Aba robbers made away with MTN recharge cards

The least may not have been heard of notoriety of the city of Aba as the leading telecommunications company in Nigeria, MTN Friday said a large quantity of its recharge cards have been stolen from the company’s premises in Aba, Abia State.

This came as the information of impending shutting of MTN services in Abia State still hovers following the persistence of the Abia StateInfrastructure Development Fund to force the telecom service provider to pay unrecognized levies.

The Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck confirmed this, saying that armed robbers last week broke into the company’s premises in the city of Aba, and made away with large quantity of recharge cards of various denominations.

Mr. Goodluck also said the company had responded immediately by de-activating the affected recharge cards from the network in line with standard operating procedure.

“As a result of this, any of the stolen recharge cards will no longer be accepted by the network,” he said.

Equally, ITRealms Online gathered that all the company’s Trade Partners in Aba and its environs had been duly notified so that they would be prepared should anyone attempt to sell any of the voided recharge cards to them.

“We wish to advise our numerous customers in Abia State and its environs to exercise caution when purchasing recharge cards. We urge our customers to seek out authorised MTN vendors so as to guide against picking up stolen and voided recharge cards,” he said.

Alternatively, MTN advised customers to consider recharging their phones through Virtual Top-up (VTU) platform, which even provides customers with five per cent discount for any amount of airtime purchased.

Further, Mr. Goodluck said the incident had been reported to relevant security agencies and apologized to MTN customers for any inconveniences the development might cause them.

Remmy Nweke

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Johnson lists key characters for ICT growth

L-R Angaye, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Perm Sec, Juwah,Muri Baba

Minister of Communication Technology (MoCT) Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has outlined some key characters for the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

Johnson who spoke at a stakeholders forum organized by her ministry in Lagos, said in her paper entitled “The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry in Nigeria: A Roadmap presentation at “Roundtable on Creation of a Digital Economy and Information Society in Nigeria” that the Nigerian ICT industry characteristics showed indicated a predominantly service-based industry that is distinguished by dominance of basic voice and data communication services provided by telecom companies, in particular mobile (GSM) operators.

According to her, the industry has limited manufacturing and assembly capabilities for ICT equipment and devices.

In addition, she said, these devices are predominantly sold by companies that have established channel partnership with global manufacturers, even as there are an increasing ‘grey market’ of ICT equipment, devices and peripherals.

“Delivery of content is mainly through conventional media such as television, radio and newspapers,” she said.

Equally, she noted that content delivery are mainly via the Internet and is limited but increasing internet penetration is low.

This, she said, is predominantly via mobile phones, and whilst international bandwidth capacity has improved terrestrial national capacity, thus lagging behind.

The Nigerian ICT industry, Mrs. Johnson said, has growth potential, opportunities for job creation, challenges, although there are some priority areas for intervention.

The nation’s ICT industry, she pointed out, is a predominantly service-based industry that is characterized by highly fragmented markets; exemplified by proliferation of small players with low-value offerings.

As said by her, the delivery of value added services such as network and systems integration is mostly for corporate customers that are comparatively few in number.

She emphasized that the manufacturing and assembly of hardware exhibits very low growth due to lack of essential support infrastructures which limit opportunities and raise entry barriers.

“Software development and the software industry in general, are under-developed due to paucity of skill despite a ready and untapped market,” she said.

Remmy Nweke

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Nigeria’s 122th on ICT development index

The much expected Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Index has been released by the global telecommunication regulator, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)  with Korea scaling top of the ladder, while Nigeria is 122th among the selected economies as at 2010.

Apart from missing in the global ranking of Fixed (Wired) broadband subscription by speed and selected economies within the period under review, Nigeria came behind Ghana and India as well as Indonesia who ranked 120, 116 and 101 in that order.

However, with the Republic of Korea leading the pack on this index released under a theme: Measuring the Information Society, ITU stated that Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Japan, Austria, Germany, United States and Canada.

The aforementioned were ranked 2, 5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 26 in that order.

ITU said, the latest figures released at the weekend showed that information and communication technology (ICT) uptake continues to accelerate worldwide, spurred by a steady fall in the price of telephone and broadband Internet services.

The new data, released in ITU’s flagship annual ICT report ‘Measuring the Information Society 2011’, ranked the Republic of Korea as the world’s most advanced ICT economy, followed by Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and Finland.

A key feature of the report is the ICT Development Index (IDI), which ranks 152 countries according to their level of ICT access, use and skills, and compares 2008 and 2010 scores.

Most countries at the top, ITU noted the ranking were from Europe and Asia Pacific in addition to the United Arab Emirates and Russia ranking first within their respective regions and Uruguay coming highest in South America.

ITU measurement indicated that Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Viet Nam, and Russia were some of the most dynamic countries between 2008 and 2010, with all of them making substantial improvements in their IDI ranks.

“All countries included in the IDI improved their scores this year,” ITU stated, which underlines the increasing pervasiveness of ICTs in today’s global information society.

