Stakeholders decry tribalism in NCC

Features of the week

Another plot seeking untimely removal of the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is not receiving supports from stakeholders reports REMMY NWEKE.


Information and Communications Technology (ICT) stakeholders in the country have decried plots to remove the current Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, two years before the expiration of his tenure in 2010.

The plot according to media reports were being fanned by some northern interests who wanted one of the present executive commissioners, Engineering and Standards in NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu for the replacement on the bases that Ndukwe clocked 60 last weekend.

ITRealms Online recalls that Ndukwe who is serving his second term in office equally faced a similar campaign in the third quarter of last year, soon after the President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration took over office.

Some of the stakeholders who expressed displeasure on the plot included the umbrella body of the telecom operators in the country, the Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ATCON), National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), telecom lawyers and industry experts.

Reacting to the subject matter there was a consensus that it was incorrect to canvass for Ndukwe’s removal on the count of age (60), which is strictly applicable to civil servants not political appointees, just as they also agreed that though the post is a political appointment, it should not be tribalised for any selfish aggrandizement because it is a professional appointment and not mere political.

ATCON chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo in his reaction said his group was deeply touched by the news report on the scheming to get rid of current EVC who is widely believed beyond the shores of the country to have done well.

He warned that such attempt would portend bad omen for the industry and development of the nation as far as telecommunications is concerned.

“ … Such a political step will have negative impact on the enabling environment provided by government for operators and other investors in telecommunications over the years,” he said, stressing that the office of EVC is not about any individual, but the integrity and honour that Dr. Ndukwe has earned over the years which accounts in part of the overall success of the industry.

This, he noted, cannot be ignored and urged that this should be taken into consideration on issues concerning Ndukwe’s tenure.

According to him, part of the international high-rating the industry has had over the years is due to the quality of leadership provided by him as the EVC and this also cannot be overlooked.

“I believe we should respect the term contract, which also recognizes his age before the appointment and allow him with clear mind to complete his tenure in the interest of all stakeholders,” ATCON cautioned.

A Lagos-based attorney-at-Law, Mr. John St. Claret Ezeani told ITRealms Online that the whole story of a ‘plot’ to remove Dr. Ndukwe is a ‘mere speculation,’ as far as he knows, expressing doubt on its success, just as he declared that if, therefore, “such a plot is indeed being hatched, I can assure you that it will surely fail.”

While wishing Ndukwe a happy 60th birthday, Mr. Ezeani noted that his tenure has been scheduled to run till 2010, expressing the belief the current EVC would definitely complete his tenure.

“Why am I so sure? Because the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua understands and embraces the tenets of rule of law. Ndukwe was duly appointed under a valid subsisting statute and the terms of his appointment are clearly spelt out in that statute. The circumstances under which he may be removed prior to the expiration of his tenure are also spelt out in that statute.

“The President Yar’Adua that I know will not be party to any shenanigan that will amount to willful interference with the operations of the law. The position of EVC of NCC is a tenured post governed by Federal statute. No where does the enabling statute, the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, stipulate a maximum age for qualification for appointment as EVC of NCC, nor does that statute stipulate the attainment of the age of 60 years as one of the conditions for the termination of the appointment of an EVC whose tenure is still alive. I do not envisage any derogation from this position as it applies to Dr. Ernest Ndukwe,” Mr. Ezeani said.

Another telecom lawyer, Mr. Damian Udeh wondered why some Nigerians portray themselves as “lawless” stressing that there is an existing law which gave the EVC a definite term of office, describing it as a distraction by enemies of progress.

“He must run that course to completion. Nobody should be talking about replacing him at the moment. They have started again. Instead of allowing him to concentrate and do the work he is doing, which he is doing well, any way, they want to distract him. This government which has continually maintained that it respects the rule of law must make sure they don’t remove him until he completes his term,” Udeh said, pointing out that the EVC has a lot to offer to this industry and Nigerians no doubt are feeling the impact already.

A telecommunications expert and chief executive, Telecom Answer Associate, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, said there remains so much to do that rather than allowing the few idle minds to stop the speedy train.

“We should not let idle minds stop the speed of this train, Ernest is not a civil servant, is he? … By the way, who says the position of EVC is political? It is not. It is professional,” he declared.

Equally for the president, NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, Dr. Ndukwe deserves to stay in office as the EVC and CEO, NCC for the next 12 years.

