Globacom lifts eastern states with fibre optic

Living up its dream of enthroning world-class communications at the doorsteps of Nigerians, the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom, has lifted its services with the launch of the second eastern fibre optic backbone.

Champion Infotel recalled that barely a fortnight after Globacom launched its fibre optic backbone in the commercial city of Onitsha, the train went to the capital of Imo State, Owerri where the second transmission route was equally commissioned.

Company sources said that the launch is expected to bring about highly advanced transmission backbone to the region and even improve upon what is currently on ground in terms of better quality of service.

Just as it is expected to form a lead to a marked improvement in telecommunications offering and delivery in the eastern part of the country.

Experts agreed that in recent years it has become apparent that fibre-optics are steadily replacing copper wire as an appropriate means of communication signal transmission, hence a highly reliable voice and data transmission medium and is reputed as superior to the satellite and microwave transmission networks generally deployed by most operators eliminating hiccups emanating from changes in weather conditions.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Operating Officer, Glo BroadAccess, Mr. Martins Olowonihi, said the facility would benefit not only the network’s subscribers, but also telecom service users and business generally via provision of large bandwidth for offices and corporate organizations.

He also said that the Owerri-Onitsha route complements the Onitsha-Awka axis of the backbone launched two weeks earlier, stressing that because of the potentials of the facility Globacom was confident it would significantly transform telecommunications and positively affect the economy of the eastern states.

He pointed out that the first phase spanning 10,000 kilometres would soon be completed.

“Globacom will continue to empower our people, governments and businesses in line with our commitment to lead the change in the telecoms industry,” Olowonihi assured.

He explained that Globacom’s fibre cable network has already covered the entire Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan route, Lagos-IjebuOde-Ore-Benin-Sapele-Warri-Kaima (Yenogoa junction)-Port Harcourt-Aba-Owerri-Enugu, Onitsha-Awka route and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano-Minna routes. Other routes covered include the Enugu-Oturkpo-Makurdi, Makurdi-Lafia-Abuja and Ibadan-Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bida-Minna-Abuja.

Commenting at the ceremony, Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim represented by his Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Chuma Nnaji, said that the optic fibre project would help the state government in its e-government scheme.

Commending the SNO for its revolutionary efforts in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Ohakim said they are enthused that Globacom is partnering the state to improve communications.

“We need this kind of partnership as we are a business-oriented state. Globacom is providing Nigerians the capacity to catch up with the rest of the world. The world is now a global village and the only way for us is to improve our telecommunications and Glo is doing just that. Imo will provide you the enabling environment and will continue to partner you,” he said.

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Steps to observe packet spoofing by ISPs

If they still disagree, it’s possible that your ISP or institutional network is forcing all users to use NAT or a proxy, rather than providing direct access to the Internet.)

From here on, we will suppose that your IP address is 12.13.14.15 and that the IP address of the person at the other end is 4.8.16.32.

You should replace these example addresses with the real IP addresses involved. 7

Step 5. Confirm IP addresses and test connectivity to ensure that both you and the person at the other end have correctly determined your IP addresses, try to perform some operation that allows you to communicate with one another by specifying each other’s IP addresses.

You could use the ping command or try the application that you eventually plan to test out, such as a P2P file-sharing client or VoIP application.

If you can’t establish some kind of end-to-end communication using the IP addresses you’ve determined, you’ll need to debug this problem before proceeding any further.

Possible causes could include the presence of a firewall, including a software firewall that has not yet been disabled at one end.

Step 6. Synchronize computer clocks

If your operating system supports it, make sure that your computer’s clock is synchronized to an authoritative Network Time Protocol (NTP) network time server, so that the dates and times recorded in your packet capture will be accurate and will correspond to those recorded by the other computer. This will help make results or log entries from multiple computers easier to compare.

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Ajegunle.org empowers 106

A total of 106 youths have been trained on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through the intervention of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) under its project Ajegunle.org.

