Internet shutdowns in Africa double since 2016 - ITREALMS

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… Ethiopia, Sudan top list as experts warn of rising digital authoritarianism

No fewer than 190 internet shutdowns have been recorded across 41 African countries between 2016 and 2024, according to fresh research unveiled by the African Digital Rights Network under the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), reports ITREALMS.

The report shows that shutdowns on the continent have doubled within eight years, rising from 14 cases in 2016 to 28 in 2024. Ethiopia emerged with the highest number of shutdowns at 30, followed by Sudan with 21 and Algeria with 14.

Bridging Digital Divide: Nigeria and risks of Internet fragmentation by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

TelecomsClinic@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

TelecomsClinic@ITREALMS with Remmy Nweke spotlights Nigeria’s digital divide, exposing gaps in access, affordability, and literacy, while warning of looming internet fragmentation risks. A call for inclusive policies, innovation, and digital rights to secure Nigeria’s connected future.

The story of the twenty-first century is increasingly one of connection. From banking transactions to telemedicine, classroom learning to market access, the internet has become the backbone of daily life.

Surfing the Internet of faith - ITREALMS

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By embracing the digital age, Christians can deepen their faith and connect with like-minded communities. REMMY NWEKE writes in Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS, that the internet's vital role in modern Christian practice, offering inspirational content, online forums, and personalized growth opportunities, revolutionizing the way people engage with their faith.

Prologue:

Ogonna is a professional, whose job entails roving and constantly on the road. He needed to leave town on a Sunday and had concern over missing Sunday mass, even though he knew there could be evening mass at the destination, but he was not too sure if the time of getting to the destination will be convenient enough to search around for a parish around his accommodation in Wuse II, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Starlink Gen 3: Faster, Better Internet Connectivity - ITREALMS

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Starlink, the world's leading provider of satellite launch services and a major internet service provider in Nigeria, has raised the bar with its latest Gen 3 kit. This cutting-edge hardware delivers unprecedented performance and convenience, following a significant upgrade in design to meet the demands of Nigerian homes and businesses. 

The new Starlink Gen 3 kit is available on e-commerce stores like Konga.com. It is equipped with a Wi-Fi 6 chipset. The device has also seen a significant boost in its data speed, enhanced to handle heavy data requirements. This upgrade is particularly beneficial for smart homes where multiple devices compete for bandwidth simultaneously.

Connecting dots on Igbophobia, Abati and Internet backlash - ITREALMS

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In this piece, REMMY NWEKE examines the connection of Igbophobia in Dr. Reuben Abati's controversial commentary on Ndigbo and land question and Internet backlash that followed with facts of the matter.

“The same Igbos who are so industrious, that they are all over and they do well in other parts of Nigeria, you go as a non-Igbo man to go and buy a land, you will be told that you don’t belong even as an in-law,” Dr. Reuben Abati on The Morning Show @Arise Tv, Thursday, November 21, 2024.

In spite of whatever context the above statement was made by Dr. Reuben Abati, most Nigerians and industry observers are divided with some tagging it an ‘epidemic’ proportion, due to the Igbophobic tendencies and controversies it have generated, especially on the social media.

AfIGF’24: Stop Internet shut downs, PIN boss advises African government - ITREALMS

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The 54 members of the African Union governments have been advised to stop shutting down the Internet due to its attendant havoc and demerits, reports ITREALMS.

The Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, gave this advice at the just concluded 2024 African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) during a high-level session held at African Hall, UNCC- ECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while speaking on the theme: "Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future for Africa."

Photospeaks: 2024 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development holds in Lagos - ITREALMS

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The 2024 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development held at the Welcome Center Hotels Lagos, recently, here is some photospeaks from the event.

May-hem: EFCC arrests 193 suspects on Internet fraud in 20 days - ITREALMS

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Since the beginning of the fifth month of 2024, May, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has made a total of 193 arrests related to cyber crimes and internet fraud across various cities in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

Also, ITREALMS investigations on the number of convictions by the EFCC in 2021 showed that there were some 35 cases, just as 54 cases were mentioned on cyber crimes, even as cybercrime as compound word appeared 339 in the 174 page document.

