ATCON Presidency: Ekuwem leads till 2010

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Having performed in his first term in office, the Executive Vice Chairman, Teledom International Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem has been elected for the second term to lead the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) till2010.

Ekuwem, who before his emergence as ATCON president in late 2006, had served as the President, Nigeria Internet Group among other national assignments.

Others who made the current executive as incumbents included the chief executive of Disc Communications Limited, Chief Adebayo Adebanjo as the first vice president, his counterpart at Geosanna Digital Comm. Limited, Mr. Gerry Ekesiani, the second vice president and chief executive, NERA Microwave Nigeria Limited, Chief Babajide Odekunle who retained his portfolio as the National Secretary.

Additionally, the chief operating officer of Accat Nigeria Limited, Mr. David Roberts emerged the Publicity Secretary, while the chief executive EIL Telecoms Limited, Mrs. Nkoli Moka was nominated as the Financial Secretary as well as the Director, Events Marketing at Intercellular Nigeria Plc, Ms Maureen Egbuna as the Treasurer.

Messrs Tony Nwosu of Global Access Limited, Mac’Danielles Ighedosa of DaniSat Communications Limited, Sunday Gbenjo of Total Telecoms Limited, Chike Ogum of Best Alliance Comms Limited and Chrysantus Okon of TC Mobile Limited, were elected as sub-group coordinators of Auxiliary services providers, enhanced services providers, customer equipment dealers, manufacturer and manufacturers’ representatives and consulting services providers in that other as sub-group coordinators.

However, ATCON is awaiting the nominees from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN).

In his second term acceptance speech, Dr. Ekuwem recalled that ATCON is a professional, non-profit, non-political umbrella organisation of telecommunications companies in the country, which was formally inaugurated on December 10, 1993 with a membership profile made up of indigenous and multinational telecommunications firms operating in the country and has since grown to 150-entity membership.

According to him, ATCON has seven sub-groups, while providing services of general information on emerging technologies available in the telecom and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) market, hosting of telecom exhibitions and conference, analysis of economic policies and technical regulations which affect the industry, as well as coordinating trade missions for purpose of promoting partnerships among local and international operators and professional advisory to potential and existing investors in the nation’s telecom industry.

Dr. Ekuwem also outlined the objectives of ATCON, including to bring together under one umbrella, all companies in the field of ICT services for the purposes of achieving meaningful development in the country.

In addition, ATCON, he said, tends to actively promote the organised private sector participation in the expansion of the industry infrastructure-wise by way of encouraging professionalism and evolving adequate training programmes for the personnel engaged in the industry, whereas assisting members to develop programmes in tune with current deregulation policy of the federal government.

He further pledged that ATCON would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other government agencies to ensure industrial harmony and fair competition in the provision of services within the telecom sector.

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Steps to observe packet spoofing by ISPs (6)

We have chosen to describe Wireshark because it is powerful, user friendly, open source, and available for several platforms.

As long as the network analyzer you use can save its packet traces in pcap format, they can be read by a wide variety of software, including Wireshark; thus, meaningful and comparable results could be obtained using other software.

If you’re capturing packets on a device that can’t run Wireshark - such as a remotely-accessible server in a co-location facility with no graphical user interface - you should consider the tcpdump program, which is a standard part of many Unix-like operating systems and is available at http://www.tcpdump.org/.

It is important to be aware that some network analyzers default to capturing only a portion of each packet.

Wireshark’s option to “Limit each packet to 68 bytes” in the screen capture above is (correctly) disabled by default, but the corresponding option in some other programs could be (wrongly) enabled by default.

To meaningfully compare the resulting packet traces, the packet size limit should be set to the largest possible value (usually 65535 bytes) or disabled entirely. For example, using the tcpdump utility, an appropriate command line would be tcpdump -v -s 0 -w packet-trace.pcap

Setting -s 0 sets the packet size limit to “unlimited” instead of tcpdump’s default of 68 bytes.

(When running tcpdump on a computer with multiple network interfaces, it may also be necessary to specify a network interface with the -i option.)

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Jambite wins Kia Rio @ MultiLinks promo

A 21-year old secondary school leaver awaiting the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination result, also known as ‘jambite’ and a commercial telephone operator (CTO), Ms Theresa Onyekoko, won a Kia Rio car in the on-going Telkom MultiLinks promotion.