Programme Manager for Ajegunle.org at PIN, Mr. Ugochukwu Nwosu said that the organisation is committed toward building upon the success of the first set of graduates, who have been successfully trained based on positive peer pressure concept, just as applications are now being accepted for another batch of 25 to resume training next month.

This, he said, is in efforts of PIN to transform Ajegunle a Lagos suburb based on building the success of the first set of graduates who have grown to 106 peers in basic ICT knowledge.

The modules, he said, have been modified to accommodate an additional week of ICT training as well as more support towards the development of a realistic business plan.

According to him, three of the graduates have completed their internship with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment Unit (UKTI) of the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, where they were exposed to work ethics, international trade, networking opportunities as well as an opportunity to apply the skills they acquired during the Ajegunle.org capacity building programme.

“Two of them have jointly started a Forex Academy in Ajegunle, after receiving a free Forex training at Hands on Institute of Information Technology (HiiT) Lagos,” he said.

Aligned with the desire to increase the number of available internship positions, he said, that a breakfast meeting was hosted for the project by the UKTI in February, where eight (8) firms signed up to provide opportunities for Ajegunle.org graduates.

Nwosu added that following the breakfast meeting, four interns resumed at Afrinvest WA on April 1, two others will resume internship at Lornamead Africa in April, two would resume at Virgin Atlantic this month and yet another four are being prospected to get a resumption date at DHL Nigeria office.

The UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bob Dewar, he said, was very impressed with the project and posted a blog on the day he met with the PIN team, just as the a new intern also resumed at the UKTI on Friday, March 14, 2008.

The executive director, PIN, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, stressed that Ajegunle.org has received tremendous media coverage and has been presented in various for a across the world (Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, United Kingdom and Switzerland) as a case study on how ICTs could be used to aid development in underserved communities.

He also said that the project has been accepted as one of the projects that will compete in the British Council/Youngster Foundation Top12 Youth Works competition.

Emphasising that Ajegunle.org is currently accepting applications for a new set of 25 trainees, whose training would commence on May 12, 2008.

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria is a social enterprise seeking to help deliver ICT for socio-economic opportunities in Nigeria.

Champion Infotel recalls that PIN recently consulted for Harvard University, International Telecommunications Union, Computer Aid International and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, among others.

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CWG launches Finacle 10 in Nigeria

ExpertEdge Software and Systems Limited, the software subsidiary of the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), has announced the launch of Finacle version 10 into the nation’s market.

Group Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager at CWG, Ms Morenike Popoola said they are excited in introducing the latest version of Finacle banking application in the country, describing it as a highly sophisticated and advanced system that has been built with an investment of over 240,000 days.

She also said that this new version of Finacle would enable banks to transform their multi-country operations through a standard platform and process.

“A set of over 5000 parameters and an enhanced scripting studio will deliver rapid product innovation. The new version also brings with it a whole new set of offerings including Islamic banking, wealth management; and an enhanced mobile banking solution,” she said.

Ms Popoola equally stated in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel that Infosys with its strong focus on banking and financial services sector, is making continuous investments in Finacle.

She quoted a member of the board, Infosys Technologies Ltd, Mr. T.V. MohanDas Pai, as saying that Finacle is core to the firm’s growth strategy.

“We have invested over $60m in the last three years to build a state-of-the-art banking solution,” he asserted, adding that with Finacle version 10, Infosys is geared up to address the key challenges of banking transformation.

He elucidated that the latest version is a technically strong solution with SOA, BPEL-enabled workflow and advanced security and compliance framework delivers significant improvement in productivity and greater readiness to manage security and regulatory challenges.

Business Head, Finacle, Haragopal M, informed that Finacle, version 10 with its powerful multi-country infrastructure and transformational capabilities delivers increased productivity, rapid innovation and a comprehensive set of offerings to meet diverse customer demands.

“Seven Tier-1 and Tier-2 banks around the world have already reposed their trust on Finacle, version 10 to power their domestic and international operations,” he said.

Finacle has been benchmarked severally and has proven capability to handle very large volumes of transactions, just as in Nigeria, Finacle supports more than a million transactions per day in the larger deployments.

