

“The new series of HYT radios the TC 500 and TC 700 are packed with cutting-edge technology coupled with the HYT long standing innovations for user-friendly operations which guarantees optimum performance,” he declared, adding that the rugged, reliable and compatible nature of the radios allow potential users the advantage of using a state-of-the-art communications tool that not only guarantees optimum performance but also has the rare capacity of increasing efficiency and high productivity level.

As said by him, these radios are applicable for security and allied companies, hotels and restaurants supermarket and warehouse, tourism and service line, manufacturers, banks, construction sites, residence safeguard management and agriculture to name a few.

He also informed that Danisat Communications Limited in strategic partnership involves CICCI of Denmark and Shenzen HYT Science & Technology Company China, was strictly to sale and service the new HYT brand of commercial and professional two-way radio portables and mobile equipment in the country.

Emphasizing that the newly launched HYT brand is packed with cutting-edge technology and HYT innovations for user-friendly operations and optimum performance.

With its distinct advantage in affordability, quality, durability and compatibility with existing two-way communication models, the latest HYT brand of Two-Way radio communications equipment is the tool of choice for companies and individuals who do not compromise on quality but yet insist on competitiveness and affordability.

Currently, the HYT brand is a worldwide brand with users in China by the Police Force and other government agencies cum provinces, even as it has been deployed in South Africa, Russia and the United Nations among others.

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Intel opens 45nm microprocessor factory

Production of a new generation of microprocessors for PCs, laptops, servers and other computing devices officially began weekend at the inside of Intel Corporation, as the firm unveiled its first high-volume 45 nanometer (nm) factory in Chandler, Arizona.

Intel president and chief executive, Mr. Paul Otellini, while disclosing this said that the factory tagged “Fab 32,” is worth $3 billion, about N361.8 billion, and is intended to use Intel’s innovative 45nm process technology based on Intel’s breakthrough in “reinventing” certain areas of the transistors inside its processors to reduce energy leakage.

“The 45nm transistors use a Hafnium-based high-k material for the gate dielectric and metal materials for the gate, and are so small that more than 2 million can fit on the period at the end of this sentence,” he said.

Millions of these tiny transistors, he said, would make up Intel’s products faster, more energy efficient lead and halogen-free processors for Personal Computers (PCs), laptops and servers, as well as ultra low-power processors for mobile Internet and consumer electronic devices, and low-cost PCs.

According to him, the first of the company’s 45nm processors has been scheduled for introduction into the market by the second week of next month and precisely November 12.

“The opening of Fab 32 in Arizona is a testament to Intel’s continued investment in our most strategic asset; the most advanced, environmentally friendly manufacturing network in the world,” he asserted, stressing that the magic of 45nm and new transistor design is to allow for delivery of high-performance, energy-efficient processors to customers globally.

In addition, he said, that Fab 32 is Intel’s sixth 300mm wafer factory and its second factory to produce 45nm chips.

Champion Infotel recalls that Intel first produced 45nm processors in its Oregon development facility, called D1D, in January and is now moving into high-volume production with the opening of Fab 32.

Two additional 45nm, 300mm factories are scheduled to open next year in Kiryat Gat, Israel (Fab 28) and Rio Rancho, N.M. (Fab 11x).

Using 300mm wafers, Mr. Otellini pointed out lowers the production cost per chip while diminishing overall use of resources.

“With 184,000 square feet of clean room space, the completed Fab 32 structure measures 1 million square feet, so large that more than 17 United States football fields could fit inside the building,” he declared.

Adding that more than 1,000 employees will operate the factory in such positions as process, automation and yield engineers and senior manufacturing technicians.

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NICOMM-07 ends in style

The 2007 Nigeria International Communications exhibition (NICOMM-07) ended at the weekend in style as participating companies went home with certificates.

The three-day exhibition and conference organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), was also rated high against the previous exercise held in 2005.

Some of the participants who spoke to newsmen afterwards commended the current leadership of ATCON under the presidency of Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.

Even as NICOMM-07 held concurrently with the World Radio Conference in Geneva which the Hon. Minister of Information & Communications and the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had to attend.

Those who spoke on NICOMM-07 included the Trade Development Manager in the British Deputy High Commission, Mrs. Mojisola Fayokun; Commercial Assistant in the Embassy of France, Mr. Damien Pade; Commercial Attaché in Embassy of Spain, Mr. Miguel B. Lopez as well Mr. Isaac N. Annum who represented the Minister of Science & Technology, Chief (Mrs.) Grace Ekpiwhre at the occasion.

They agreed that the event was excellently organised and well attended by all standards, even as they promised to collaborate actively with ATCON to ensure that 2008 edition will be grandly attended by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies from their home countries.

Equally, exhibitors said they were impressed with new innovations introduced by ATCON into the organisation of the NICOMM Expo.

Just as they applauded ATCON for the timely and orderly set-up of exhibition stands, which had not been the case in the past as well as delighted with the special products launch segment of the event which gave exhibiting companies a veritable opportunity to present and/or demonstrate their new products and services to the audience.

ATCON President, Dr. Ekuwem, in his comment, decried lack of an international expo centre in the country, which he noted, is one of the reasons multinational corporations declined to participate in some exhibitions in the country.