NATCOMS in a written reaction to the development entitled “Please leave Ndukwe with NCC till 2010” said the group would prefer to have him remain in office till 2020 if not for the Telecommunications Act 2003, which discourages more than two terms of five years per term.

Ogunbanjo cited an instance with the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaete, who reportedly over-stayed in office by about 2-3 years, recalling that Alhaji Rafiu Babatunde Tinubu, former Head of Service of Lagos State Government, also over-stayed in office with about three years to the knowledge and approval of both Federal and State Governments respectively.

Insisting that in both situations, they have either attained the retirement age of 60 years and got their retirement age moved forward, or have served for more than 37 years, which goes against the established procedure of either the attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age, which ever comes first.

Ndukwe, on the other hand assumed office when the entire telephone lines in Nigeria was below 500,000 lines and within eight years, revolutionised the telecoms industry to a record 50,000,000 million GSM and Fixed Wireless (FW) Lines. Just as he brought consumerism into the telecommunications industry to ensure that the consumers are not only heard but attended to through the monthly NCC Telecomms Consumer Parliament (TCP) and the Telecomms Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) among others.

These, NATCOMS noted that Ndukwe’s programmes were not only trail-blazing in the 48 years of Nigeria’s independent, “they are internationally acclaimed, recognised and awarded by International and world bodies, which has brought honour to Nigeria as a nation.”

NATCOMS on behalf of its members and generality of Nigerians pleaded with the Federal Government to allow Dr. Ndukwe, to run his full second term tenure of office till 2010.

Noteworthy is that as much as some other parts of the country would like to partake in the leadership of NCC, they should always have in mind the objectives of NCC, which it has set out to achieve mostly in delivering ICT.

ITRealms Online also gathered that there are some northern interest scheming for the position via the Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd (NITEL) among others, they should give peace a chance by allowing Ndukwe to finish his second term, while realising that the post of EVC is ‘strictly professional’.


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Testing commences @ DaarSAT, adds on Visafone Internet

The latest in satellite Direct-To-Home (DTH) pay TV in the country, DaarSAT apart from dangling 40 channels on arrival is offering subscribers Visafone internet access as add-on, just as it would commence test running next week Wednesday, September 17.

Disclosing this at the unveiling of DaarSAT at the corporate headquarters of Daar Communications Plc, the Executive Chairman, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, said the new satellite pay TV outfit would be officially commissioned by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on October 7, this year.

He reiterated the decision of the company to Nigerianize the pay TV industry with avalanche of local and foreign contents, noting that DaarSAT has seven satellite dishes linked on to the main dish with optic fibre to enable it deliver as planned and across the Ku and C bands respectively.

According to him, all the 40 channels made up of about eight factual and 32 entertainment programming genres, are premium even as monthly subscription would not be more than N5,000.

DaarSAT decoder, he said, would not cost above N36,000 against $1000 (about N117,000) that is obtained among other pay TV service providers who also offer less channels.

“We have four levels of decoders and every buyer would get Visafone with Internet access,” he said, assuring that all the good movies nowadays which come on High Definition (HD) because of digital migration of broadcasting organizations globally are compatible with DaarSAT equipment on ground, even as news stations around the global are covered too.

“We’re going to give you 40 channels. Prime as they are and expensive as they are, it would not pass N5,000 monthly subscription,” Dokpesi reaffirmed.

As at the date of media launch, he said, all the 40 stations, DaarSAT has relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed and paid all related dues as expected including with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

He enumerated some of the 40 channels to include AIT-MoviStar, Daar-StarXpress, Sahara One, Sahara Filmy, B4U Movies, Fox Crime, Fox Entertainment, Luxe TV, Art Channel, Gamzaki Channel, Yoruba channel, NTA, AIT, Channels TV, MBI International, Nickelodeon, Fox Baby Tv, Kidsco, Fuel, Euronews, AIT News.

Others are BBCWorld, Al-Jazera, Fox News, AIT Parliamentary, African Business channel, CNBC Africa, AIT Sports, Fox Sports, Setanta Africa, EurosSportsNews, Quest TV, B4U Music, Fashion TV, SoundCity, Primetime Africa, National Geographic Music, MTV Base, MCM Top and Pop as well as SciTech TV.