“While the IDI leaders are all from the developed world, it is extremely encouraging to see that the most dynamic performers are developing countries,” said Dr Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary-General.

He added that the ‘mobile miracle’ is putting ICT services within reach of even the most disadvantaged people and communities.

“Our challenge now is to replicate that success in broadband,” he declared.

ITRealms Online gathered that this report showed that while ICT and income levels are closely related, getting the right public policy mix could drive faster take-up and a number of countries, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea have higher IDI levels than their income level would predict.

ITU also stated that the IDI combined 11 indicators into a single measure that could be used as a benchmarking tool globally, regionally, and at national level, as well as helping track progress in ICT development over time.

“It measures ICT access, use and skills, and includes such indicators as mobile cellular subscriptions, households with a computer, fixed and mobile broadband Internet subscriptions, and basic literacy rates,” ITU said.

For the first time this year, the report stated that the IDI’s ‘ICT use’ sub-index grew more than the ‘ICT access’ sub-index, reflecting the fact that many countries have reached saturation levels in terms of basic ICT infrastructure and are becoming active ICT users.

Remmy Nweke

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Uwaje tasks universities on software competition

President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chief Chris Uwaje has tasked the nation’s universities on software development by taking advantage of the group’s software contest for students.

Dr. Emma Ekuwem & Chief Chris Uwaje recently in Lagos.

Uwaje in a special message at the establishment of Software Development Clubs (SDC) across the universities nationwide recently by ISPON, expressed optimism on the ability of these institutions to make a huge difference as the world forge-ahead in knowledge economies.

“I am convinced of the visionary fact that one day and very soon, this 21st century, Nigerian developed software will break the world record in form, content and quality,” he said.

Uwaje also pointed out to the participants that they were chosen by merit, stressing, “you are one of the few 

chosen ones to supersonically volt Nigeria into the 21st century Information Society (IS)”

According to him, the contribution of these Software Development Clubs to the knowledge society would definitely make Nigeria great.

“I absolutely believe in your innovative potential, creative ability, confidence, capability and intellectual risk management adventure to achieve the above challenges, objectives and interfacing goals,” he charged, reminding them that they were one of the new chosen ones by merit, hence drafted for the Nigeria digital knowledge quest.

He further urged institutions that do not have Software Development Clubs (SDC) already, to reach out to the coordinator the initiative at ISPON at admin@ispon.org, asserting, “ISPON challenges you, Nigerian Youths to dream software.”

ITRealms Online recalls that Software Development Club seeks to develop and empower Nigerian Youths with Global Software Knowledge as strategic instrument for facilitating and building skilled capacities for self-reliance, wealth creation and national security as well as applying global Information, and Communications Technology (ICT) best practices.

Meanwhile, the chairman, publicity committee of ISPON, Mr. Moses Braimah disclosed recently that the association has finalized arrangements to stage the first National Software Competition billed to take place in Calabar, Cross River State.

Braimah said in what promises to be the greatest IT-Quest and knowledge encounter of the year 2011 that for the past one year, ISPON National Executive Council had fine-tuned the initiative.

He emphasized that subsequent to extensive interactions with university students and the leadership of National Association of Computer Students (NACCOS), ISPON rolled out strategies for the establishment of Software Development Clubs in Nigerian universities.

These 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.

Remmy Nweke

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Ericsson opens regional support center

The rapid development and evolution of the telecoms industry across sub-Saharan Africa may have necessitated the recent opening of Regional Support Centre in the city of Accra, Ghana by Ericsson.

A press statement from Ericsson Media Relations in sub-Saharan Africa made available to ITRealms Online, at the weekend, showed that the Accra Regional Support Centre (RSC) was the first of such regional outreach on the continent.

Confirming this, the Head, Media Relations, Ericsson West Africa, Ms Omasan Ogisi said the RSC aims at ensuring the delivery of fast, high quality support services to operators, covering core and access networks, value added services, intelligent networks and network management systems.

“It offers a pool of experts working in collaboration with existing first line support teams, dedicated to improving network availability and performance as well as the seamless deployment of new services and technologies that will enhance the user experience,” she said.

The Vice President and Head of Operations in sub-Saharan Africa and Country Manager, Ericsson Ghana, Mr. Alan Triggs, was quoted as reiterating Ericsson’s commitment to providing a high quality of service to customers.

“With this center, we will be able to improve our response time by providing them with expertise closer to home,” Triggs said, adding, this shows Ericsson’s commitment to nurturing local talent and driving the sustainable development of telecommunications in Africa.

He disclosed that the facility recently employed 20 graduate trainees from universities in Ghana who are working with senior engineers to mentor and develop their skills base.

Triggs also said the Center works closely with Ericsson’s global support service organization, drawing on experience from customer support operations all over the world. 

Vice President and Head of Product Related Services, Ericsson, Eva Elmstedt, said Ericsson has a long-standing history of working with proactive support services which improve the user experience by anticipating and preventing service disturbances, in addition to reactive support services.