He added that ATCON is considering options for larger exhibitions ground for next year and confirmed that plans for next year is already in motion and shortly, the planning committee will be appointed and inaugurated to commence work on NICOMM 2008 in earnest.

He added that General Assembly of ATCON would soon be deliberating on the change of name for the exhibition and conference, obviously in its next general meeting.

He later presented certificates to participating companies.

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Survey rates Africa low in receiving aids for development

Recent survey by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has rated Africa low receiving aids to finance development in line with the 2002 implementation of the Monterrey Consensus.

ECA in a press statement made available to the Highway Africa News Agency (HANA) endorsed by the Information and Communication Service, stated that the survey of African policymakers was conducted in March and April 2007 to gauge their views on the degree of progress in meeting the goals of the Monterrey Consensus.

The outcome which coincided with a two-day high-level biennial review of the United Nations General Assembly Plenary in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, informed that the overall found showed that while significant progress was made in the area of external debt relief, performances in other areas have declined, thus disappointing.

The survey pointed out that considerable efforts are required by both African governments and development partners to mobilize the level of resources needed for development in the region.

Highlight of the findings, according to ECA included that governments are making efforts to mobilize domestic resources, but savings rates in African countries remain inadequate relative to their investment requirements.

Also, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow has increased, but it is still insufficient, and too concentrated in the natural resources sector, to help accelerate economic growth and development. Just as most countries have policies in place to attract private capital flows, but response from foreign investors has so far been muted.

Exports, the survey noted have increased in recent years, even as respondents believed that donors have not made much progress in supporting African countries in the area of trade.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows to Africa, the survey pointed out, are on the increase, however, donors are still not on track to meet their commitments, adding that recent aid flows also tend to be concentrated in a few countries and social sectors cutting across emergency aid and debt relief.

While there has been a significant reduction in the external debt burden of African countries as a result of recent debt relief initiatives, just as more debt relief needs to be provided.

“Governments also need to exercise caution in borrowing to ensure that debts in African countries remain sustainable,” a part of the survey read.

HANA recalls that the Monterrey Consensus adopted at the International Conference on Financing for Development in 2002 was the first global attempt to comprehensively address the challenges of financing development, especially in the context of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Consensus calls for a new partnership between developed and developing countries covering six main areas of action, such as mobilizing domestic financial resources, attracting international financial resources based on private capital flows, promoting international trade as an engine for development, increasing international financial and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt financing and external debt relief; as well as addressing systemic issues.

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Motorola introduces two bluetooth headsets

Global leader in wireless communications, Motorola, has added H680 and H375 bluetooth headsets to its family of Bluetooth Companion Products (BCP).

This addition unveiled in London recently come with elegant design, premium audio and Bluetooth wireless technology to allow multi-taskers and stylish talkers to make and take calls, while going about their businesses in a style.

General Manager, Accessories at Motorola Europe, Gillian Tune, said that the headsets’ outstanding sound quality is due to Motorola’s TrueComfort technology, which enables users to hear and be heard at home, on the move or at work.

According to the GM, Motorola’s exclusive TrueComfort design was developed after an intensive study of the human ear.

“The result is H680’s new ear hook, ear bud and speaker designs which improve audio by mechanically isolating the speaker and bringing it closer to the ear canal to channel sound. It also allows for a much better fit and improved comfort for prolonged use,” Tune said.

Also the GM said that both the H680 and H375 benefit from Motorola’s Easypair, which means that after an initial connection is made, your phone will conveniently and automatically pair with your headset whenever you switch it on.

“The H680 offers experienced Bluetooth headset users performance, style and looks in an absolutely discrete size. Alternatively, the H375 offers first timers to Bluetooth headsets a simple, reliable option with a battery check function,” said Tune.

Bluetooth users of today, Tune noted, wanted not only freedom from wires but also to look good while they converse on the go.

“The audio quality, comfort and convenience offered by the H680 and H375 means you will never have to slow down your life to talk on the phone again,” the general manager assured.

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PA Telecoms unveils products

PROFESSIONAL Advanced (PA) Telecoms International Limited has unveiled its products at the just concluded Nigerian International Communications exhibition (nicomm-07), reports Ugo Nkwocha.

The event, which held in Lagos at the Musical Society of Nigeria (muson) Centre, Onikan-Lagos, saw the launch of P.A. Telecoms two way radio terminals and some radio network solutions.

Speaking at the launch executive director, PA Telecoms, Mr. Prince Anyim, said that the firm’s avalanche of product were introduced to develop a full line of telecommunications solution.

This, he said, would aid his firm in exploring the liberalization of the Nigeria telecommunications sector toward providing technical partnership to Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Fixed Wireless Access (fwa) operators and end-to-end solution to both private and cooperate organisations.

He also added that they serve various sectors of the economy including oil and gas, security agency, maritime industries among others.

He urged Nigerians to patronise his firm by given them a chance to prove themselves.

“Let us know how to be of service to you and our technical team will be glad to provide you with the solution to your telecommunication needs. Ours is a blend of technology built on innovation,” he said

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