5G networks are energy efficient says EVC Danbatta – ITREALMS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kidnapped by the mobile networks - ITREALMS

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Disappointed by mobile network, Ofor Dike was held hostage for no fault of his. REMMY NWEKE writes that this may affect the adoption of electronic transactions in the country.

A moderate average man, Mazi Ofor Dike prefers not to have a complicated lifestyle since the evolution of digital revolution in the country. Hence, he would chose wireless to wired and electronic transactions against cash, anytime, any day.

Discovered! New ransomware attacking organisational networks - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission has alerted members of the public that a cybercrime group has perfected a new year scheme to deliver ransomware to targeted organizational networks, reports ITREALMS. 

Disclosing this to ITREALMS, the Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the new ransomware uncovered by security experts has been categorised, by the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team's (ngCERT) advisory released over the weekend, as high-risk and critical.

Breaking: Pantami orders deactivation of automatic voice mails across networks - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami, has ordered the deactivation of Automatic Vioice Mails (AVM) across all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country, reports ITREALMS.

He alleged that AVM has been the latest trend of financial exploitation by mobile operators and based on recent reports reaching the office, the practice has gained momentum.

The Voicemail service should be accessed at the discretion of the subscriber and not by default. The Honourable Minister finds it worrisome and totally unacceptable, that telecoms subscribers incur financial charges, for a service they are compelled to use by default. Voicemail is not a popular service among mobile phone users in Nigeria, coupled with the language challenge among rural dwellers, who mostly do not understand the language deployed by these networks.

It is apparent, that the recent clampdown on the exploitative activities of some Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country, has beamed the searchlight on the sector properly, and some unpatriotic elements in the system are devising subtle, ingenious methods of defrauding Nigerians. The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy under the current leadership of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), will neither overlook any acts, regardless of how subtle, that undermine the Anti Corruption Crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, nor condone any attempts to defraud Nigerians and indeed, all subscribers.

In the light of this, Dr Pantami has issued a broad policy directive to the sector regulator Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to immediately ensure that issues regarding automatic voicemails are addressed on all existing phone lines and the subscribers, given the option of accessing the service via an activation code.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the rights of consumers are protected, while providing a conducive business environment for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), in line with global best practice.

Chuks Egbuna/Editor

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Leveraging agent networks for better financial, social inclusion - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Leveraging agent networks for better financial, economic and social inclusion is gaining momentum in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reports ITREALMS.

The level of financial inclusion DRC, ITREALMS gathered, stands at 26 per cent. This presents a great opportunity for agent networks for digital financial services in the country to accelerate the access of low and middle-income populations to quality financial services.

Despite the presence of several digital financial service providers in the market, both the access and use of these services remains weak. This makes it all the more critical to improve the management of agent networks. According to the World Bank statistics, mobile money accounts have increased from 9.2% in 2014 to 16.1% in 2017 (https://bit.ly/2v04gWJ).

In the DRC, the use of informal financial services remains strongly anchored among the population. In this context, a careful selection of agents appears to be a good alternative at a lower cost to the provision of financial services. Well-trained, they will be the ideal channels for financial inclusion to become a reality.

The ELAN DRC program and the Fund for Financial Inclusion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FPM) commissioned MSC to conduct a short-term study on the internal opportunities and constraints <in managing the agent networks established and managed by digital financial service providers in the DRC. MSC conducted this six-month qualitative study from mid-May to late-November 2018. It focused on the five provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kasai, Katanga, and Kivu, and involved 19 suppliers and 50 agents.

This study had two main objectives: (1) To understand the internal factors in the management of DRC agent networks that promote or slow the success of DRC agents, and (2) to provide guidance on how operational management of agent networks can improve. The study makes a clear case for increasing financial inclusion through agents—but for that, a long-term investment is essential.

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ISOC says community networks key to connecting Africa - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

As Internet access continues to grow in Africa, with over 450 million people now connected to the Internet, more than 60 percent of the population still remains offline. Community Networks are a key way to address this connectivity gap, says the Internet Society (ISOC) reports ITREALMS.

ISOC is a global non-profit dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the Internet. 

Community Networks are communications infrastructure built, managed and used by local communities. They provide a sustainable solution to address the connectivity gaps that exist in underserved urban, remote, and rural areas around the world. In Africa, where these gaps are more prevalent, a recent survey was able to identify 37 community networks initiatives in 12 African countries, of which 25 are considered active.

