Zinox sponsors 2017 Geneva Global Internet of Things Summit

Sponsored@ITRealms:

In furtherance of its corporate philosophy and superior business principle to continue the acceleration and development of the digital revolution, ZINOX Technologies Group is sponsoring Chris Uwaje – the Oracle of the Nigeria IT Profession and industry and Past-President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) – as invited speaker at the 2017 Global Internet of Things in Geneval, Switzerland.

Uwaje, the Africa Chair on Communications and Publicity – GioT Geneva 2017- will be speaking as a panelist on Africa perspectives and challenges on IPv6.

With this sponsorship, ZINOX assumes fundamental leadership of national ICT Policy and strategy matters, where government should at all time be at the forefront. In the absence of this, and cognisant of the future requirements of 70% youths than makeup Nigeria/Africa Population, ZINOX is lighting up the way to the sustainable progress of the Nigerian nation the continent.

According to Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of ZINOX, Africa stands to gain immensely if she can leapfrog from her present deep slumber on ICT Ecosystem development and engage the values of Internet of Things (IoTs) - whose estimated market potential is valued at $19 trillion USD by 2020.

Uwaje is selected and invited to represent Africa and speak as a panelist of the Global IPv6 Forum on the state and challenges of Internet Protocol version 6 (Ipv6) at the 1st Global Internet of Things Summit (GioTS) in Geneva, Switzerland 2017).

Today, “IoT is rapidly evolving with the substantial risk of not paying attention to safety, reliability, privacy, security, and interoperability. Research has a fundamental role to enable a globally interoperable IoT and to make it right," said Sebastien Ziegler, General Chair and President of the IoT Forum.

According to Latif Ladid, Co-Chair and President of IPv6 Forum “GIoTS 2017 will attract experts from industry and research in current and emerging technologies such as 5G-based IoT, software defined IoT, IoT-centric Cloud Computing, including the Social Internet of Things” Dr. Antonio Skarmeta, TPC Chair said, “The selected technical topics seek some maturity in IoT across the board. There are many facets that need research and experimental pilots to put the pieces together and give IoT innovation a roadmap.”

GIoTS 2017 is supported by the IoT Week of the IoT Forum, The IPv6 Forum, the IEEE 5G subcommittee, the IEEE SDN-NFV subcommittee as well as the IEEE BiG Data TC. It will be collocated in Geneva with the IoT Week 2017, bringing together cutting edge research results, the IoT innovation community and the UN system with a unique worldwide outreach. 

According to the United Nations Development’s Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report of 2013 (UNDP,2013), Africa contributes 35 of the 45 poorest countries. Given these high poverty levels, most African governments (especially the Sub-Saharan Africa) are still struggling to provide basic needs (such as food, shelter, health, water and sanitation and education among others) and therefore technology innovations take a back seat. While the world’s Development Index stands at 0.694, the Sub-Saharan Africa’s one is at 0.475.

The IPv6 session will attract speakers from the 5 Continents to outline the deployment efforts of IPv6-based IoT research and best practices. The deployment in different countries is taking different shapes and forms considering the differing continental user requirements at this stage of deployment. This session will try to harmonize and draw a common roadmap for deployment of IoT networking capabilities and architectural definitions to make sure "Internet of Things" are scalable, inclusive of several communication media, secure, future proof and viable for businesses and end users.

Each representative is challenged to research his/her continent to outline the various IoT initiatives and industry showcases and various user requirements, challenges, security and privacy issues and obstacles that could enrich the discussion in this worldwide IoT session. 

ZINOX projections is that the world has just at the embryonic stage and process of the global digital transformation and beliefs that no other strategy is capable of securing the economic empowerment, massive Youth employment, future development progress and national security of Nigeria and Africa.

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WSIS forum kicks off in Geneva

ITRealms:

The four-day World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) forum 2016, today, May 2, kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland, reports ITRealms.

The forum expected to last till Friday this week is being hosted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNDP) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) at the  ITU Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.

ITRealms also reports that the WSIS Forum serves the UN as a mechanism for coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge, sharing of best practices and continues to provide assistance in developing multi-stakeholder and public and private partnerships to advance development goal, building on the UN General Assembly Overall Review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes which recognized the necessity of holding this Forum on an annual basis.

