ICT4D: Connectivity Scorecard ranks Nigeria low

Despite the prophesied growth in the telecommunications sector in the last decade, the latest Connectivity Scorecard has ranked Nigeria low on infrastructure utilization for Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D).

Nigeria scored 23 over 50 countries that took part in the study.

The study commissioned by Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) was created by the Dean, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Prof. Leonard Waverman, and was conducted under by consulting firms Berkeley Research Group & Communicea.

Overtly described as landmark global ICT index for the 21st century, the study, ITRealms Online gathered was conducted in 50 countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia.

Other countries were the study was conducted comprised of Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (UK) and United States to name a few.

In the Connectivity Scorecard, Nigeria was rated 23 among the 50 countries, the position she retained in 2011, while scoring 1.09 per cent, whereas Malaysia ranked number one consecutively for the fourth year with a scorecard of 6.61 per cent in 2011.

Equally, Latin America strong performance, the report said, was in line with relatively high levels of overall economic development, just as Russia and Turkey with relatively high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita also had strong performances, even as South Africa fall from 7th position to 9th in the current year.

The study indicated that China improved to 14th but India unchanged at 21st positions respectively, although both continued to be relatively weak performers.

ITRealms Online gathered that the pattern of scores showed tremendous disparities between countries, except in some areas, with instance of mobile telephony.

The overall development challenges were attributed to the fact these affected ICT performance in Nigeria, according to the study as it retained 23rd position among resource and efficiency-driven economies.

Good mobile phone penetration and competitive fixed-line market as well as strong demand for internet services and broadband capabilities, the study said, did not make big difference as most industry analyst would expect.

However, the study anticipated that Nigeria had some areas of improvement, namely the broadband service, literacy rates, business infrastructure and ICT utilization in business and public sectors.

In Africa, Tunisia led the continent with 2.29 per cent scorecard and moved up the ladder from 12 to 13 positions respectively during the year under review.

Nigeria, the 2011 Connectivity Scorecard findings indicated, has a talented and well-educated pool of human resources as well as tremendous potential for growth in the telecommunications industry, but from an infrastructure point-of-view, Nigeria has a long way to go before the country could match the best performer in the African continent, South Africa or Malaysia, the leader in the ‘Resource and Efficiency Driven economies.’

However, the future was said to be bright as the key players in the Nigerian market like MTN and Bharti Airtel are investing in developing robust mobile networks.

Commenting on this, the country manager, Nokia Siemens Network for Nigeria, Mr. Ralph Udeogu, said they are optimistic in the Nigerian market.

“They, the operators, as well as us, the infrastructure service providers, see the huge potential in this market, where the mobile penetration rate has grown from 49 per cent in 2009 to 57 per cent in 2010. And this rate is expected to grow to 82 per cent in 2015,” he said.

He went on to say that the introduction of smartphones and other mobile devices like the iPad as well as a change in usage trends where consumers want to surf the Internet, access social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, playing online mobile games and stream their favorite videos.

“These have changed the landscape of the mobile world. Consumers not only want perfect voice quality but also affordable data services,” he submitted.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

GSM@10: MTN lifts partners with 15 Kia Sportage

As part of the 10th year anniversary of MTN Nigeria, the mobile operator has lifted 15 of its trade partners with Kia Sportage utility vehicle.

MTN also used the opportunity to recognize over 50 other partners from across the country with various awards.

Welcoming guest at the award ceremony which held in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brett Goschen commended the partners for standing firm with MTN, especially those that where there are the inception.

Goshen who was accompanied by top management of MTN Nigeria, including Human Resources Executive, Mrs. Amina Ayogbola and member, board of directors, MTN Nigeria, Chief Victor Odili, also urged them to continue in their support being remaining firm ambassadors to teeming Nigerians in the operator’s desire to bring its services closer to the people.

In general, some of the partners that were honoured with awards at the event included Don-P, Fidelity Union & Security Limited, SC Gibson International Limited, RealTime Communications limited, Straight Forward Communications Telecom Centre, AppleTree.

Others were FedEx RedStar, Global Investment, PrayerScope, Talents West Africa Limited and Office Devices Limited as well as KPS Limited, ETS Nigeria Limited, David Global, Daniel Ventures among others.

In a brief chat with newsmen, the General Manager, Consumer Sales at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, noted that the mobile operator could not thank the trade partners enough in any way.

According to him, there is no way one could even justify what they - the partners - have done for MTN and the populace.

