Nigeria shines @ AfricaCom’11

The 14th edition of the AfricaCom ended in the city of Cape Town, South Africa recently, with some Nigerian companies participating actively in the three-day event, wrapped up with accolades.

Leading the pack were MTN, Etisalat and MainOne companies, who were adjudged notable enterprises in various capacities.

For Etisalat Nigeria, the outline of its major Capital and Operational expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX) respectively stood the mobile operator out in reduction of its expenditure profile.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, the major initiatives which operators could take to reduce Capital and Operational expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX) and benefit the customers and could result in reductions of tariffs, increased coverage of networks as well as greater profitability for the operators has been the top secret of the mobile operator survival strategy in Nigeria.

He also said, during his presentation entitled ‘Operator Strategies to reduce CAPEX and OPEX in Africa’, that the company has already undertaken a number of major CAPEX and OPEX reduction initiatives such as co-location and hybrid power and was actively considering others like transmission sharing and sales and leaseback of towers.

In the Commercial arena, he said, Etisalat has also embarked on a number of operational efficiency initiatives such as optimizing retail outlet formats and migrating to over the air recharges for prepaid customers.

At Etisalat, he noted, the aim has been to develop ways of making more efficient use of available resources to achieve the best results.

“For instance, we have been propounding the philosophy of co-location in Nigeria and are happy to say that we have made significant progress with one of the other major operators in the country,” he declared, stressing that this has given rise to an extensive co-location agreement and a good deal for both parties and the country in general.

This, he further said, has led to a reduction of resources channeled to erecting new towers and the opportunity to cover more communities and areas.

Evans observed that tower sale and leaseback as an excellent way of releasing capital to invest in core activities such as customer acquisition, management and retention as well as increasing the number of significant tower deals by African tower companies.

“Operators in the telecommunications industry are not required to own their towers in order to have effective operations. Towers can be owned and managed by third party specialist tower companies. A major advantage of this is that capital is saved and re-invested in the growth of business, network expansion and improved services” he said.

For MainOne it was a shared glory as it jointly won the ‘Best Pan African Initiative’ at AfricaCom Awards 2011 with SeaCom.

Both MainOne and SeaCom, were seen as the only two privately funded and open-access based African submarine fibre optic cable systems.

The award, ITRealms Online gathered, recognises an initiative taken by an organisation or a group of organisations to improve telecommunications services at a regional or continental level.

Responding to the award, the chief executive officer of MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke, pointed out that through this partnership, Main One and SeaCom have extended their individual cable systems to the opposite coasts of Africa without the efforts required to construct brand new routes.

“The ability to connect the east and west coast of the continent directly results in improved throughput but also provides a system around most of the continent which provides improved redundancy for telecommunications operators,” she said.

And for the her SeaCom counterpart, Mr. Mark Simpson, it is an honour to be recognised once again for the efforts in continuously extending pan-African connectivity by investing in infrastructure, products and services that meet the continent’s insatiable demand for bandwidth.

“This partnership shows our determination to find viable ways to extend our system with partners who share our vision of building the African Internet on an open and equitable basis,” he said.

ITRealms Online recalled that Main One and SeaCom had proclaimed in May 2011 that they had interconnected their west and east African cable systems to launch capacity services from Point of Presence (PoP) to PoP, from a Synchronous Transport Module level-1 (STM-1) and above.

While POP is an interface between telecommunication entities as a telephony system term, the STM-1 is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) fiber optic network transmission standard with a bit rate of 155.52 Mbit/s.

This partnership, experts noted, extends the MainOne and SeaCom networks to create a system that offers connection between any SeaCom and MainOne PoPs all around Africa.

Now in its fourth year, the awards are a serious recognition of the commitment and professionalism of these finalists to their core business and to changing the landscape of the continent, for the better.

And for the leading mobile operator on the continent, MTN Group which has its largest footprint in the country was recognised for its innovation and market leadership, emerging with two awards from the AfricaCom 2011.

Even as MTN South Africa received awards for the ‘Best Network Improvement’, for the Long Term Evolution (LTE) pilot test in Gauteng province and ‘Best Marketing Campaign (dubbed Bow Wow) for MTN Zone.

Responding, the Chief Marketing Officer for MTN South Africa, Mr. Serame Taukobong, said the mobile operator’s ecstatic has once again gained this important recognition with these awards, which she dedicated to thousands of MTN employees, its partners and customers who shared the MTN vision.

“The accolades are further affirmation from the industry and our customers that we are on the right track and need to cement the work we have been doing to provide our customers with the seamless experience they have come to expect from MTN,” he said.

MTN was also shortlisted for six of the eleven awards categories, with MTN South Africa vying for four awards, namely, Best Network Improvement Award, Changing Lives Award, Customer Service Excellence Awards and Best Marketing Campaign. MTN Group was shortlisted for the Best Pan Africa Initiative for Mtnfootball.com, while MTN Nigeria and MTN Uganda & Alvarion were nominated for the Rural Telecoms Award for their Rural Telephony Business and Rural Internet Cafes projects respectively.

“We are immensely proud of the two awards received by MTN South Africa. In the same vein, we are equally filled with pride to have been shortlisted for a total of six awards across four areas of our business. For MTN, these awards are an important recognition of the tireless efforts put in by MTNers and our partners across the continent to bridge the digital divide in the countries we operate,” said Christian De Faria, Group Chief Commercial Officer.

Remmy Nweke

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Digitization is opportunity – Africast

The 8th biennial conference of the African Broadcasters (Africast-2010) ended at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with the body urging members to see digitization as an opportunity for them to optimise their potentials in the industry.

Africast was introduced in 1996 by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the broadcast regulator in Nigeria, as a new gateway to Africa’s broadcast market and serves as a platform for thrashing broadcast-related issues relating to Africa. It holds biennially and usually have participants drawn from professionals, academics and policy makers as well as hosts broadcast equipment manufacturers who are targeting emerging African market.

The conference rose from 2010 session to note that implementation of the on-going digitisation programme by African countries is capital intensive and require huge financial investment by all stakeholders.

According to the communiqué of the session made available to ITRealms Online, participants were quick to add that digitisation offers members the opportunity to maximize their potentials to tell their stories in a manner that is relevant to the values and developmental goals of nations.

They noted that level of awareness on digitisation among broadcasters and the public is still very dismal for meaningful appreciation of the benefits of digitisation.

The content of broadcasting as well as appropriate technology, they noted, are the key to drive the process of digitisation.

Participants did not fall short in noticing the impact of climatic conditions on broadcasting, saying that it remains important factors in the acquisition, installation and management of broadcast equipment in digital broadcasting.

Rapidity of technological development, participants said, have serious financial and technical implications for the maintenance of standards in digital broadcasting.

Digitisation has socio-cultural, political and economic implications for, especially, developing countries, citing an instance with the difficulties participants, especially some exhibitors faced in clearing their equipment for exhibition.

The conference commended the Nigerian Government for providing a favourable policy environment and for taking appropriate actions on the implementation of the digitisation programme, specifically for the decision to issue a White Paper on digitisation, approving the community radio recommendation and for giving NBC the powers to grant community radio licenses.

They urged for the current tempo on the implementation of digitisation programme to be enhanced so as to meet the 2015 deadline set by the United Nations, through the International telecommunication Union (ITU).

In addition, they urged the Nigerian government to accelerate the release of the White paper on digital transition.

Africast also warned members to be mindful of the emergence of social media, such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, saying that these should be taken more seriously as effective broadcast tools.

This is coming as they are contemplating making Africast an annual event instead of a biennial event.

Participants called on African broadcasters to partner with Africast to ensure that it grows to become Africa’s answer to Japanese National Association of Commercial Broadcasters (NAB) and London-based International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) and the like.

Stakeholders in the broadcast industry, were also advised to establish and sustain a special fund for content development.