The Internet Society in partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) (https://www.APC.org) and Zenzeleni Networks (http://Zenzeleni.net)will hold the third Africa Community Networks Summit in the Eastern Cape, South Africa from 3-7 September, 2018.  The Summit aims to promote the creation and growth of Community Networks, increase collaboration between community network operators in the region, and to provide an opportunity for them to engage with other stakeholders including content producers, regulators and policymakers.

Particpants from 13 countries in Africa (Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, DRC, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia) will be attending the summit in addition to attendees representing Community Networks in Spain, Germany, Argentina, India and the United States.

The conference sessions will cover topics ranging from how Community Networks can close the connectivity gap in Africa to strategies to support local access.  Discussions will also include how local networks can be used to improve delivery of basic services and inspire creation of locally relevant content and services, as well as how to create policies and regulations that enable Community Networks in Africa.

Access to spectrum is critical for Community Networks.  Policy makers and regulators can play a key role in ensuring innovative approaches to making spectrum available by working with Community Networks.  An Internet Society report (https://www.internetsociety.org/policybriefs/spectrum) examines the various ways that Community Networks can gain access to spectrum, including the use of unlicensed spectrum, sharing licensed spectrum, and innovative licensing.

“Enabling communities to actually connect themselves is a new way of thinking,” explains Michuki Mwangi, Senior Development Manager for Africa at the Internet Society.  “Policy makers and regulators should recognize that connectivity can be instigated from a village or a town and that they can help communities to connect themselves by providing an enabling environment with innovative licensing and access to spectrum.”

The Africa Community Networks Summit (https://bit.ly/2oCxh6Z) will conclude with a visit to communities served by Zenzeleni Networks, South Africa’s first telecommunications organization that is owned and run by a rural cooperative.  Zenzeleni Networks installs and maintains its own telecommunications infrastructure to deliver affordable voice and data services.  All revenues stay in the community and the residents together decide what is done with the proceeds.

The cost to deploy Community Networks can be low. Often, the technology required to build and maintain the network is as simple as a (inexpensive, locally available) wireless router. The networks can range from WiFi-only to mesh networks and mobile networks that provide voice and SMS services.  While they usually serve communities under 3,000 people, some serve more than 50,000 users.

“These networks not only provide affordable access in areas where operators don’t find it commercially viable to provide similar services,  but, by being built and operated by people from within the community, they bring many other benefits to the areas where they operate.  They are key to enabling the unconnected connect themselves in Africa,” explains Carlos-Rey Moreno, Community Access Project Coordinator for APC.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Broadband Forum, Cartesian to explore future networks

ITREALMS:

The Broadband Forum has collaborated with network and technology consulting firm Cartesian to develop a new ‘future of networks’ study – the results of which will be explored in an exclusive webinar slated for March 14, 2018, reports ITRealms.

The report, ITRealms gathered, dwelt on transformation in a virtualized world; reached a cross-section of decision-makers from telecoms vendors, system integrators and communication service providers.

ITRealms also reports that Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) have been identified as key tools for traditional operators as the explosion in customer demand for data continues to put pressure on network capacity.

The webinar, to be hosted by the duo of Robin Mersh, CEO of the Broadband Forum and Nikos Andrikogiannopoulos, Principal Analyst at Cartesian, will explore how virtualization can overcome these challenges, providing insight from more than 40 interviews and an online survey with more than 100 respondents.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Making IoT networks tech-agnostic tops LPWA agenda

ITRealms:

The ability to make Internet of Things (IoT) networks comprehensive and technology-agnostic is topping the agenda at the 2017 LPWA World, reports ITRealms.

The event slated for May, ITRealms reports is aimed at helping public and private operators make sense of the many different technology and deployment choices for IoT networks. 

With support from partners Wi-SUN Alliance, Weightless SIG, LoRA Alliance and GSMA, LPWA World will help operators capitalise on the opportunity IoT signifies through discussions on cellular and non-cellular solutions.

ITRealms also reports that the event taking place at the InterContinental O2 in London, UK from 23 –24 May 2017, would see LPWA World helping operators and end users navigate different technologies, such as LPWAN, LTE-M, NB-IoT and Sigfox, and develop a strategy to achieve tangible ROI on IoT network investments.