Ms Onyekoko who has just passed out from the Command Secondary School, Oshodi-Lagos, would also to be sponsored on a driving course by the telco, and receive a driver’s license, courtesy, MultiLinks.

She emerged the winner after draw was held for about 30 subscribers who qualified for the exercise last week in Lagos. 20 of these qualified went home with N5,000 recharge cards, four won LCD Plasma television sets, while another four were lucky to own MultiLinks phone sets with numbers.

Speaking after emerging the star prize-winner at the second presentation, Ms Onyekoko who was accompanied by her father, Mr. Onyekoko, said she would for ever remain grateful to the management of Telkom MultiLinks for making her dream of being a car owner a reality.

She added that the car was not hers alone but for the entire family.

In his remarks earlier, chief sales and marketing officer, Telkom MultiLinks Nigeria, Mr. Pierre Marais, said this was the second in two months that the telco is making presentation to its subscribers, noting that the first saw some subscribers emerging millionaires.

He recalled that since June last year when Telkom took over MultiLinks Nigeria, a lot of good things have been happening with more base stations.

Marais also revealed that the telco has achieved over 900,000 subscribers as at Monday last week and the subscriber-base is still growing, even as coverage has been extended to Lagos, Shagamu, Ijebu Ode, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ilorin and Abuja.

“We have covered the southwest of Nigeria more than any other fixed line operator, establishing presence in places as diverse as Gbongan, Osogbo, Akure, Ilesha, Ile-Ife amongst others. Today, our customers make calls on our network at Lokoja, Okene, Kano, Abaji, Zaria and we are still counting,” he said.

And to ensure quality of service for which MultiLinks is known for, he said, the length of optical fibre has increased tremendously.

“The cable has extended from Abuja through Kaduna, Kano to Kastina in the North while the East bound section has got to Benin and Warri,” Marais said, stressing that the telco has installed new switches in Lagos and Abuja to improve on quality service available nationwide in the next 12 months.

According to him, as part of the telco’s latest initiatives, a new call centre would soon be completed at Gbagada and would involve the relocation to a bigger and modern structure designed for contact activities.

“The centre would have a whole range of facilities which would include conveniences, canteens and even support recreational activities,” he said.

The Executive, Advertising, Promotions and Product Management at Multi-Links Telkom, Mr. Ian McGregor, noted that the focus of his firm is on the people of Nigeria, saying that the telco would soon introduce a new pay-off line, ‘Touching Lives.’

The rationale behind promos by the telco, he said, is to allow MultiLinks to give back to the customers who have supported the firm to become the telecommunications provider of choice in the country.

“Multilinks Telkom is here to touch every aspect of your life and your family’s lives, building relationships as we roll across Nigeria,” McGregor said.

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Senate to tackle multiple taxation

Telecommunications operators in the country, would soon heave a sigh of relief as the Nigerian Senate has promised to look critically into multiple taxation on their operations.

This revelation was made during a facility visit of the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom Limited by members of the Senate Committee on Communications, last Saturday.

The committee led by its chairman. Senator Sylvester Anyanwu also promised to intervene in some other key issues necessary for the smooth operation in the industry.

Reacting to a presentation by Globacom at its corporate headquarters of the during the visit, Anyanwu, while commending Globacom assured of the upper house support in providing conducive environment for operators to conduct their businesses.

While receiving the Senate Committee on Communications, Glo made a presentation on its operations, milestones and challenges, noting among others, the challenge posed by multiple taxation as one of the major impediments to tariff reduction.

Chief Operating Officer, Globacom, Mr. Mohamed Jameel, had listed some of the problems confronting operators to include erratic power supply, vandalisation of existing infrastructure, security and lengthy processes at all levels of government.

A press statement from the telco quoted Jameel as outlining problems that emanate from backbone outage when the optic fibre cable is cut by third party contractors as well as the multiplicity of taxes from the various tiers of government.

Mr. Jameel told the visiting lawmakers that each tier of government requires separate, costly and cumbersome approval process for right of way (ROW) for the laying of optic fibre cables nationwide, adding that this has slowed down the pace of work on key projects designed to ease communication traffic in the country.