The conference which has as its theme: “Africa in Digital Transition: Options and Perspectives” featured exhibition of broadcasting technologies by 33 local and international broadcast equipment manufacturers, with the confab registering 68 broadcasters in attendance for the first time since inception.

Additionally, it session which attracted 250 registered participants, including 50 Chief Executives of broadcast stations, 40 reporters, over 1500 visitors to the exhibition.

The conference appreciated the organization of this year’s event and listed NBC, MultiChioce, Netcom, DAARsat, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), WTS, StarTimes and Pinnacle for their supports.

The participants came from 15 countries including the United Kingdom, USA, Japan, South Africa and Ghana, Sierra-Leone, Israel, Italy, China, Switzerland, Germany, Singapore, UAE and France.

The conference was also graced by other distinguished personalities, including the Honourable Minister for Information and Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who was represented by the Minister of State for Information and Communication, Mr. Labaran Maku, chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, chairman and members of the NBC board were led at the occasion by the NBC Director-General, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa among other chief executives of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

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Nigeria needs unique telecom backbone – Ahmed-Rufai

The Managing Director, Nigeria Communications Satellite (NigComSAT) Limited, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, has identified that Nigeria needs a unique telecommunications backbone infrastructure.

Just as the nation has achieved about 65 per cent of replacing process of Nigeria’s SAT-1, which was de-orbited in November 2008 due to faulty battery discharge.

Ahmed-Rufai who spoke in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, last Saturday, also condemned the concept of the government allowing every ‘Dick and Harry’ in the name of operators to build individualized telecommunications infrastructure in the country under the logic of a liberalized market.

According to him, what the country needs most importantly is a unique backbone infrastructure for every other operator to plug-in easily and strategically to drive the cost of telecommunications on downward curve for the ordinary citizens’ benefit.

Additionally, he said, that a unique telecom backbone infrastructure for the country would give boost to the national security, stressing that it is absolutely wrong to favour various telecom operators to build their own backbone network rig as obtained today in the country.

“It’s wrong to allow an operator to build a backbone for its own use,” Rufai declared.

He noted that in every other market either liberalized or not, no government that knows its onion allows individual operators that right.

This, he said, is because it poses a national security threat when it matters most, insisting that in other climes, every other operator have to plug into the national unique telecom backbone infrastructure.

As said by him, if the Federal government really want to make impact with its Vision 20-2020, it has pay special attention to satellite communications to engender ease communications among the citizens and enable the government to monitor progress and otherwise in the country, especially negative influences.

The crucial question every leader of this country should be concerned is how Nigerians could be connected to communicate comfortably.

Giving update on the de-orbited replacement SAT-1, NigcomSAT boss said that several satellites have since then been de-orbited, illustrating this with regular car accidents on the road, which is unpredicted.

Essentially, he said, that Nigeria and Chinese authorities have taken cogent steps to remedy that, maintaining that before this time next year, the replacement satellite must have been completed 100 per cent.

SAT-1, he noted was deployed by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in the transmission of live broadcast of the 2007 presidential handover between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and late Alhaji Umar Musa YarAdua.

He further paid tribute to Obasanjo for seeing the vision in establishing communication satellite for the country in 2006.

In a related development, Ahmed-Rufai while speaking at the 2010 lecture series of African Telecom Hall of Fame in Lagos as lead speaker on Telecom Revolution in Nigeria, weekend, harped on the way forward, saying that should Nigeria increase
investments in telecommunications, there are key benefits awaiting such a step.

These, he enlisted to include that it would increase in telecommunication growth rate to a minimum 13.5 per cent annually, such that 10 per cent of the rural communities is served in the short term, 30 per cent midterm and 60 per cent long term.

Also, he outlined that increased investments would achieve a tele-density of over 10 per cent, quoting the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard and a tele-distance of less than five kilometers per telephone, even as it will provide a continental access capacity to deliver voice, Internet and data access to deprived urban, city centre, rural and remote areas, as well as enhancing their profitability, wealth creation and innovation through access to the worldwide market and information.

“A platform for operation of a public service telecommunication networks in Africa providing linkages to educational institutions, regional 15 organizations and government in Africa in order to facilitate developmental activities will be provided,” he said.

The country, he said, would provide an enabling environment for African ICT business industry to have a fair share of the world telecommunication market revenue currently projected at over $1.2 trillion dollars.

He emphasised that the provision of a platform for community and regional integration through the dissemination of social and cultural information as well as promotion of peace and stability in the African sub-region, even as it would provide the backbone for new applications such as tele-education, tele-medicine, e-government.

Ahmed-Rufai, therefore recommended that infrastructure development should be seen as an engine that increase investment in telecoms sector with a view to increasing affordable bandwidth availability.

Additionally, he said, that it would facilitate low cost access and network equipment that would oil a widespread public access to networked computers.

“Education and training for users and providers should be in place, whereas there should also be local content for the internet through creation and domicile of backbone and exchange points locally.

Essentially, he pointed out that there should be a nationwide spread of Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) hotspots, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) connectivity and open skies internet connection through cloud computing.

“If the cost of computers drop significantly and there is cloud computing, users will be encouraged to stay connected, thereby creating a major knowledge-based economy instead of resource-based economy personified by oil wealth,” he advised.

Ahmed-Rufai concluded by saying that not all change could be considered a revolutionary.

“There has undoubtedly been a change in the telecommunications sector in Nigeria. However, with a population close to 150 million, and a mobile penetration rate of 53 per cent and 24 per cent for internet penetration coupled with the limited use of technological applications and the urgent need for increased telecoms infrastructure, it cannot be said that the telecoms revolution has had the desired revolutionary effect in Nigeria,” he submitted.
 
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‘Glo-1’s bandwidth’ll serve Nigeria for 20 years’

The over 150 million Nigerians have been starved of bandwidth for a long time says the group chief operating officer at Globacom, Mr. Mohammed Jameel, asserting that Glo-1’s bandwidth has the capacity to last Nigerians for the next 20 years.

Speaking at the weekend during the official commercial launch of Glo-1 submarine cable, solely built by Globacom, the second national operator, he said that it was this starvation that the firm discovered with the visionary leader of its chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga jnr and decided to invest in the submarine cable named Glo-1.

“Nigeria has always been hungry for bandwidth,” he declared, noting that with the commercial launch of Glo-1, that electronic services like e-learning and e-health among others would now at the finger tips of Nigerians.

“All these and others are available when you have enough bandwidth,” he said.

Glo-1, a 100 per cent owned by Globacom, he said is a fulfillment of the dream of the company to deliver world-class telecommunication services devoid of hiccups to Nigerians.

Jameel explained that in the world of telecommunication, connectivity and bandwidth coupled with capacity influences the competence of the service provider, underscoring the fact that Glo 1 is a brand new cable system built with cutting edge technology and backed by the rich expertise of Globacom, having existing operations in four African countries.

As said by him, Glo 1 has landing stations in 16 West African countries, giving complete coverage and reach to the geography of Western Africa, noting that with a diversified experience and expertise Globacom would deliver the last mile reach and coverage via creating an extra value for the customers of Glo 1.

He elucidated that the cable, Glo 1 provides bandwidth to all telecom operators, carriers with the likes of PPWC of Korea and 21st Century Technologies Nigeria Limited already enlisted in addition to corporations, connecting them through these global partners to all the major destinations in the world.

Glo 1 offer, Jameel said comes with a wide range of bandwidths, highly reliable and secure service, cost-effective usage, Service Level Agreement (SLA)-based services.

Welcoming guests to the event the chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga jnr said that Glo-1 is 100 per cent owned by the telecom operator, which has the Second National Operator (SNO) license.

Adenuga in an address via teleconferencing, said, Globacom would capitalize on its already inland cable network to ensure that Nigerians benefit from this available bandwidth.

The Senate President, Senator David Mark alongside the four governors commended the chairman of the Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr for the successful landing and commercial take off of Glo 1 submarine cable.

