Technology revolution going on with the master piece at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 (MMA-2) is laudable, but absence of wireless internet access mitigates the 21st century development, reports REMMY NWEKE.
A Lagos-based upcoming business executive Mr. Ogbonna Isiokwe, could be described as an average Nigerian local air traveler.
Though, he heard about the opening of newly completed Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 (MMA-2) for business, some few months ago, but the last time he traveled was through what is now referred to as MM-1; he bought his Chanchangi ticket at the counter, made his way through the immigration then to the waiting lobby for air passengers.
Fortunately, he had another business engagement lately, which must be met in the course of the day and needed to drive himself to the airport straight to MMA-1 where he was informed that most locally airlines are now lifting passengers from MMA-2.
Initially, he thought MMA-2 was at the international airport which was also named after the Nigerian military hero, late General Mohammed, but was directed to the real MMA-2.
Determined to leave his car at the airport without any disturbance to anybody to drive him to and from the airport, especially on return in the evening, Mr. Isiokwe asked for the car park on getting to the MMA-2. His drive through the three-storey parking lot was an exciting experience to behold.
Beginning with the automated entrance gate would only open after you have pressed the system button, a receipt automatically prints out, indicating the time of entrance and date.
Afterwards, he was told by airport staff that payment could only be made on your way out, so he was shown the way down through the stairs to the departure hall.
Crossing the road towards the departure entrance, the automated door opened as he approached with about two foot away, though he also discovered later there is manual doors which could be pushed or pulled if one is going out or coming in into the ticket floor within the departure hall.
Looking around, he found the counter of one of his favourite airlines, but was told that the fare has increased from N15,000 to N18,000, which was out of the way of his initial budget, as one of the ticketing assistants informed him of the banking hall, just behind, leading to what he discovered as Mr. Biggs lobby with another entrance to the Very-Important Persons (VIP) parking lot.
There, he saw SkyeBank and AccessBank but did not have major bank dealings with these banks, so on sighting an Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Isiokwe reached out for his Interswitch enabled ATM card and was able to withdrew money to make up to the required N18,000 x 2 to cover his return ticket.
However, on getting to the ticketing counter, Isiokwe was told the flight was fully booked and could check with the next available flight – Aero contractors - to his choice of destination and business, which was Abuja.
Also on getting to Aero sales counter, he was told that the fare is N20,000 for one leg of the trip. This forced him back to the ATM where he made another withdrawal to cover his return ticket. All this effort was because he remembered vividly that on his last trip to Abuja, he only saw one ATM disbursing system at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
Funny enough, Isiokwe was not alone as he soon met another colleague, Yemi Ochia, who approached him, complaining of low battery of his mobile handset, hence they searched in a few ground floor shops without success before the Information Desk officer directed them to check with the some mobile operators’ customer care centres right inside the FoodCourt upstairs.
Unfortunately these centres do not sell accessories as chargers but their own services and some mobile handsets. So, they rushed outside the premises to fetch one and return to MM-2 lobby down stairs.
While waiting for their flight they decided to make use of the time by working via their laptops and mobile devices with Internet enabled Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), but to their chagrin, there was no wireless service around. Wireless access like hotspots is known to be pronounced mostly at public venues, offering Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access. The public could use a laptop, WiFi phone, or other suitable portable device to access the Internet at this spot.
Noteworthy is that of the estimated 150 million laptops, 14 million Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and other emerging Wi-Fi devices were sold per year in the last few years globally, most include the Wi-Fi feature.
Wi-Fi or hotspots are found at restaurants, train stations, airports, libraries, hotels, hospitals, coffee shops, bookstores, fuel stations, department stores, supermarkets and other public places. Many universities and schools also have wireless networks in their campuses.
For both Isiokwe and Ochia, development of wireless access at MMA-2 has become imperative as a new business angle that the nation’s Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should top on as key to sustaining the technology innovations going on at MMA-2, so as to further make it a 21st friendly technology environment.
They also called for usage of the MMA-2 master plan as a modernization edifice of Nigeria’s airport building and infrastructure layout to actually make our airports a place to behold, especially the so-called international airports.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
NCS tasks FG on IT infrastructure
Rising from its recent concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) and national conference with the theme Enabling Capacities of Information Technology (IT) for Sustainable National Development (ENCITDEV 2008), the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has tasked the federal government (FG) to invest more on IT infrastructure.
This is coming as NCS invited banks in the country to invest more on credit card implementation.
NCS is the umbrella body of Information Technology professionals in Nigeria, which held its 2008 national Conference at the Valley View Auditorium, Government House, Abeokuta.
President, NCS, Prof. Charles Uwadia, made this call in a communiqué issued last weekend, and urged the government to further invest in IT infrastructural development and maintenance.
This, NCS said, would improve electronic governance (e-governance) and the delivery of high quality health care through an integrated National Health Information System and Telemedicine (NHIST).
The group also noted that the deployment of mobile clinic (m-clinic) in healthcare is expected to enhance the longevity of Nigerians and expand healthcare delivery to the hinterlands.
NCS equally said that by paying particular attention to the deployment of IT for effective management of local governments through proper budgetary control and management as well as improved electricity distribution, would curb public sector corruption through an IT framework for automatic data collection and early detection of management frauds in public offices nationwide.
They pointed out that private wealth creation is possible through the stock market, especially by deploying forex forecast using artificial neutral network as a tool to attaining accelerated wealth creation.