Responding, Senator Anyanwu pledge that the National Assembly would be willing to partner with the operators to look at the challenges and where necessary, fashion out legislation that would nip the problems in the bud.

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Celtel, trade partners on Chinese tour

Trade Partners from Celtel Nigeria are now enjoying themselves in the far away Peoples Republic of China in fulfilment of the telecom operator.

Affirming this in a press statement, Public Relations Manager, Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine, said that the tour began with a stopover in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last Saturday.

According to him, the team entered China through the newly built gigantic Beijing airport and spent a night at the famous Kempenski Hotel in Beijing before jetting out to one of the commercial hubs of China, Shenzhen, a 15 minutes drive from Hong Kong.

The tour, he said, is part of Celtel’s reward programme for outstanding dealers in the last 12 months trading cycle.

He recalled that last February, Celtel rewarded top 20 trade partners on the network with an all expense paid trip to China in addition to presenting them with prizes including brand new Toyota Hiace Buses, one and two cabin Toyota Hilux trucks, among other prizes.

Many other dealers also received various prizes such as brand new laptops, laser printers, 60 inches Plasma television sets, home theatre, and 50 inches LCD television sets, and motorcycles during the Celtel trade partners awards ceremony in Abuja earlier in the year.

Chief Operating Officer, Celtel and leader of the delegation, Mr. Lars Stork said, the trip is in fulfilment of the company’s promise to the dealers and a demonstration of its commitment to empowering Nigerians including trade partners who play an important role in the distribution chain of the telecom industry.

Mr. Stork who is leading a team of Celtel’s commercial operation officials including Tayo Bright, Director of Commercial Operation; Imeh James, General Manager, South South Region; and Ayo Ipaye, Head of Commercial Distribution Division, told the Dealers the company selected China as the tour destination to boost their businesses by learning new business tips from Chinese mobile operators and their distributors, developing new trade links, purchasing needed items, visiting interesting tourist locations and finding the time to reflect and relax after months of hard work.

He said Celtel has also lined up a training programme with ZTE, a global manufacturer of handsets, telecom core infrastructure and other solutions company, to help the dealers develop competencies that will give them competitive advantage.

The trade partners, he added would also undertake a tour of China mobile, and commercial distribution centres among other places.

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MoneyBox, PayBox collaborate on mobile banking

Nigeria-based mobile payment solution provider, MoneyBox Limited is collaborating with Europe-based Paybox Solutions AG to create the first all-purpose electronic currency in the country. The project is to run under a product named MoneyBoxAfrica.

The MoneyBoxAfrica is a new savings and payment system based on a scratch card enabled by any mobile phone network, offering cash-like way to remotely save, spend, and transfer money.

Moneybox Africa is an initiative of Nigeria’s leading technology focused investment and financing institutions Integrated Capital Services in alliance with ICSL, Interswitch, e-Tranzanct and SWIC Microfinance Bank, while partnering Paybox Solutions AG.

Thus it’s an innovative savings and payment system that convert any mobile phone to a micro bank, according to the Chief executive, MoneyBox Nigeria Limited and ICSL, Mr. Adeniyi Elumaro.

The new mobile payment system, he said, is based on scratch cards and enabled by mobile phones, availing customers to open their accounts on the streets, remotely save money into their accounts, top up their phones, pay utility bills and tithes, buy insurance premium, send money to friends and relatives, withdraw cash at agents’ locations or ATMs, get access to credit and make investments.

In addition, he said, the system provides basic m-Payment services with minimal sign up barriers, creating more businesses but accepting lower margins, supporting remote and proximity scenarios.

“Moneybox Africa also offers the end customers an easy upgrade path to a stored-value-account and eventually a bank account. It provides key services beyond the basic banking functionalities such as bill payment, airtime top up, international remittance with the appropriate user interface technologies. The Moneybox Africa offers cost-efficiency, convenience and flexibility,” he said.

Equally he said it is exciting to leverage Paybox’s expertise and technology in Nigeria and the continent at large.