Also, Dokpesi explained that the aforementioned channels were chosen out of the desire to offer high-end channels for less, pointing out that CNN was never approached and from African perspective “We have Al Jazera,” stressing that CNN could still be added if subscribers so demanded over time.


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TTC collaborates with NYSC on capacity building

TELECOMMUNICATIONS training and recruitment firm, Transfer Technology Company (TTC) Mobile Limited is collaborating with the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in Lagos, for a two-week capacity building of youth corpers on Information and Communications Technology (ICT)reports CHARLES OKOH.

Deputy General Manager, Business Development at TTC, Mr. Chrysantus Okon, who spoke at the commencement of the event held at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Lagos over the weekend, said the training is aimed at developing local content, acquire character and skill which will prepare them for employment.

“Nigerian youths lack skills, we brought these skills back to them, we have knocked down the barrier, we have reduced the training fee of N32,500 for one month to N5,500 including N500 for registration such that it will no longer be a barrier,” he said.

According to him, the training will be a two-pronged approach for those with IT skills and those with no previous knowledge, adding that the courses would cover Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) engineering which encompasses radio and switching, Base Transmitting Station (BTS) installation and configuration, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) transmission, installation and configuration.

Other areas to be covered, he said, would include training in Local Area Network (LAN) setup and configuration and project management.

Also speaking, the executive secretary, Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Godwin Morgan, advised members of NYSC to take advantage of the training to equip themselves, saying that in today’s world a knowledge in ICT is vital to belong to the global technology family.


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FRSC seeks partnership with Glo

Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is seeking partnership support from the Second National Operator (SNO) in efforts to upgrade its operations nationwide.

Company sources said the invitation would aid the commission’s operations and technological transformation of its operations.

Speaking during an official visit to the company, the Corp Marshal of the FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, announced that Globacom has the capacity to help make the operations of the establishment more technology-driven, with real-time on-screen visual traffic monitoring, virtual private network, call centre and real-time roadside license checks.

The Corps Marshal was accompanied to Globacom’s head office at the Mike Adenuga Towers by the Zonal commander of Lagos/West, Mr. Chike Nwaka and the Sector Commander of Lagos, Mr. Kayode Olagunju.

Chidoka explained that FRSC has great confidence in the capacity of Globacom to provide effective Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Third Generation (3G) platforms with sufficient bandwidth and quality of service “to meet our demands”.

He commended Globacom for making Nigerians proud, saying, “Globacom is Nigeria’s response to the criticism that nothing good can come out of Nigeria. Now I go around the world with my Glo line…it is the only line I roam with and I am proud that it is a Nigerian operator.”

Responding to the Corps Marshal, the Group Chief Operating Officer of Globacom, Mr. Mohamed Jameel explained that Globacom had provided similar technological back-up for several companies, adding that it would have no problem turning the FRSC into a hi-tech organisation comparable to similar organisations in the world.

The head of Public Sector Department, Mr. Tunde Amunikoro recalled that Globacom had been commended by the industry regulator for having the best quality of service. He said that Glo was willing to empower road marshals all over the country to communicate with one another.


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JACITAD advocates for Open Source award

A non-governmental organization with focus on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), the Joint Action Committee for ICT Awareness and Development (JACITAD) has advocated for the setting up of an Open Source Media Awards to encourage Nigerian media practitioners to develop heightened interest on the Open Source standards.

Open source standard is known to be a development methodology that offers practical ease of access to a product’s source code in terms of goods and knowledge. Typical example is the open source software which is the most prominent example of open source development and often compared to user generated content. This is against the proprietary software like Microsoft where users are made to pay for their software ever before touching same for deployment.

This was part of the groups input at the just concluded second meeting of the Committee on the nation’s draft policy on Information Technology, held at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, last weekend.

JACITAD president, Mr. Sola Fanawapo made this disclosure and said that as the nation through the National IT Development Agency (NITDA) in the proposed policy in clause 7.3.3 (ii) plans to set up quizzes and software development competition on the Open Source platform among students and youths as a way of stimulating interest and encouraging learning in this tool.

“It is also imperative to also introduce a media based Open Source awards to encourage incisive write ups and publicity to Open source,” he suggested.

The group also supported the need to set up a committee to introduce courses in Open Source in IT curricular at different levels of education, but noted that it is out of place for the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) which acts as the umbrella body for the sub-groups of IT professional groups and the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) to be proposed as members when the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) which is relevant to IT education and as well takes care of the IT education functions of NCS and ISPON , is still there.