Finacle 10 will receive the excellent support provided by the Computer Warehouse Group through her software subsidiary ExpertEdge.

This support made possible by over 40 trained consultants and a 24x7 facility has made a significant difference in the market to Finacle users would inherit the excellent implementation track record provided by Infosys and ExpertEdge in the Nigerian market.

Some of this track record has been maintained through implementations in banks like First Bank, UBA, SpringBank, FCMB, Oceanic Bank, SpringBank, Fidelity Bank and Kakawa Discount House. Prior to consolidation, Finacle had also been successfully implemented in Lion Bank and Assurance Bank.

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... As TTC Mobile graduates 32

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training entity, Transfer Technology Company (TTC) Mobile Limited, has announced the graduation of 32 trainees.

Deputy General Manager, Business Development at TTC, Mr. Chrysantus Okon, while disclosing this at the weekend, said that the firm offers hope in the sustenance of knowledge economy, which is ICT driven.

According to him, the graduates have since commenced hands-on practical at various ICT firms in the country.

He said the firm has recognised the fact that the ensuing digital revolution, skilled manpower in ICT remains a source of worry for stakeholders.

“Demand for certified trainees far exceeds supply hence investors and subscribers hardly benefit from the huge financial investments in ICT infrastructures,” he declared, adding that these trends retard economic growth and dissuades potential investors at both micro and macro levels.

Mr. Okon attributed these as contributing to low Internet penetration in the country, hence productivity remains abysmally low.

Commenting, the Managing Director, TTC Mobile, Mr. Akin Aregbesola, said that they feel fulfilled with the number of graduates being trained within the firm’s stable.

Although, he noted that the ICT infrastructure in the country is still at unacceptable stage, this should not deter the grooming of Nigerians to not only take charge of the growing trend but be ready for the future.

He said that the demand for trainers from TTC is high, “so we’re equal to the task and our trainers are well tutored.”

The modules, he said, consist of both theory and practical, even as he enjoined Nigerians especially unemployed graduates to wake up from their slumber and get trained in the sector.

“The jobs are there but no much people qualified to occupy these positions,” he declared, adding that Nigerians should take a queue and get trained so as to get better opportunities.

“Our training increases employability,” he asserted, stressing that it is focused in a way that even if one don’t get a job, trainers on completion of their course could be self-employed by setting up something for themselves.

Mr. Aregbesola revealed that TTC Mobile has advanced plans to commence a one-mount scholarship programme in a nationwide campaign due to commence in June.

Screening examination, he said, would take place in the Lagos zone this month while those at Port Harcourt and Abuja would come in June and July.

TTC said it has professionally trained and certified over 2500 trainees on its regular in-house course, while its graduates are employed by key telcos such as Huawei, Globacom, MTN, Celtel, Alcatel, Ericsson, Reltel, are proofs well worth the reference. Banking institutions including Zenith Bank Plc, UBA, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Access Bank equally employed some of TTC’s certified trainees to name a few.

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Ericsson signs on 180 contracts on IPTV

Telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Ericsson has signed on a total of 180 contracts on its Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), as at the end of last quarter in its efforts to boost individualised TV experience.

This is coming as over 60 mobile operators globally have launched commercial mobile TV service.

Affirming this insight, Head, Corporate and Marketing Communications, Ericsson West Africa, Mr. Olabode Sowunmi Jnr. said that 180 operators worldwide are now using Ericsson’s IPTV technologies, noting that the solution brings an extended TV to the consumer with a wide range of personalised and interactive TV services.

He explained that Ericsson IPTV technology also offers all the vital components for a successful deployment of IPTV into a broadband Internet Protocol (IP) network, which include the middleware, content distribution platform, video head-end, content protection, TV applications such as games and information services to name a few.

“To get the right quality and capacity for IPTV, Ericsson offers an optimised IPTV network infrastructure including a full range of Access, Optical Transport, Edge Routing and IMS systems, fully integrated or tailored for step-wise deployments,” he said.