The group further commended the government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the award of 3G licenses to some telecom operators, saying it is a window of opportunities for job creation in the country.
“The Federal Government is thus urged through the NCC to grant additional licenses to increase the diffusion and deployment of the GSM and Internet access in Nigeria,” the communiqué read.
Stressing that in view of the increasing thirst for e-commerce for accelerated socio-economic and technological development, NCS highlighted the problem associated with credit card implementation.
They listed some of these problems to include credit card theft by 419ners and associated Internet rats, just as it recommended that banks should invest more on credit card implementation.
“Biometric Authentication Systems (BAS) should be deployed by all stakeholders in the credit card business,” NCS stated in the communiqué.
They added that this would protect the banker and the customer in addition to triggering geometrical growth in e-commerce implementation in the country.
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This is coming as NCS invited banks in the country to invest more on credit card implementation.
NCS is the umbrella body of Information Technology professionals in Nigeria, which held its 2008 national Conference at the Valley View Auditorium, Government House, Abeokuta.
President, NCS, Prof. Charles Uwadia, made this call in a communiqué issued last weekend, and urged the government to further invest in IT infrastructural development and maintenance.
This, NCS said, would improve electronic governance (e-governance) and the delivery of high quality health care through an integrated National Health Information System and Telemedicine (NHIST).
The group also noted that the deployment of mobile clinic (m-clinic) in healthcare is expected to enhance the longevity of Nigerians and expand healthcare delivery to the hinterlands.
NCS equally said that by paying particular attention to the deployment of IT for effective management of local governments through proper budgetary control and management as well as improved electricity distribution, would curb public sector corruption through an IT framework for automatic data collection and early detection of management frauds in public offices nationwide.
They pointed out that private wealth creation is possible through the stock market, especially by deploying forex forecast using artificial neutral network as a tool to attaining accelerated wealth creation.
The group further commended the government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the award of 3G licenses to some telecom operators, saying it is a window of opportunities for job creation in the country.
“The Federal Government is thus urged through the NCC to grant additional licenses to increase the diffusion and deployment of the GSM and Internet access in Nigeria,” the communiqué read.
Stressing that in view of the increasing thirst for e-commerce for accelerated socio-economic and technological development, NCS highlighted the problem associated with credit card implementation.
They listed some of these problems to include credit card theft by 419ners and associated Internet rats, just as it recommended that banks should invest more on credit card implementation.
“Biometric Authentication Systems (BAS) should be deployed by all stakeholders in the credit card business,” NCS stated in the communiqué.
They added that this would protect the banker and the customer in addition to triggering geometrical growth in e-commerce implementation in the country.
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Broadband is key to ICT growth – Rufai
Managing Director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat), Mr. Ahmed Rufai, has said that broadband availability rather than telephony is the key indicator of growth in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, reports CHARLES OKOH.
Mr. Rufai who made this assertion at a media chat at the weekend noted that telephone calls are essentially for social interactions, stressing that businesses are not done on the basis of being able to call and talk for hours.
“So the issue of people talking on phone and people making billions out of that is not an indication of development in ICT, what drives an economy is broadband,” he said.
According to him the emphasis should be on broadband penetration, which is what NigComSAT has come to champion.
Pointing out that Nigeria’s index in broadband penetration is just 16 per cent and is ranked 32 among 53 African nations.
Lamenting the broadband index of Nigeria, Mr. El-Rufai said it is a major challenge because the nation is nowhere when it comes to broadband penetration, adding that abroad any standard accommodation is internet ready.
“Luxemburg has a population of 450,000 people and they have a total bandwidth availability of 2.4 Giga bytes (GB), but what is available to Africa before the launch of NigComSat was just 1.4GB for the whole of the continent; a population of 960 million people,” he decried.
He also said if NigComSat is allowed to deploy broadband multimedia network which, as being proposed by the firm, it would serve as the backbone that will bring internet connectivity and all ancillary services to homes.
“It will boost the country’s capacity to be part of the information age and digital group,” he declared.
El-Rufai said the fear of the company by some stakeholders remained the greatest challenge that faces the NigComSAT, “because they believe that a fully functional NigComSat will lead to profit erosion, stating that that is reason they have been fought to a standstill.”
Presently, he disclosed that the total revenue from satellite services stands at 62 million dollars worldwide and that Africa is contributing about 1.2 billion dollars, emphasizing that if a country is buying bandwidth worth 100 million dollars for various governments requirements and various commercial connectivity like the banks, “it means that if you have a satellite that is less than 300 million dollars and has a lifespan of 15 years, in three years you will break even.”
He equally regretted the opposition against NigComSat, saying that the company has less than 10 per cent of the Nigerian market, and that this opposition is also coming from quarters that should have been more supportive of the dream.
On the ownership structures of the company, he said currently the company is wholly government-owned, adding that all satellites in the orbit today started as a government initiative before it was transferred to private operators.
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Mr. Rufai who made this assertion at a media chat at the weekend noted that telephone calls are essentially for social interactions, stressing that businesses are not done on the basis of being able to call and talk for hours.
“So the issue of people talking on phone and people making billions out of that is not an indication of development in ICT, what drives an economy is broadband,” he said.
According to him the emphasis should be on broadband penetration, which is what NigComSAT has come to champion.