He cited an instance with when MTN deploys its service and there is no one to take the communities MTN recharge cards and remain relevant to the consumers at all times by meeting their needs.

Some of the partners, he said, have been with MTN for over 10 years, right from inception.

“They started working with us when we are a very thin network of one subscriber till now,” he said, stressing that the trade partner award event was MTN’s own way of saying thank you in appreciation.

He pointed out that this was not the time for anyone to begun to ask “what have they done for us,” because “They have done perfectly well for us.”

In another 10 years, he said, MTN would be looking at improved data access to the citizenry and would continue to grow the voice alongside.

ITRealms Online recalls that since commencing business operations over 10 years ago in the country, MTN Nigeria, prides itself as consistently placing a high premium on first class network quality, excellent customer service and value-added services which truly enrich customers’ lives.

Equally, as a pioneer and leader in the industry, MTN Nigeria is not only the largest telecommunications company in the country, but has also recorded several notable firsts, which have positioned the network operations and activities as a point of reference for the telecoms industry and the business community in Nigeria and Africa.

On February 10, 2003 MTN lays claim to the fact of being the first mobile company to record one million active subscribers on its network, in addition to ensuring that the network remain the largest telecommunications network of choice in the country, now offering world-class services to over 35 million subscribers as at June 30, 2010.

Additionally, MTN Nigeria was quoted as investing over $7 billion in fixed assets and facilities nationwide, with most expansive network coverage, spread across 2,394 cities, towns and villages in all 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Sony Ericsson unveils Xperia series in Lagos

Sony Ericsson unveils the latest series of Xperia range of smartphones with cutting edge technology into the nation’s market. 

Head, Africa Market Unit at Sony Ericsson, Mr. Jorgen Berg described the Xperia series as exceptional multimedia tools that offer outstanding experience.

As said by him, by unveiling these range of Sony Ericsson smartphones, the mobile company has continued to develop its business operation on the continent.

All Xperia phones at the launch, he said, have the latest version of the Android platform to provide access to Google Mobile Services and over 250,000 applications available on the Android market.

Xperia smartphones, Mr. Berg said, added best in class entertainment on top of smartphone fundamentals such as applications, maps, email and fast internet to create the most entertaining experience.

He explained that Facebook inside Xperia offers a feature for the Xperia family and provides a unique social media integration.

“It integrates social connections throughout the phone. By making Facebook immediately accessible from the most used areas of the phone such as the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar, Sony Ericsson is enabling people to share and comment more easily than ever before through the new range of Xperia smartphones,” he said.

Additionally, he said that Sony Ericsson wanted to be a leader in Android and perform strongly in Africa, hence the launch with Android platform.

Introducing the latest Xperia range of phones, he said, Sony Ericsson is offering innovative Android choices combined with state-of-the-art Sony technology backed with breath-taking design to entertain and wow consumers.

He outlined some of the series to include Xperia Arc, Xperia neo V, Xperia ray, Xperia mini and Xperia mini pro as well as Xperia Active.

Throwing more light on these products, the Head, Sales for Market Unit Africa, Sony Ericsson, Mr. Jonas Gronqwist, said Xperia arc, is the first in the new generation of Xperia smartphones with the stunning design language that Sony Ericsson has become known for.

“Super slim and light, Xperia arc is just 8.7 milimeters (mm) at its thinnest part and has an extra wide 4.2 inches multi-touch screen. Created from premium materials and with a stunning arc body, this smartphone is sleek, strong and designed to fit perfectly in the user’s hand,” he said.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Glo slashes tariff to 15k/sec with Yan-Me-More

Globacom Limited has slashed calls tariff to 15 kobo per second with its bumper package, tagged ‘Yan-Me-More.

ITRealms Online gathered that with this, subscribers on Glo network could talk ceaselessly at an incredible, according to the Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohammed Jameel.

He also said that the introduction of Yan-Me-More, is to make life more interesting and convenient for the people.

“This is an anniversary gift to Glo subscribers and indeed all Nigerians as the network marks its eight anniversary,” he said, stressing that this was part of Glo’s desire to sustain the tradition of empowering Nigerians, through the provision of affordable prizes and products.

He explained that with Glo Yan-Me-More, calls are charged at 15k per sec and subscribers would enjoy unlimited free calls, everyday, from midnight till 5am.

Additionally, he said, callers on Yan-Me-More could earn up to 20 per cent bonus on recharge, just as they would enjoy the possibility of N9 per minutes on all International calls.

