South Africa suffers set back on C-band satellite

Like Nigeria, the South African satellite industry, being operated by Intelsat has suffered set back with the collapse of its C-band from the orbit.

The C band is usually a description of certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including wavelengths of microwaves that are used for long-distance radio telecommunications.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) version of C-band is known to be slight in variations; containing frequency ranges that are used for many satellite communications transmissions, some Wi-Fi devices, some cordless telephones, and some weather radar systems.

Expert noted that for satellite communications, the microwave frequencies of the C-band perform better under adverse weather conditions in comparison with Ku band (11.2 GHz to 14.5 GHz) microwave frequencies, which are used by another large set of communication satellites.

Intelsat reported that one of its two principal reflector antennas on the just-launched New Dawn telecommunications satellite for South Africa failed to deploy in orbit and that release of the other antenna will await attempts to force the first one to come back to life.

ITRealms Online recalls that the Intelsat New Dawn satellite was placed into geostationary transfer orbit April 22 by European Ariane 5 ECA rocket. Since then, the satellite’s manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., has been overseeing the transfer of the satellite from the point of release by the rocket to its test location, at 23.1 degrees east longitude in geostationary orbit.

The satellite’s final operating location is 32.8 degrees east, where it is scheduled to serve mainly an African audience.

Orbital Science had informed Intelsat that the C-band reflector’s ejection-release mechanism has functioned, releasing a series of pins that hold the antenna close to the satellite’s body for launch, but stressed that other data, including temperature readings from the satellite, have confirmed that the reflector remains stuck in place.

Expert said that though this was South Africa’s first attempt to launch a satellite communications platform and its failure means that that country must return to the drawing board if it must sustain its adventure in space.

Equally, like Nigeria which lost its Nigcomsat 1, 18-month after launch, South Africa may have to start anew, even as South Africa has no back up satellite.

However, Nigcomsat 1 replacement (NigComSAT 1R) is due for launch in the last quarter of 2011, just as talks are on for two back up satellites; that is Nigcomsat 2 and 3, which would be built a few months after the launch of Nigcomsat 1R.

Reacting to the development the Intelsat spokeswoman, Dianne J. VanBeber was quoted as saying that ground teams have introduced series of exercises as antidotes including one tagged “rock n’ roll,” which consists of shaking the satellite, while another comprising the exposure of the stuck antenna to heat from the sun, and alternatively exposing the antenna to cold, all in an attempt to force deployment.

This, VanBeber also pointed has caused delay in the release of Intelsat’s Ku-band reflector, whereas unblocking attempts on the C-band reflector continues.

Additionally, Intelsat said, the satellite has 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders when measured in 36-megahertz equivalents, stressing that this is aside from the blocked C-band reflector, the satellite is functioning normally.

Intelsat New Dawn is owned by a joint venture of Luxembourg- and Washington-based Intelsat and Convergence Partners of South Africa. Valued at $250 million including construction, launch and insurance, Intelsat New Dawn is intended to replace Intelsat’s Galaxy 11 satellite at 32.8 degrees east. Intelsat estimates that Galaxy 11 will remain operational until April 2015.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Zinox Group introduces scholarship scheme for staff children

Zinox Group has introduced scholarship scheme for staff children upto tertiary education who parents earn N.1m annually.

Executive Director Marketing, Technology Distributions, Mrs. Chioma Chimere made this disclosure at the just concluded first Zinox Group Staff awards in Lagos.

She said that Staff Children Scholarship scheme of the group tends to redefine staff welfare, especially by offering scholarships to the children of all staff whose gross salary per annum is less than N1m.

According to her, each staff in this category would have up to three (3) children covered under the scheme through secondary school up to tertiary institution, with one of these children to be trained in a private secondary school.

“The Staff Children Scholarship Scheme is a further confirmation of the Zinox belief that only a commitment to the development of a knowledge economy can bring about the anticipated breakthrough in national development,” she said.

Zinox Group, Mrs. Chimere noted has been preaching Digital Knowledge Democracy as a platform to harnessing technological capacities for national development and has taken the message home to its own staff.

The event which capped a week-long retreat for employees, Chimere said saw awards being instituted to motivate outstanding staff and enhance industry standards.