“Together, we can fast-track Nigeria and several African countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). We will bring an innovative system to the market that could enable possibilities, bank the unbanked and under-banked and deliver dividends of democracy to Africans starting with Nigerians. With the Moneybox Africa, we will be able to change and simplify people’s lifestyle by enabling access to broader financial services for anyone,” Elumaro said.

He further said the possibility of delivering a suite of financial services to anyone with a mobile phone, which is a transformational technology, will change the Nigerian financial services industry beyond the imagination.

He added that Moneybox Africa has decided to work with Paybox because of its broadest mobile commerce offering worldwide.

Chief executive, Paybox Mr. Eckhard Ortwein, said the partnership with Moneybox Africa avails his firm the opportunity to demonstrate the huge transformational benefits of a mobile banking solution in emerging market economy.

“In cash-dominated markets, offering a banking solution to anyone with access to a mobile phone has a huge potential,” he said.

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Egbunike, Pardo de Zela for CTO-08

President, Nigerian International Franchise Association (NIFA), Dr. Austin Egbunike would be sharing his telemedicine experience in United States (US) at this year’s Computer, Telecommunications and Office Equipment (CTO), according to the Senior Specialist, Commercial Section, United States Embassy, Lagos, Mr. Anayo Agu.

Addressing newsmen last week at the United States Information Service Centre at Onikan-Lagos, Agu accompanied by the Commercial Counsellor at the United States Consulate General, Mr. Robert Larry Farris, also said that the former commercial counsellor to Nigeria and founder Global Trade & Investment Management (GTIM) Mr. Miguel Pardo De Zela, has been slated to delivery a keynote address, at the occasion.

He also said that Dr. Egbunike would be joined in the section on telemedicine by Mr. Phillip Silberberg of Department of Paediatric Radiology, Omaha Hospital to share their experiences with Nigerians during this year’s annual CTO.

In addition, he said, that the President, Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Adebola would be speaking on “Telemedicine and the Transformation of Healthcare Service Delivery in Nigeria,” at the exhibition and conferences with the theme “A World Without borders”.

The organisers of event further said that 2008 CTO scheduled to hold this May between Monday 12 and Friday 16, would be at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.

Mr. Agu further said that the event has been planned as marketing development tools of the embassy in Nigeria.

“It is the largest exhibition of its kind in West Africa, where local companies representing or working with US supplies and manufacturers of computers, telecommunications and office equipment showcase the best of the American technology, equipment and services available in Nigeria for the sub-region,” he said.

As said by him, the exhibition would feature an all-day, special-event seminar on the first day followed by a four-day exhibition with industry, market-specific seminars, workshops, product launches and demonstrations.

CTO-08, Agu said, would focus on telemedicine, distance learning and on-line transactions to name a few.

Stressing that sub-themes have been created for cybercrime, e-governance, electronic tracking systems, e-ticketing and e-banking.

According to him, trade and investment opportunities are nowadays offered by the triple play of voice, data and video technologies, products and services, would be a boost, especially with the commencement of Third Generation (3G) services within the telecom sector in the country.

Equally, he said, the seminar though it’s free and would feature local and international experts in electronic transactions and infrastructure development.

“The event is open to the public, but attendees younger than 18 years old are not permitted on the floor of the exhibition, except on May 15, 2008 which is reserved for youth empowerment programmes,” he explained.

The event, he said, would be declared open by the Consul General, US Consulate General Lagos, Mrs Donna Blair, while remarks is expected from Mr. Farris and chief executive, UBA Mr. Tony Elumelu, who would be dwelling on “Our Strategic Alliance through NUSA.”

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Brian, Niger State sign MoU

Brian Integrated Systems Limited has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Niger State government on Computer Ownership Scheme for civil servants in the state.

Managing Director, Brian, Mr Tunji Balogun, while disclosing this said the scheme, known as Niger State Government Assisted Computer Ownership Scheme (NSCOS) is planned to encourage government and private sector with a view to developing a programme to facilitate the acquisitions of computers by all civil servants of the Niger State Government, thereby empowering them with IT knowledge and skills needed to face the 21st century knowledge economy.

By the MoU, he said, the state government through its Ministry of Science and Technology, is expected to pay 50 per cent of the cost of 300 units of Desktops computers and the balance of 50 per cent would be paid by the beneficiaries spreading over a period of 24 months.