In addition, the forum calls for a close alignment between WSIS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) processes.

The chairman of the WSIS Forum 2016 High-Level Track, Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda (USA) said the Policy Sessions will be moderated by High-Level Track Facilitators (HLTF) nominated and identified by Civil Society, Private Sector, Technical Community and Academia stakeholders. Remote participation is available through both Adobe Connect and live webcast. Geneva time is CEST, 6 hours ahead of NYC.

@ITRealms.DSA

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WRC15 allots frequency to track flights

ITRealms:

 

The 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC15) in Geneva has allotted the frequency band 1087.7-1092.3 MHz to aeronautical mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space), for global flight tracking in civil aviation ITRealms reports.

 The band is meant for reception by space stations of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) emissions from aircraft transmitters. The frequency band is currently being utilized for the transmission of ADS-B signals from aircraft to terrestrial stations within line-of-sight. This extends ADS-B signals beyond line-of-sight to facilitate reporting the position of aircraft equipped with ADS-B anywhere in the world, including oceanic, polar and other remote areas ITRealms gathered.

The ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao said, “In reaching this agreement at WRC-15, ITU has responded in record time to the expectations of the global community on the major issue concerning global flight tracking. ITU will continue to make every effort to improve flight tracking for civil aviation.”

“The allocation of frequencies for reception of ADS-B signals from aircraft by space stations will enable real-time tracking of aircraft anywhere in the world,” said the Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, François Rancy, “We will continue to work with ICAO and other international organizations to enhance safety in the skies.”

WRC-15 recognized that as the standards and recommended practices (SARP) for systems enabling position determination and tracking of aircraft are developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the performance criteria for satellite reception of ADS-B signals will also need to be addressed by ICAO.

This agreement, ITRealms learnt, follows the disappearance and tragic loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014 with 239 people on board, which spurred worldwide discussions on global flight tracking and the need for coordinated action by ITU and other relevant organizations.

In its special meeting on global flight tracking, which took place in Montréal, May 12 to 13, 2014, ICAO encouraged ITU to take urgent action to provide the necessary spectrum allocations for satellites to support emerging aviation needs. In October 2014, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference meeting in Busan, Republic of Korea, instructed WRC-15 to consider global flight tracking in its agenda, ITRealms reports also.

Cyriacus Nnaji, GEE

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WRC elects Nigerian Daudu as chairman, commendation galore

ITRealms:

 

The election of Nigerian, Engr. Festus Daudu as Chairman 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) in Geneva, Switzerland has continued to attracted commendations from across the globe, ITRealms reports.

A member Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Daudu’selection which many perceived asgreat achievement for Nigeria, would see him superintend over 3,800 delegates from 162 member states and many international organisations, including the Commonwealth Telecommunications  Organisation (CTO), that are taking part in the WRC which starts today.

ITRealms gathered that the election of Daudu, who is Director, Spectrum Management at the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (FMCT) is the first time for an African to be elected to this position in 150 years history of the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 Among those that have expressed their overwhelming joy atDaudu’s election, ITRealms gathered, include the Secretary-General, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, Shola Taylor who extended his congratulatory message to the Government of Nigeria,said:

“I am delighted at the election of a Commonwealth candidate to chair this important Conference, and having known EngrDaudu for many years, I have full confidence in his ability to steer the Conference successfully, especially when considering his calm and professional disposition. This is a pride to Nigeria, Africa and the Commonwealth,” Taylor added.

The Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao, also shared his satisfaction at EngrDaudu’s election.“Let me congratulate Festus Daudu for his nomination as chairman of WRC-15, as well as the vice-chairmen. MrDaudu, I have every confidence in your abilities to ensure a smooth and efficient running of the conference over the four coming weeks.”

“I am confident that Festus Daudu will lead us successfully at this Conference,” added Director of the ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau, Francois Rancy.