Some of these recognition, she said, were won in the Long Service Award, Performance Merit Award, Prim and Proper Staff Award, and Staff of the Year Award.

She disclosed that the highpoint of the Awards was the Staff of the Year Award won by Emmanuel Onuegbu, General Manager, Abuja/North for his outstanding performance in achieving revenue targets in the 2010/11 financial year.

Mr. Onuegbu was also praised for his growing marketing versatility that has seen him interact seamlessly with all social segments in the Information Technology (IT) market.

Chimere explained that the Staff of the Year Award comes with an upward review of the winners fringe benefits, stressing that the awardees home branch at Abuja would also enjoy some benefits as a means of encouraging team work.

Reacting, the Group Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, noted that the emphasis on education reinforces his belief that only good quality education available to all will lead the Nigerian nation to greatness.

Dr. Ekeh also disclosed that the Zinox Group would increase its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the educational sector through the provision of more digital centers and IT laboratories in tertiary institutions in the six geopolitical zones in the country.

The preceding week of the Staff awards, he said, was a period of introspection as the group reviewed the past year and made out plans to remain Number 1 in 2011.

The chairman further said that Zinox’s Research and Development department was set to introduce a new range of Personal Computers (PCs) that would be the cynosure of all eyes.

“Our intention is to provide solutions to the needs of the Nigerian nation and sub Saharan Africa in general. The technology would be appropriate in terms of affordability and durability, and remain a source of national pride,” he assured.

ITRealms Online recalls that Zinox Group is reputed as Africa’s most integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm that made its debut in 2001, by a team of tested IT technocrats with a combined experience of over 128 years in different continents.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NIBN rolls drums on 10 Years of Cellular Freedom

The Nigeria ICT Broadcasters Network (NIBN), a body of influential ICT producers and publishers involving television, radio, prints and the Internet would be rolling out drums in commemoration of the “10 Years of Cellular Freedom in Nigeria” to be unveiled as a definitive documentary and features.

President of NIBN, Mr. Bayero Agabi, said, 10 years of Cellular Freedom in Nigeria is the celebration of the advent of GSM in Nigeria in August 2001.

The era ushered in three licensed Global System of Mobile (GSM) telephone companies that rolled out cellular telephony in the country to signal an end to years of frustrations for corporate Nigeria and the populace.

To honour the men and women who laboured to achieve the feat, the group will also host Cellular Heroes Dinner, which is an evening of entertainment, awards and recognition.

This, he said, would hold on the evening of August 26, 2011 at prestigious Oriental Hotel in Lagos.

As Nigeria celebrates 10 years of Cellular Freedom in August 2011, “we look back from how far we have come. From zero mobile telephone line to about 90 million mobile telephone lines, the country holds the record as the fastest growing telecommunication industry in the world. GSM gives Nigerians power, freedom and voice. It touches our souls. It excites and energizes us to the point where we have surprised even ourselves. It has certainly captured the imaginations of Nigerians,” he said.

Specifically, the objectives of the 10 years of Cellular Freedom project would among others involve the documenting of the advent, growth, development and maturity of cellular technology in Nigeria, celebration of individuals, companies and government agencies that have contributed to ensuring there is cellular freedom in Nigeria and the promotion of brands that propelled Nigeria telecommunications industry to global prominence.

The documentary and features will serve as guide and reference for Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora and foreign investors desirous of investing in the burgeoning Nigeria telecommunications sector, the group stated.

He further said that the documentary would be shown on all NIBN-affiliated channels such as Infotech Network on AIT, ICT Watch Africa on MITV and TECH TV on NTA/TV Continental.

“It would also air on other 10 major syndicated television channels in Nigeria, in addition to the DVD version of the documentary would be mass-produced and circulated to major institutions and individuals across the country,” he said.

Speaking on the milestone, Agabi said that the print media as a special 10-page features and analysis pullout with the same title would be published in all NIBN-affiliate magazines/newspapers including ICT Today, financialtechnology and Cyber Africa in August while the same pullout will be published in two major national newspapers.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Nokia unveils E7 in Lagos

Mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, has unveiled its E7 series in the city of Lagos at the weekend.