Nigerians rush Starlink internet kits as Konga slashes prices by 50% - ITREALMS

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Konga’s latest addition to its family of technology products, Starlink Satellite Internet Kits, has been met with overwhelming customer demand. The company is Starlink’s only authorised Shop-In-Shop eCommerce partner in Nigeria and provides immediate warranties on all Starlink kits bought from Konga.

Since the e-commerce giant broke the news of the price slash at 9pm on Tuesday night, shoppers in need of reliable, fast, low-latency internet services have trooped to konga.com to grab their share of the unbeatable deal on offer for the Space X engineered satellite kit.

Public and Private Power in Internet Content Regulation: ICANN and Registry 'Voluntary' Commitments - ITREALMS

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Is censorship something that only happens when state actors do it, or can private actors engage in it as well? 

That crucial Internet governance debate is taking place in two venues: The U.S. Supreme Court, which will rule on two state laws that try to regulate the way platforms moderate content, and ICANN, which is meeting in Puerto Rico and is debating the meaning of ICANN’s fundamental bylaw that says “ICANN shall not regulate content.”

Telecoms indicators: Nigeria witnesses steady rise in active voice, Internet subscriptions - ITREALMS

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Nigeria has witnessed a steady increase in active voice and internet subscriptions, including a drop in teledensity as contained in the latest telecommunications statistical indicators released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which have been adjusted to reflect the latest population growth figures and align with international best practices.

The adjustment which is reflected in the telecom industry statistical reports of September, October, and November 2023 published on the Commission’s website, was predicated upon the Nigerian Population Commission (NPC)’s projection of Nigeria’s population at 216,783,381, as of 2022, replacing the previously used 2017 projection of 190 million people.

46 arrested by EFCC over internet frauds in Calabar, Eket - ITREALMS

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The operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested forty-six(46) suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Calabar, Cross River State and Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

While the Calabar suspects were arrested on October 13, 2023, their Eket counterparts were nabbed on Sunday, October 15, 2023. Both arrests were intelligence-based.

Nigeria: Tizeti secures debt financing to expand internet access - ITREALMS

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The Chapel Hill Denham’s Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) has agreed to provide long-term financing to Tizeti Network Limited (Tizeti) reports ITREALMS.

Tizetti, ITREALMS gathered is the West Africa’s pioneer solar-based internet service provider, while the senior debt facility will be used to finance the rollout of Tizeti’s state-of-the art broadband network across 15 states in Nigeria.

Malawi offers free internet @public facilities - ITREALMS

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The government of Malawi has commenced roll-out of scheme to provide free internet access in all public facilities in the country, under Digital Malawi Programme, reports ITREALMS.

The Deutsche Welle also reported that in the city of Blantyre in southern Malawi, the lack of universal internet access created long-standing issues that could be felt everywhere, including in schools: Accessing teaching and learning materials online was a major struggle for learners at public schools.

Njeri Rionge: African Internet amazon passes on - ITREALMS

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The death of Kenyan Internet amazon, Njeri Rionge has been announced, reports ITREALMS.

Njeri was on the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for some five years, from 2003 to 2008.

Njeri Rionge, a renowned tech icon and sister to former Information and Communication Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru.

Her death was confirmed by Mucheru, her brother via a post on X. "Goodbye Njeri. We will miss you greatly.”

Reacting, the chair of the Africa Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO), Seun Ojedeji, said Africa has lost a strong contributor to the growth of the Internet within Kenya, East Africa, Africa and globally.

"On behalf of the AFRALO leadership, I like to extend my condolences to the immediate family, and our friends in Kenya.

“May the Lord grant them grace during this trying period and may her soul rest in peace!” he said.

ITREALMS recalls that Njeri Rionge was a multi-passionate social entrepreneur with a vision to have a Green Africa Free from Poverty. Founder and CEO, EcoPost. Cartier Women's Initiative impact awardee.

