Fraud alert: EVC of NCC has no LinkedIn account, beware! - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised alarm over fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating its Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, reports ITREALMS.

NCC in a press statement endorsed by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka and made available to ITREALMS, said the commission wishes to draw public attention to a fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating the person, and office of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Danbatta.

ERAS: ALTON applauds NCC, EVC Danbatta for quality regulation - ITREALMS

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The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, has applauded the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, for exceptional leadership, reports ITREALMS.

He also commended the NCC's commitment to quality regulation, attributing the success of the telecom industry in the country to the regulatory environment it enjoys.

5G networks are energy efficient says EVC Danbatta – ITREALMS

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The Fifth Generation (5G) spectrum networks has been described as energy efficient, according to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, reports ITREALMS.

The EVC who was speaking at the 2023 commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day with the theme: “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transition” in Abuja, said that NCC in keeping to its tradition, is poised to realising the theme for this year.

The theme, he said, is very relevant given that Nigeria's recent licensing of the 5G spectrum network, which Danbatta noted consumes twice as much energy as 4Gs, “although they are more energy-efficient per gigabyte.”

The EVC pointed out that with the recent licensing of the Fifth Generation (5G) spectrum, Nigeria will witness an increased deployment of telecom infrastructure to satisfy the wireless service coverage requirement for 5G services.

This anticipated growth in the number of 5G coverage, he said, will trigger high demand for data services which will result in increased energy consumption for the network infrastructure, especially the Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G Customer Premise Equipment (CPEs) and mobile devices for example.

“This requires the industry to look for green and sustainable power solutions required for the connectivity of IoT devices and network optimisation,” he said.

All over the globe, Prof. Danbatta explained that telecom companies are among the biggest energy users, as a result of the stiff industry competition which causes them to try to satisfy their consumers by providing higher-speed networks.

“With the rising utility costs, it is critical for companies to reconsider the sustainability of their operations by lowering the operational impact on the environment. This is more so because it has been found that implementing energy efficiency measures could potentially reduce the operating costs of telcos by up to 20 per cent,” he said.

Some of these energy-efficiency measures, he outlined to include the redesign of the Radio Access Networks (RAN) of Base Stations which were initially built to maximise connectivity, not energy efficiency.

“More than 75 per cent of the time, the radio base station resources remain unused because of the hardware components activated at all times to transmit system information and synchronisation and reference signals,” he said.

Stressing that to avoid waste heat, some of 5G’s newest RAN is equipped with an energy-saving measure allowing for the automatic switching of components.

He underscored the fact that some other energy efficiency measures could also include the use of renewable energy sources (hydrogen, wind, solar etc.) to supply the energy needed.

PhotoSpeaks @ITREALMS: Quotable Quotes from NCC’s EVC @Library Day 2021 - ITREALMS

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Soon, NCC'll launch automated numbering system - EVC

ITREALMS:

Apex telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may have advanced plans to introduce automated numbering system in the country, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this to ITRealms in Lagos recently, the Executive Vice Chairman and chief executive officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said that the Commission would soon launch this service.

“The automated system will be launched very soon by the Commission,” he declared at a one-day consultative forum towards the introduction of an automated numbering system in Nigeria held in Lagos.

EVC who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr. Ubale Maska, also described numbers as scarce resources, noting that “one of the core functions of the Commission is to ensure that this scarce resource is effectively and efficiently managed."

Equally speaking at the forum, Paul Dinwoke, CEO Molcon Multiconcepts Limited, Consultants to NCC on the project also told the participants that some of the benefits of the automated system include convenience, transparency, efficiency, easy tracking, ability to choose number options, and strengthening of online payment systems.

The forum was attended by many stakeholders, including licensees of the Commission and staff, including Bako Wakil, Deputy Director Technical Standards and Network Integrity who told the audience that the deployment of automatic numbering management system is part of the NCC's efforts to automate her business processes within and outside the Commission.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Pix; L-R): Engr. Bako Wakil, Deputy Director, Technical Standards, NCC; Engr. Ubale Maska, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC; Engr. Kenneth Uzoekwe, Zonal Controller Lagos, NCC

VAS regulatory framework to promote local ICT innovations - Danbatta

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has stressed the essence of the proposed regulatory framework for the provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria, saying that it will promote Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations locally, reports ITRealms.