According to Mr. Sowunmi in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, by the end of 2007, Ericsson had signed more than 180 IPTV contracts, which include commercial contracts, trials, IPTV system integration projects, IPTV head-end contracts and IPTV network infrastructure contracts for broadband access, metro transport and IP Edge.

He noted that Vodafone Spain was one of the first operators to offer downloadable applications to handsets that allow channels to be changed with a single click.

“Today more than 15 per cent of their customers utilize this application with increased watching frequencies and longer sessions as the result,” he pointed out.

As said by him, Ericsson is building on its strength, history and global presence as a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and related services to mobile and fixed operators.

Recalling that over 1,000 networks in 140 countries utilize its network equipment, and 40 per cent of all mobile calls are made through its systems.

“Ericsson is one of the few companies in the world offering end-to-end solutions for all major mobile communication standards,” he said.

This, also boost individual television experience which is a strategic shift for the industry that would generate a new way for people to watch television at anytime, anywhere and on any device.

“This is the key to the individual television experience - a concept that Ericsson foresees will drive business growth for the next 10 years,” he said.

He emphasised that television experience affords users the mode in which to change rapidly, thereby becoming more important and a reflection of Ericsson’s vision for television.

Consumers, he said, nowadays want personalization, interactivity, communication, high-definition quality and user-generated content, while Ericsson’s competence in broadband technology, based on extensive multimedia portfolio and integration skills give the telco the means to make this new user experience a reality.

Stressing that Ericsson’s vision to be the prime driver and integrator and its commitment to bringing the individual television experience to market are evident today in its open-architecture approach.

“With extensive consumer insights, full service broadband, ecosystem leadership and an overarching solution, Ericsson can offer the customer a complete end-to-end solution. This includes multimedia solutions, network infrastructure, IP Multimedia System (IMS), advertising solutions, as well as the professional services and support necessary to implement them. In addition, this vision includes a clear evolution path of Ericsson’s Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and mobile TV solutions,” he submitted.

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Linkserve, NigComSat in strategic deal

Revolutionary Internet Service Provider (ISP), Linkserve Limited, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Communication Satellite (NigComSat) Limited in collaboration with a digital communications equipment manufacturer, ViaSat.

Founder and Chairman, Linkserve, Chief Chima Onyekwere, informed that the essence of the strategic affiliation is on mass deployment of cost-effective broadband services into the nation’s market.

He also said that it’s in line with the policy of the federal government to give confidence to the public and private sector partnership (PPP), especially in development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He pointed out that it’s the first time such a deal is being sealed for the benefit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the government at the local, state and federal levels.

Describing the deal as a unique opportunity for these public sector organs to directly acquire cost-effective broadband Internet facilities, he emphasised that the strategic partnership would be for an initial period of five years.

During this period, he said, affordable and reliable broadband services will be made readily available to un-served and under-served areas, schools and educational institutions, corporate enterprises and government MDAs.

He further said that the collaboration revolving pioneering organisations would engender creative value, stressing that their roles always involves great challenges and obstacles, even as he expressed confidence that the companies in they would translate the challenges into opportunities that would redefine the market for the benefit of the populace in the country.

Linkserve, he disclosed, is investing a state-of-the-art surf beam hub to economically optimise available bandwidth for the benefit of end-users that would result into competitively priced terminals and Customer Premise Equipment (CPEs) as well as cheaper bandwidth.

Equally speaking, chief executive, Linkserve, Mr. Victor Emordi said that ViaSat will in addition to delivering well-priced terminals and CPEs, provide technical support, training and capacity building required for high quality of service and development of local expertise.

Managing Director, NigComSat, Mr. Ahmed Rufai, in his comment stated that Nigcomsat did not intend taking over the role of ICT service providers in the country, but plans to complement and enhance their capability for better quality services.

According to him, concerning this agreement with Linkserve and ViaSat, it becomes necessary to correct the misinformation, which has become common in the nation’s media and as per the intention of the NIGCOMSAT.

