Call for Papers & Participation – 2015 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) & Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable

ITRealms:

DigitalSENSE Africa Media in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), hereby invite papers/participation for the 2015 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) series on “Internet Governance for Development (IG4D)” and “Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable” respectively, slated for Thursday, June 4 and Friday June 5, 2015 at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Lagos, Nigeria.

The 2015 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable are annual events which act as a rallying point for Nigerian internet stakeholders in raising and addressing salient issues concerning the ICT sector, aimed at encouraging positive usage of the Internet among the youths, women, students and product sellers and manufacturers in in Nigeria.

This year’s theme for Day 1 IG4D is ‘Net Neutrality & Nigerian Internet Users’ on Thursday, June 4, 2015. while Day 2 is the Nigeria IPV6 Roundtable with the theme ‘Taking Advantage of Broadband for IPv6 Penetration’ on Friday, June 5, 2015; stimulating public discourse and creating awareness on the technological cum business benefits of this rapid advancing technology on Internet Governance, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and domain name industry, encourage integration of IPv6 into all aspects of networking and telecommunication infrastructure in the country, and commemorate the World IPV6 Day on Friday, June 5, 2015, as well as offering first-class platform for networking.

Discourse will be centered but not limited on these subthemes:

      In what ways main themes could shape the Nigerian state?

      What role can Nigerians play in ensuring optimization of net neutrality concept for the nation?

      Means of advancing positive usage of the Internet for Development and improved governance?

      Update of Nigeria’s IPv6 Status in comparison to other African States and globally effect.

      Manufacturers’ role in deepening IPv6 in developing economies – Nigeria case study.

      Role of Broadband in boosting IPv6 Penetration in Nigeria

      Projecting IPv6 in Nigeria by 2020

      Role of Government in accelerating IPv6 adoption?

      Impact of Socio-Media to 2015 General Elections in Nigeria.

      Lack of cohesion among ECOWAS subregion on IPv6 deployment.

Themes:

Day 1: IG4D is ‘Net Neutrality & Nigerian Internet Users’ on Thursday, June 4, 2015.

Day 2: Nigeria IPV6 Roundtable ‘Taking Advantage of Broadband for IPv6 Penetration’ on Friday, June 5, 2015 - (In commemoration of World IPv6 Day 2015)

*Organisers: *DigitalSENSE Africa Media: Block F1, Shop 133/122, Moyosore Aboderin Plaza, Bolade Junction, Oshodi-Lagos, Nigeria. Phone: +2348099400183, 8023122558, 8051000475, 8033592762.

*DEADLINES TO NOTE:*

Abstract submission: – Friday, 27 February 2015

Acceptance Notice:– Monday, 16 March, 2015

Full paper submission:-  Monday, 30 March, 2015

Conference/Exhibition:-  Thursday 4 and Friday 5 June, 2015

You are therefore, invited to submit proposals for paper presentations: workshops, technical and (4) breakout sessions, and exhibition/launch of products ands ervices.

Further information on conference, presentation, exhibition, online registration, and accommodation,

kindly email: info at digitalsenseafrica.com.ng and cc: remnekkv at gmail.com.

Executive Director, Operations, DigitalSENSE Africa Media, Nkemdilim Nweke

(Mrs) – 08099400183, nkem at digitalsenseafrica.com.ng

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ICANN grants 3 RAAs data retention waivers

ITRealms:

At least, three accredited registrars of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) have been granted their application for data retention waivers, reports ITRealms.

“ICANN hereby grants Registrar a limited waiver from compliance with certain provisions of the 2013 RAA, ….” ICANN declared in a official statement made available to ITRealms.

These applicants, ITRealms gathered include CSL Computer Service Langenbach GmbH, Belgium-based Register NV dba Register.eu, and Online SAS.

Also, ITRealms gathered that their application submitted to ICANN was in pursuant to Section 3 of the Data Retention Specification of the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) which provides that if a registrar is subject to the same applicable law that gave rise to ICANN's request to grant a previous data retention waiver under the 2013 RAA, a registrar may request that ICANN grant a similar waiver, which request shall be approved by ICANN, unless ICANN provides Registrar with a reasonable justification for not approving such request.