The Commonwealth countries will be meeting once a week during the Conference to continue to coordinate the views of Commonwealth countries during the Conference. All leaders of the 6 regional groups – the Arab Group, CITEL, APT, ATU, RCC and CEPT all expressed individually their congratulations and confidence in Engr. Daudu to lead the Conference to a successful end.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Pix: Engr. Festus Daudu

ITU celebrates 150th anniversary, sets May 17 as WTIS Day

ITRealms

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in line with its role as the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs, celebrates its 150^th anniversary award on 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme “Telecommunications and ICTs: drivers of innovation”, and sets to annually observed May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society (WTIS) Day, ITRealms reports.

ITRealms gathered that forward-looking movers and shakers in the ICT industry, like Bill Gates, Robert E. Kahn, Thomas Wiegand, Mark I. Krivocheev, Martin Cooper and Ken Sakamura amongst others, would be honoured by  will be honoured with ITU’s 150^th Anniversary Award. As well recognition will be accorded to ITU’s Founding Member States and to its long-standing industry members.

The event is also to feature Panel discussion on “ICT’s Driving a Sustainable Future” with Luis Von Ahn, CEO & founder, DuoLingo; Philip Walton, COO, BRCK; Jian Wang, CTO, Alibaba; Ulf Ewaldsson, CTO, Ericsson; and Gabriela Styf Sjöman, CTO, Telecom Italia Group.

ITU has been interwoven with landmark inventions and innovations in communications over the past 150 years. In the 1850s, soon after Samuel Morse started a service in the United States, ITRealms learnt that telegraph lines crossed national borders and new international agreements had to be forged.

On 17 May 1865, twenty nations gathered in Paris to sign an international framework and formed the International Telegraph Union; the signing of the International Telegraph Convention in Paris in 1865 today culminates into a memorable day, as ITU annually marks May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Daniel Nsolibe/Ed, Ops.

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Nnenna rebuffs WEF’s NetMundial invite

ITRealms:

Internet Citizen and key lead of the global Civil Society, Nnenna Nwakanma has rebuffed the invitation extended to her for the World Economic Forum (WEF)-organized NetMundial in Geneva, Switzerland, reports ITRealms.

The World Economic Forum, ITRealms recalls was rooting for its own NetMundial on August 28, 2014, which has been characterised by alleged misplaced consideration on the kind of participants invited for the event.

This is coming after the popular Brazilian government hosted the initial NetMundial a few months ago which attracted global stakeholder excitement.

Nnenna in an exclusive chat with ITRealms noted that her name was first on the leaked list on Civil Society on her personal recognition, but has since decided she will not be in Geneva.

“I will not be in Geneva. First because I do not have the time and energy to go through the humiliating 10-weeks Schengen visa process and secondly because I am already booked elsewhere,” she told ITRealms.

According to Nnenna, her reply to the invite was "I will be absent, but I will contribute."

ITRealms further gathered that participants in excess of 104 are expected to grace the WEF’s version of NetMundial.

Remmy Nweke:

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Pix: Nnenna Nwakanma

ITU to host workshop on ‘Internet of Things’ trends

ITRealms:

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has advanced plans to host a full-day workshop on Internet of Things (IoT) – Trends and Challenges in Standardization, to be held on 18 February at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, reports ITRealms.

The event, ITRealms gathered will be audio cast; live and archived for media unable to attend in person, with spotlight on emerging next steps for standards developers.

According to Chief, Media Relations and Public Information at ITU, Ms Sarah Parkes affirmed to ITRealms that the event aims to facilitate the global expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) through a better understanding of trends, including standardization needs.

“Results will inform the drafting of the future technical standards (ITU-T Recommendations) that will be fundamental to the smooth operation of networks potentially supporting billions of interconnected devices,” she said.

In addition to examining the status of IoT and machine-to-machine communication (M2M) standardization initiatives across other Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs), ITU says, the event will report on progress of related standards and protocol development in the research and open-source communities.

Also, ITRealms learnt that the event will incorporate exhibits from industry, government, research institutes and academia. STMicroelectronics will showcase its Smart Home concept, and EPFL its OpenIOT project.

Further, ITRealms gathered that Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications (NICT) will display its medical body area network, as well as Yokosuka Telecom Research Park (YRP).

In addition, Daniel Faulk, representing new ITU-T member SAP, will deliver a keynote presentation on Internet of Things, Creating new Opportunities for the Enterprise.

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Pix; Dr. Hamadoun Toure, ITU Secretary General