“There has never been a time we intended to replace the small medium or large scale ICT service providers, but we are only going to enhance and compliment their capacities and capability for services delivery, make these available in the rural and the un-served urban centres and also make it affordable,” Rufai said.

Highlighting that the collaboration is important so as to bring strength together with the availability of the transmission backbone and the know-how within both organisations.

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ICANN welcomes NTIA response on JPA

Global Internet coordinating agency, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has welcomed the response of the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on the mid-term review of the Join Project Agreement (JPA) entered in 2006.

Champion Infotel recalled that NTIA, had on behalf of the Department of Commerce, based on the recently conducted a JPA mid-term review there was general consensus on the need to preserve the security and stability of the Domain Name System (DNS) and the recognition that ICANN is the appropriate technical coordinator of the Internet DNS.

NTIA also noted that ICANN has made significant progress in several key areas, but most participants agreed that important work remains to increase institutional confidence through implementing effective processes that will enable long term stability; accountability; responsiveness; continued private sector leadership, stakeholder participation; increased contract compliance; and enhanced competition.

“It is important to note that the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions contract was not part of the JPA mid-term review,” NTIA stated in its response made available to Champion Infotel.

Reacting, Chairman of ICANN’s Board of Director, Mr. Peter Dengate Thrush, said that his organisation welcome to the NTIA response.

“I welcome this endorsement of the ICANN model and our significant efforts to improve ICANN’s operation,” he said, adding that the overwhelming view from virtually all participants during the review is that transition is the goal and the interest is in settling how to get there.

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Digital Jewels holds second Value Chain forum

WORRIED by the knowledge gap, which exist within the electronic business space, Digital Jewels, an independent information technology (IT) consulting firm that focuses on development of the knowledge economy across Africa, would today hold its second monthly Information Value Chain (IVC) forum, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Tagged “Project Management Best Practice: Making it work for you,” the forum according to the chief executive office of Digital Jewels, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa has a line of speakers including herself who would dwell on “Juxtaposing Prince2 and PM BOK: A practitioner’s view,” while the guest speaker, Steven Sloan, a Switzerland-based project management professional will also speak on “Applying the Project Management Body of Knowledge: A PMP’s perspective.

A press statement made available to Champion Infotel, and endorsed by Mrs. Odunfa informed that Mr. Bosun Israel-Bolarinwa would also speak on “Managing Projects the Prince2 Way.”

She explained that the IVC forum billed to take place at Frajend Close, Osborne Foreshore Estate Phase 1 in Ikoyi-Lagos, is an avenue for knowledge sharing, information exchange and is designed to be a truly worthwhile experience while providing a platform to catch up and keep learning from a carefully selected mix of consultants, professionals and industry thought-leaders with a strategic target audience consisting of a cross section of industry-shapers for today and tomorrow.

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A Walk in Tandem for launch

A book on the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, would be launched on Saturday in Lagos.

The book titled: Ndukwe &Telecom Regulation: A Walk In Tandem, which chronicles the EVC’s remarkable works and achievements in the telecommunications sector, spanning over 25 years, would be presented for launch at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Written by Aaron Ukodie, Deputy Business Editor and head of IT.Telecom Desk of Daily Independent, the book is a testimony, portrait and an unveiling of the Ndukwe phenomenon.

“It shows that Ndukwe was not a happenstance in the Nigerian telecommunications environment but a man who was destined to lead a revolutionary transformation and upliftment of the industry,” Mr. Ukodie declared in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel.

According to him, the 200-page book of 11 chapters also shows Ndukwe’s work at the NCC with his team supervised by a board of Commissioners headed by seasoned administrator, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, via key global standards and practices.

Equally, the book, he said, highlighted, for instance, that before his appointment to run NCC, Ndukwe had nursed bubbles of ideas and canvassed his vision for the sector in many fora and that he possessed a well of passion, which sought an opening for its flow.

Noting that Ndukwe’s pursuits at General Telecom Plc, a private telecommunications company which he ran as Managing Director and at the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) where he was President for many years, to his present assignment at NCC, show a streak that runs through his career: professionalism, hard work, diligence, foresight, knowledge-ability, integrity; character traits that the nation so much needs for its march to greatness.