The MOU, he said, would provide hardware, software, telephone terminal support, remedial engineering and warranty covering one year on each PC purchased at a project management office (PMO) which will be established at the Ministry of Science and Technology premises to be known as NSCOS unit.

Balogun added that his company would live up to its expectations by supplying the Niger State government latest PCs available in the market.

“This is not the first of its kind. We’re ready to partner with any state and other private sector in the Nigerian economy on Computer For All initiative (CANi). We do not supply old technologies. We deal on the latest technologies available in the global IT market. We have done it in several states including Ogun, Osun, Uyo and Kwara State. We’re ready to partner with other states,” he said.

Also, Balogun who is the President of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria, (CAPDAN) noted that their destination is West African sub-region.

“Before now, it will be recalled that Brian Integrated Systems won the Most Improved PC Company 2007 at the Titans of Tech award by Technology Africa, and Intel Premiere Partner 2007 Intel Corporation.

“We also won the Intel award as a result of the purchases made by Brian Systems via approved channel. These figures, which surpassed that of representatives from other countries that won them the award,” he said.

Champion Infotel recalls that Brian Integrated Systems Limited is one of the indigenous computer assembly companies endorsed by the federal government after it passed all mandatory tests for such endorsement and has thus been approved for patronage from all federal ministries, parastatals and agencies.

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ISOC Ghana holds outreach on Internet resource

THE Internet Society of Ghana recently held its first outreach programme for 2008 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi in Ghana, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Tagged “Towards improved Internet Governance – Managing the National Internet Resource”, the outreach programme aimed at bringing the debate on Internet Governance to society at large for their input, a typical bottom-up approach to policy input in the development process.

Addressing the gathering of students and lecturers, the lead speaker, Prof Nii Quaynor enumerated the issues at the centre of the debate on the Internet Governance, and the nature of the debate.

Prof Quaynor, the 2007 Jon B, Postel Award honouree, explained how the national Internet resources, comprising domain name registration and Internet Protocol (IP) address, were being managed.

According to him, numbers or Internet Protocol (IP addresses) were managed on the continental level by the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). Africa Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) is the African RIR.

He also explained the history of the domain name management and how the Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLDs) has been and is currently managed as well as the issue in the management of the .gh ccTLD registry.

This, he said, included ensuring full representation of stakeholders in the industry and transparency in its management.

Prof. Quaynor, who has managed the .gh ccTLD since 1996 as the administrative contact, also called on everyone present to be part of the debate on Internet governance to contribute to move the registry forward.

Earlier, the General Secretary of Internet Society Ghana chapter and National Coordinator of Ghana Network Information Centre (GhNIC), Mr. Eric Akumiah, traced the history of the Internet, highlighting the pre-ICANN activities of Jonathan Bruce Postel; the need for the formation of ICANN and its mandate; the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS); and the ensuing Internet Governance debate.

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PMM unveils online PR news service

The management of the Private Media Mart (PMM) has unveiled its online public relation newswire service.

Chief executive, PMM, Mr. Ejiofor Agada disclosed this in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel and said that the first-ever business-2-media (B2M) information portal has been designed to assist businesses gain the desired media attention in both the print and electronic media.

He also said that the NewswireNigeria, a concept of PMM Limited, is structured to service the Nigerian and West African market, which has not been regarded as a catchment area in the conventional PR newswire portals in the developed countries.

Newswire services, according to him, started as far back as news reporting in other climes and it has continued to flourish as various news agencies are competing for attention in the world scene.

Mr. Agada equally said that access to the PR newswire services have been lopsided in the sense that there are few of these PR newswire services that target countries or economies outside of their primary area of interest or operation.

He added that countries in Africa have been neglected in this service except South Africa.

On how the newswire portal works, Mr. Agada explained that its an interactive medium that accepts publicity and news materials from subscribing corporate entities and goes ahead to share this information with its database of member journalists and editors.

As said by him, the portal has been built in a way that it would contain a database of journalists, editors and media freelancers in both the electronic and print media across Nigeria and the sub region in such a way that even the most basic subscription to the service would definitely capture the attention of the most docile journalist.