Danbatta in his opening remarks at the commission's Consultative form on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the Provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, Wednesday, he spoke on the the Commission's goals towards creating a level playing field for all stakeholders to ensure that they each gets equal value for their role in ICT, which will also in turn promote ICT innovation locally.

Th EVC also said that it would increase investment in youth, promote Small & Medium Enterprises (SME's), as well as providing access to optimized and affordable broadband services in the country.


He noted that it is important to develop and encourage quality local content in Nigeria by rewarding content developers who are major players in the Value Added Services (VAS) segment of the industry.

"That when finished, the regulatory framework will compliment the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003) and respective licences issued by the Commission in providing guiding principles, standards and protocols for Value Added Services operating in the industry," he said.

Danbatta equally said that the forum is part of the Commission's rule-making process and its guiding principle of carrying out representative and wide consultations in the development of regulatory instruments as stipulated by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003).

Breaking News: Danbatta seeks IGP protection on telecoms infrastructure

ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has solicited the protection of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on telecommunications infrastructure in the country, reports ITRealms.

NCC expressed concerned over increasing cases of illegal sealing up of telecoms Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) across the country by various persons, including organizations, communities, agencies of the Federal State and local government at times using law enforcement officers.

Danbatta made this appeal when he led a team of NCC Directors and officials on a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase in Abuja recently, lamented that apart from the actions being illegal, they also violate Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, CAP C39, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He also said that sealing up of Base Stations has its social implication that is cutting off subscribers from communicating thereby degrading quality of service, which is already a major concern.

According to him, acts of willful destruction of telecoms infrastructure, such as cutting of fibre optics and general vandalism have become very worrisome, hence the proposal for the institution of a critical infrastructure law that will require the police to monitor and protect public infrastructure.

“While we seek your support for urgent actualization of this law, we wish to implore you to see to the use of the current provisions of the law to ensure that individuals found to be engaged in willful destruction of telecoms infrastructure are timely prosecuted,” Danbatta solicited.

ITRealms gathered that both agencies of government, recently pledged to collaborate on vital issues concerning security of telecoms infrastructure and capacity building for modern policing which the IGP, Solomon Arase, stressed, forms the bedrock of modern security practices.

IGP Arase in response expressed readiness of the Force to work with the Commission immediately proposed the setting up of joint teams, drawn from the Police and the Commission which will handle telecom related cases.

 

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Breaking news: Danbatta to unveil 8-point agenda

Breaking News @ITRealms:

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta would this week unveil his 8-point agenda to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, ITRealms can authoritative report.

The EVC, ITRealms also reports will use the opportunity of this unveiling to give insight into what his leadership will be till 2020.

Sources close to ITRealms confirmed that Prof. Danbatta will cut across his style of regulation operandi, broadband deployment, Long Term Evolution (LTE), next generation network modalities among others.

ITRealms recalls that Nigerian Senate on Tuesday November 22, 2015 confirmed Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Prof. Danbatta was appointed in acting capacity by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 4, 2015 following the expiration of the tenure of the erstwhile EVC, Dr. Eugene Juwah.

Accordingly, Prof. Danbatta went through thorough screening by the Senator Gilbert Nnaji-led Communication Committee, after which they expressed satisfaction and upheld Danbatta’s appointment for the next five years in the first instance.

ITRealms recalls that hitherto, Prof. Danbatta was the Acting Vice Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology, Wudil. Born in Danbatta Local Government Council of Kano State, Prof. Danbatta obtained his BEng, MSc degrees from the Technical University of Wroclaw in Poland and his PhD from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) UK respectively.

Hitherto, he served as a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology of Bayero University Kano for 28 years, where he taught courses in telecommunications engineering and electronics and held academic positions of Dean of the Faculty and Head of Department. His main responsibilities, in the university, included Deputy and Acting Dean of Students’ Affairs, Administrator of the Works Department and later, Director of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT).

He was also a member of over 60 University committees and task forces, including numerous stints as Chairman.  In administrative and other responsibilities outside the university, he has served on over 20 committees, prominent among which was his Chairmanship of the implementation Committee of pioneer Deputy and Acting Vice-chancellor when it took off in 2001.  Prof. Danbatta has supervised more than 60 PhD, MEng and BEng projects in diverse areas of telecommunications.

Credited with over 50 articles in journals, conference proceedings and technical reports.  He is also the author of a six-chapter, 167 – page book titled Element of Static Engineering Electromagnetics.