“We believe this offering will become an integral part of customer operations in the African continent in the coming years,” he said, underscoring the fact that globally, Ericsson supports networks that serve over 2 billion subscribers, around the clock.

Elmstedt pointed out that Ericsson’s service delivery framework is based on common processes, methods and tools shared between its global and regional operations.

Ericsson has over 65,000 service professionals in 180 countries, including an average of 15,000 subcontractors, which are well positioned to support customers’ services needs around the world.

Remmy Nweke

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Customers applaud Etisalat’s products, services

Telecom consumers on the Etisalat network in the country have applauded the mobile operator’s innovative products and services.

Participants, who spoke at a Customer Forum organized by Etisalat Nigeria, applauded the opportunity, which enable them to interact with Etisalat officials.

One of the customers, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, described the impact the company has had on the telecommunications landscape in the last three years of rolling out, as mind-boggling. 

He commended Etisalat Nigeria for its innovative services, which has really revolutionized the telecommunication industry in the country, in addition to setting a standard which would be difficult for others to equal or surpass.

“It is amazing the impact it has had, especially when one considers its very young age, compared to the others who have been around for over 10 years,” he said.

Yusuf also admitted that what endeared him most to the brand were its innovative products and services.

He, therefore, commended Etisalat Nigeria for introducing the customer forum, describing it as the first by any telecommunication company in the country.

Equally speaking, the duo of Mrs. Ngozi Onwuzulu and Miss Peace Jacobs commended Etisalat for impacting on the lives of customers with its lower call rates, which both agreed have no hidden charges.

They also lauded the clarity of Etisalat’s voice calls, describing it as ‘crystal clear,’ while urging Etisalat to improve its data services, as well as increase its network coverage, especially in rural areas of the country.

Responding, Director, Customer Care, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Plato Symiris restated the commitment of the telecommunications company to customer satisfaction through the provision of quality services.

He said the company has concluded plans to launch its 3G network around the country, and expressed conviction that this will adequately address complaints over data services.

As said by Mr. Symiris, customer satisfaction was at the core of Etisalat’s brand values, pointing out that this was the reason behind the introduction of the customer forum.

He pointed out that though the company was only three years old in the industry, it has within the relative short period achieved a lot in the industry and challenged others to be on their toes.

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ATCON honours Haffner, first NITEL’s CEO with discourse

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has honoured the first chief executive officer of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), Victor Adetunji Haffner, with a breakfast discourse on his 92th birthday.

 

Speaking at the weekend in Lagos at the session, ATCON president, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu congratulated Haffner for turning 92 while appreciating God.

“We celebrate and thank Almighty God for his life and achievements which forever remains a cornerstone of our industry and its development,” he declared.

Omo-Ettu accepted responsibility on behalf of all my peers if the guest of honour, Pa Haffner, feels a tinge of disappointment about his generation, given the haphazard nature of handling the affairs of this country; its economy and well-being.  

According to him, Haffner as a reputed engineer participated in the launch of the first experimental rocket into space fired from The Marina in Lagos in 1963 and who in 2011 was being told that launching of NigeriaSat2 and NigeriaSatX is novel and from Russia.

He pointed out that though there is no harm in launching a space rocket from anywhere, after all, the United States chose the Lagos Marina in 1963 purely for technical, geographical and commercial reasons of proximity to the equator.

The launching point, he said, is important considering the availability of communication facility at the nearby headquarters of the Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited, which had just then been renamed from Cable & Wireless.

“… And which it pleased God Almighty to make Engr. Victor Haffner its first Chief Executive,” Omo-Ettu noted.

Pointing out that the significant difference is that while there was no large Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) whose President was to witness the 1963 launch, there was one to witness the 2011 launch in Russia.

However, he said that the establishment of that famous institution is one of the lasting legacies of Engr. Victor Haffner and his compatriots.

“Pa Haffner and his compatriots also went ahead to canvass for the establishment of Council of Registered Engineers (COREN), which he meritoriously served as first President in 1972,” he said.

This moment, Omo-Ettu pointed out, coincided with a new dawn, as the Federal Government recently approved the long-time clamour that hitherto incongruent industries of telecommunications, broadcasting and computing be restructured into a desirable unified entity for ease of management of information technology resources, through the creation of Ministry of Communications Technology (MCT) otherwise refers to ICT Ministry.

“This unification has been a long journey, unfinished and unclear even at take off, but we have taken the first steps and promise to keep going,” he said.

ATCON and likes of COREN, he also promised would continue to be at the forefront of the struggle to make the case that the Federal Government takes the nation out of darkness by pushing for true liberalization in the energy sector - an experiment which under Pa Haffner leadership was pushed for back in 1990s for telecommunications and which has proved to be an inspired move and remains inspirational.

The discourse, he said, availed selected participants the opportunity to dine with Pa Haffner and also to listen to the guest speaker; a distinguished and senior colleague of counterparts in the accounting profession.

Remmy Nweke
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