Equally speaking, Globacom’s General Manager, Prepaid Marketing, Mr. Ashutosh Tiwary, said this is the biggest offer, as callers could talk for as long as they desire  to loved ones and business partners for just 15k per sec.

“Calls on-net costs only 55k per second in the first minute and 15k per sec from the second minute. Off-net calls, however, costs 25k per second,” he outlined.

He explained that Yan-Me-More, or tell me more, literally, is the latest in a long list of life changing initiatives by Globacom in the recent past.

As said by him, Glo Power Box which was launched about a week ago and targeted at low entry individuals comes as a special telephone and SIM bundle, adding that the package is sold for only N2000 but comes with N3000 worth of freebies. 

Even as he said, Glo Flexi, another fantastic product, offers subscribers a tariff plan with discounts of up to 99 per cent, which he described as the biggest discounts ever, by any network.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

IPTV: Ericsson powers Chunghwa Telecom

Ericsson is powering the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform in the Taiwanese Chunghwa Telecom to boost its customers’ base of over 900,000 users with multi-screen and interactive multimedia services.

Director: Media and Public Relations, Region sub-Saharan Africa, Ms. Omasan Ogisi also said that Ericsson would handle design, systems integration and deployment of the operator’s next-generation IPTV platform and provide end-to-end multi-screen solution.

She also said that Ericsson Media Connect, an IPTV remote availability were included in the contract, stressing that Chunghwa Telecom, is the Taiwan’s largest telecom operator and has chosen Ericsson  to deploy and integrate a new IPTV platform that would deliver multi-screen interactive multimedia services to more than 900,000 subscribers.

Ogisi informed in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online that the new platform would replace Chunghwa’s existing IPTV system and respond to a growing demand from consumers for content anywhere, any time on a wide range of devices including TVs, computers, smartphones and tablets.

“The Chunghwa Telecom deal also includes Ericsson Multiscreen TV and the Ericsson Media Connect (IPTV Remote) service. The new services are due to be available to subscribers in December of this year,” she said.

She pointed out that the number of IPTV subscribers worldwide is expected to explode over the next five years, increasing from 35 million at the end of 2010 to 155 million by the end of 2016, attributing this to a recent report by a Digital TV Research published in July 2011.

Even as over 70 per cent of these 120 million new subscribers are expected to come from the Asia-Pacific region.

She quote the President, Ericsson China & North East Asia, Mr. Mats H Olsson, as saying that by working in close partnership with operators such as Chunghwa, Ericsson is able to give consumers more flexibility, mobility and freedom through access to media content on any screen, anywhere.

“By offering this enhanced viewing experience; Chunghwa will be able to maintain its leading position in the IPTV arena. Our end-to-end solution will also enable the operator to enjoy new revenues from advanced TV services,” Olsson said.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

ISPON opens software contest for students

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has finalized arrangements to stage the first National Software Competition billed to take place in Calabar, Cross River State, just as it plans Software Development Clubs in universities across the country.

Chairman, publicity committee of ISPON, Mr. Moses Braimah disclosed this on Monday, saying that the contest is perhaps classified as the greatest IT-Quest and knowledge encounter of the year 2011.

He noted that for the past one year, ISPON National Executive Council had been busy laying the ground work for the event.

According to him, following extensive interactions with university students and the leadership of National Association of Computer Students (NACCOS), ISPON has rolled out strategies for the establishment of Software Development Clubs in Nigerian universities.

The clubs, he said, would serve as foundation for building the collaborative communities and connections to the larger stakeholder ecosystem that are pivotal to the emergence of a sustainable knowledge culture and capability for software development.

“At the last count, more than 32 universities have either been registered or applied for registration,” he said.

Braimah explained that the National Software Competition is informed by the strategic imperative to anchor Nigeria’s aspirations for global competitiveness in the knowledge economy on building capacity in knowledge industries such as software.

“With 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population under 30 years of age, ISPON believes that the dream of Vision 20:2020 is realizable only by accelerated efforts to build and unlock the innovation capabilities of our youth, who have propelled Nigeria over just four years to becoming the 10th largest internet user base in the world with 43m users as at August 2011,” he said.

In order to harness the enormous energy of the youth population, he said, ISPON has declared the competition open and released guidelines for the high profile National Software Competition for all tertiary institutions scheduled for October 18, this year.

“The competition will be held at the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, with the Cross River State Government as the chief host,” he said.