He is a recipient of 18 distinguished awards and certificates of honour.  Prof. Danbatta has served two terms of five years as a Member of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and is also a COREN registered Engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

He was the Vice President of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), International Centre for Advanced Communication Studies, Kano campus, which was established in the year 2004 by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to build capacity for the Nigerian/African telecom industry in the diverse areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).  While at DBI, he has developed expertise in the following major areas of ICT implementation policy.

Pix: Prof. Danbatta

NCC boosts JAMB with CBT, says centre to enhance standards

ITRealms:

 

The Acting Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has said that the Commission’s provision of Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres for Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is meant to enhance standard, ITRealms reports.

Danbatta said this when JAMB officials paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja to express gratitude tothe Telecom regulator for building and donating four CBT centres to the examination board in order to augment facilities for smooth conduct of CBT.  The four centers are located in Kano, Niger, Bayelsa and Oyo states. The centres are equipped with computers, printers, other accessories and Internet connectivity.

In a press release signed by the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Tony Ojobo,  Danbatta told the JAMB officials led by its Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde that NCC does every of its activities and projects in line with international best practices and “we have a minimum standard that we maintain for all our projects and there is no exception.”

Earlier in his remarks,ITRealms gathered, Ojerinde said JAMB appreciates, NCC gesture in this direction and “we ask for more.” So far, he said JAMB is also deploying its, CBT centres in Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), facilities in Abuja, Kano and Oshodi, Lagos State and this is in addition to the over 500 of CBT centres across the country.

“These centres are now being used for registration by potential candidates for the next Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) instead of cyber cafes,” Ojerinde submitted.

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NCC reiterates sponsorship support for Tennis Tournament

ITRealms:

The Acting Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has said reiterated sponsorship support for the just concluded Tennis Tournament, reports ITRealms.

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Danbatta in a press statement made available to ITRealms by the Head, Media at NCC, Mr. Sonny Aragba-Akpore, the EVC was quoted as declaring the Commission “will continue to sponsor this tournament.”

Speaking at the National Stadium, Abuja, venue of the second Semi- final of the Tennis National Tournament at the weekend, he said, NCC would also review the prize money upward to ensure that as many teams are attracted from different parts of the country.

A visibly excited Danbatta who went down memory lane said, he remembered with nostalgia the escapades of Nigeria’s Nduka Odizor who reached the round of 16 in the Wimbledon of 1983.

To Danbatta, Odizor was easily one of the global Tennis greats at the time but sadly “Nigerian players have not made the desired impact in global Tennis circuits since then.”

He noted that Nigerians nowadays witness how tennis stars have brought fame and fortune to themselves and their nations, hence NCC wanted to be identified with by taking these talented players in Nigeria to the circuit.

He told the audience at the stadium including, President, Nigeria Tennis Federation, Mr. Sani Ndanusa, President, International Tennis Academy, Mr. Godwin Kienka among others that the main objective of the NCC sponsorship of the tournament is to raise the level of Lawn Tennis which is one of the most popular and lucrative sporting activity.

“Part of our objective is to help in nurturing and exposing these talents through robust competition so as to help them perfect their skills. It is also promoting peace and friendship among the players as this has taken the game to various locations of the country where such competitions have not been held. So far, several matches have been played in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Onitsha, Abeokuta, Kaduna, Abuja, and Enugu, with the finals scheduled for Lagos. Another objective of this tournament is so fruitfully engage the players, officials and the youth in some value-driven activities associated with this competition.”

Danbatta said the NCC is glad that most of the objectives of this project have been realized. 

“We understand that most of the best Nigerian players are featuring in this year’s edition, which has made the quality of the competition to be very high. The cross section of the people that matter in Nigerian Lawn Tennis sport have honoured us with their presence in some of the tournaments, including Nduka Odizor that I spoke about. We are happy the way the tournament has been organized as shown by the huge turnout at this second semifinal.”

“This is the maiden edition of this tournament, and we are very happy the way the Commission’s gesture has been received since this league tennis was launched on May 23, 2015. We are proud to have added a new version of competition that has energized activities in the Nigerian lawn tennis calendar.

The first Semi-final held in Enugu last week and the winners of the Enugu Semi- final and the Abuja Semi-final will meet at the final in Lagos on December 4 and 5, 2015.

 
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