Agada further said PMM, a well-known technology PR and publicity entity came up with this initiative as a result of four years intensive research and development, which has transformed into what is referred to as journalists’ response to news challenges.

“With the cost of gaining media attention in developing economies like Nigeria continuously on the rise, NewswireNigeria is structured to offer a more realistic access to the crème of the media in Africa’s fastest economies, especially Nigeria” he said.

To access the portal, he enlightened that a journalist would have an easier route to the information posted by the subscribing firm on a regular basis thereby reducing the stress involved in the process of news gathering and the subscribing corporate entity is guaranteed that their publicity information will get the attention of as much as 2000 Nigerian and African journalists at all times without striving to get the journalist’s details.

NewswireNigeria, located at www.newswirenigeria.net, he said, comes with unlimited press release; audio and video clip postings for electronic media and virtual pressroom for online interview sessions. Others include advertising opportunities, regular activity reports for subscribers and electronic clipping services among others.

“Activities in the portal have so far intensified with various companies and have seen even political office holders signing up for the product,” he said.

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MultiChoice enhances channel numbering, grouping

Leader in broadcast technology innovation, MultiChoice has announced the enhanced channel numbering and grouping within its service offering on the continent, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Segun Fayose who disclosed this at the weekend in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, said this follows the implementation of the channel shuffle six months ago, which came as part of customer feedback, hence the improvement on its Digital Satellite Television (DStv) channels.

As said by him, the mission of MultiChoice is to constantly make better its customers’ control and pleasure of their television viewing experience.

Fayose added that the new numbering and grouping plan would be effective from Wednesday last week across all platforms.

“The latest changes will be implemented on May 1, 2008 across all platforms and including the refinement of movies, general entertainment and the news and commerce genres. All other genres will remain in their current position,” he said.

Equally, he said, that as part of MultiChoice’s focus on customer satisfaction, the channel shuffle would enhance subscriber’s viewing and help make premium content easier to use.

For instance, he said, that movies and general entertainment would be merged into one category with the channel numbers still starting from 100.

“M-Net stays in the same position at 101, but will now be followed by M-Net Magic 1 (MM1), M-Net Magic 2 (MM2) and M-Net Stars on channel numbers 103, 104 and 105 respectively,” he explained.

Fayose pointed out that one of the important recommendations from subscribers is to number the key genres in a manner that is easier to remember, such as in multiples of 100, for example, the movies and general entertainment: 100’s, Sport: 200’s, Kids: 300’s and News: 400’s.

“As a result, News and Commerce channels will be moved from 280 to 400. This means that BBC World will be changed to 400, CNN 401, Sky News 402 and so on,” he said.

Expressing the believe that these changes would provide subscribers with enhanced navigation and seamless channel surfing, which would have a positive impact on the overall viewing experience.

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GWAL to complete gateway in August

Globaltouch West Africa Limited (GWAL), has projected to complete its on-going satellite gateway earth station construction in the northern ancient city of Kaduna State in August this year.

Chief executive of Globaltouch Nigeria, Mr. I.A. Mohammed who gave this insight said that the firm’s satellite gateway construction is on course and would be completed before the end of the second quarter.

The construction being handled by reputable undisclosed contractors, at the ancient city of Kaduna, he said, has been projected for commercial roll out before the end of the third quarter of this year.

“We have started construction of a new satellite gateway facility near Kaduna and expect to start offering commercial service in the third half of 2008,” he said, noting that GWAL recently concluded transaction with a United States-based Globalstar Incorporated.

The satellite telecom operator being sponsored by local investors led by the former Nigeria head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, he said, is prepared to be the nation’s flagship in satellite-based telecommunications.

Mr. Mohammed also said in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, that GWAL plans to offer mobile and fixed satellite voice telephony services, simplex and duplex data modems and cost effective flexible service packages.

He explained that the telco is working hard to ensure that when it comes on stream would offer services across Nigeria and even extend this to the neighbouring countries such as parts of the coastal Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea maritime areas.

GWAL, he pointed out now have all the necessary regulatory approvals, funding and has commenced work on the site in Kaduna.

Also in a related development the management of Globalstar, in a press statement endorsed by its President of Global Operations, Mr. Tony Navarra, said that Nigeria being a rich oil nation, natural gas among other natural resources definitely require satellite telecom services both in voice and data.