Njeri Rionge, a celebrated techpreneur was co-rounder of Kenyan-based Internet Service Provider, Wananchi Online who died on October 3, 2023. A pioneer of note, Njeri co-founded Wananchi Online in 1999 with former ICT Cabinet Secretary Joseph Mucheru, who also was her brother.

Nkem Nweke/DoP

AfIGF 2023: FG urges open, secure internet - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has subscribed to a free and secure Internet for Africa, which is capable of bridging the digital divide and creating innovative opportunities within the continent, reports ITREALMS.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who canvassed this position at the just-concluded Africa Internet Governance Forum at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to engendering necessary collaborations and international dialogues to achieve these objectives.

IXPN, MedallionDC conclude workshop on Internet Peering, Interconnectivity @FCT - ITREALMS

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The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and Medallion Datacentres have concluded an Internet Peering and Interconnectivity workshop in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reports ITREALMS.

IXPN is a membership-based organisation, which provides a platform where networks interconnect directly within Nigeria, whereas the Medallion Datacenters, West Africa’s most connected facilities in the region.

2023 AfIGF commences Tuesday in Abuja - ITREALMS

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The 11th edition of the annual African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) will take place from 19 to 21 September 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria, under the theme "Implementing the African Union's Data Policy Framework for a Resilient and Inclusive Digital Future.”

The AfIGF is the regional platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue on internet governance issues in Africa, and has as its primary goal:, fostering African stakeholders’ engagement in the internet administration conversation across the globe.

Nigeria to host 2023 Africa Internet Governance Forum - ITREALMS

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All is now set for Nigeria to host some 54 African nations and other continental Internet governance stakeholder blocs at the 2023 Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2023) in Abuja from 18th to 21 September, 2023.

This year’s event, being the 12th edition of the annual forum, is being hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on behalf of the Federal Government, and is scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, with the theme, "Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security, and Innovation".

Prof Quaynor: Africa needs open internet as late comers - ITREALMS

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Leading father of African Internet, and Ghanaian scientist, Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor has declared that the continent needs an open internet to catch up with development in the digital ecosystem, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking as a special guest at the 2023 African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) in Accra-Ghana, Prof. Quaynor decried the incessant shutdowns of the Internet on the continent.

According to him, Africa as a late comer to the adoption of the Internet should not take any action capable of retarding the progress made in the Internet ecosystem since 1992.

Internet, he said has been in insistence 29 October 1969 when the first ARPANET message was sent from the site of the University of Carlifornia, Los Angeles (UCLA) to the Stanford Research Institute.

Stressing that based on packet switching and dynamic resource allocation, the sharing of information digitally from this first node of ARPANET launched the Internet revolution.

The Ghanaian born scientist and engineer who has played an important role in the introduction and development of the Internet throughout Africa.

“The Internet shut down in Africa should stop. Any potential for shutdown should be avoided,” he charged.

Prof. Quaynor also urged African Internet stakeholders, especially the government to promote affordable access to the internet and stop creating additional digital divide on the continent by shutting down the networks.




“We should have the goal of having one internet that is affordable. So, let us stop creating additional internet or digital divide in Africa by shutting down,” he appealed.

Africa, he maintained, was late to the Internet ecosytem, because it started in the 60s and as late comers must avoid anything to set the continent back.

In addition, Prof. Quaynor said that Internet should be included in any development project in Africa.

He cited an instance with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying that it will not succeed without the Internet component.

This is because, there is “No amount of online training that will replace handson” he said.

Much, he pointed out, have been done but more are expected by focusing on more critical resources through Internet Protocol (IP) resources.

While bemoaning the state of the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), he called for more involvement of all African especially the Internet stakeholders on what goes on at AFRINIC which is a continental project.

ITREALMS gathered that AfPIF held between August 22 and 24, at the Movenpick Ambassadors Hotels, Accra-Ghana.

Remmy Nweke in Accra, Ghana/DoP