Reshaping RDRS and geopolitics of data: Why global south’s voice matters by Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

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The RDRS must not sideline the Global South. REMMY NWEKE in this edition of WeekendDigits@ITREALMS urges ICANN to define 'Legitimate Interest' for local enforcement, protect digital rights, and ensure operational equity for African registries.

Defining future Internet:
The global architecture of the internet is constantly being reformed, and seldom has that reform been more critical than in the ongoing debate at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) community over how to access nonpublic domain registration data. 

The proposed solution, the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS), is intended to create a predictable and scalable pathway for legitimate data access in a world dominated by privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union (EU).

NMF: Nigerian journalism mourns Dan Agbese, a voice of satire, style and elegance - ITREALMS

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The Northern Media Forum (NMF) has profoundly mourned the death of its chairman and co-founder of Newswatch magazine, veteran journalist Mr. Dan Agbese, describing his passing as a monumental and irreplaceable loss to Nigerian journalism, reports ITREALMS.

In a statement issued by its Assistant Secretary, Zainab Suleiman Okino, the Forum said news of Agbese's death sent shockwaves across newsrooms nationwide, marking the silencing of a voice that championed courage, refinement, and integrity for decades.

CBN Governor Cardoso champions Africa's voice @Bretton Woods 80th anniversary forum - ITREALMS

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The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has concluded his participation in the high-level Bretton Woods at 80 Forum, where he represented Africa’s interests on the global financial stage.

The forum, organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG), brought together a select group of global leaders at the historic Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, to mark the 80th anniversary of the original conference that established the post-war global financial system.

Voice, data services affected by undersea cable cuts restored - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that voice, data services affected by the recent undersea cable cuts have been restored, reports ITREALMS

Confirming this, the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Muoka in a press statement available to ITREALMS noted that following the disruption on March 14, 2024, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics along the coasts of Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal, have been restored.

Undersea cable cuts disrupt data, voice services across West African - ITREALMS

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A combination of cable cuts, resulting in equipment faults on the major undersea cables along the West African Coast, have negatively impacted data and fixed telecom services in several countries of West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cote de Ivoire, among others.

A press statement available to ITREALMS from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) endorsed by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, he said that the cuts occurred somewhere in Cote de’Ivoire and Senegal, with an attendant disruption in Portugal.

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

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

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

Giving ancient Nubians a voice: Chance find fulfils 110-year mission - ITREALMS

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A biomedical Egyptologist from The University of Manchester has fulfilled the mission of an illustrious Manchester anatomist from 1910, having by chance found his unique anatomical record of how ancient Nubians lived – and died - in Southern Egypt.

Dr Jenny Metcalfe from the University’s KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology found the recording cards, thought to have been lost in World War Two, from one of the first ever excavations in Lower Nubia tucked away in a University of Cambridge archive.

Ebeledike to Ndigbo Lagos: Your vote, your voice - ITREALMS

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The President of the Association of Anambra State Development Unions (AASDU) in Lagos, Chief Sir Amechi Ebeledike, has charged ndi-Anambra, and the entire Ndigbo in the state on the imperative of ensuring they vote at the Saturday presidential elections, reports ITREALMS.

Ebeledike who was speaking on upholding civic responsibilities, noted that the life of every citizen depends on the choice they make with their votes.

9mobile offers massive voice, data bonuses with 9Konfam - ITREALMS

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In line with its commitment to offer amazing value to Nigerian mobile telephone customers, Nigeria’s leading telecom service provider and youth-friendly brand, 9mobile, has announced the launch of 9Konfam, a tariff plan that rewards customers with generous airtime and data benefits upon SIM activation, and on every recharge.

According to the telco, 9Konfam empowers customers to connect and to do more with their airtime and data purchases.

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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P3 rates 9mobile first in voice clarity in Nigeria

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Despite its restructuring controversy, Nigeria’s innovative and customer-friendly telecommunication network, 9mobile has been adjudged the mobile operator with clearest voice quality ahead of other telcos operating in the country, reports ITRealms.

According to the P3 Communications, the largest European and international leader in mobile telecoms benchmarking, the rating was contained in the latest result of the annual mobile network test conducted by this firm.

The test considered data speed and voice clarity as key parameters. An on-device testing methodology was used to measure speed and latency of the four largest broadband operators in Nigeria including MTN, Airtel, 9mobile and Glo on the road.

In the industry report, 9mobile emerged the overall best scoring 257 points ahead of MTN which scored 182 points; Airtel, 142, and Glo, 130. Travelling at a measuring distance of 9,000 km with 17 per cent population measured, the test route covered different parts of the country such as Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

The global test has been conducted in several countries across the world including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Australia and Netherlands amongst other key global markets.

Reacting Director, Network Operations, 9mobile, Abdul Adegbuyi, expressed delight at the feat and said it affirmed the unalloyed commitment of the telco to continuously innovate and invest in human and material resources as well as technology that impact positively on the delivery of qualitative solutions to customers and relevant stakeholders.   

“9mobile is synonymous with innovation, and in living up to this brand value we have continuously infused innovative thinking in all that we do. At 9mobile, our passion for innovation has resulted in the development of innovative services and solutions, thereby delivering high value to our customers. Most recently we reloaded Moreblaze – the fastest data package in Nigeria; all these typify our spirit of innovation, and valuable products and services which enrich the lives of our customers”, he said.

Adegbuyi assured that 9mobile would not rest on its oars as it would continue to raise the bar of excellent service by innovating many more positive ways technology can be leveraged as an enabler of national development.

P3 Communications is a German company that provides broad service portfolio for network operators, equipment vendors, device manufacturers, public safety organisations and regulatory authorities worldwide. It also conducts and publishes the industry-leading annual mobile network test across different countries.

9mobile recently revved up the data market in Nigeria with the reload of Moreblaze – the fastest data package in the country that enables individuals and enterprises to enjoy uninhibited positive online and browsing experience. The data package will see 9mobile renowned for its ultra-fast speed data, set the universal standard data benchmark in Nigeria and further bolster its position as the leading innovative telecom company in Nigeria.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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NCC plans upward review of mobile voice termination rates

ITRealms:

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may have advanced plans to review upwards, the nation’s mobile voice termination rates for telecommunication, according to the Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, reports ITRealms.

Danbatta disclosed this plan at a Stakeholders’ Forum on the Cost Based Study for the Determination of Mobile Voice Termination Rate for telecom industry, held in Abuja on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the review has become necessary due to prevailing changes in the industry since the last exercise, four years ago, noting that the attempt would make the industry attain full competition and effective regulation by providing a level playing ground for all participants.

“Since the last determination, the Nigerian Communication Market has witnessed tremendous growth in both subscriber numbers as well as traffic volumes. Changes in available technologies, (2G, 2.5G, 3G and 4G) and other network elements, including global financial markets which have an impact such as the cost of capital. The scale of changes will inevitably affect the unit cost of providing services including interconnection and may lead to differences between regulated interconnection rates and underlying costs which in turn may result in differences between on-net and off-net retail tariffs,” he said.

Danbatta also said, to ensure that interconnection services are not only fairly priced and non-discriminative but should reflect the cost of providing such services in the market.

For him, “It is in this regard that the Commission has decided to review the rates set in 2013 Determination in the light of the current market realities” insisting that the forum is consistent with the Commission’s principle of ensuring participatory regulation, this initial Stakeholders Forum is held not only to formally introduce the project consultant to the industry stakeholders, but also to kickstart the project.


Danbatta emphasized that the supply of industry statistical data is most crucial to the success of determining appropriate interconnection termination rates for the telecommunications industry.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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