Pointing out that Nigeria’s index in broadband penetration is just 16 per cent and is ranked 32 among 53 African nations.
Lamenting the broadband index of Nigeria, Mr. El-Rufai said it is a major challenge because the nation is nowhere when it comes to broadband penetration, adding that abroad any standard accommodation is internet ready.
“Luxemburg has a population of 450,000 people and they have a total bandwidth availability of 2.4 Giga bytes (GB), but what is available to Africa before the launch of NigComSat was just 1.4GB for the whole of the continent; a population of 960 million people,” he decried.
He also said if NigComSat is allowed to deploy broadband multimedia network which, as being proposed by the firm, it would serve as the backbone that will bring internet connectivity and all ancillary services to homes.
“It will boost the country’s capacity to be part of the information age and digital group,” he declared.
El-Rufai said the fear of the company by some stakeholders remained the greatest challenge that faces the NigComSAT, “because they believe that a fully functional NigComSat will lead to profit erosion, stating that that is reason they have been fought to a standstill.”
Presently, he disclosed that the total revenue from satellite services stands at 62 million dollars worldwide and that Africa is contributing about 1.2 billion dollars, emphasizing that if a country is buying bandwidth worth 100 million dollars for various governments requirements and various commercial connectivity like the banks, “it means that if you have a satellite that is less than 300 million dollars and has a lifespan of 15 years, in three years you will break even.”
He equally regretted the opposition against NigComSat, saying that the company has less than 10 per cent of the Nigerian market, and that this opposition is also coming from quarters that should have been more supportive of the dream.
On the ownership structures of the company, he said currently the company is wholly government-owned, adding that all satellites in the orbit today started as a government initiative before it was transferred to private operators.
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ITWorld, NCC join forces on broadband forum
ITWorld International has joined forces with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Ericsson to host a forum on broadband as part of its second African Telecoms, Internet, Computer & Courier Congress (AFRITECC-08) holding in Lagos later this month.
AFRITECC is the brain child of ITWorld International magazine, aimed at provoking far reaching insights into the affiliated services in the country and West African sub region. It also has been endorsed by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
A press statement made available to Champion Infotel by the chief executive of ITWorld, Mr. Enyi Nwagu, the two-day conference would open with a session of Africa’s premier mobile wireless gathering, expected to exhaust relevant burning issues by stakeholders in the telecoms and mobile wireless industry to accelerate broadband connections in the country.
The organizers also said that the event scheduled to take place between August 20 and 21 would be declared open by the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, at the Golden Gate Restaurants Ikoyi, Lagos.
This year’s event, the organizers said, would dedicate a day to discuss broadband access, penetration and projected feasible contribution to the deepening of telecom revolution in the country.
Equally, the discussion would dwell on the imperative of broadband on Nigeria’s future as well as draw attention to the various efforts by service providers and regulatory authority to accelerate broadband access in the country.
“Already, the NCC has declared broadband access as the next revolution in the sector. Issues of connectivity, pricing, quality of service will be on the front burner at the conference as government officials, the NCC, informed stakeholders and operators will make presentations,” Nwagu said.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Managing Director, L.M. Ericsson Nigeria, Mr. Leif Edwall, Postmaster-General of NIPOST, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, National President, ATCON, Dr. Emma Ekuwem; Chairman, ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi and Head, Courier Regulatory Dept (CRD), Dr. Simon Emeje, among others have been named as dignitaries lined up for the event.
The organizers said that the first edition was a huge success as it afforded industry players the leverage to address important key issues that affect their industry.
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AFRITECC is the brain child of ITWorld International magazine, aimed at provoking far reaching insights into the affiliated services in the country and West African sub region. It also has been endorsed by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).
A press statement made available to Champion Infotel by the chief executive of ITWorld, Mr. Enyi Nwagu, the two-day conference would open with a session of Africa’s premier mobile wireless gathering, expected to exhaust relevant burning issues by stakeholders in the telecoms and mobile wireless industry to accelerate broadband connections in the country.
The organizers also said that the event scheduled to take place between August 20 and 21 would be declared open by the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, at the Golden Gate Restaurants Ikoyi, Lagos.
This year’s event, the organizers said, would dedicate a day to discuss broadband access, penetration and projected feasible contribution to the deepening of telecom revolution in the country.
Equally, the discussion would dwell on the imperative of broadband on Nigeria’s future as well as draw attention to the various efforts by service providers and regulatory authority to accelerate broadband access in the country.
“Already, the NCC has declared broadband access as the next revolution in the sector. Issues of connectivity, pricing, quality of service will be on the front burner at the conference as government officials, the NCC, informed stakeholders and operators will make presentations,” Nwagu said.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Managing Director, L.M. Ericsson Nigeria, Mr. Leif Edwall, Postmaster-General of NIPOST, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, National President, ATCON, Dr. Emma Ekuwem; Chairman, ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi and Head, Courier Regulatory Dept (CRD), Dr. Simon Emeje, among others have been named as dignitaries lined up for the event.
The organizers said that the first edition was a huge success as it afforded industry players the leverage to address important key issues that affect their industry.
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Yahoo! to expand opt-out policy on customized Ad
Acclaimed most trafficked Internet destinations globally, the Yahoo! Incorporated, has announced that its opt-out policy on customized advertisement on Yahoo.com would soon be expanded.