The four governors, who were special guest of honour at the commercial launch of Glo-1 in Lagos, last weekend, include Comrade Adams Oshomole of Edo State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and his Osun State counterpart represented by the deputy governor, Erelu Olusala Obada.

Senator Mark who led the dignitaries at the commercial launch of Glo-1 noted he was overwhelmed by the single act of Dr. Adenuga who has expressed determination to succeed in Nigeria despite unfavourable business climate.

He also said that Glo has since inception provided Nigerians with services worthy of encouragement, stressing that this goes to show that if the enabling environment is right, Nigerians should have found themselves in the moon.

Mark tasked the government at all levels to work towards making the environment right, just as he assured of the Red Chambers of National Assembly under his watch to strengthen this in its policy formulation for Glo and other businesses to thrive in the country.

“So, it is commendable to see what Mike Adenuga jnr has done. This deserves a lot of commendation,” he said, adding that Glo 1 is a wonderful stride; hence he congratulated the Globacom management for this outstanding achievement.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Oshomole said the feat is coming at an interesting period in the life of Nigeria when the country is battling militants.

He described Dr. Adenuga as a ‘business militant’, more of which he said, the nation needs to reposition itself economically among comity of nations and congratulated the business mogul for his intelligence in foreseeing the future through telecommunications.

He expressed happiness to be part of this history-making glowing event by Globacom.

Mrs. Obada in her comment pointed out that the submarine cable has the capability of boosting electronic businesses, especially eHealth and telemedicine in the country, which eventually tends to save lives and enjoined Nigerians to embrace the services that Glo-1 offers.

Equally, Gov. Daniel said that Dr. Adenuga has worked hard to see that this dream of Glo-1 comes true, describing it as awesome.

“This is a spectacular endeavour,” he said, noting that as an illustrious son of the gate way state, he would continue to enjoy support from Ogun State.

For Gov. Fashola of Lagos State, he said that Lagosians are happy to be hosting this kind of business in its domain, mostly as a business that is life transforming in this century.

He described Glo-1 as critical investment Lagosians are proud of, especially as it would avail them and other Nigerians the opportunity of doing businesses real-time online.

The message in the landing and commercial launch of Glo-1, Fashola said is that information could now be exchanged and connected at ease by Nigerians.
 
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2.3GHz controversy! Court may stop resale

INDICATIONS are rife that the winners of the 2.3 Gega Hertz (GHz) auction in 2008 may go to court to stop the resale of their spectrum as directed by the federal government.

The Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili had last week Monday over-ruled the decision of the Nigerian Communications Communication (NCC) to resale the spectrum as she officially canceled the auctioning of 2.3 GHz, alleging that it did not follow due process. She however ordered the Commission to restart the process.

It was gathered that some of the winners of the frequency may have been encouraged to head to court to stop revocation of their licenses.

NCC had offered four 2.3 spectrum licenses for sale and eventually granted three to successful bidders, namely Mobitel Nigeria Limited, Spectranet Limited and Multilinks Telkom Limited while the fourth one, Galaxy Wireless was said to have not met the payment terms, thus disqualifying it. This came, following a letter of approval by the immediate past Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey dated October 31, 2008.

Akunyili cited the inability of the NCC to wait for the official release of the 2.3 frequency, which her Ministry purportedly released last week.

NCC had on October 31, 2008 received the 2.3 frequency for auction following a letter from the immediate past Minister, Mr. Odeh, who doubled as the then Chairman of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC).

Although the letter with reference MC/TSD/NFMC/0282/Vol.II was specific and rightly addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, it was not clear why Akunyili decided to ignore it.

ITRealms Online gathered that at least two of the three winners have commenced the filing of necessary papers for the legal action.

While denying any personal interest with the EVC and NCC, the management of Mobitel said the process was revalidated following a re-purchase by a consortium led by Omni Ventures in 2008 and has met all obligations to return to operations.

According to the Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Mobitel Limited, Ola Abiodun, the company was revived by a new breed of dynamic and success driven individuals, who placed high premium on integrity, professionalism and excellence in performance and service delivery, recalling that the old Mobitel stopped operations in 2005, after it went into receivership.

Following the acquisition of Mobitel, the new management went through due process as published by the NCC to bid and pay for the spectrum in the 2.3GHz band.

“Prior to this, the new management also went through a process of negotiation with all creditors to whom the old Mobitel had been indebted, eventually paying off about N3.5 billion in accumulated debts in readiness for commencement of operations by the new owners of Mobitel,” he said.

A senior member of Mobitel also confirmed to ITRealms Online that they “Will proceed to court to enforce due process and see to the logical conclusion of this saga.”

For Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Multilinks Telkom Nigeria, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie, it was unthinkable for anybody to have argued that Multilinks was used to replace Galaxy Wireless, stressing that Multi-Links Telkom applied for the 2.3GHz Spectrum License based on the advertisement placed in the media and the Internet by the regulatory body, NCC and would do everything possible to keep its name.

“The NCC had also expressly stated in the advertisements that granting of the license would be on a first pay, first served basis and it was based on this that Multi-Links Telkom qualified for the license,” she declared, pointing out that no company that bided for the license was disqualified, given the fact that there was still a fourth license to be awarded, which currently remains un-awarded.

Commenting on the controversy and intension of some of the awardees to drag the federal government to court to stop the fresh bid, a Lagos-based telecommunications lawyer, Mr. John St. Claret Ezeani noted that, the issue has become a matter for law and policy, hence he expects that “If the law has been infringed in the process, there is usually a repercussion for that, which is punishment.”

While warning that the court process may take some time, Ezeani said it could be the best bet, but recommended that the whole process be allowed to restart.

“That is the only way it will have credibility and the world will respect us (Nigeria) better, yet, let the winners go to court, if they want,” he said while predicting that, it may not be favourable to them eventually.

Industry analysts said that long court process may make mess of the success Nigeria has recorded in the past eight years in the telecommunications sector. They warned the federal government and Minister of Information and Communications not to politicize the independence of NCC. It would be recalled that the NCC boss was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following the Minister’s petition.


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NCC won’t succumb to blackmail - Ndukwe

THE Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has declared that his leadership at the apex telecommunications regulatory body would not succumb to any intimidation.

“I want to make it categorically clear that I would not succumb to any blackmail. I don’t have money to give to anybody,” he asserted.

Ndukwe who was reacting to various allegations against his leadership at NCC by the chairman, House of Representatives committee on Information and National Orientation, Hon. Dino Melaye, last weekend, which included among others that NCC is aiding and abating exploitation of Nigerians by the telecommunications operators, especially the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) companies with respect to complaints against service providers.

“NCC under Dr. Ernest Ndukwe’s leadership is no more working for Nigerians but for the service providers because Nigerians are not enjoying their money and something urgent must be done to curb this,” Melaye said, insisting that Nigerians pay the highest tariff in the world, “yet, we do not enjoy what we pay for.”

Addressing newsmen in reaction to the allegations by Melaye, Dr. Ndukwe said that there was no basis for such claims because the existence of NCC is rooted in mission and vision of providing globally acceptable friendly environment for the operators and ensuring above all that subscribers are not shortchanged under any pretence.

He also expressed optimism that he would complete his second term in office so long as President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is satisfied with the disposition of the commission under his leadership.

“I would be in this position as long as it pleases Mr. President,” he declared, refuting the allegation that he may have interest in any of the telecom operators in the country, even as there is no plan to offer anybody any ‘special’ incentive at the National Assembly to stop any motion to probe the commission.

“So, for anybody to suggest that Honourable members of the National Assembly are being influenced in any form, is immaterial,” he said.

While regretting the inconveniences such negative media reports could have on members of parliament, especially for those whose names may have been mentioned,

“Because nothing like that ever happened and I was not even in the country.”