Founder and CTO of Aeris Communications, Syed Zaeem Hosain, who will discuss the technological and business considerations of a future LPWA player said the event would pave the way for understanding the range of use cases and applications will also be high on the agenda, with presentations on applications covering a wide range of industry verticals such as transport, smart cities, utilities, healthcare and automotive.

Over the last twelve months, Hosain said, there have been a growing number of proprietary networks, competing standards, and initiatives for cellular and non-cellular networks.

ITRealms gathered that later, representatives from Telekom Austria and Etisalat Digital will join a panel to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding global LPWA live trials. On day two, there will be several regional-specific spotlights, including a focus on South America, Australia, Asia and the USA.

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Nokia’s Smart Grid to bring networks into IoT era

ITRealms:

The utilities deploying Smart Grid applications could now wirelessly extend mission-critical IP/MPLS services to grid locations in a converged field area network (FAN) using LTE/3G, reports ITRealms.

According to the Nokia, its 7705 SAR-Hm connects field devices with IP/MPLS and wirelessly to 3G/LTE networks, thus enabling advanced power distribution automation to better realize the full potential of Smart Grids.

Nokia said its latest in shelf 7705 SAR-Hm, is a purpose-built, feature-rich LTE/3G wireless router aimed at modernizing distribution networks for utilities, but with clear applications for other high growth vertical markets, like Smart Cities.

Officials informed ITRealms that the newest addition to the Nokia Service Routing portfolio merges IP/MPLS and LTE/3G technologies to provide utilities state-of-the-art wireless connectivity for grid devices located deep in a highly scalable distribution network. This allows for promising new smart grid applications, including distribution automation, advanced metering, and integration of renewable energy sources, and lays the groundwork to support an anticipated massive increase in field devices with the Internet of Things (IoT).

In addition, Nokia noted that nany power utilities currently use narrowband or proprietary wireless solutions to connect their field devices to each other and the control center. Most remote devices have no connectivity at all. Without the ability to scale and manage the network, remote monitoring and control of devices is challenging, costly and extremely difficult to operate and deploy.

Just as Nokia said it has applied experience in deploying secure IP/MPLS networks and LTE/3G to extend the reach of utilities' networks with this solution. Network operators, both public and private, will now have high capacity connectivity in their power distribution grids and directly into field devices, as well as the highest levels of reliability, security and scalability for mission-critical applications and services.

As Smart Grids are deployed, utilities will face a huge proliferation in the number of field devices they need to connect and manage. This includes integrating renewable energy resources, such as solar panels and wind farms, which are putting new demands on the electrical distribution system. Shifting loads and fluctuating generation from renewables will require real-time adjustment without operator intervention. Because the 7750 SAR-Hm distributes intelligence wirelessly over the IP/MPLS transport network, devices in the field will now be able to communicate and make decisions without human intervention as well as have greater flexibility, reliability and scale. This is critical for a more responsive grid today, and support for the expected increase in IoT devices in the future.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Kabila’s mandate expiration: DRC set to block social networks

ITRealms:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may have concluded plans to block social networking websites including Facebook and Twitter, and WhatsApp, before President Joseph Kabila's mandate expires on Sunday’s midnight, reports ITRealms.

The government order to this effect as gathered by ITRealms, was sent to at least three internet service providers (ISPs) and sighted  by correspondent Thursday, indicated that this order will probably hamper the organisation of public protests against Kabila.

According to AFP News Agency, the letter from Congo's Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC) requested the "temporary blocking of sharing of images, video and voice [data] over the network" from 11:59pm local time (2259GMT) on Sunday.”

ARPTC, however, did not give its reason for the orders, just as the list of platforms to be blocked was very lengthy, including Skype.

"In cases where partial blocking is not possible, you are required to block access to the relevant social networks entirely," the regulator said.

Text messages will continue to function as normal.

The government's plan was first raised on Tuesday at a meeting of the ARPTC.

"The ARPTC verbally instructed us during the meeting to filter connections on social networks," one internet company executive said, before adding the "trials are likely to be carried out overnight Thursday and Friday".

"We will comply with what has been demanded. It's part of our [legal] obligations," said a manager at one of the affected ISPs.

ITRealms recalls that President Kabila's second term in office would end on Monday, December 19, 2016.