The internet service company made this proclamation in response to the query sent to Internet service providers in the United States by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, presided over by Hon. John Dingell and dated August 1, 2008.
Vice President of Global Public Policy at Yahoo! Incorporated, Mr. David Hantman said in a press statement endorsed by Media officer at Yahoo!, Kelley Benander and made available to Champion Infotel, that it will offer users greater choice on how they could manage their privacy online by enabling them to opt-out of customized advertising on Yahoo.com.
Hantman noted that though there are already existing opt-out options in Yahoo! current programmes for customized advertising served by the firm on third party networks, there would be new opt-out capability as part of its response to a congressional inquiry about customization sent to 33 companies from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Benander also quoted head of privacy and Vice President for policy, Ms Anne Toth, as saying that Yahoo! understands the trust of its users which is the greatest asset, hence the firm strives to create the most trusted, compelling online experience.
“Yahoo! strongly believes that consumers want choice when customizing their online experience and they have also demonstrated a strong preference for advertising that is more personally relevant to them,” she said.
Toth noted that Yahoo! understands that there are some users who prefer not to receive customized advertising and opting out would offer them even greater choice.
This new opt-out capability, she explained is expected to be available for consumers by the end of August, this year.
“Users will be able to access the opt-out in the Yahoo! privacy center, which is linked on the home page and nearly every page on the Yahoo! network,” she said, stressing that users would also be able to access the opt-out through a link in the public service advertising campaign Yahoo! which has been running with online ads across its network to educate users about customized advertising.
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The internet service company made this proclamation in response to the query sent to Internet service providers in the United States by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, presided over by Hon. John Dingell and dated August 1, 2008.
Vice President of Global Public Policy at Yahoo! Incorporated, Mr. David Hantman said in a press statement endorsed by Media officer at Yahoo!, Kelley Benander and made available to Champion Infotel, that it will offer users greater choice on how they could manage their privacy online by enabling them to opt-out of customized advertising on Yahoo.com.
Hantman noted that though there are already existing opt-out options in Yahoo! current programmes for customized advertising served by the firm on third party networks, there would be new opt-out capability as part of its response to a congressional inquiry about customization sent to 33 companies from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Benander also quoted head of privacy and Vice President for policy, Ms Anne Toth, as saying that Yahoo! understands the trust of its users which is the greatest asset, hence the firm strives to create the most trusted, compelling online experience.
“Yahoo! strongly believes that consumers want choice when customizing their online experience and they have also demonstrated a strong preference for advertising that is more personally relevant to them,” she said.
Toth noted that Yahoo! understands that there are some users who prefer not to receive customized advertising and opting out would offer them even greater choice.
This new opt-out capability, she explained is expected to be available for consumers by the end of August, this year.
“Users will be able to access the opt-out in the Yahoo! privacy center, which is linked on the home page and nearly every page on the Yahoo! network,” she said, stressing that users would also be able to access the opt-out through a link in the public service advertising campaign Yahoo! which has been running with online ads across its network to educate users about customized advertising.
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ComBIT-08 gets October date
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has announced that its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) expo, ComBIT 2008, will hold in October this year.
President ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, made this disclosure at a media conference last weekend in Lagos and said all is now set for the 2008 edition of ComBIT scheduled to hold at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.
Ekuwem who was joined at the media conference by the Publicity secretary of ATCON and chairman, Planning Committee, Mr. David Roberts, coordinator, ATCON sub-group on Training and Consultancy, Mr. Chrysantus Okon, and ATCON exco member, Mr. Macdanielles Igheoosa, said, “Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria will in October 2008 play host to the world as we present ComBIT 2008 Expo – an annual international exhibition and conference designed for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector takes off.”
He also said that the ComBIT Expo billed for October 20 through 22, is a product of ATCON’s strategic re-branding of NICOMM Exhibitions & Conferences organised annually by the group in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as well as other industry stakeholders since 1995.
According to him, worried by the absence of an all-encompassing global ICT event in the country, despite the current revolution in the ICT market, ATCON as the umbrella ICT industry association decided to re-strategize, partner with relevant local and international industry players and stakeholders to float a mega ICT expo that will attract global and regional ICT operators and experts to Nigeria every year.
“The plan of ATCON and its collaborators is to grow ComBIT expo into a flagship and globally recognized ICT event in Nigeria and Africa with a view to further stimulate the development of our ICT industry through more local and foreign direct investment into the sector,” he said.
Ekuwem, equally said that ComBIT expo has been designed to provide a veritable platform for cultivating commercial partnerships between foreign principals and local representatives, dealers, distributors and resellers of ICT and allied products and services in the country.
“It will further offer ample opportunities for investors to explore and exploit the abundant market opportunities in the very vibrant ICT sector in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
ATCON boss further described ComBIT as a good platform for advanced markets to display its cutting edge technologies, especially in the mobile communications sector to the African market which is expected within a long time, present the highest market potentials for new technologies.
Ekuwem noted that ATCON has taken cognizance of the fact that ICT has a pivotal role to play in the actualization of Vision 2010 which the Federal Government in Nigeria has set out to achieve.
ATCON, he said, believes that through the yearly ComBIT expo, huge foreign investments would continue to flow into the nation’s economy.
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President ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, made this disclosure at a media conference last weekend in Lagos and said all is now set for the 2008 edition of ComBIT scheduled to hold at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.