Ukodie also said that there are a few who are in the mode of Ndukwe in a country, which is in short supply of noble models in every area of her national life.

“Even the few individuals in this category are most of the time unsung and the virtues which they represent not put up in the public domain for the young ones to emulate and also serve to challenge even their contemporaries who walk in ignoble paths,” Ukodie said.

As well, the book contains testimonies by notable global experts versed in the area of telecommunication regulation, best practices and good corporate governance.

The Secretary General of Union (ITU) Dr. Hammadoun Toure, is billed to grace the occasion among other notables in the nation’s ICT sector.

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Samsung unveils J700 mobile phone

Mobile phone manufacturer, Samsung Electronics has launched its J700 mobile phone into the nation’s market.

Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics Nigeria Limited, Mr. James You, said the launch is in line with the vision of the company to be a leading entity in the digital convergence revolution.

He also said that Samsung brands of phones remain one of the most sought after globally and in the nation’s market.

“This is not surprising considering the painstaking research and development effort that goes into each of our offerings,” he said.

According to him, Nigerian market has been responsive to Samsung products basically because the firm has taken time to study the lifestyles of Nigerians in different socio-economic classes and have now come to provide unique solutions that address their needs.

“Our stylish innovations and technology embedded in our mobile devices are part of Samsung’s resolve to putting our customers’ needs first. This is very evident in Samsung J700 mobile phone which we are unveiling today,” Mr. You said.

He stressed that Samsung J700 phone is uniquely designed with features of a high-end phone made available to discerning consumers at a pocket-empowering price.

“We do know that those who truly use the innovative features of a mobile handset are not necessarily the super-wealthy,” he said.

Manager, Products at Samsung Electronics Nigeria Limited, Mr. Farhad Khan explained that the Samsung J700, is a stylish slider phone with a glossy mirror-like surface and comes in two main colours, namely silver and black.

He listed other features of J700 to include a 1.3 mega pixel camera, MP3 and video as well as Frequency Modulated (FM) radio, Global Packet Radio System (GPRS) and mobile tracker to discourage theft.

“The premium design is compact, stylish, sleek and smart,” he said.

J700 mobile phone, he said, is targeted at confident, responsible, trend-setting and exciting individuals who could express themselves in so many ways.

“We on our part are not unmindful that these people have so much to invest in order to keep their lifestyle going,” he said.

Mr. Khan also revealed that Samsung J700 is compatible with the Universal Serial Bus (USB) and microSD card and goes for N17,000 in the country as entry price.

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EtiSalat inducts employees on strategic planning

The latest entrant into the nation’s telecommunications sphere, EtiSalat has embarked on strategic staff development in its bid to offer excellent service.

The fifth Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator in the country, it was gathered, commenced strategic staff induction and functional training programme to inculcate its core values, vision, mission, and ambitions to the employees.

Company sources said that the programme began on March 31 with initial 60 personnel selected from the various units of the company.

Chief executive, EtiSalat Nigeria, Mr. Saoud Al Shamsi, disclosed that the over 500 Nigerian staff will be trained in batches before the end of July.

The exercise, he said, encompasses the company’s operational manual and other developmental needs that would further equip employees to become better managers in future.

He also stated in his goodwill message to the delegates that Etisalat is an employer of choice that offers its staff an equal opportunity of career growth, irrespective of their race, culture or gender.

Mr. Al Shamsi said that the telco strongly believes in the nation’s telecom market and is committed to contributing its quota towards developing a strong and virile workforce in the country.

“At Etisalat, we see our people as our greatest asset hence we go the extra mile in developing them to become the best they could. This development exercise is only one of the on-going efforts at demonstrating this belief,” he said.

Mr. Al Shamsi further said that the telco offers a series of quality training to employees to make them ready for the real-world market environment.

The objective of this, he said, is to empower them to respond effectively and efficiently to customer needs and the vagaries of the Nigerian telecommunications market.

