eTranzact re-enforces security, obtains PCI DSS Certification

eTranzact has re-enforced its security infrastructure by pioneering role in the e-payment space one again by becoming the first licensed mobile money operator to achieve  the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Certification, (PCIDSS).

The PCI DSS certification dated June 30, 2012 which was issued to eTranzact.

Disclosing to ITRealms Online at a recent interview, saying PCI DSS is a binding collection of due diligence practices that promote IT security. PCI DSS aims to reduce financial fraud through heightened security capabilities built around the network, data, vulnerability management practice, and the governance of IT processes.

The chief executive officer, eTranzact, Mr. Valentine Obi, noted that with the PCI DSS certification, eTranzact users would experience improved security on all payment channels such as ATM, Point of Sale (POS) terminals, mobile banking services, Pocketmoni services, and webAccess.

Mr. Richard Omoniyi, the Chief Technical Officer of eTranzact, said, “This is a huge milestone for eTranzact, our merchants and customers. This will continue to increase the desired confidence of customers through assurance provided by higher level of data security process.”

“PCI DSS certification is a further demonstration of our commitment to good governance and responsible business practice,” Mr. Omoniyi said.

As global certification compliance to PCI DSS demand annual on-site security audit and quarterly network scan. On-site security audits are performed by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). 

Omoniyi further emphasized that data security is a core value of the company’s business; this is done in order to protect customers against financial loss on the platform.

Adding that with this corporate action, we are emphasizing commitment to Service Level Agreement (SLA) with our trade partners (participating banks, merchant et al) as they are guaranteed of increased protection against financial losses and remediation costs that arise from security breaches.”

Remmy Nweke
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Etisalat offers 80-day promo on discounted roaming, SMS

… ‘One Phone Every 5 Minutes’ excites, Talkzone extends to 30 states

Etisalat Nigeria has launched an 80-day new promo that offers discounted roaming call rates and lower Short Messaging Service (SMS) rates to all existing.

This also offers new Etisalat subscribers travelling to the United Kingdom, France and United Arab Emirates during the summer holidays.  This promo which kicks off on the 12th of July will run till the 30th of September, 2012.

For the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and France, the rates for local calls and calls back to Nigeria will go for N120 while SMS will go for N35 and Data services will be N15 for every 70KB used. The rates are available to both pre-paid and post-paid customers who would be roaming their lines in the listed countries and the associated networks including Vodafone for UK, Etisalat for the UAE and Orange for France.

Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, says Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom, France and United Arab Emirates this summer will be able to stay in touch with friends, business associates and family members while enjoying their holidays.

Etisalat, he said, recognises the need for its customers to always keep in touch with their families and business associates in Nigeria even when they are abroad.

“Our customers are at the centre of our business and we continually provide innovative and customer-centric products and services to suit their lifestyles. The Etisalat Roaming Summer Promo is one of many services we have introduced to reward our subscribers”, he said.

In a related development, Etisalat says its recent ‘One Phone Every 5 Minutes’ in the 9ja Free Credit promo, has continued to generate interest, as the promo which kicked off on July 5, 2012 promises to give customers the opportunity to win a phone every five minutes throughout the months of July and August.

Mr. Ammar was quoted as saying that customers who recharge within 5 minutes of every hour, everyday in the months of July and August would qualify for the draw to win Dual SIM phones, Blackberry Curve 4, Etisalat Gaga smartphones, Acer, Samsung GIO and ZTE V9 tablet, every five minutes, 24-7. That is a total of 288 phones to be won, every single day.

Additionally, he said, new and existing prepaid customers who register in July or August would enjoy bonus airtime of 30 per cent of their total recharges in 30 days, from the day they register. The bonus credit, he explained, is valid for 30 days, and could be used to make calls or send SMS to any network in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Etisalat special 1 Kobo tariff with Talkzone is gathering momentum in 30 States of the federation. Mr. Ammar said Etisalat’s extension of Talkzone, its dynamic discount tariff allows customers 98 per cent discount in 14 more states in the country, thus bringing the number of states enjoying the discount tariff to 30.

Talkzone, the Chief Commercial Officer says offers flexible discounts on calls to any network in Nigeria at different times and in different locations, asserting, “Subscribers can enjoy up to 98 per cent on calls made on Etisalat lines, which enables them to make calls for as low as 1 kobo per second and up to 20 per cent discount on calls made to other networks.”

ITRealms Online recalls that the tariff was first introduced in October 2010 in five states of the North east, and later extended to other regions in February and May 2012, including Abia, Adamawa, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kano, Osun, Taraba, Yobe, Sokoto, Kebbi,  Zamfara,  Kogi, Bauchi and Katsina. Others are Jigawa, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Plateau, Benue, Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra and Imo States.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

UNECA launches Innovation Prize for Africa’13

The second round of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA), which aims to reward innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest, was launched today at a press conference organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Director, ICT, Science and Technology Division (ISTD) at the ECA, Ms. Aida Opoku-Mensah, confirmed this to ITRealms, saying, “Our focus is the future we innovate. It’s based on the core belief that the best way to predict the future is to create it. It is a call to action across Africa. To develop our own solutions, bring together our best minds and all our resources.”

She also said the prize is a global invitation to link arms and use potential, create efficiencies, and commercialize the very best ideas, which is the future Africa deserves.

Ms. Opoku-Mensah explained that researchers are invited to propose projects that unlock new African potential under one or more areas which include manufacturing and service Industry; Agriculture/agribusiness; ICTs; Health and Wellbeing; and Environment, Energy and Water.

She reiterated that the organizers expect the prize to promote among young African men and women the pursuit of science, technology and engineering careers and business applications.

She further explained that the aims include to mobilize leaders from all sectors to fuel African innovation; Promote innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest through the competition; Promote science, technology and engineering as rewarding, exciting and noble career options among the youth in Africa by profiling success applicants; and Encourage entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.

According to her, in pursuing those aims, the IPA expects an increased commercialization of research and development (R&D) outputs in Africa; Increased funding of start-ups, adoption of new and emerging technologies and accelerated growth of an innovative and dynamic private sector; and increased economic activity and African led development that results in lasting impact.

She emphasized the selection criteria, which include market potential, impact, scalability, originality, utility and technical aspects and informed journalists that the winning proposal would be awarded a cash prize of US$ 100,000, with two runner-ups receiving each US$ 25,000. Even as the registration deadline for the 2013 prize, has been set for 31 October 2012 with no possibility for extensions.

Ms. Opoku-Mensah recollected that in the first phase of the competition, 458 applicants from 38 countries submitted their projects for consideration, reflecting the strong entrepreneurial spirit and the high potential of innovations in Africa.

She pointed out that an Egyptian engineer, Mohammed Sanad, who has designed a base-station antenna that could facilitate upgrades to more advanced mobile networks in developing countries was the first winner of the Innovation Prize for Africa.

The runner up, Zeinou Abdelyamine, an industrial chemist from Algeria, received US$50,000 for his research and development of environmentally friendly, natural insecticides and rodenticides. 

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D