Registrar's Waiver Request (RWR) ITRealms equally cites the previous data retention waiver granted by ICANN to NameWeb BVBA, on the basis of its contention that compliance with the data collection and/or retention requirements of the Data Retention Specification in the 2013 RAA violates applicable law in Belgium; Ovh SAS, MailClub SAS, and Gandi SAS in France as well as RegistryGate, ingenit & Co. KG, and 1APl in Germany.

ITRealms reports that applicant registrars and aforementioned earlier beneficiaries were domiciled in Belgium, France and Germany subject to laws of the affected countries; whereas ICANN has determined that it is appropriate to grant Registrars data retention waiver similar to the waiver previously granted to Messrs NameWeb BVBA, Ovh SAS, MailClub SAS, Gandi SAS, RegistryGate, ingenit & Co. KG, and 1APl among others.

ITRealms further reports that ICANN granted the applicant Registrars limited waivers from compliance with certain provisions of the 2013 RAA based on three-point stipulated terms, comprising that:

1.            ICANN agrees that, following Registrar's execution of the 2013 RAA, for purposes of assessing Registrar's compliance with the data retention requirement of Paragraph 1.1 of the Data Retention Specification in the 2013 RAA, the period of "two additional years" in Paragraph 1.1 of the Data Retention Specification will be deemed modified to "one additional year."

2.            In all other respects the terms of the Data Retention Specification will remain AS-IS. The waiver granted to Registrar applies only to the post-sponsorship period of retention of the data listed in the Paragraphs 1.1.1 through 1.1.8 inclusive of the Data Retention Specification, and it does not constitute a waiver of any other provisions of the 2013 RAA or other ICANN policies applicable to registrars. Without limiting the foregoing, nothing in this waiver limits Registrar's obligation to comply with Consensus Policies or Temporary Policies developed and adopted in accordance with ICANN's Bylaws ("ICANN Policies") or limits Registrar's obligation to comply with any amendment, supplement or modification of the 2013 RAA approved and adopted in accordance with the terms of the 2013 RAA ("RAA Amendments"). In the event of any inconsistency between this waiver and the terms of any ICANN Policy or RAA Amendment, the terms of the ICANN Policy or RAA Amendment will control.

3.            The waiver granted to Registrar shall remain in effect for the duration of the term of the 2013 RAAsigned by Registrar.

ITRealms further reports that ICANN noted that the provisions of Section 3 of the Specification will apply to similar waivers requested by other registrars that are located in the affected countries and subject to the laws of these countries.

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +ICANNnews @RAAs

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USPF to use Access Gap study for interventions – Johnson

ITRealms:

Chairman of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and Honourable Minister of Communication Technology (CommTech) Dr. Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has asserted that importance of the recently concluded Access Gap study by the USPF, saying it would be used for adequate interventions, reports ITRealms.

Speaking at the recently relaunched website for USPF in Lagos, Mrs. Johnson told ITRealms that the new website and launch of ICT Gap clusters would boost the intervention of USPF in the country.

According to her, subsequently, the USPF will utilize these clusters to identify target areas, define Universal Access Service (UAS) and map the interventions respectively to the appropriate communities.

“We will also share the results of the study with the telecoms operators to enable them get a detailed view of the needs and demands of the market and assist them in developing roll out plans for these unreached areas,” she told ITRealms.

Johnson stressed that the nation forges ahead, the greatest wish of this administration, she told ITRealms, is to continue to collaborate with the telecom operators towards closing access gap in the country and set Nigeria on the path of being a full digitalized nation.

“We trust that we can rely on you to continue to be our trusted partners in deploying and delivering sustainable and impactful projects,” she said.

Mrs. Johnson further applauded participants at the forum, saying it’s a clear signal that as stakeholders, “we all share the same vision.”