Ekuwem who was joined at the media conference by the Publicity secretary of ATCON and chairman, Planning Committee, Mr. David Roberts, coordinator, ATCON sub-group on Training and Consultancy, Mr. Chrysantus Okon, and ATCON exco member, Mr. Macdanielles Igheoosa, said, “Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria will in October 2008 play host to the world as we present ComBIT 2008 Expo – an annual international exhibition and conference designed for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector takes off.”
He also said that the ComBIT Expo billed for October 20 through 22, is a product of ATCON’s strategic re-branding of NICOMM Exhibitions & Conferences organised annually by the group in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as well as other industry stakeholders since 1995.
According to him, worried by the absence of an all-encompassing global ICT event in the country, despite the current revolution in the ICT market, ATCON as the umbrella ICT industry association decided to re-strategize, partner with relevant local and international industry players and stakeholders to float a mega ICT expo that will attract global and regional ICT operators and experts to Nigeria every year.
“The plan of ATCON and its collaborators is to grow ComBIT expo into a flagship and globally recognized ICT event in Nigeria and Africa with a view to further stimulate the development of our ICT industry through more local and foreign direct investment into the sector,” he said.
Ekuwem, equally said that ComBIT expo has been designed to provide a veritable platform for cultivating commercial partnerships between foreign principals and local representatives, dealers, distributors and resellers of ICT and allied products and services in the country.
“It will further offer ample opportunities for investors to explore and exploit the abundant market opportunities in the very vibrant ICT sector in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
ATCON boss further described ComBIT as a good platform for advanced markets to display its cutting edge technologies, especially in the mobile communications sector to the African market which is expected within a long time, present the highest market potentials for new technologies.
Ekuwem noted that ATCON has taken cognizance of the fact that ICT has a pivotal role to play in the actualization of Vision 2010 which the Federal Government in Nigeria has set out to achieve.
ATCON, he said, believes that through the yearly ComBIT expo, huge foreign investments would continue to flow into the nation’s economy.
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Zain receives royal blessings
Over seven royal fathers led by the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness (HRH) Rilwan Akiolu, invariably offered royal blessings to Zain Nigeria on arrival as they graced the rebranding from Celtel to Zain held in Lagos.
The royal fathers brought a touch of tradition to bear on the glamorous launch as Zain announced the world’s first in telephony with its One Network that links all Zain operations in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Present at the VIP Night for the launch were His Royal Highness, Emir of Bama, Alhaji Umar El-Kanemi; Royal Majesty (HRM), the Olu of Odogbolu, Oba Adedeji Olusegun Onagoruwa; HRM, the Owage of Oge, Okeagbe, Oba Alex Jimoh; HRM, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Adegboju Adeshida, His Royal Highness, Emir of Dass, Alhaji (Dr.) Bilyaminu Othman, and His Highness, the Turakin Dutse, Alhaji Jamilu Sanusi.
The royal fathers witnessed via satellite transmission the simultaneous brand identity change from Celtel to Zain across 14 African countries. The countries are Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanazania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Ligali told the eminent guests that Zain decided to unify its operation under one strong, dynamic and easily recognizable brand name to position the company as a global player in the telecommunications industry.
A press statement from the telco endorsed by the Head, Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager, Messrs Emeka Oparah and Emmanuel Otokhine respectively, quoted Ligali as saying that the change of name would not affect the board and management of the company.
“Rather it is merely a change of identity, which essentially affected the company’s brand communication-look and feel,” he said.
Zain Nigeria, according to him, would leverage on the power of an international organization with operations in 22 countries and over 50 million subscribers.
He stressed that with this rebranding, Celtel now Zain is waxing stronger in operation, noting that in the past two years, the telco in Nigeria, for instance, has experienced tremendous growth on account of its membership of the Group, growing from just over five and half million subscribers in 2006 to 15 million at the end of June 2008.
Pointing out that Zain had invested over $2billion on network improvement over the past two years in addition to the $1.05 billion it paid for the 65 per cent equity in the Nigerian business.
“In terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), this is quite significant and goes a long way to support the Federal Government’s quest for increased foreign investment in the Nigerian economy,” Ligali said, adding that another $1 billion is being invested this year in network roll-out to cover expansion, capacity enhancement and quality improvement.
“The impact of which is already being felt in the rapidly improving quality of service of our network” he asserted.
As said by him, Zain’s ambition of becoming one of the top 10 players in the global telecommunications industry in 2011 is driven by the Accelerate, Consolidate and Expand (ACE) strategy, which locally translates to Zain Nigeria becoming No. 1 in the next three years.
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The royal fathers brought a touch of tradition to bear on the glamorous launch as Zain announced the world’s first in telephony with its One Network that links all Zain operations in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Present at the VIP Night for the launch were His Royal Highness, Emir of Bama, Alhaji Umar El-Kanemi; Royal Majesty (HRM), the Olu of Odogbolu, Oba Adedeji Olusegun Onagoruwa; HRM, the Owage of Oge, Okeagbe, Oba Alex Jimoh; HRM, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Adegboju Adeshida, His Royal Highness, Emir of Dass, Alhaji (Dr.) Bilyaminu Othman, and His Highness, the Turakin Dutse, Alhaji Jamilu Sanusi.
The royal fathers witnessed via satellite transmission the simultaneous brand identity change from Celtel to Zain across 14 African countries. The countries are Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanazania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Ligali told the eminent guests that Zain decided to unify its operation under one strong, dynamic and easily recognizable brand name to position the company as a global player in the telecommunications industry.