According to Ndukwe, based on the information available to him, there was nothing worrisome on the Melaye’s motion concerning the commission and himself, stressing that as for himself, he is not a civil servant but a political appointee who assumed his position on tenureship.

He, however, advised self-styled apostle of the people to be patience because in the next15 months, his second term would be over, wondering where on earth these apostles were when Nigeria had a little over 400,000 land lines for over 30 years before the coming of GSM auction which was globally applauded.

“Where were these people when NCC was in two detached houses in 2001 and largely dependent on the government support? Where were they when Nigerians were begging to buy a line between N150,000 and N250,000 to get a fixed line with many more still on the queue of NITEL? Where were these apostles when the Digital Mobile License auction was hailed for its transparency?” he decried.

Noting that NCC before his emergence at the helm of affairs had about 60 employees who were largely non-professionals.

“Today, we have about 300 experts serving this nation in various areas including law, engineering to name a few,” he said.

Ndukwe pointed out that as at December 2008, the nation has grown its subscriber-base to 64 million and NCC is self-reliant as far as funding is concerned.

He further decried a claim that Nigeria lost about N1.7 billion due to the five-year pioneer status granted some GSM operators.

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NigComSAT-1, a technical tragedy – ATCON

... Urges work on NigComSAT-2

UMBRELLA body of telecommunications companies in the country, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has described the failed Nigerian Communications Satellite-1 (NigComSAT-1) as a technical tragedy, urging that the Federal Government (FG) should commence work on NigComSat-2.

Speaking in Lagos, the National President of ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, said that the nation needed to start the processes on NigComSAT-2 immediately on learning about the failure of NigComSAT-1, which was reportedly parked after developing charging fault, prior to November 10, 2008 when the government owned up.

Ekuwem said that Nigeria must start process toward the actualization of the NigComSAT-2 without further delay.

However, he advised that before then, government must truly unravel the cause of the failure of NigComSAT-1, warning that the incident should not deter the government from investing in future satellite projects.

“No nation shies away from challenges. We should proceed to NigComSAT-2 provided we unravel the cause of the failure of NigComSAT-1,” he said.

Reviewing 2008, ATCON president also noted that Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) is about provision of broadband for the populace and NigComSAT would play a vital role in this regard.

He pointed out that currently, Nigeria is celebrating voice, maintaining that broadband is the next application to boost economic productivity, while lamenting that till date, Nigeria is not known to have produced completely any part of ICT tools.

Ekuwem further canvassed for the usage of the so-called area boys and girls for development.

“They must be used to change the face of our economy,” he declared, calling for adaptation of franchise, citing Virgin Mobile in the United Kingdom as a franchise company that merely resells airtime to the end users.

As said by him, by adapting to franchise in the country, ICT firms would help immensely in taking developmental diffusion to the rural areas.

“We want every nook and cranny to have service,” he said.

Additionally, he disclosed that ATCON would focus on education of its members through a workshop that would raise some pertinent issues.

He wondered how many engineering students could write correct English proposal, saying that with the advent of the global village, the world has become one job market.

“I would like to dedicate this last tenure to mentoring,” he said.

Equally, he said, that ATCON plans to organize two stakeholders forum and ComBIT, emphasizing that one of the workshops would focus on global financial crisis as it affects ICT.

“Experts would use the platform to react to what is on ground. Are we ready if America cuts its crude import? Are we saving for the rainy day?” he said.
Pointing out that the issue at stake is not that of population as the likes of Island and Japan do not produce oil.

“Nigerians are intellectually sound, so it’s in our own best national interest to use our oil money on ICT development,” he said.

Ekuwem further disclosed that the theme for ComBIT 2009 would be “ICT for Development.”

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Telco chiefs, Akunyili on collision path

JUST few weeks in office, the newly appointed Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili, may be heading for a collision path with chief executive officers (CEOs) of multinational telecommunications operators in the land.

Feelers reaching ITRealms Online at the end of Akunyili’s first ever stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, last week Tuesday, showed that most chief executive officers operating telecommunications, especially of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) were displeased on the outcome of the forum.

Moreso on the manner with which the chief executive officer of Zain Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Ligali, was literally told to have his seat for allegedly making a ‘political statement’ when he tried to recount that quality of service (QoS) has been on the improvement ladder and as a matter of fact, the last Christmas was better than that of before and the need to improve on telecommunications infrastructure.

Even as the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has sounded a note of warning, saying such embarrassment should be redressed.

ITRealms Online investigations showed that Prof. Akunyili had interrupted Ligali, and warned CEOs to devoid of political statements in their contributions at the forum.

For most of the operators who spoke to ITRealms Online, that was the height of an insult from what they described as ‘industry novice,’ moreso to a chief executive officer of a multinational telecom operator, who does not have any political inclination.

“Could you imagine the way the minister responded to Ligali of all people? Just be rest assured that as a multinational company, they may not be necessarily disposed to deal with her at that level,” one of the forum participants fumed after the meeting, which held at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

For another chief executive who spoke to ITRealms Online on anonymity, “I would not be surprised that future meetings by this minister would be attended by mostly junior officers as she has no respect for multinational entities, let alone telecom operators of that magnitude until she leaves office, if she can address a chief executive officer in that rude manner.”

Stressing, “Can you reduce tariff without addressing infrastructure problems,” just as our source insisted that if it was easy to fix, why has government not fixed the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL).

In its official reaction to the development, operators under the aegis of ALTON said they were taken aback by the honourable minister’s interjection.

ALTON chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, noted that Mr. Ligali is the CEO of Zain, “a very important member of our association.”

According to Adebayo, the issues raised by Ligali were the state of the industry and current challenge due to the poor state of the national energy infrastructure and security situation.

“…And one would expect that the Minister who is new in the terrain would respect and accept the position stressed by Mr. Ligali, the presiding officer of a leading network,” he said.

ALTON also described the development as unfortunate.

“It is unfortunate and we hope that the Minister will take a step to redress the embarrassment caused Mr. Ligali and his network as this can affect a relationship,” the group warned.

In fact, those who spoke to ITRealms Online called on Prof. Akunyili to tender an unreserved apology, knowing fully well she is serving the public and should treat people representing companies with some respect if she expects any in return.

Our source, further noted that Mrs. Akunyili must be humble if she intends to make any mark before leaving office, saying that with the stakeholders meeting, they were expecting her to come up with some policy agenda that she will pursue to curb the ills bedeviling the industry as contained in a press statement by Special Adviser to
Akunyili on Media, Mr. Charles Chikezie.

“Alas, it was not to be, rather, she was busy insisting on companies writing the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to copy her ministry. This leaves me wondering if she plans to form policies and implement same by herself alone,” one of the participants asked.

Media report had it that Akunyili, more or less made the forum to look like another telecom consumers parliament, presided over by her, which actually is within the purview of NCC as most of the utterances from her was on quality of service and tariff reduction.

Thus, industry analysts described the forum as a misguided one, because it was short of policy guidelines.

They further argued that telecom service providers cannot reduce tariff with immediate effect, when she refused to hear one of them like Mr. Ligali, who was ready to tell her the truth and factors surrounding tariff reduction strategies and its viability at this time in point.

Equally, they saw the embarrassment on Ligali as an affront on the operators’ psyche thereby creating an atmosphere of fear on management of telecom companies, which in the actual sense was a shooting on the wrong foot.

ITRealms Online recalls that Prof. Akunyili and the Minister of State, Alhaji Aliyu Bilbis, had summoned a stakeholders’ forum for telecoms providers to deliberate on some of the “ills bedeviling the industry.”

According to Mr. Chikezie, the meeting was expected to create an avenue for the minister to explore the challenges in the communications sector, so as to fashion out measures that will make it operate optimally as well as derive full benefit for Nigerians.

Officials of NCC led by its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, chief executives of all telecom operating companies including Digital Mobile License (DML) and Private Network Links (PNL) operators, Internet Service Providers (ISP) among other stakeholders were present at the forum.