Speaking at the ceremony, the General Manager, Nokia West Africa, Mr. James Heatherford, described Nokia E7 as successful handset for successful people.

As said by him, smart phone world has exploded in recent years and Nokia at its end is not relenting, hence in 2010 introduced E7.

“So, we introduced Nokia E7 with 12 mega pixel camera,” he said.

Explaining further, the product manager, Nokia West Africa, Mr. Olumide Balogun said that Nokia E7 is a reflection of perfect form factor for successful individuals as it offers full keyboard, stunning 4 inches clear black AMOLED touch display which comes in a premium materials, thin design as assumed the best possible user experience amongst smartphones

Describing Nokia E7 as the “Ultimate business smartphone”, Balogun said that Nokia E7 the features for mail exchange, Microsoft communicator mobile and support for intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint Server.

In addition, he said, active user configurable widgets for Lotus Notes Traveler, Lotus Sametime and Lotus Connections, would be available by middle of 2011, so also is the IBM Lotus Mobile Connect for mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN0 connectivity.

The product manager at Nokia listed some of the pre-installed productivity applications to include Vlingo, F-Secure Anti-theft, QuickOffice and World Traveler, while the business applications embedded on Nokia E7 comprised Ovi Store’s salesforce for Symbian, Bloomberg, F-Secure Mobile Security, Microsoft Communicator Mobile, JoikuSpotSecurity to name a few.

The business grade security solutions on Nokia E7, he said, come as device lock and wipe, secure intranet access and device management.

Equally, he said, Nokia E7 has rich OMA DM support with enforceable encryption and device controls including camera and Bluetooth.

“F-Secure anti-theft protection to remotely lock, wipe and locate misplaced devices as well as free navigation, forever; free worldwide satellite car and walk navigation from Ovi Maps in 80 countries,” he said.

For Balogun, Nokia E7 was built with premium guides from Lonely Planet and Via Michelin for tips on travel, restaurants, weather and hotels.

As a rich multimedia experience, he noted that Nokia E7 has the capabilities to shoot, edit photos and video with a 8 Mega Pixels (MP) camera.

Nokia E7, he further said, comes with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound and High Definition (HDMI) connection, leveraging on live updates from Facebook, Twitter and RenRen among others.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Starcomms offers 50-hr internet package

Leading telecommunications company in data provision, Starcomms plc, is offering subscribers on its platform a 50-hour internet option.

Starcomms’ Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Logan Pather, said this offer is coming in response to clamour by its data customers for flexibility in the prices of data packages to allow them many choices.

He explained that the 50-hour package on iZAP is less than N4,000, while the 1x component costs N2,500.

He added that the service would last 14 days before a customer could recharge again.

Before now, he said, the lowest data subscription hourly plan for Starcomms internet access was 100 hours.

And to make use of the 50-hour package, he said, customers could recharge their Starcomms phones, via top-up cards or Starcomms’ website.

“The code for iZAP 50-hour plan is 249. This means that all a customer needs to do is recharge their Starcomms phones up to N4,000 and send SMS *249* data device number to *1234#, to 37938,” he said.

The COO further said the plan is suitable for all customers, including students and budget conscious people who had been requesting for a data plan that they can subscribe to with out-of pocket funds.

Pather maintained that the introduction of the 50-hour package is a direct response to customer’s demand for a value subscription plan on their internet access in order to stem long period of inactivity on their data account as a result of inadequacy of funds at the point of expiration of their last recharge.

“We observe that a large number of our data customers prefer flexibility in such a way that they can decide at the expiration of their default package to switch to something temporary and affordable while they get funds together for the higher priced packages. After due consideration of these concerns, we came up with the 50 hour package that is convenient and affordable. With it they can avoid unnecessary suspension of their internet access with little cost,” Pather said.

Starcomms has been the leading telecommunication company in the provision of smooth and fast internet access in Nigeria. For this, iZAP, the company’s premium internet product has been adjudged for three years consecutively as the best internet product in the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards, among many other awards and recognition.

Not resting on its oars, the company recently signed in on Main One, the new undersea cable linking Nigeria and the whole of West Africa to Europe to boost the quality of Internet service it provides. With this, the company has continued to enhance its voice and data services it provides as well as its numerous value-added services.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D