The induction programme is expected to expose trainees to the DNA of the Etisalat brand and also covered human resource (HR), finance, legal, regulatory affairs, products as well as services, customer care, security, contract procurement and administration issues among others.

A cross section of the staff commended the management of Etisalat, saying the programme has given them a sense of belonging and fired their aspiration to work towards achieving the company’s goals of offering high quality telecom services to Nigerian populace.

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Remita, technology product of the year

Acclaimed most innovative corporate e-payment solution from SystemSpecs Limited known as Remita has been named the Technology Product of the Year at the 2008 Titans of Tech awards.

This is coming as SystemSpecs has officially released the Remita case study on e-payment at the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Management) Board (PEF) at the two-day IT Expo that preceded the awards nite.

The Managing Director, SystemSpecs, Mr. John Obaro, who received the award on behalf of the company said they were humbled.

“We feel very humbled by this recognition and we thank the organizers for this honour. Remita is a great corporate e-payment solution that continues to excite both users and recipients. SystemSpecs remains committed the federal government e-payment plan and vision through the Financial Systems Strategy 2020 of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” he said.

Chief Executive, Technology Africa, Don Pedro Aganbi, informed that some of the criteria used for the selection of winners at the awards include the problem solving and deployment process.

“The panel of judges considered the value of service and technology deployed in solving recognized technology problems, overall quality of innovation and contribution to technology advancement, originality and vision, potential contribution towards positive industry growth and service, market success and acceptance, contribution to end-user quality-of-experience and service efficiency, innovation and achievement,” the organisers said.

Equally commenting, Head of Brand & Marketing, SystemSpecs, Mr. Moses Braimah, noted that the released Remita PEF case study was designed to assist organizations either in the public or private sectors with similar multiple payment challenges to learn and appreciate what value Remita provides.

This case study, he said, is a must read for all decision makers in the country, so that they would know how PEF, using Remita was able to contend with the numerous challenges whilst operating a manual payment process.

“We have uploaded it on Remita and SystemSpecs websites for easy access,” he informed, explaining that Remita, an electronic courier service that rides on secured e-payment platforms to deliver funds to bank accounts and associated schedules to relevant bodies.

“It also enables you to send notifications and details of payment to beneficiaries via Short Messaging Service (SMS) and email at the click of a button. Remita is a One-Stop funds and schedules remittance solution,” Braimah said.

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Zain introduces aircraft roaming service

Global telecommuni-cations operator, Zain Group, has introduced roaming service in aircrafts in Jordan within its Middle East and Africa region.

Zain is the parent company of Celtel Nigeria operates in several other African countries as Celtel. The new technology, installed by AeroMobile, was successfully tried by Zain customers, during the world’s first commercial flight to take place with the new innovative technology. The voyage took place recently between Dubai and Casablanca on Emirates Airlines.

The service will be available soon on aircrafts in Nigeria and eight other operations of Zain including Bahrain , Kuwait , Iraq , Lebanon , Sudan , Tanzania , Kenya , and Uganda to bring the number of countries in which the service is available to 10.

Zain group is a leading mobile telecommunications operator in the Middle East and Africa .

With the new service, Zain will become a market leader and amongst the first few mobile operators in the world to introduce such services to its customers.

“’We are proud to be the first mobile service provider in Jordan to offer our customers such a differentiated service,” said Zain’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Saad Al Barrak, who added that Zain has always been a pioneer in introducing top of the line services in Jordan and across the Middle East.

“With mobile phones becoming an important part of people’s everyday lives, we are delighted to offer our customers the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues during flights and therefore making their lives easier,” he said.

Al Barrak further said that Zain had signed an agreement with AeroMobile early in 2006, having seen the potential of this technology to offer better services to its customers.

“During the initial phase, Zain’s customers in Jordan can now stay connected on board of a number of Emirates flights. The service will be later expanded to include all flights on Emirates as well as other airlines that have partnered with AeroMobile,” added Al Barrak.