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Nigeria may host Internet community

Nigeria has sent a proposal to the global coordinating agency, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the hosting of Internet community in 2010, as one of ICANN’s public meetings.

ITRealms Online recalls that ICANN recently invited applications from interested countries to host the 2009 meeting in Europe and 2010 in Africa. Precisely, the public meeting for Africa has been scheduled to hold on February 7 through 12, 2010, thereby beating the deadline for submissions, which was October 15, 2008.

The success of Nigeria’s proposal sent in through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA), will pave the way for the first-ever hosting of such a meeting in the country.

Already, Nigeria has set up a Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by the Director of Licensing at NCC, Mrs. Mary Uduma.

This proposal, according to industry watchers was not surprising given Nigeria’s place among the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) community, especially with the advent of democracy and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).

Confirming this, the Regional Manager for Africa at ICANN, Ms Annel Rachel Inne, told ITRealms Online in an online conversation that yes, Nigeria has sent an Expression of Interest to host the 2010 meeting.

She said that ICANN’s meeting team will review the proposals and then do a site visit at the beginning of 2009.

She noted that in accordance with ICANN’s commitment to continuously improve in the management of meetings, and in response to requests for advanced planning, ICANN had called for Expressions of Interest to host meetings to be held in Europe on 25-30 October 2009, and in Africa on 7-12 February 2010.

The objective, she said, is to routinely provide advice on locations for meetings 12 months ahead of schedule, stressing that ICANN’s Public Meetings draw individuals from around the globe and attract a wide range of participants who follow Internet addressing and policy issues.

The meetings receive international media coverage and provide an ideal opportunity for participants, sponsors, and hosts to interact on key Internet issues.

She explained that organisations interested in the opportunity to host the Africa meeting in 2010 should review the full Request for Proposals before submitting an Expression of Interest.

“The specifications outlined in the Request for Proposals detail the anticipated required elements of an ICANN meeting and the minimum responsibilities of the hosting organization,” she said.

Inne said that all interested parties should submit a completed Expression of Interest Form via electronic mail (e-mail) to meeting@icann.org for consideration.

ICANN meetings constitute an essential part of ICANN’s global consensus-building, policy development, and outreach efforts. We encourage your institution/organisation to consider submitting an Expression of Interest Form.

Each year, she explained that ICANN holds three meetings in different regions around the world. Hence these meetings constitute an essential part of ICANN’s global consensus-building and outreach efforts. ICANN sets the regions in which it will hold its meetings, while proposals are solicited from organisations interested in hosting the ICANN Meeting, followed by the evaluation of the proposals and selection
of the host for each event.

“Regional support for a particular proposal is an important consideration. While the specifications outlined in this document detail the anticipated minimum required elements of an ICANN meeting and the minimum responsibilities of the hosting organization,” ICANN sources said.

However, the potential host is not responsible for the provision or cost of any services not listed in the specification document, but must disclose to ICANN any local laws or customs which might conflict with this specification.

Equally, ICANN will consider all elements of a proposal in making its decision but will pay special attention to the provision of basic or minimum requirements as specified in the call for expression of interest document.

ICANN advised that it is prefers for the meetings to be held in the main hotel where most of the delegates reside.

“This will minimise time and expenses spent on local transportation,” ICANN said, stressing that it’s on under exceptional circumstances; it will consider a separate meeting and hotel location if no alternative is available.

Elements such as convenience to international airports, personal safety of meeting participants, meeting space, network infrastructure, and ability of local hosts to meet their financial responsibilities will be considered by ICANN in making its selection.

Just as the local hosts must document in the proposal how their financial obligations will be funded.


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Many Nigerian ISPs operate illegally – Kalu

Several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country today, are largely operating illegally, according to the chief executive officer (CEO), Amsco Telecom Group, Mr. Ndukwe Kalu.

In a chat with ITRealms Online, Mr. Kalu who also is the vice president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), denied allegation that ISPs in the country are cheating users by offering lesser bytes, arguing that though there are some bad eggs in the sub-sector, but the number is few compared to firms with integrity.

A bit is the smallest piece of information that computers use. For instance, a Personal Computer (PC) uses bits in groups of eight called bytes, that is, eight bits equals to one byte. Therefore, in most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long.

ITRealms Online recalls that traditionally, byte size is determined by the number of bits required to represent a single character from a Western character set, of which its size was generically dependant on the number of possible characters in the supported character set and chosen to be a divisor of the computer’s word size.

Mr. Kalu reckoned with dismay that most ISPs operating in the country exist without any recourse to the telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“Also you should note that many firms offering ISP services are actually operating illegally , without an NCC license and supervision,” he asserted.

For this and other reasons, he said, that Internet services in the country remained largely unsupervised and that current price of bandwidth, broadband is not commercially feasible in the country.

He cited an instance with the SAT-3, which offers 1 Mega bytes per second for $3,000 (about N351,000.00) for a duplex based on bulk purchase.

Noting that broadband is sold presently at the 256 kilo bites per second (kbps) minimum, wondering how many Nigerians could pay about $1,500 (about N175,500.00) per month for broadband service.

Thus, this situation elucidated the way for heavily shared bandwidth by ISPs to realize the visible pricing of today in the nation’s Internet service.

“So, the inevitable is that bandwidth is heavily shared to achieve the price levels that we see of say, N10,000,” he said.

He predicted that the way out of the wood is the NCC inspired State Accelerated Broadband Initiative (SABI).

“Only the SABI project of NCC has decided to tackle this issue headlong,” he declared, stressing that SABI needed consistent drive to ensure that its targets are met.

As said by him, using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) could reduce the cost of Internet access for end-users, mostly in decongesting the voice network in the country, while offering very competitive rates.

“So, you would get better quality of service and reduced price,” he said, but lamented that currently, VoIP infrastructure is very minimal in the country and could be quickly deployed so as to remove distance barrier cost in service deployment.

On the impact of telecom operators creating ISP subsidiaries instead of buying over existing legacy ISPs, Mr. Kalu said that overtime, competence would determine where end users could go for their Internet acquisition.

He emphasized that data is not the same thing as voice, “so if the voice networks want to get it right they must acquire the expertise, either by merger, acquisition, partnership or poaching. Its all a matter of business sense.”

He was quick to add that there is no level playing ground for the traditional ISPs and others who are delving into the business of service provisioning such as telecom operators, who have the wherewithal to co-exist beyond their immediate core areas.

“The telco has it all, own network, frequency, numbering to name a few. Traditional ISPs are asking for just the leveling of the field,” he said.

Although, he said, NCC had started this by approving that ISPs could own their own networks, but then “this is not backed by choice of frequency.”

He expressed excitement that this issue has been receiving attention at NCC, just as numbering plan for VoIP is also critical.

“When all these are in place, then all would thrive together,” he declared, stressing that in the United States, thousands of small ISPs are making it in the land of the Verizons.

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Experts agitate for NigComSAT 2, 3

In response to the recent revelation that the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat-1) is irreparable, experts in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector are agitating for the commencement of actions towards the launch of the NigComSAT 2 and 3 within the best possible time.

ITRealms Online recollects that NigComSat-1 service experienced impromptu disruption on November 10, 2008 and the government said it was merely parked for repairs as its battery could not recharge.

Some of those who commented on the issue include the Senior Engineering Manager at Philips Place, Lagos, Mr. Patrick Edeh, telecom analyst, Mr. Shola Taylor, chief executive officer (CEO) of Emperion West Africa, Sansdeep Jayaswal and a Lagos-based technology analyst and promoter of rural telephony in eastern Nigeria, Mr. Pius Ikedife.

For Mr. Edeh, government must not waste time in launching these satellites, because, as a country, Nigeria has made powerful statements with the launch of NigComSat-1 as the first black country to have a footprint in space.