A press statement from the telco endorsed by the Head, Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager, Messrs Emeka Oparah and Emmanuel Otokhine respectively, quoted Ligali as saying that the change of name would not affect the board and management of the company.
“Rather it is merely a change of identity, which essentially affected the company’s brand communication-look and feel,” he said.
Zain Nigeria, according to him, would leverage on the power of an international organization with operations in 22 countries and over 50 million subscribers.
He stressed that with this rebranding, Celtel now Zain is waxing stronger in operation, noting that in the past two years, the telco in Nigeria, for instance, has experienced tremendous growth on account of its membership of the Group, growing from just over five and half million subscribers in 2006 to 15 million at the end of June 2008.
Pointing out that Zain had invested over $2billion on network improvement over the past two years in addition to the $1.05 billion it paid for the 65 per cent equity in the Nigerian business.
“In terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), this is quite significant and goes a long way to support the Federal Government’s quest for increased foreign investment in the Nigerian economy,” Ligali said, adding that another $1 billion is being invested this year in network roll-out to cover expansion, capacity enhancement and quality improvement.
“The impact of which is already being felt in the rapidly improving quality of service of our network” he asserted.
As said by him, Zain’s ambition of becoming one of the top 10 players in the global telecommunications industry in 2011 is driven by the Accelerate, Consolidate and Expand (ACE) strategy, which locally translates to Zain Nigeria becoming No. 1 in the next three years.
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MTN unveils MORE bond for customers
Telecom mobile operator, MTN Nigeria, last weekend, unveiled its MORE campaign to bond its customers, reports ADAOBI AMAZU.
Conducting the unveiling in a ceremony in Lagos, the chief marketing officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade, said the operator is connecting to its customers in ways no other brand has ever done.
“Today, we unveil to you our series of more channels of brand communication - Morezine and More FM. This is the first time in Nigerian marketing history that a brand will chart this course in her quest to give more to her customers. These channels are fresh, new, exciting, engaging, educative and tap into the passion for progress that drives our customers and our brand,” he said.
Akingbade also said that more ways are exciting steps at moving Nigerians ahead, adding that at MTN, they pride themselves in delivering innovative services that positively affect the rhythm of life of their numerous customers in ways no other brand could.
“Our innovation is however not limited to products and services or technologies, it permeates through the way we deliver these services and the way our customers interact with the services. To us, innovation is more than just talk,” he said.
He recalled that few days ago, Nigerians witnessed the successful launch of MTN XtraPro with the soul stirring inspirational talk by Chris Gardner; the man whose life story inspired the movie; The Pursuit of Happiness and were wowed.
“No other brand could have touched Nigerian young professionals the way MTN Xtra Pro did. We just lit up Ibadan a few days ago with our fixed network that we chose to call HyConnect; thereby linking Ibadan people with excellent fixed line network and more access to broadband internet via fixed lines. This means more opportunities, more excitement and more progress for Ibadan indigenes. Life and business in Ibadan can never be the same again,” Akingbade noted.
MTN further said that its 3.5G network offers more functional and effective products and services than any other network in Nigeria.
“These services which were just commercially launched include MTN Fastlink data card that offer more speed than any competing product. We have video cam; a camera that offer customers more security for the things that matter to them,” he said.
In addition, Akingbade pointed out that mothers could now work better and in peace, “because they can now watch their children at home even while they are at work. Husbands can watch the goings on at home even while away at work in the office from the comfort of their phone,” even as busy executives could achieve more as they navigate their ways around town more easily by avoiding traffic bottlenecks when they call into the traffic monitor video camera.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Conducting the unveiling in a ceremony in Lagos, the chief marketing officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade, said the operator is connecting to its customers in ways no other brand has ever done.
“Today, we unveil to you our series of more channels of brand communication - Morezine and More FM. This is the first time in Nigerian marketing history that a brand will chart this course in her quest to give more to her customers. These channels are fresh, new, exciting, engaging, educative and tap into the passion for progress that drives our customers and our brand,” he said.
Akingbade also said that more ways are exciting steps at moving Nigerians ahead, adding that at MTN, they pride themselves in delivering innovative services that positively affect the rhythm of life of their numerous customers in ways no other brand could.
“Our innovation is however not limited to products and services or technologies, it permeates through the way we deliver these services and the way our customers interact with the services. To us, innovation is more than just talk,” he said.
He recalled that few days ago, Nigerians witnessed the successful launch of MTN XtraPro with the soul stirring inspirational talk by Chris Gardner; the man whose life story inspired the movie; The Pursuit of Happiness and were wowed.
“No other brand could have touched Nigerian young professionals the way MTN Xtra Pro did. We just lit up Ibadan a few days ago with our fixed network that we chose to call HyConnect; thereby linking Ibadan people with excellent fixed line network and more access to broadband internet via fixed lines. This means more opportunities, more excitement and more progress for Ibadan indigenes. Life and business in Ibadan can never be the same again,” Akingbade noted.
MTN further said that its 3.5G network offers more functional and effective products and services than any other network in Nigeria.
“These services which were just commercially launched include MTN Fastlink data card that offer more speed than any competing product. We have video cam; a camera that offer customers more security for the things that matter to them,” he said.