Braimah further said the competition would attract an audience of over 1,000 youths, supported by endorsements from MTN, UBA, NITDA, VISAFONE, Samsung, CPN, NCS, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and other corporate and institutional top institutions.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Agada advocates use of indigenous content firms

Information Technology (IT)-based publicity analyst, Mr. Ejiofor Agada has advised African corporate entities to inculcate publicity management and media access for global outreach through indigenous public relations newswire agencies for 21st century purposes.

Agada, who is the chief executive officer, Private Media Mart Limited, made his views known at the recently concluded electronic media content and technology marketing event tagged ‘DISCOP 2011’ in Nairobi, Kenya.

The three-day DISCOP Africa event, which was launched in 2009, is a meeting-centric market bringing together international suppliers of television content, with programming acquisitions executives representing African broadcasters, pay-TV operators, media practitioners and alternative content distribution platforms.

Presenting a paper entitled ‘Stretching the Boundaries of Modern Newsgathering: The PR Newswire Model Approach’ Agada said, the changes that has occurred in the process of newsgathering within the last one and a half decades across the globe has changed the way people perceive contents, especially news materials.

“Though the basic tenets of news states that it is what the media gatekeeper say it is, with the editor concentrating mainly on certain determinants or ingredients in measuring newsworthiness, changes recently recorded in the role of business concerns in political and economic landscape has altered the trend of newsgathering,” he said.

This, he said, has made it imperative for corporate entities, mostly on the continent of Africa to maximize the publicity and media access of their information to the larger audience by utilizing online PR newswire service that target African media practitioners.

He cited the situation whereby European, Asian and American business interests are utilizing PR newswire service to distribute news content within their regions, Agada explained that if their African counterparts do not tow the same line, they would continue to be at disadvantage in the global information flow ratio.

He argued, this has been because news sources for the journalist, which was formerly, restricted to the efforts of the individual journalist through research, investigations, interviews, scoops, and media briefings, conferences, has so far been enhanced by the importance and use of PR Newswire service by corporate entities.

Further, he cited PR Newswire service as the ‘next step’ after the advent of conventional news agency services, Mr. Agada explained that the rise in the use of PR newswire services, which started as far back as 1954, could be related to the emergence of the New media using the internet and mobile.

According to him, “PR Newswire Service is now a generic term to describe new media formats, usually on the internet; hired by corporations, public relations firms, governmental and non-governmental institutions to deliver news and multimedia content to journalists, consumers and investors who access the content via the Web, RSS, e-mail, satellite, equities terminals, and mobile.”

While pointing out the overall influence of such agencies in that genre in Europe and America, that has not only increased options of news sources for journalists, but also increased the distribution of corporate news on the internet, Mr. Agada lamented that African business concerns are not adapting same PR Newswire services.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

NiRA hosts AGM, Switchto.ng workshop

Mrs. Mary Uduma, NIRA president

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) would tomorrow commence a two-day packed Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a Switchto.ng workshop.

The Chief Operating Officer, NiRA, Mr. Ope Odusan made this disclosure in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online at the weekend, saying that the Switchto.ng workshop holds today, Wednesday, and the AGM proper takes place tomorrow at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.

Odusan, who also is the secretary to the executive board, said that the AGM is coming after enough time has been given as stipulated in NIRA’s constitution.

He also said that the agenda for the 4th AGM would include the receipt of the Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ended May 2011, together with the Auditor’s Report; Business Plan and Budget for the period of the current financial year beginning June 1, 2011, as well as consider other businesses that members properly bring before the meeting.

He noted that the Special Business of the AGM is to deliberate on the proposal to have the NIRA Financial Year changed from the month of May.

On Switchto .ng workshop, Odusan said the event is being organized in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and NIRA, which is aimed at promoting the adoption of the country’s Top Level Domain .ng, with a view to building the Nigerian internet economy.

He said that a wider adoption of .ng, would help improve Nigeria’s image on the internet space, build local content, and most importantly, arrest capital flight to foreign service providers.

Stressing the need for Nigerians to switch to .ng, he said that one of the unique features of the nation’s country code Top Level Domain is the ease of use, even as several choice domains are still available on .ng.

Odusan added that registrations could be done online via any of it’s over thirty accredited registrars which are listed on the NIRA website.

He pointed out that participation at the workshop is drawn from government ministries, departments and agencies, in addition to the private sector, stakeholders and the media, just as some accredited registrars would be on hand to assist applicants with the process of registering .ng domains.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D