Chuks Egbune/GEE with additional reports by AFP

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VAT non-remittance: Swift, Pan Ocean Oil, others sealed by FIRS

ITRealms:

Swift Networks, an internet provider, and Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited belonging to Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, had their offices sealed yesterday by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) along with other companies in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna and Owerri for failure to remit huge amounts of money in Value Added Tax (VAT), ITRealms reports.

Swift Networks, which has its office on 31, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos,  failed to remit N702 million to the government had its office sealed by FIRS officials led by the Director of Enforcement, Emeka Obiagwu .

Reacting to the FIRS claims, the Chief Operating Officer of Swift Networks, Chuma Okoye, pleaded against the shutdown order, but was told by Obiagwu that his company should have complied with the laws governing business in the country, insisting “Several notices have been served on the companies and I believe several moves were also made to compel the companies to remit their taxes. But most of these companies turn deaf ears; that is why we usually give them long rope.”

However, a subtle drama ensued at the office of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, as the company’s security-men attempting to prevent FIRS officials from carrying out their duties, which took the intervention of some members of the company to proceed with enforcement.

Efforts to get FIRS officials to give another period of grace were futile. The management of the firm was told to send representatives to the FIRS office to discuss how to remit the $29.2 owed in VAT.

Okoli Vincent/Leadership/GEE

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CDMA BlackBerry: Another first from Visafone across MEA

The largest Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile network in Nigeria, Visafone Communications, has again become the first CDMA network to offer BlackBerry smartphones in the whole of Middle East, Europe and Africa.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that Visafone Communications in partnership with Research In Motion (RIM) launched three brands of BlackBerry smartphones; Bold 9930, Curve 9310 and Curve 9370 respectively, which are to be made available from October 29th, 2012.

Speaking at the formal launch of the devices in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Visafone Communications, Mr. Srinivasa said that the partnership with RIM brings the wide range of smartphones on demand by the Nigerian market, especially BlackBerry.

He also said the unique selling point of the company in terms of the BlackBerry devices and its after sales services is the company’s flagship shops which numbered up to 88 across the nation. And the rating of the company by the government’s regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission as the number one in terms of quality of service.

“The moment is here to ping on Visafone network,” he declared.

Also speaking, RIM Regional Director for East, Central and West Africa, Mr. Waldi Wepener revealed that RIM chose to add Visafone to its list of partners in the country as a result of Visafone’s good quality of service.

Wepener further disclosed that RIM presently has 5 partners in Nigeria including Visafone as the only CDMA network on the list. He expressed RIM’s pride in supporting Visafone with the launch of BlackBerry solutions to their existing and new customers across the nation.

“BlackBerry solution from Visafone offers customers a strong selection of smartphones and a wide range of services that connects them to people and information,” Wepener said.

According to Wepener, the BlackBerry Bold 9930 on Visafone has a high performance keyboard, a 5.0 megapixel camera with a responsive high-resolution touch screen and Wi-Fi as its special features while the Curve 9310, a 3.2megapixel with an inbuilt FM radio. The Curve 9370 has an optical trackpad for easy and one-hand navigation with inbuilt GPS and Wi-Fi support.

The three devices, like any other BlackBerry devices allow users to easily interact with their social network in real time. They can also support external storage memory expansion up to 32 GB.

The Chairman of Visafone, Mr. Jim Ovia in his address said the network has an amazing call rate alongside its supersonic data experience, and that users of Visafone BlackBerry can roam everywhere in the world which is going to give users an edge.

“This launch is a major boost to the NCC’s efforts to achieve growth of data usage and quality of services to Nigerian,” Ovia said, that the partnership denotes a big step forward in the continent’s mobile history.

Ovia equally said that Visafone has the right strategies in place that would enable to the company to operate in the future, urging the general public to support the merger of telecommunications companies.

According to him, merging of telecommunications companies does not imply that all is not well with either of the parties.

Visafone has some records to its name, from being the first network operator to have 1 million subscribers in 6 months on inception to also being the first to get 2 million subscribers in 9 months in the nation.

 
Visafone is also the first telecommunications company to be Open Market Handset (OMH) compliant and the first to offer prepaid and postpaid roaming opportunity across Africa.

Remmy Nweke & Yinka Awosanya

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