In addition, Akingbade pointed out that mothers could now work better and in peace, “because they can now watch their children at home even while they are at work. Husbands can watch the goings on at home even while away at work in the office from the comfort of their phone,” even as busy executives could achieve more as they navigate their ways around town more easily by avoiding traffic bottlenecks when they call into the traffic monitor video camera.
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Actualizing sustainable Internet society (2)
Now, feel the weight of all those next billion users bearing down on us. Most will likely expect to connect to the Internet through devices that require individual IP addresses.
IPv6 integration has enjoyed success in recent years through support from government or industry standards bodies. For example:
• The IETF’s IPv6 working group has decided that its IPv6 development was complete. IPv6 development now goes on in the IPv6 Management working group, whose future work will be tweaks rather than major protocol development work.
• In September 2000, Prime Minister Mori of Japan identified IPv6 as a critical part of the eJapan 2005 initiative and initially offered tax incentives to corporations. Now that the initial financial incentive has given Japan an impetus for deployment the follow-through has been left to market forces.
• The Asia Pacific region is among the leaders in IPv6 deployment as measured by the number of IPv6 allocations to ISPs and the amount of space allocated. In particular, a bit more than one-third of the IPv6 space that has been allocated in the Asia Pacific region.
• The Chinese government created and financially supports CNGI, an IPv6 backbone network designed to be the core of China’s Internet infrastructure.
• The United States Department of Defense mandated the integration of IPv6 in June 2003 to be ready by 2008, and procurement mandates are in place.
• NIST is developing profiles that will apply to all US government agencies, and they will become mandatory in the near term.
However, the support of these institutions will only be justified when the majority of commercial ISP networks offer IPv6 services as part of their standard packages.
Indeed, support by commercial network operators is essential to maintain credibility.
A strong IPv6 deployment business case will not come from government support. It will come from cost savings, the potential for considerably larger networks, greater network stability and security, and the long-term potential for the creation of new and improved net-centric sets of products and services.
IPv6 can be used to solve real world problems that add value to organizations and have return on investment models attractive to management. Here are just three of the many very promising technologies where IPv6 will be a critical building block:
• Sensor Networks — A new concept, sensor networks can be found in manufacturing equipment, heavy machinery, security systems, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. But the concept of integrating all those proprietary systems into one communications system is still new. The use of monitoring systems to detect toxins and radioactivity in water systems, air filtration systems, or at airport or shipping terminals around the world has increased substantially.
• Product Tethering/Communities of Interest — Manufacturers would love to have relationships with their product once it leaves the factory. In a world where all things can be connected, the opportunity to create new value-added services is almost endless. Not only could the end users’ experience be enhanced, but manufacturers or their ISP partners could create new services not feasible in an IPv4 world.
• Ubiquitous Communications — With the increase in the number of mobile phone users, the expansion of Internet-related services through the cellular networks, and an increasing number of connection mediums — UMTS, WiFi, Wimax, UWB, and so on — there is a need for a uniform communications protocol that supports mobility and can handle a large number of devices.
Yet the need for increased communications, security and monitoring has to be offset against the cost of deploying and managing those systems. IPv6 offers a very stable and flexible platform that supports mobility, ad-hoc networking, and a large number of simple devices.
There remains a need for a coordinated effort to increase IPv6 awareness and advancement in three major areas:
• Strategic planning at the corporate level — the US Department of Defense is one example of a long term strategic planning by a large-scale organization
• Return on investment — the Chinese government, which has a 20-year plan to connect, is an example of long-term planning for ROI. Its entire industry, institutions and nations favoured by its central planning system
• Technical knowledge at a tactical level — 3GPP is an example of a Greenfield standard for next generation wireless with strategic thinking in terms of scale and dimension of the project
The OECD is studying the risk-reward ratio of businesses moving toward IPv6 sooner rather than later. We expect it to find that the cost of supporting IPv4 and interim network extension measures will increase sharply once end-user demand for IPv6-enabled devices, networks, and operating systems is coupled with the increasingly scarce supply of IPv4 addresses.
The introduction of the IPv6 address space is becoming increasingly critical to a sustainable Internet. ICANN is addressing this issue in cooperation with the Number Resource Organization and the Regional Internet Registries to support IPv6 in:
• Backend server support (EPP, RPP, IRIS, and the like)
• Front end website support
• IPv6 glue records in zone files
• IPv6 enabled registration services
ICANN is also working with the IETF and other organizations to ensure that IPv6 is first-class citizen in DNS root zone — and to ensure that IANA/ICANN does everything it can to support rapid and universal IPv6 deployment.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive means of empowering individuals in recent human history. It is part of the glue which ensures a rapid unleashing of humanity’s knowledge and possibilities for all persons no matter what age, sex, creed, class, ethnicity and — at least to some degree — wealth. And it is radically reducing transaction costs and barriers to markets across a globalized economy.
It requires the continuing efforts of all stakeholders, from governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community to preserve and strengthen this model. By doing so, we can ensure its resiliency and utility — and guarantee the rapid and successful development of a secure, stable and globally interoperable Internet.
I would like to conclude with my strong recognition that effective participation will greatly and positively contribute to the Internet as a whole, bringing valuable and novel views to the dialogue from which the global community can benefit.
It’s always a pleasure to meet with colleagues to discuss the continuing evolution of the Internet. It has been my great pleasure to speak to you today, and I look forward to joining in your discussions throughout the rest of this conference.