JACITAD equally endorsed the reasons expressed in Clause 2.1 for the review of the 2001 IT policy document to make it comprehensive and accommodate new technologies as they evolve dynamically.

It further noted that in clause 5.3, all the goals set to achieve by the objectives of the new IT policy, were proper, “but mass mobilization and sensitization should also be added,” stressing that majority of Nigerians still see IT as elitist and should be sensitized and carried along, more so if the new policy is meant to succeed.

In addition, JACITAD pointed out that in clause 5.3, 6.3, 7.1.2 and all other relevant clauses where committees were suggested to have the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) and its affiliate bodies like the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), ISPON and others amount to replication of representation.

“We view it as a replication of representation and would wish that NCS should be made to be the only representative, taking care of the interests of its affiliate bodies,” the group stated in its seven-point agenda presented at the meeting.


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Zain introduces Tru offer

Zain Nigeria has introduced Tru offer targeted at the Nigerian youths and those who want to talk more for less.

Designed to suit the peculiar lifestyle, needs and aspirations of Nigerian youths and young at heart, and most importantly, to empower them, Tru was unpacked at a fun-filled music event featuring the best of Nigerian music and entertainment.

According to the Managing Director, Bayo Ligali, Tru is a hot, fresh and funky hybrid package that allows customers, especially youths or young adults to derive more value from their phone plans beyond the usual standard voice or Short Messaging Service (SMS) taking into consideration their usage or spends patterns and lifestyles.

“There are 2 TRU-ly amazing plans: Tru Talk and Tru Txt are available under the package,” says the Chief marketing officer, Mr. Norman Moyo.

He explained that customers with preference for voice service could now enjoy amazingly low rates for up to 10 friends at N0.25 per sec from Monday-Friday for the double talk offer between 8.00pm-5:59am and N0.21 per sec at weekends between 4:30am-12:29am from Saturday-Monday for the triple talk offer.

In addition, he said, customers on this plan would enjoy all-night calls every day from 12:30am to 4:29am for up to 10 registered numbers which could be phone numbers of friends and family members.

Both Offers, Moyo said, come with the standard SMS bonuses, “Credit me” and “Call me back” service, irrespective of whether the customer meets the set recharging threshold or not.

According to him, SMS loving customers could now enjoy a special low rate, N4.50 for every time they send a message to all Zain numbers on week days, or from Monday-Friday for the double SMS rate, and N3 per SMS on weekends (for the triple SMS rate).

“Customers on this package will also have access to all-night calls every day between 12:30am and 4:30am for up to 10 registered numbers,” he said.

And to set up, customers are required to migrate to the Tru plan via a short code *141*708# to switch to the Tru Talk option and *141*709# for Tru txt option.

Equally, customers should recharge their phone with a minimum of N100 for Tru Talk, and N50 for Tru text option weekly, to enable them enjoy these special rates for 7 days from the time the recharge is done.


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IT deployment vital to success - Udoh

THE Managing Director, Progenics Corp Limited, Mr. Tony Udoh, has said that any firm that would create a marketing niche and set itself apart must embrace information technology edge in all its ramifications in today’s business environment, reports CHARLES OKOH.

He made this assertion at this year’s Finance IT Summit 2008, stating that business which focuses on a niche market is addressing a need for a product or service that is not being addressed by mainstream providers.

Mr. Udoh whose topic dwelled on: Creating marketing niche: technology vs people, said for an organization to create a niche for itself it must be ready to combine the best people with the most effective technology outlay.

“For an organization to create a niche for itself, that is, to set itself apart from the crowd and be positioned as a market leader, it must be ready to combine the best people with the most effective technology outlay,” he said.

He said this implies that the role of technology in relation to people is not antagonistic but complementary, adding that this is contrary to what most people have learnt about technology.

Udoh further said the process of creating a marketing niche starts from identifying potential clients and defining what their needs are, pointing out that the internet serves as a pool of information and has changed the way firms gather information.

“The cost of information gathering has been reduced drastically by the world wide web (www) technology. The internet technology has shrunk the world into a global village such that books, articles and write ups about certain areas of interest, written in different parts of the world can be assessed at one point with the click of a button,” he said.

The Progenics boss pointed out that internet banking is gradually becoming very common among stakeholders in the banking sector, stating that customers could check their balances, make payments, do transfers to other accounts from the convenience of their offices and homes.