Mr. Navarra further said that Globalstar is equal to the task as the firm has the capability of operating in areas far beyond the reach of terrestrial and wireless communications.

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NCC seeks consumerism @ forum

In line with the desire of the federal government’s regulator of telecommunications, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enthrone consumerism within the sector, it has advanced plans to host a one-day forum on “The Place of the Consumer in the Nigerian Telecom Industry.”

Head, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Dave Imoko, the commission is organising the forum to further drive home the point that the consumer is the subject and objective of all activities by the NCC and telecom operators alike.

According to him, the quality service and coverage, among others would top agenda at the forum scheduled for Monday, May19 in Lagos.

“Without the consumers, neither the NCC nor the operators will have anything to call the telecom industry. So the consumers form a very critical leg in the regulator-operator-consumer tripod that makes up the Nigerian telecom industry,” Imoko stated.

He said the NCC is not unmindful of the concerns and apprehensions relating to quality of service and the benefits the consumer should get from the telecom sector.

Imoko emphasised that NCC’s concern over quality of service resulted in a series of events, and most recently a forum organised specifically to address some of the contentious issues affecting operators.

“And, in continuation of government’s drive to give the Nigerian people what they should be getting, therefore, the NCC is again, within one quarter, organising yet another forum to address the very important place of the consumer in the country’s telecom environment,” he said.

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LG launches TV set for Nigerian market

Global brand, LG Electronics, over the weekend launched a 21-ince Nigerian TV, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Speaking during the media launch of the 1FU1 T.V in Lagos , General Manager, Digital Display, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Tae Joon Park, said “the production and launch of the TV is our symbolic way of saying “LG loves Nigeria ”. We believe that there is need for our brand to properly bond with the people of this great country”.

“We know that language is a strong unifying factor. We also believe that we can make our products more accessible to all users regardless of their social status, as we seek to reach our goal of being Nigeria ’s National Brand. This is the first TV produced specifically to incorporate the major Nigerian languages. All others consist of major international languages,” he said.

According to Park, the innovation, which took two years to develop with a linguistic professor from the University of Lagos , LG Electronics is looking at making the Nigerian Television a preferred choice for small or middle class families or as an alternative in homes where the children want to watch other programmes and parents want to watch news.

As a way of demonstrating LG’s love for the Nigerian market, he said the TV will not come at any extra cost, promising that from August the company plans to introduce a TV that will come with a mosquito net as part of its contribution in checking the malaria scourge.

Mr. Park said as part of its corporate social responsibility, “LG Electronics has been consistent in demonstrating its commitment to showing concern for the people and Nigerian society through various creative ways. In 2001, we held the LG Musical Night to raise funds for the Sickle Cell foundation. We have made donations to abandoned children’s homes such as Little Saints Orphanage.

In 2006, we launched the “Save our Sight” project” which involved surgical operation of people with eye defect and giving of medical glasses to the less privileged. And last year, LG Electronics donated artificial limbs to the physically challenged as a demonstration of our corporate belief that people should be encouraged to achieve their full potentials and enjoy more fulfilling lives.”

He also said “In the area of sports, LG Electronics has sponsored the four-nation LG Football tournament, the LG Tennis Cup, LG Taekwondo and LG Golf Cup as well as the LG Carnival.

LG Electronics was also the official sponsor of Premier Football League team, Julius Berger FC of Lagos .”

Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director of Fouani Nigeria Limited and sole distributor of LG Electronics products in Nigeria Mr Mohammed Fouani, explained that the television is unique in the sense that the menu instructions can be programmed to any of the three major Nigerian languages, that is, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo

According to Mr. Fouani, “what we have done is to add value to the user’s TV experience. People who have barely literate relations or friends will quite easily appreciate the efforts of LG Electronics towards ensuring that no one misses out a thing just because he/she is not literate.”

He disclosed that the company has put in place strategic distribution and marketing plans to ensure that the Nigerian TV is made available in all parts of the country.

The television, he said, is available in all LG Electronics authorised outlets and will be covered by the 12 month Pan-African warranty.

