DigitalSENSE News: Ndukwe to preside over roundtable on Telecom Infra...

DigitalSENSE News: Ndukwe to preside over roundtable on Telecom Infra...: Dr. Ernest Ndukwe The immediate past Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, would presid...

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 ... Making SENSE of digital revolution!

Illegal frequency: NCC closes 2 branches of First Bank

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has on Monday closed the New Ring Road Branch of First Bank of Nigeria in Ibadan, and the Aladbaka branch of the same bank in Akure, over illegal use of the 5.40 Gega Hertz (GHz) frequency band, which is licensable in Nigeria. 

According to the Head, Media and Public Relations at NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, quoted the enforcement team of the Commission, led by Mr. Efosa Idehen as having stormed both banks, revealed that the frequencies are being illegally used at the banks.

Also, Idehen said had served these bank officials with warrants of arrests for illegal use of licensable frequencies, thereby denying the Federal Government the revenues accruable from these resources.

The enforcement action, which was carried out with the security personnel, paralyzed activities at both branches of the banks as the disappointed customers were forced out of the premises of the banks at mid day.

Idehen said, the use of illegal frequency band by the bank is against the prescriptions of the Communications Act 2003.

He pointed out that at Ibadan, officials of the bank mounted resistance to the enforcement activities resulting in its Operation Manager being arrested and taken to the Iyaganku Police station by the police for obstructing the activities of the enforcement team of the Commission and refusing to lead them to the bank’s server room, to enable them isolate the equipment.

“The case was different at Akure branch where the officials of the bank fully cooperated with the enforcement team of NCC,” he said.

Further, Mr. Idehen said that the Commission has forewarned all those transmitting illegally on these channels through public notices in the media and that those in contravention would be persecuted.

He said the exercise is a continuous one from the one already carried out in various states of the Federation and wondered why some of the banks are still illegally using these frequencies when they were not licensed to operate on them.

As said by him, it appears the banks are the major culprits in the illegal use of frequencies in the 5.40Ghz spectrum band.

Particularly on Ibadan branch case, Mr. Idehen said the bank will remain shut until the 5.40GHz equipments are isolated and the indoor and outdoor units removed from the bank and taken to the police station. 

He commended the police for their support to the Commission to sanitize the air space, stressing that the 5.40GHz is meant for data communication and could only be issued by companies licensed by the Nigerian communications Commission.

Remmy Nweke

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Expert says 80% of Sub-Sahara Africans live without electricity

Chief Executive, Solar Jooce, Mr. David Agbakoba, has said that 80 per cent of the populace residing in the Sub-Sahara Africans still lives without electricity.

Speaking recently at the signing of deal by his company and British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), Mr. Agbakoba asserted, “Of the world's 1.6 billion people living without electricity, 80% live in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

ITRealms Online, recollects that Solar Jooce, a social enterprise and British American Tobacco Foundation, an independent charitable organisation recently signed a collaboration agreement to train rural women in Oyo State in assembling and repairing basic solar lanterns and phone charging units. 

Agbakoba, who was joined at the ceremony by Mr. Gbenga Ibikunle, the Executive Director, BATN Foundation, disclosed that the essence initially is to train 20 rural women.

The training, he said, would help them to establish a solar micro-business.

The training will also empower the ladies to light up their communities, and spread the use of solar as an alternative to dangerous and expensive fossil fuelled lighting such as kerosene lamps.

The workshop, which is into its 4th week, covers four Local Government Areas in Oyo state - Itesiwaju, Kajola, Oyo West, and Iseyin – before moving on to other states across Nigeria.

He pointed out that the ladies have received marketing and financial management training, in Yoruba, by Mrs. Yemi Owolabi, Executive Director, Finance of Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria, and entitled “Growing your New Solar MicroBusiness.”

The Solar Jooce women’s empowerment initiative is a small step in the daunting task of providing a clean, alternative source of electricity, alleviating poverty, and providing opportunities for rural families in Nigeria”.

ITRealms Online, recalls that the training workshop is equally supported by the Hertz Corporation, C & I Leasing (transport & logistics), Sesema PR, and the Bishop of Ajayi Crowther Diocese, Bishop O. O. Oduntan.

 Remmy Nweke


ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

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
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

DigitalSENSE News debuts

L-r Mr. Odusan, Mrs. Nweke, Chief Massari, Prof. Akwule, Engr. Adebayo

DigitalSENSE Africa Media Limited, with hitherto online presence has unveiled DigitalSENSE Newspaper at a ceremony, which held in Lagos.

Speaking at the event graced by who-is-who in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, the Executive Director, Operations at DigitalSENSE Africa Media Limited, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke said that the debut of DigitalSENSE News is part of the strategies to bridge the gap still yearning in the sharing of developmental news within the sector.

She also said that DigitalSENSE News promises to serve the industry well, cutting across businesses, including sustainable development, environment, agro-business, sport, banking and finance, fashion, art, autos to name a few.

She said that her team is well entrenched in the media analytics in the country, having been in the industry in the last three years plus as publishers of multiple award winning ITRealms and NaijaAgroNet respectively.

DigitalSENSE Africa Media, she said, has what it takes to deliver on the promises of linking ICT for Development (ICT4D) with various sectors of the economy.

Mrs. Nweke equally solicited the support of all industry stakeholders in making this dream a success.

For the great news that encourages knowledge-base, she asked Nigerians to embrace DigitalSENSE News, especially those who want to continuously make sense and for a reach that will give business greater meaning to what they are doing right now.

“Our decision to introduce the DigitalSENSE News is to extend the reach of the digital revolution happening all over the world and particularly in Nigeria to some of our followers who will love to have access to the kind of developmental information we always share, even while they may not be online,” she said.

Mrs. Nweke further prayed for the souls of those who died at the DanaAir crash last Sunday, even as a minute silence was observed in the honour of the departed.

However, the unveiling was performed by the President, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Prof. Raymond Akwule, who led the President of Internet Society, Nigeria chapter, Chief Engr. Giandomenico Massari, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, chief operating officer of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mr. Opeoluwa Odusan, among others.

Commenting on DigitalSENSE News, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Akwule commended the management of DigitalSENSE Africa Media for the initiative to ensure that more Nigerians are included in the digital sphere.

ALTON chairman, Mr. Adebayo confessed of the good quality and urged DigitalSENSE team to keep up the good work.

In her review of DigitalSENSE News, Ms Bunmi Idowu applauded the project, disclosing that the subscription is very affordable with good quality prints on art paper which sells for N200 only for the monthly publication.

She enjoined Nigerians and businesses in the country to appreciate this effort by patronage of DigitalSENSE News, adding that those behind the project are well versed in media enterprise.

Our reporters

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