“This technology is closely related to telephone banking, which is becoming part and parcel of everyday activity of everyone that is connected in any way with the financial sector. Terms like trade alert, Short Messaging Service (SMS) notification, flash me cash are almost perpetually on the lips of Nigerians and the proper implementation of these technologies will no doubt set a firm apart,” he added.

Another factor to ensure that a firm is set apart from its peers, he said, is effective customer service delivery which is consequent upon its internal operational efficiency and a combination of a competent and well motivated people and software technology being employed in the day to day running of the organization.


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FTL boss wants e-admin adopted in schools

Managing Director, Fleet Technologies Limited (FTL), Mr. Kunle Akinniran has canvassed for adaptation of electronic administrations in schools nationwide.

He made this call while launching FTL’s novel on-line educational product, Acada at Lagooz Schools at Orile-Agege in Lagos, noting that moves by government and private individuals to ensure the standard of education in the country is enhanced might come to naught except conscious efforts are made to eliminate manual approaches to school management.

“So as to ensure speedy administrative and operational processes through the use of technology,” he said.

FTL boss also said, it was in the spirit of revolutionalizing the schools system and administration that his firm conducted research into how to improve the school processes and then came out with the Acada product.

“Acada was developed to eliminate manual approach to school management and thus ensuring speedy administrative and operational processes through the use of technology,” he said, adding that the product would be customized to meet the unique demands of the different sections of the school, including application of prospective students into the school to be done online.

In addition, he said that other school processes like class management, teachers’ administration, subject and grade management, result and promotion management will all be done automatically using ACADA. Parents/Guardians could equally pay fees of their wards online.

The Director of Lagooz Schools, Mr. Otubela, who spoke during the signing of the product agreement for his school expressed the belief that ACADA is worthy of use in a school environment and it would grossly reduce the stress associated with paper work and make student, teacher and parent relationship more efficient.

He assured those present that ACADA would make it convenient for parents to apply for their wards into school, pay fees and also monitor their academic performance.

Stressing that Lagooz is a school of excellence aimed at developing students’ positive values and attitude and providing the knowledge and skills students need in order to develop as well balanced people, make full positive contributions to our society and succeed in an increasingly technological and international environment.

The school, he pointed out is made up of secondary, computer and tutorial classes, while the primary section starts off this month, September this year.

ITRealms Online recalled that the Acada was launched with fanfare earlier this year attracting schools to sign up for the product upon demonstration by the company of the usefulness of the on-line school management services.

Already ACADA has been adopted by many other schools in Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Edo and Ogun States including CTC International School, Access International School and Mason College.


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Invest more in Nigeria, Nakande tells telecom operators

MINISTER of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, has called on major telephone operators to increase their investments in the country as government has provided them with the enabling operational and regulatory business environment, reports CHARLES OKOH.

Alhaji Nakande, who expressed government desires at the ICT Convergence Forum hosted by IT Edge Magazine, recently, also advised the operators to proceed to the Nigerian stock exchange so that Nigerians would invest in the companies and share in their good fortunes.

He noted that the availability of more than 55 Million connected telephone lines in Nigeria is no doubt phenomenal but said the sector is ripe for another policy review, and hoped that through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), such processes would be initiated to give the industry a new direction.

The Minister also said the planned merger between NCC and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), is a well thought out initiative that has the blessing of the key experts in the industry.

Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, in his contribution, said the rapid growth from less than a million connected lines in 2001 to about 55 million today could be attributed largely to the enabling and conducive environment for investment by government through policy and regulatory measures.

“As we strive to catch up with the world, it is imperative that Nigeria remains in tune with technological trends in this fast moving industry. One obvious fact is that the technological borders between telecommunications, IT and broadcasting is blurring at a quickening pace. Another fact is the trend towards the realization of a ubiquitous network society where people can access and exchange information freely, at any time, from anywhere, and from any appliance in converged ICT environment,” he said.

Speaking on ‘Regulating the Converging ICT Environment’, Dr. Ndukwe said owing to technological and market developments, scenarios have changed over time as evidenced by the integration of customer terminal equipment or access devices such as the telephone, television and personal computer; provision of various communication services like text, data, image, voice and video over a single infrastructure; the use of a single transmission technology to offer various services; the provision of multifarious service offerings by the same service provider; substitution of mobile services for fixed service, resulting in a converged voice service market; authorization to provide various services under a single license; and Converged Policy and Regulatory.