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I4J to kick-start ICT boom – Ajayi

President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi has predicted that the commencement of the Internet for Job (I4J) Initiative of the group would impact positively on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) boom been witnessed in the country.

Speaking in Lagos on the on-going request by his group for interested Nigerian public to submit projects for the I4J initiative at i4j.nig.org.ng, Mr. Ajayi noted that the scheme would grow the nation’s Internet penetration.

“Therefore, it’s predicted to facilitate users access to online services to be provided by governments and businesses among assorted e-payment solutions that are emerging within the Nigerian online market place as well as enable users to pay for online services,” he said.

Mr. Ajayi also outlined some core values of I4J to include creating Internet entrepreneurs, which he predicted would positively involve Nigerian youths so as to divert their attentions away from anti-social activities.

“It would also bridge the digital divide between Nigeria and the developed countries, over and above to create local Internet content, step up national rebirth to a knowledge society and eventually kick start a ‘DotCom’ boom in Nigeria,” he said.

As said by him, NIG plans to achieve the above objectives, through the adaptation of three-core strategies via promotion and facilitation of e-business, local Internet content and e-Government.

The above strategies, he said, shall be done by organizing focused sectoral workshops for top management and Information Technology (IT) professionals of various industries and government departments within the economy, with a view to convincing them to put their services online and give them the necessary direction on how to accomplish this.

“With the promotion of e-business and e-government, I4J aims at creating jobs for software programmers, webmasters, database managers, [marketers] and others in related fields, in addition to growing the businesses of Internet Service Providers (ISP), e-payment companies, cybercafés to name a few who are great employers of IT personnel,” he said.

On the beneficiaries, he said that they could be individuals, corporate organizations, government at three tiers, namely local, state, federal and their agencies.

He further stated that admission of an applicant’s project would hugely depend on its sustainability after such a person has graduated from the I4J programme.

Additionally, he asked, “Will the project contribute significantly to the social and economic development of Nigeria? Will the project create job opportunities for Nigerians (direct or indirect)? Does the beneficiary have the capacity, passion and other resources to roll out and sustain the service?” saying that if the answer is in the affirmative, then, the beneficiary is on the right path.

“The beneficiaries’ projects shall be subjected to rigorous supervision within a period of 12 months from the date of their admission into the I4J programme. Web application developments of the projects are expected to be completed not later than four (4) months after admission into the programme and marketing of service is expected to commence immediately after,” he said.

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Kano set to host workshop on ICT park

Riding on the euphoria of its pioneering spirit among peers, the Kano State government has announced readiness to host a workshop on the evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park for the state.

ITRealms Online recalls that four years ago in 2004, Kano State made history by being the first state in the federation to have an ICT policy.

The vision of the policy, according to the special adviser to the Governor on Education and Information Technology, Dr. Bashir Galadanci, remains to transform Kano State into a leading player in ICT by the year 2010.

He also said that this is achievable through the use of ICT for the promotion of good governance, advancement of knowledge, creation of wealth, improve health delivery, providing jobs, ensuring security and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the state.

Equally, he noted that in 2006 the state government decided to use the establishment of ICT Park as the fulcrum of the implementation of the ICT policy.

“As part of this commitment, the state government last year designated the Gidan Ado Bayero as site of the proposed Kano ICT Park,” he said.

Galadanci further outlined the objectives of the park to include provision of opportunities for technology transfer, create employment prospects thereby reducing unemployment, promote the use of ICT as an economic development sector in the state, as well as the penetration and use of ICTs in the state, just as the park would create the conditions for adequate supply of IT manpower and attract foreign investment.

He reiterated the commitment of the state to the realization of this project, hence it is holding a two-day workshop on ICT Park between May 7 and 8 this year, at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.

The workshop, he said, is expected to familiarize stakeholders on the ICT Park project, to learn from the experience of other countries on the setting up, management and operation of ICT park, to explain to prospective tenants the tenancy policy and other regulations of the ICT Park in addition to offering a platform for the exchange of ideas between the promoters of the park and other stakeholders.

Participants at the two-day workshop, he said, would be drawn from stakeholders such as relevant government agencies in the state, development partners, ICT park development experts from Malaysia, Ghana and the United States, ICT professionals, business organizations and prospective tenants of the park.

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