“Despite the negative criticisms from a lot of western interests and their cohorts here in Africa, but the fact that NigComSat-1 changed the entire market thinking about bandwidth pricing before its technical problems proved that this is a road we must take,” he said.

Telecommunications analysts, Mr. Shola Taylor said that Nigeria must see this hiccup of NigComSAT-1 as a challenge that is surmountable.

“We must see this as a challenge. The satellite industry is a high risk sector but it offers immense benefits for any nation that veers into it. The manpower skill acquisition and infrastructure and possibility of socio-economic improvements are tremendous,” he said.

According to him, every serious country wants to have a stake in the satellite industry and Nigerian government deserves commendation for getting into it.

On his part, Mr. Ikedife noted that there is a lot of misconceptions out there about the satellite industry which tend to portray Nigeria’s entry as a disastrous one.

“More than 30 satellites have developed different levels of serious errors in the last 24 months built by the best hands in Europe and United States (US). But people don’t make fuss over this. You simply track down the problems, make amends and move on with newer investment that is ultimately justifiable,” he said.

Ikedife also said that the lesson in this current challenge for Nigeria is that it must remain up there in orbits with not one satellite but several.

“If we must sustain the radical changes we have initiated in the African satellite space,” he said.

For Mr. Jayaswal of Emperion, this incident is unfortunate, expressing the hope that it would be successfully addressed with more of Nigerian communication satellites in space very soon.

“With NigComSat-1, we at Emperion were able to leverage on the lower cost of high quality service to have competitive advantage over others,” he said.

Additionally, he said NigComSat-1 offered a rare window of bringing premium services to the market that foreign satellite companies could not have offered.


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Microsoft may opt for partial share in Yahoo!

The last may not have been heard about the Microsoft’s burning desire to own a controlling share of the reputed online search engine, Yahoo! as its official confirmed weekend that it may re-open negotiations with the new board expected to emerge after the August 1, 2008 shareholders’ meeting.

The latest move, ITRealms Online gathered would now target making in roads in the negotiations with interest for partial instead of wholesome purchase of the search engine, Yahoo! by Microsoft.

With countdown remaining just 48 hours to come by for the next shareholders meeting of Yahoo! there is unexpected high handedness as even accredited media for the meeting have been banned from recording in any format.

Anticipation is also high at Microsoft that its inspired billionaire cum activist and top shareholder in Yahoo! Mr. Carl Icahn would uphold his threat to sack the current board of directors with Mr. Jerry Yang as the chief executive.

ITRealms Online recalls that Yang-led management team at Yahoo! refused in the past six months to yield to Mr. Icahn’s Microsoft motivated deal of disposing Yahoo! for United States Dollars 47.5 billion (about N5.59 trillion).

But new development emerged at the weekend that Microsoft after all would not be gunning for a wholesome purchase of Yahoo! as it foresees the entity declining assets.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Chris Liddell gave this indication at the Financial Analyst Meeting 2008 held at the company’s headquarters, last weekend.

Commenting on Yahoo! deal lately, he said that certain elements have changed in the company since its initial offer was botched few days back.

As said by him, Microsoft went into the acquisition totally genuine, which they believe was a good deal and consequently made an offer based on that belief that it is incredibly good value to the shareholders of Yahoo!

Now, he said, Microsoft has taken a second look at the proposed offer and come to the realization that it was an incredibly generous bid, but Yahoo! has continued to decline in asset.

“We took the view, and we still take the view, that Yahoo! is essentially a declining asset,” he declared.

He explained that what is now available is a situation where you have an expectation from a vendor that looks like this, an expectation from a buyer that looks the other way and so “you see a declining parallel path.”

“It’s ironic now that we have a situation where the vendor is happy to sell to us at a price something like what we originally offered, so if you like that path was intersected where we started -- and having rejected that and said it was substantially undervalued six odd months ago,” the CFO said.

He stressed that what changed was time, because “Time passed and value eroded” and its no longer economical for Microsoft.

“We don’t have a situation now where the initial offer that we made makes any sense any more from economics,” Liddell said.

“There’s no way that you can get the sort of boost that you get from Yahoo! by doing things organically …. There has to be some economic justification for acceleration at the end of the day time. And if time passes and the value of what we are buying erodes for one reason or another, it stops making sense for us to do it,” he said.

Although he did not disclose the latest offer to be made when the negotiations reopens in the coming days, Liddell noted that in view of going forward, that the chances of buying Yahoo! on full scale is now very minute.

“I think the chances of us buying Yahoo! on a full acquisition basis are so small that they are essentially negligible,” he said, adding that a full acquisition certainly in the timeframe and sort of economics that were previously thought “makes no sense.”

Meanwhile Microsoft has announced the restructuring of the Platforms & Services Division (PSD) by splitting it into two groups.

Chief executive officer, Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Steve Ballmer made this announced penultimate Wednesday after the Yahoo! deal failed.

Noteworthy is that PSD president, Kevin Johnson would be leaving the company probably by end of this month.

The new two groups that emerged from the split are Windows/Windows Live and Online Services, with both groups reporting directly to the CEO, Mr. Ballmer.

While Microsoft officials were optimistic of the Yahoo! meeting outcome, industry observers were of the view that some clusters may still be working against Microsoft due to the fear that it would want to emasculate the online business like the firm did with the Personal Computing (PC) evolution initially, which saw almost all PCs coming into market with Microsoft Operating System (OS) and now on battlefield with Open Source advocates.

Yahoo! prides itself as the world’s largest global online network of integrated services and is one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide that was founded 13 years ago.


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Operators blame NITEL over poor services

Cover of the week:

Following the strike embarked upon by employees of the first national carrier, the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its mobile subsidiary, the Mobile Telecommunications Limited (M-Tel) many telecom subscribers are now experiencing hell on earth to get a call go through let alone data access.

This is coming as most telecom operators are now using the strike by NITEL officials as an excuse for increased poor quality of service (QoS), even those that have been experiencing bad services on their platform before the industrial action commenced.

Many of the subscribers who spoke to Champion Infotel complained of unsuccessful call attempts and increase in call-drops, just as operators have commenced actions in order to get alternative points to salvage poor quality of service that came to the fore as a result of the strike, mostly those on NITEL switches.

A lot of Short Messaging Services (SMS) have been sent to subscribers since last week when the strike began.

One of the SMS’ came from Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Starcomms and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) read, “Dear Customer, due to ongoing NITEL strike, you may experience degradation in internet services. We regret any inconvenience caused.”

Also, another operator sent out this SMS; “Dear Customer, we are aware that service is currently unavailable for some customers. Resolution is on-going. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Equally, it was gathered that most licensed telecom operators in the land learnt a their lessons during a similar strike by members of NITEL staff in 2006 to protest the sale of NITEL to its current majority stake owners, the Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), among others under the guise of a ‘preferred bidder,’ while in the actual sense it was not opened for bidders but closed at the presidency under Olusegun Obasanjo.

Reacting to the situation, apex telecom regulator in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) decried the state of affairs within the telecom sector and owing precisely to the strike.

NCC in a press statement endorsed by the Head, Public Affairs, Sir Dave Imoko expressed concern over the on-going strike embarked upon by employees of the first national carrier.

It would be recalled that staffers of both subsidiaries - NITEL and MTel, owned by Transnational Corporation (TRANSCORP) embarked on strike due to alleged inability of Transcorp to live up to the recent agreement reached on April 1, this year, with the mandate to settle all arrears within two weeks.

While reacting to the strike, Transcorp claimed it had paid money to offset the outstanding salaries of NITEL and MTel staff and described their actions as provocative.

The commission, however, noted with dismay that the current strike has resulted in shutting down of the NITEL’s network, inferring that the telco is the first national carrier in the country with licenses spanning provision of landline services to many government agencies and major corporate organizations nationwide.