“The role of policy makers and regulators will revolve around serving the consumer interest; supporting universal access to services at affordable cost; securing effective competition and the competitiveness of the industry as a whole; promoting quality, plurality, diversity and choice in services; encouraging investment in service and infrastructure; providing economically efficient management of scarce resources”, he said.

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Visafone attains 1m subscriber-base

Visafone has attained the 1 million subscriber base with six months after it launched commercial operations on February 22, 2008.

This, according to the Head, Corporate Communications, Mr. Toni Kan Onwordi is an unprecedented record in the annals of Nigeria’s very vibrant and exciting telecoms industry.

He also said that this achievement began on August 1, 2007 when the Nigerian Communications Commission issued Visafone its Unified Access License (UAL).

ITRealms Online recalls that Visafone launched commercial operations in 12 states and over 40 cities across the six geo-political zones from day one.

This coverage has since grown in the space of six months to 17 states, over 150 cities and 1 million subscribers underlining the company’s aggressive and exponential growth.

He reiterated the pledge by the telecom operator to make communication accessible to Nigerians across the 36 states of the federation.

“The Nigerian public, members of the press, Visafone Strategic Partners, our bankers and all other stakeholders who contributed in one way or the other to our successful launch and growth. We remain committed to spreading the joy of communication across the 36 states of Nigeria in the shortest possible time,” he said.

Noting that when Visafone launched commercial operations in February 2008, the managing director of Visafone, Mr. Ninan Thomas, had promised that his company would redefine the business of talk and communication.

“We will offer the best in terms of Quality of Service: voice clarity, seamless connectivity, wide coverage, mobile, 3G high speed data (EVDO) and a host of fantastic value added services,” Thomas remarked.

In another development, ITRealms Online recalls that the fast emerging leader in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Visafone, emerged the Best Telecom Brand in the country at the 2008 edition of the Nigeria Telecom Awards, which held in Lagos, according to the poll conducted by Phillips Consulting.

The CDMA operator has since spread its coverage areas to 17 states and over 150 cities just as the firm unveiled a new and innovative product that extends its Value Added Services (VAS) to its subscribers.

Tagged as the “RC Data Pay,” the product allows data users (internet subscribers) on the Visafone network to recharge or pay for internet subscriptions through their handsets, using recharge cards. The service could be used from any Visafone phone handset on any tariff plan, and the data subscription is automatically updated within seconds at the dial of a short code if the subscriber has sufficient balance.

“One more proof of Vodafone’s commitment to excellent quality of service and fulfillment of its brand promise of spreading the joy of communication,” Onwordi said.

According to him, Visafone’s three-pronged business model which is predicated on superior quality of service, wide coverage and excellent voice clarity, thus endearing the telco to the masses.

Further, Visafone promise to enable Nigerians experience the joy of communication, he said, has been exemplified in its introduction to the market of some of the classiest, most stylish and lowest priced phones that subscribers have seen in the history of the nation’s telecom sector.


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Dark side of the Net

Information and communication technologies continue to transform our world, bringing enormous benefits in key areas ranging from scientific research and education to basic human services like communications, health, transport and commerce.

As the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs, ITU has long been a vocal champion of the power of technology to improve lives and create a more open and equitable society.

But as an ICT standards-setter whose membership not only spans 191 countries, but more than 700 of the world’s leading ICT hardware and software developers and operators, we are also well aware that a dark side has emerged. Cyberspace has given rise to cybercrime, with highly organized criminal gangs targeting ordinary individuals – and, increasingly disturbingly – children.

The dark side of the Net is a frightening place. We are already seeing the Web used for identify theft, fraud, spam, illicit gambling and pornography of the most repellent kind.

Independent agencies estimate that there are over 40,000 different viruses on the Internet worldwide. Spyware programmes, which collect personal information from users’ PCs without their consent, are now believed to infect more than 80 per cent of all business computers worldwide.

Identity theft is rampant, and is beginning to pose a serious threat to the Internet’s ongoing viability as a commercial platform. In the US alone, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently estimated that around 10 million US consumers each year now fall victim to some form of identity theft.