Zain in Jordan ‘s International Roaming Manager Mervette Al-Shihabi pointed out that through the partnership with AeroMobile, the telco plans to enhance its international mobile roaming services.

“This follows the successful launch of Zain in Jordan ‘s Marine roaming Services in 2006,” she added.

Zain’s agreement with AeroMobile includes international roaming services for all Zain in Jordan ‘s customers through which they could now enjoy mobile phone services using voice calls as well as Short Messaging Service (SMS) services on board. GPRS, Black Berry Services and Push Mail will be also available to customers in the near future.

AeroMobile completed several months of operational trials in an extensive testing procedure in Australia in 2007. The AeroMobile technology ensures that passengers’ mobile phones operate at their minimum power settings in order to allow secure use and avoid interference with ground telecoms networks.

For appropriate use of mobile phones on board, all airlines will be providing a list of guidelines, which will include a request for passengers to switch their mobile phones to ‘silent’ mode during the flight. Furthermore, the cabin crew will be able to monitor as well as handle full control of how the system will be used throughout the trip. Passengers wanting to use the service during the trip will receive a text message welcoming them to the AeroMobile system as soon as they switch their mobile phones on.

AeroMobile’s Chief Executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: ‘We are delighted to deliver a genuine world first technology through Zain’s network, a mobile operator that is amongst the first in the world to provide such a unique innovative service to its customers. We believe that the ability to communicate efficiently, easily and safely when on board flights will become an every-day feature for business and leisure travellers soon.’

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Nokia unveils Xpress music phones

COMMUNICATIONS giant, Nokia Nigeria, has launched the Nokia 5310 and 5610 optimized music and entertainment cell phones into the market, reports CHARLES OKOH.

The Nokia 5310 and 5610 Xpress music phones both offer up to 18 and 22 hours of music playback, and have a memory for up 3000 songs on an optimal 4 Gegabytes (GB) MiscroSD cards respectively.

General Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Fady Khatibi said the 5310 and 5610 phones both have 2 and 3.2 megapixel cameras and a capacity of up to 16 million colours which makes downloads, web-browsing and video calls faster and easier and are both available at Nokia authorised retail outlets across the country.

According to Mr. Khatibi, “the strikingly slim Nokia 5310 and 5610 is 9.9mm thick and weighs less than 71 grams with iconic designs, offer a range of entertainment-enabled features for consumers who want their music and favourite media with them wherever they go.”

Nokia, he said, is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging internet and communications industries, while also producing a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility.

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ITU Sec-Gen to visit Nigeria

Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr Hamadoun Touré, will be on a three-day official visit to Nigeria from Thursday, April 10 through Saturday April 12, 2008.

Dr Touré is expected to meet with top government officials in the country to draw attention to the Connect Africa Initiative of the ITU.

Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Dave Imoko, said in a press statement that this would be the first time the Secretary-General of the ITU, the world telecommunications regulatory body, would officially visit Nigeria since the establishment of the United Nations agency.

Dr Touré is scheduled to meet with President Umaru Yar’Adua as well as other top government officials including the Minister of Information and Communications and the Board and Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission in Abuja during his visit.

He will also be meeting the Chief Executive Officers of leading information and communications technology (ICT) companies at a dinner in his honour in Lagos.

While in Nigeria, Dr Touré will also visit projects related to the ITU Connect Africa Initiative such as the Digital Bridge Institute, the Digital Awareness Projects of the NCC and some Universal Access Projects of the Nigerian civil society.

The Connect Africa Initiative being championed by Dr Touré aims to bring together governments, the private sector and other partners to carry out projects aimed at developing the continent’s ICT infrastructure.

The initiative was launched at a summit of leaders in Kigali, under the patronage Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and the Chairman of the African Union and President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor, on 29 and 30 October, 2007.

Dr Touré was elected Secretary-General of ITU at the Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2006 and took office on 1 January 2007. He is the first African to occupy the position.

It is also noteworthy that the Secretary-General’s visit coincides with the period Nigeria attained the position of the largest telecommunications market in Africa by overtaking South Africa in number of active connected lines by January 2008.

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