IOC’s Divestment: We facilitate, not hinder process says NNPC - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), as the largest partner to all the oil producing companies in Nigeria, has assured that its role in the divestment of the International Oil Companies from onshore and shallow water assets in the country is that of a facilitator, and not an obstacle.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, made the clarification at the opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the Nigerian International Energy Summit 2024 (NIES 2024), which held at the State House , Abuja, on Tuesday.

Wi-Fi Alliance, AT4 wireless sign MoU to test unlicensed LTE co-existence

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The Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Alliance and AT4 Wireless have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the testing of unlicensed Long-Term Evolution co-existence on Wi-Fi, reports ITRealms.

Confirming this, the Marketing Manager, AT4 wireless, Belen Garcia, told ITRealms that with the MoU, they would provide testing services to assess fair co-existence of Wi-Fi and LTE in unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) devices in accordance with the Wi-Fi Alliance Coexistence Test Plan.

“The testing assesses whether commercially available LTE-U devices co-exist fairly with Wi-Fi in the same environment,” Garcia said.

The development and deployment of LTE-U devices which utilize 4G LTE radio communications technology in unlicensed spectrum, Garcia said, introduces the possibility of interference with Wi-Fi equipment operating in the same bands.

Small deviations in LTE-U design requirements, AT4 Wireless official said, may affect Wi-Fi performance when working in proximity and in the same frequency band, stressing AT4 wireless will conduct independent testing based on objective tests and an industry-approved methodology to verify that LTE-U products do not violate fairness indicators.

Wi-Fi Alliance, Garcia said, agreed to qualify AT4 wireless to provide testing services based on the Coexistence Test Plan, which is being developed by members of the Wi-Fi and LTE-U communities in Wi-Fi Alliance.

ITRealms gathered that the Performance Test Tool from AT4 wireless will collect the most relevant key performance indicators (KPIs), such as throughput, latency (one-way delay), and jitter (latency variation).

“Official testing will commence once Wi-Fi Alliance releases the final Coexistence Test Plan,” Garcia said.

The Managing Director at AT4 wireless, who doubles as the Market and Sales Vice President at DEKRA Product Testing and Certification SU, Fernando E. Hardasmal, said they are very proud to partner with Wi-Fi Alliance in radio coexistence testing in this case with LTE unlicensed devices.

“AT4 wireless a DEKRA company now, considers radio coexistence a very important issue that needs to be addressed properly given the growing number of radio technologies that can work in multiple environments including homes, cars, hospitals, cities, etc. The AT4 wireless services scope now includes radio coexistence and at the same time our test tools are evolving to address these new challenges. DEKRA is committed to be the Global Partner for a Safe World and coexistence can be very relevant to Safety”, Fernando E. Hardasmal.

For the president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, Edgar Figueroa, the test is critical that LTE devices operating in unlicensed spectrum exhibit fair coexistence behavior with billions of Wi-Fi products in use around the world.

“Wi-Fi Alliance is leading a multi-industry effort to ensure LTE-U’s fair coexistence with Wi-Fi through testing.  Establishing independent test organizations to execute the coexistence test regimen is an important part of our effort,” Figueroa said.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Etisalat outlines factors for full financial inclusion in Nigeria

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Etisalat Nigeria, the most innovative telecommunications operator, has identified four enabling factors that could facilitate the achievement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s goal for full digitization of the financial services sector, reports ITRealms. 

Director, Digital Business, Etisalat Nigeria, Adia Sowho, made the assertion during the week while speaking on Financial Inclusion & Digital Financial Services at the 2016 eWorld Forum organised by Ajomedia, publishers of e-World Magazine in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria.

The factors include interoperability of standards for money exchange across operators, agents and products, agent cum merchant distribution network that accepts and processes clients’ transactions, technology platform or avenue by which digital financial services are being provided to the target customers and product variety which addresses key pain points and creates value in the community.

Speaking further, the Etisalat director, also called on relevant stakeholders in the digital financial services ecosystem to evolve ways that could help them remain relevant, just as she assured on the commitment of her company to seeking and creating more innovative ways to create value for consumers. 

She said, “Research results show that only 12 per cent are doing mobile banking while online banking has just 18 per cent of the population. This is a long road to our destination, and it calls for a strategic approach that involves the collaboration of all stakeholders. There must be regulatory interventions in place to foster the right conditions for increased collaboration. The banks must see and work towards the greater need for client-centric and digital mind set to increase customer base and deposits while reducing cost to acquire and serve. On our part, we are committed to efforts that will drive SmartPhone and broadband penetration to enhance the experience of customers who are expected to carry out financial services.”

It would be recalled that Etisalat Nigeria recently beat twenty one other entries to win the 2016 MobileMoneyExpo Kalahari Financial Inclusion Product of the Year Award for its contribution to the growth of the financial sector of the economy through its mobile money product, GTeasysavers. This product is  a joint effort of Etisalat Nigeria and Guaranty Trust Bank that seeks to make savings and financial inclusion easier for everyone.

Nkemdilim Nweke/GEE

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Pix: 1: (R-L) Director, Digital Business, Etisalat Nigeria, Adia Sowho speaking at the eWorld Forum 2016 sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with eWorld magazine in Lagos on Thursday. With her is Conference Committee Chairman, Nigeria Computer Society, Jide Awe, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Tony Ajobo and Chairman, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo at the eWorld Forum 2016 sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with eWorld Magazine in Lagos.

Pix 2: (R-L) Etisalat Nigeria’s Oluwaseun Omotosho, Manager, Mobile financial services and Director, Digital Business, Adia Sowho; Convener, eWorld Forum 2016, Aaron Ukodie; Etisalat Nigeria’s Head, Environment Compliance & Public Relations, Oluseyi Osunsedo and Manager, Public Relations, Chineze Amanfo at the eWorld Forum 2016 sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with eWorld Magazine in Lagos.