Spam, too, is on the rise, and cost businesses an estimated 100 billion US dollars globally in 2007. Global watchdog Spamhaus blocks more than 50 billion email spam messages every day, many of which are selling fraudulent goods, or involve financial scams, or are attempts to incite recipients to supply personal details that will be used for ID theft. Spam sent by infected zombie PCs already accounts for around three quarters of global email traffic – and as many as one million new machines are believed to be infected every day.

In today’s knowledge-based society, information and communication technology serves as the vital engine for every other economic sector. It is also a growing and vital element of our children’s education, and increasingly their platform of choice for interpersonal communications and entertainment. If we are to build trust in public networks, foster the safe adoption of ICTs by our youth, and extend the enormous benefits of new technologies to the hundreds of millions still unconnected worldwide, urgent action must be taken.

In May 2007, ITU took the lead by launching the Global Cybersecurity Agenda. The GCA’s role is to draw on the work and experience of existing initiatives in countries around the world to create a practical, workable global framework for combating the scourge of cybercrime and cyber-terrorism.

If these issues are complex, they are also very much international. Cyberspace has no constraining frontiers that prevent criminals from plying their nefarious trade wherever they please. All countries are implicated, and all are at risk. To paraphrase the British poet John Donne, ‘no country is an island’.

As an agency that boasts a long and successful history of forging public-private sector consensus on the way the world manages globally shared ICT resources such as satellite orbits and radiofrequency spectrum, ITU is ideally placed to broker global agreement on an international set of cybersecurity principles and best practice that countries around the world can follow.

To that end, in 2007 I set up a High Level Experts Group comprising over 100 leading authorities from government, private industry, international and regional organizations, academia and the scientific community at large. Designed to ensure all stakeholders have a voice in determining the GCA’s priorities and strategies, this Group was charged with developing a Global Strategic Report and a set of recommendations spanning five key work areas – encompassing legislation, technical and organizational issues, capacity building, and international cooperation.

The Group delivered its report at its third meeting, which was held in Geneva on 26 June. This report will form the basis of ongoing work at an international level, as well as serving as a vital resource for governments and national and regional authorities in defining effective actions to counter cyber threats.

I will also be presenting some of the principal outcomes of the High Level Experts Group and the achievements of the Global Cybersecurity Agenda to ITU Council in November this, year, with a view to strengthening ITU efforts in key areas, and promoting even more productive global cooperation.

So, after 12 months of deliberation, we are now ready to move to the next phase, where talk will be replaced by action. Support from the international community has already been extremely positive. Through the GCA, dialogue, information sharing and alliances have already begun between members of the HLEG – some of whom have never previously worked together. The unique, pluralistic framework provided by the GCA has created a common understanding among diverse organizations and companies about how all stakeholders could contribute to achieving common goals. By working together, we greatly increase our chances of achieving rapid progress on a global level.

Momentum is building fast. Key developments over the past two months alone include an agreement for collaboration with IMPACT, the global initiative launched by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which has volunteered its services and infrastructure, and offered to serve as one of the GCA physical homes.

The participants of the Third WSIS Action Line C5 meeting in May this year also gave their strong endorsement for the GCA as the framework for international cooperation in cybersecurity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Henning Wegener, Chairman of the Permanent Monitoring Panel on Information Security from the World Federation of Scientists, for his active participation during this meeting and for his interest in supporting ITU’s GCA initiative.

ITU is now fielding a growing number of requests for active collaboration from governments and regional organizations, as well as from leading ICT developers and manufacturers.

And we have just welcomed Burkina Faso’s President, Blaise Compaoré, as our second Patron after President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, a Nobel Price Winner.

Most importantly, we are now seeing activities intensify in the vital area of child protection. The Web can be a pretty dangerous neighbourhood for children, who are often sent out into cyberspace alone and unprotected simply because their parents and educators haven’t understood the risks.

While much good work has been achieved by local interest groups at a national level, an international approach will be essential to giving our children the protection they need. That’s why ITU will be shortly be launching Global Cybersecurity for Children, a multi-stakeholder coalition under the GCA framework dedicated to undertaking concrete actions for the protection of children online.

As scientists, as parents and as Net citizens yourselves, I’m sure I can count on your support, as we strive to find effective ways of transforming the outer reaches of the online world from a lawless frontierland to a safe and reliable place to play, to do business, and to pursue our research.

•Speech from Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General at the World Federation of Scientists International Seminars on Planetary Emergencies, Erice, Italy.


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