Finally, I’d like to extend special gratitude to our hosts, whose efforts brought about this important conference.
.By Dr. Paul Twomey, ICANN President.
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IPv6 integration has enjoyed success in recent years through support from government or industry standards bodies. For example:
• The IETF’s IPv6 working group has decided that its IPv6 development was complete. IPv6 development now goes on in the IPv6 Management working group, whose future work will be tweaks rather than major protocol development work.
• In September 2000, Prime Minister Mori of Japan identified IPv6 as a critical part of the eJapan 2005 initiative and initially offered tax incentives to corporations. Now that the initial financial incentive has given Japan an impetus for deployment the follow-through has been left to market forces.
• The Asia Pacific region is among the leaders in IPv6 deployment as measured by the number of IPv6 allocations to ISPs and the amount of space allocated. In particular, a bit more than one-third of the IPv6 space that has been allocated in the Asia Pacific region.
• The Chinese government created and financially supports CNGI, an IPv6 backbone network designed to be the core of China’s Internet infrastructure.
• The United States Department of Defense mandated the integration of IPv6 in June 2003 to be ready by 2008, and procurement mandates are in place.
• NIST is developing profiles that will apply to all US government agencies, and they will become mandatory in the near term.
However, the support of these institutions will only be justified when the majority of commercial ISP networks offer IPv6 services as part of their standard packages.
Indeed, support by commercial network operators is essential to maintain credibility.
A strong IPv6 deployment business case will not come from government support. It will come from cost savings, the potential for considerably larger networks, greater network stability and security, and the long-term potential for the creation of new and improved net-centric sets of products and services.
IPv6 can be used to solve real world problems that add value to organizations and have return on investment models attractive to management. Here are just three of the many very promising technologies where IPv6 will be a critical building block:
• Sensor Networks — A new concept, sensor networks can be found in manufacturing equipment, heavy machinery, security systems, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. But the concept of integrating all those proprietary systems into one communications system is still new. The use of monitoring systems to detect toxins and radioactivity in water systems, air filtration systems, or at airport or shipping terminals around the world has increased substantially.
• Product Tethering/Communities of Interest — Manufacturers would love to have relationships with their product once it leaves the factory. In a world where all things can be connected, the opportunity to create new value-added services is almost endless. Not only could the end users’ experience be enhanced, but manufacturers or their ISP partners could create new services not feasible in an IPv4 world.
• Ubiquitous Communications — With the increase in the number of mobile phone users, the expansion of Internet-related services through the cellular networks, and an increasing number of connection mediums — UMTS, WiFi, Wimax, UWB, and so on — there is a need for a uniform communications protocol that supports mobility and can handle a large number of devices.
Yet the need for increased communications, security and monitoring has to be offset against the cost of deploying and managing those systems. IPv6 offers a very stable and flexible platform that supports mobility, ad-hoc networking, and a large number of simple devices.
There remains a need for a coordinated effort to increase IPv6 awareness and advancement in three major areas:
• Strategic planning at the corporate level — the US Department of Defense is one example of a long term strategic planning by a large-scale organization
• Return on investment — the Chinese government, which has a 20-year plan to connect, is an example of long-term planning for ROI. Its entire industry, institutions and nations favoured by its central planning system
• Technical knowledge at a tactical level — 3GPP is an example of a Greenfield standard for next generation wireless with strategic thinking in terms of scale and dimension of the project
The OECD is studying the risk-reward ratio of businesses moving toward IPv6 sooner rather than later. We expect it to find that the cost of supporting IPv4 and interim network extension measures will increase sharply once end-user demand for IPv6-enabled devices, networks, and operating systems is coupled with the increasingly scarce supply of IPv4 addresses.
The introduction of the IPv6 address space is becoming increasingly critical to a sustainable Internet. ICANN is addressing this issue in cooperation with the Number Resource Organization and the Regional Internet Registries to support IPv6 in:
• Backend server support (EPP, RPP, IRIS, and the like)
• Front end website support
• IPv6 glue records in zone files
• IPv6 enabled registration services
ICANN is also working with the IETF and other organizations to ensure that IPv6 is first-class citizen in DNS root zone — and to ensure that IANA/ICANN does everything it can to support rapid and universal IPv6 deployment.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Internet is the most powerful and pervasive means of empowering individuals in recent human history. It is part of the glue which ensures a rapid unleashing of humanity’s knowledge and possibilities for all persons no matter what age, sex, creed, class, ethnicity and — at least to some degree — wealth. And it is radically reducing transaction costs and barriers to markets across a globalized economy.
It requires the continuing efforts of all stakeholders, from governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community to preserve and strengthen this model. By doing so, we can ensure its resiliency and utility — and guarantee the rapid and successful development of a secure, stable and globally interoperable Internet.
I would like to conclude with my strong recognition that effective participation will greatly and positively contribute to the Internet as a whole, bringing valuable and novel views to the dialogue from which the global community can benefit.
It’s always a pleasure to meet with colleagues to discuss the continuing evolution of the Internet. It has been my great pleasure to speak to you today, and I look forward to joining in your discussions throughout the rest of this conference.
Finally, I’d like to extend special gratitude to our hosts, whose efforts brought about this important conference.
.By Dr. Paul Twomey, ICANN President.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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