NCC pointed out that, through the SAT-3 cable infrastructure, for instance, NITEL provides a major international link from Nigeria to the outside world.

Stressing that as a result of workers’ strike, subscribers who rely on NITEL’s fixed lines, which is less than 500,000, would now resort to patronizing other service providers, thus increasing the congestion on those networks.

Additionally, he said, that the disruption in the SAT-3 cable infrastructure would force many subscribers from various networks in the country to engage in several fruitless attempts to achieve international destinations.

NCC said, “These have the combined effect of adding to the frustrations of subscribers as well as promoting network congestion,” adding that telecom subscribers in the country should be aware of this development while expressing the hope that the problem between NITEL workers and their management will be resolved as soon as possible.

Also reacting to the strike by NITEL staff, ALTON through its chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo that its undisputable whether the strike affected ALTON members.

As said by him, the strike affected operators mostly those who have interconnection solely on NITEL carrier switched in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja with attendant loss of revenue and concern.

He emphasised though that most core operators have developed alternative interconnect point to NITEL, insisting that the case of NITEL is an embarrassment to all stakeholders, and Transcorp in particular.

Meanwhile, Transcorp maintained that it lived up to the deal, NITEL workers also stood on their ground that their demand of full payment of arrears be paid in full.

Transcorp spokesman and Vice President, Corporate Relations, Mr. Adedayo Ojo, in his response via a press statement, said the industrial action by NITEL was “provocative, illegal and irresponsible.”

Ojo also said Transcorp has fulfilled the terms of agreement reached with employees over fortnight ago.

In pursuant to the said agreement, Transcorp said, it fulfilled all obligations as at Monday, April 14, 2008 by paying the December 2007 salary into NITEL’s account.

“To our shock, embarrassment and despite the payment of over N500 Million, the employees proceeded to blockade the SAT-3 facility, which is Nigeria international telephony gateway,” he asserted, stressing that this action was not only a negation of the agreement by the workers representatives, but also a shame to the country in view of the national security implications.

“The employees action is all the more regrettable as the decision to pay the aforesaid was generally unpopular given that NITEL has been unable to generate enough revenue to pay salaries,” part of the statement read.

He urged all well meaning Nigerians and stakeholders in the telecommunications sector to ask the employees representatives for the real motives behind the current strike especially since Transcorp has fulfilled its obligations.

Similarly, chairman, National Association of Telecommunication Employees of Nigeria, Mr. Charles Amankwe, was reportedly saying last weekend that Transcorp only paid November salary as at Monday, April 14, 2008, which negates the agreement.

“They only paid it about some minutes to four [in the evening] when we had issued a statement to shut down transmission and what they paid in was just November salary and we are rejecting it,” he said.

Amankwe further said that the Abuja Territorial Manager of NITEL, Mr. J.F. Okeneye, was Tuesday last week arrested by security operatives in an effort to forestall plans to shut down transmission lines.

Noting that NITEL staff would only go back to work if Transcorp fulfilled its promises, even as the employees last Tuesday succeeded in shutting down services at its headquarters in Abuja.

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Badware: Google may face lawsuit in Nigeria

Cover of the week:

Some Nigerian firms may have concluded plans to engage two United States-based Internet entities, Google and StopBadware.org in a lawsuit for classifying their websites as badware or malware on the Internet.

Badware also known as Malware, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s consent. In other words, the website has been attacked.

Malware, according to Wikipedia, an online free encyclopaedia is “a portmanteau of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or programme code.”

It was gathered that StopBadware.org has classified some Nigerian websites as badware based on Google’s advisory.

A websearch on StopBadware database confirmed that some Nigerian websites (names withheld) have been reported as badware by Google and would be reviewed on request and when declassified by Google they would automatically be removed from its archive of StopBadware.org.

Champion Infotel investigations revealed that on attempts to access some of the websites, through Google search engine, visitors are confronted with a warning, which read thus:

“Visiting this web site may harm your computer! You can learn more about harmful web content and how to protect your computer at StopBadware.org,” the statement warned.

Although other Internet search engines could still be used to locate websites reportedly blocked by Google and archived by StopBadware.org.

Also, StopBadware.org offer some immediate suggestions to include a return to the previous page and picking of another result or try another search to “find what you’re looking for.”

StopBadware added that Internet users could continue at the already designated ‘badware’ site at their own risk.

“Or you can continue to http://www.???/ at your own risk,” the organisation warns.

In addition, it directed that if the user is the owner of the blacklisted website, “you can request a review of your site using Google’s Webmasters Tools” just as the advisory was provided by Google.

Attempts to engage the Webmasters Tools required that our correspondent signs up for the tools, requesting to know a little more about the inquirer.

“Please enter the additional information below. If you want to use the Google Webmaster Tools service as part of a separate Google Account, click here. (Note: you can only be logged into one Google Account at a time). Get started with Google Webmaster Tools.”

At the home page of StopBadware.org, an assumed help option was offered with a column at the right-hand side flagged by Google, asking concerned Internet users to click a link if they would like the organisation to review the inclusion of their website in the Badware website Clearinghouse with options of “Request for Review form, StopBadware Manifesto, and Guidelines.”

As at the time of filing this report last weekend, an estimated 260732 Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) which are website addresses have been allegedly reported to StopBadware.org by its partners and hence classified as badware awaiting clearance at its clearinghouse.

StopBadware.org identifies itself as a “Neighbourhood Watch” campaign aimed at fighting badware.

Equally it was gathered that Google uses its own testing procedures, and is sole decider for initial decisions to post a warning page for a website and does not rely on any testing or reports from StopBadware in making these initial decisions.

“However, StopBadware has the ability to review Google’s decisions, and you may request that we engage in a review by filling out a Request for Review. Working with our partners at Google, we respond to each request for review as quickly as is reasonably possible. Please note that this web form is the only way to contact StopBadware about a request for review,” StopBadware stated in its website.

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Globacom lifts eastern states with fibre optic

Living up its dream of enthroning world-class communications at the doorsteps of Nigerians, the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom, has lifted its services with the launch of the second eastern fibre optic backbone.

Champion Infotel recalled that barely a fortnight after Globacom launched its fibre optic backbone in the commercial city of Onitsha, the train went to the capital of Imo State, Owerri where the second transmission route was equally commissioned.

Company sources said that the launch is expected to bring about highly advanced transmission backbone to the region and even improve upon what is currently on ground in terms of better quality of service.

Just as it is expected to form a lead to a marked improvement in telecommunications offering and delivery in the eastern part of the country.

Experts agreed that in recent years it has become apparent that fibre-optics are steadily replacing copper wire as an appropriate means of communication signal transmission, hence a highly reliable voice and data transmission medium and is reputed as superior to the satellite and microwave transmission networks generally deployed by most operators eliminating hiccups emanating from changes in weather conditions.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Operating Officer, Glo BroadAccess, Mr. Martins Olowonihi, said the facility would benefit not only the network’s subscribers, but also telecom service users and business generally via provision of large bandwidth for offices and corporate organizations.

He also said that the Owerri-Onitsha route complements the Onitsha-Awka axis of the backbone launched two weeks earlier, stressing that because of the potentials of the facility Globacom was confident it would significantly transform telecommunications and positively affect the economy of the eastern states.

He pointed out that the first phase spanning 10,000 kilometres would soon be completed.

“Globacom will continue to empower our people, governments and businesses in line with our commitment to lead the change in the telecoms industry,” Olowonihi assured.

He explained that Globacom’s fibre cable network has already covered the entire Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan route, Lagos-IjebuOde-Ore-Benin-Sapele-Warri-Kaima (Yenogoa junction)-Port Harcourt-Aba-Owerri-Enugu, Onitsha-Awka route and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano-Minna routes. Other routes covered include the Enugu-Oturkpo-Makurdi, Makurdi-Lafia-Abuja and Ibadan-Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bida-Minna-Abuja.