Just as she emphasised that the results of the study, would be useful to clarify the results and how best they could be turned into projects for enhancing services to the communities.

“We hope to conclude this forum with a shared understanding about what to do and what our roles are in accomplishing what we have resolved to do such that when we leave this room all that will be left to do is to Execute! Execute!! Execute!!!” she concluded.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) @USPFNG +Efem Nkanga @NGRCOMMTech @NgComCommission +ITU 

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Pix: Johnson and USPF secretary, Maikano

ICG proposes final transition process timeline

ITRealms:

The Internet Assigned Names Authority (IANA) Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) has issued proposal for the finalization and updated transition process timeline, reports ITRealms.

The four page document, ITRealms reports explained the process that the ICG will follow for assembly and finalization of the IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal.

This, ITRealms gathered includes information about the ICANN Board's role in conveying the final transition proposal to the United States-based National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

In addition, ITRealms reports that ICG issued an update to its previously published process timeline.
Although ITRealms further gathered that the target dates remain unchanged in the updated timeline, but the explanations of the last two steps in the timeline have been updated for consistency with the Assembly and Finalization Process

ITRealms notes that previously published timeline graphic remains consistent with the updated timeline.
 

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GoTv extends to south-east, delights Nigerians

ITRealms:

GOTv, a digital terrestrial pay-TV has continued to extend its services in the South-Eastern parts of the country with latest signal availability now at Awka, the capital of Anambra State, Nsukka in Enugu State and Umuahia, capital of Abia State, reports ITRealms.

Also, ITRealms gathered that GOTv signals now accessible at Ilorin, Ikom, Ondo, Owo and Sagamu, this is coming as GOTv footprints visible in over 20 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory.

General Manager, Elizabeth Amkpa confirmed to ITRealms that TV viewers in these cities now enjoy the benefits of the digital television revolution namely based on clearer pictures and sound, by subscribing to the highly subsidized and latest approved GOtv DVB-T2 decoders for N2,900 in the ongoing “GO Gaga” offer.

“The use of the outdoor antenna (GOtenna) which is sold at a standalone price of N1,600 is recommended to guarantee optimal reception,” she advised.

According to her, with affordability at the core of the GOtv offering, subscribers have the option of two bouquets – GOtv with 28 local and international channels which is accessible at a monthly subscription of N1,000, and GOtv Plus with 41 channels, at a monthly subscription of N1,500.

Both bouquets, she told ITRealms offer seven programming genres namely; news and current affairs, general entertainment, music, documentary, sport, religion, sport and children’s programming. The channels including Al Jazeera, CNN, SuperSport Select 1 and 2, AfricaMagic, E! Entertainment, Mnet Movies Zone, Telemundo, Televista, BET, Sony Max, Faith Broadcasting Network (formerly TBN), One Gospel, Disney Junior, Nickelodeon, JimJam, MTV Base, Hip TV, Discovery World, Nat Geo Wild, Channel ED and several more provide entertainment which cater to the varied tastes of different members of the family.

“With schools just back in session, teenagers can learn of the latest happenings in the world of science, art and business by tuning into Channel ED on GOtv, while pre-schoolers can be engaged with several programming on Disney Junior, JimJam and Nickelodeon which will enable them to laugh and learn,” she said.

Stressing that for men, there is a lot of sporting action to look forward to, even as women could get the best of the red carpet coverage on E! Entertainment as the awards’ season kick-off with the 2015 Golden Globes and Fashion Police returns.

ITRealms recollects that GOtv was launched in October 2011 in Nigeria, and has enabled digital migration with readily accessible decoders, covering Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu, Benin, Aba, Owerri, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Asaba, Uyo, Calabar, Osogbo, Ife, Ogbomoso, Akure, Oyo, Jos, Abeokuta, Ilesa, Ede, Iseyin, Makurdi, Ado-ekiti, Mararaba, Suleja, Ondo, Owo, Abraka, Agbarho, Effurun, Ekpan, Jeddo, Kokori, Oghara, Okpe, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli, Warri and Eket.

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) @GOTV

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