Commenting at the ceremony, Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim represented by his Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Chuma Nnaji, said that the optic fibre project would help the state government in its e-government scheme.

Commending the SNO for its revolutionary efforts in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Ohakim said they are enthused that Globacom is partnering the state to improve communications.

“We need this kind of partnership as we are a business-oriented state. Globacom is providing Nigerians the capacity to catch up with the rest of the world. The world is now a global village and the only way for us is to improve our telecommunications and Glo is doing just that. Imo will provide you the enabling environment and will continue to partner you,” he said.

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Experts give reasons for IPv4 decline

Cover of the week:

EXPERTS in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have adduced some reasons why the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) has been on the decline.

Some of the expects who spoke to Champion Infotel on the depletion of IPv4 usage globally included the Presidents, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Lanre Ajayi and his counterpart in the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Ndukwe Kalu.

In the view of Mr. Ajayi who also is the chief executive, PiNet Informatics is that the depletion was mainly because it was not anticipated at the creation of the Internet.

“The tremendous uptake of the Internet by the global community was perhaps not anticipated at the creation of the Internet, hence the adoption of a numbering system that is appearing to be inadequate just few decades to the commencement of the Internet,” he said.

He stressed that given that the IPv4 was reportedly running out, a solution for this was found in creation of another numbering plan known as Internet Protocol version Six (IPV6).

“The IPV6 is expected to address the limitations posed by the IPV4, considering the huge numbers available in IPV6,” he noted.

Mr. Ajayi observed that the adoption of IPV6 in Nigeria has been quite slow and Internet network operators have not been helpful in deploying IPv6.

He counselled Internet users in the country to ensure that new request for IP numbers should be on IPV6, which is now readily obtainable through the African registry, AFRINIC.

And for his NiRA counterpart, Mr. Kalu who also is the chief executive, Amsco Telecom, why IPv4 declined was due to absence of networks and lots of cybercafes have closed shops because the most telecom operators in a developing country like Nigeria are now offering this along their primary voice services.

“Most people are now going for private IP, which is now being offered by most telcos,” he pointed out.

Mr. Kalu maintained that most people who should use it have folded up.

IPv6, he said, is clearly a most for Nigeria Internet community, therefore, “we must move on to IPv6.”

NiRA, he said, is very much concerned about the depletion and adoption of IPv6, stressing that the association is strategising on how to remedy the situation of declined IPv4 usage and keeping a tap on IPv6.

Internet Protocol version 4 is the current common version of the Internet Protocol, the “IP” portion of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ((TCP/IP), which assumes the position of dominant protocol suite in the worldwide Internet. TCP is Layer 4, otherwise known as the transport layer (TCP/IP) in IPv4, which allows for approximately four billion IP numbers.

Also, IPv4 is the most widely used version of IP nowadays, which uses a system of unique 32-bit identifiers to address data to computers (or hosts) on the Internet, according to Wikipedia.com, just as experts said it has 128 Class A addresses but only about 64 have been used.

Equally for some experts, this report may drag the reception of IPv6 full time either by relevant authorities managing IP addresses or the global coordinating agency, ICANN.

Already, fear has engulfed some stakeholders that IPv4 would soon run out of IP addresses hence the move to introduce IPv6 to contain more Internet users growing desire.

However, the 2007 IPv4 address use report, Champion Infotel gathered that the number of available IPv4 addresses went down from 1300.65 million to 1122.85 million, thus leaving a difference of 177.8 million addresses.

The report released by protocol routing entity, the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), showed that the number of usable addresses is 3706.65 million as at end of December 31, 2007, indicated that on January 1, 2007 global utilization recorded 64.9 per cent and by the last quarter of the same year it was at 69.7 per cent.

These figures, the report said were derived from the records published on the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers of the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), namely AfriNIC, which offers address space exclusively for Africa, APNIC for Asia-Pacific region, ARIN for North America, LACNIC for Latin America and the Caribbean and RIPE NCC for Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East.

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Nigeria needs IT adviser @ Aso Villa – ITAN

cover of the week:

Professionals in the country under the aegis of the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN) have said that the nation needs an IT adviser at the Presidency.

This is coming as the Executive Governor, Yobe State, Senator Mamman Ali has confirmed his readiness to relaunch ITAN’s Old Students Computer-In-Schools Initiative (OS-CISI) at this year’s edition of the Enhancing Information Technology Penetration in Nigeria (EITPIN-08) in Lagos, tomorrow.

ITAN made this call through its national president, Dr. Jimson Olufuye who said that the appointment of a special adviser to Mr. President on IT matters would go a long way in aligning the nation’s Information and Communication Technology and core IT industry particularly with the global trends.

“This would allow the President to be better advised on developments in the sector and on what policy and programmes that the government should prosecute,” Dr. Olufuye said in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel.

ITAN also expressed gratitude to some state governors for the foresight in appointing special advisers on IT at that level, describing it as a step in the right direction.

“This is a step in the right direction. We call on the states that do not currently have advisers on IT to do so,” the group said.

ITAN also added voice to the Local Content Bill currently before the National Assembly, suggesting that the scope of the proposed bill should be structured to accommodate IT in addition to the initial eight focal sectors.

Equally, ITAN called on the National Assembly to establish IT Committees in the House and Senate as it had in other sectors like in Communications.

“This we believe would allow the National Assembly to be well prepared to play its oversight role with respect to IT development, policy making and the enactment of relevant laws to regulate the sector,” Olufuye said.

Emphasising that State’s Assemblies should follow suit with their IT Committees established without delay for articulated and well co-ordinated IT development at various levels.

“The establishment of IT Ministries in states at the executive level is a necessity in this regard,” he said.

ITAN further expressed satisfaction over what it called ‘steady progress’ in IT sector, noting that a proactive and conducive policy environment will provide professionals and IT corporate citizens the opportunities, support and incentive to excel in the sector.

Additionally, ITAN urged the National IT Development Agency (NITDA) to urgently conclude its IT policy review initiative before its elements become obsolete on the drawing board.

Meanwhile, Governor Mamman Ali of Yobe State, is set to relaunch ITAN’s OS-CISI at EITPIN-08 holding at UNILAG in Lagos, tomorrow.

Confirming this, Dr. Olufuye said this has become necessary to ensure that schools have access to educational computers, as first step towards the deepening of IT at grassroots.

ITAN, therefore decided to use EITPIN-08 scheduled to hold at the Centre for Information and Technology Systems (CITS), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Yaba, Lagos on Thursday, next week to resuscitate the initiative.

“We at ITAN have decided to resuscitate our earlier initiative, the Computer In School Initiative now christened Old Students Computer In School Initiative (OS CISI),” he said.

He added that the objective of the initiative is to facilitate deployment of computers to old students primary and secondary schools as its first level of implementation.

The second level, he said, would require the deployment of computers to old students-nominated schools apart from their alma mata.

“The first and second levels deployments can actually run pari-passu,” he asserted, adding that the third level would be deployment of PCs to third party nominated schools across the six geo-political regions of the country.

He explained that the computers involved could be fairly used but not below Pentium III 128 Megabyte Random Access Memory (MB RAM), or brand new systems that could be as may be recommended by the sponsor of the school.

Dr. Olufuye emphasised that based on strategic partnership with Microsoft and local software developers through Cognitive Software, ITAN plans to power each system with Microsoft Windows XP, MS Office 2003 Suite, MS Student Encarta 2005, MS Educational software, and Cognitive educational packages at the first instance.

“An option with Linux has an alternate standard platform which is still on the table,” he said.

He pointed out that a minimum of five computers would be star-networked with a fairly used or brand new laserjet/deskjet printer, even as the equipment would be made Internet ready but not connected to the Internet.

“It is hoped that the Galaxy Backbone Internet Infrastructure will extend to benefiting schools as soon as it is deployed. At least one 5kva stabilizer and 5 650va UPS’ shall also be part of the package,” he said.

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