Umenyi reassures telecom consumers

The chairperson of the Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) and the Director-General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mrs. Ify Umenyi, has reassured telecommunications consumers in the country.

Umenyi in her address to the fourth quarter meeting of ICAF and open forum for 2011 in Lagos recently, saying that ICAF’s role is an advisory capacity to make recommendations to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with regards to the interest and concerns of the consumers of telecommunications products and services.

Additionally, she said that ICAF has the interest and concerns of physically challenged persons and at the same time ensure that consumers are protected from unfair market practices.

She also noted that apart from making recommendations on issues pertaining to the foregoing, she expressed excitement that ICAF has in the recent past facilitated the review of the Commission’s Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.

She said that it’s to the Commission’s credit that Nigeria has grown its telecommunications subscriber-base to over 80 million.

“As you may be aware, the telecommunications industry in Nigeria has grown in leaps and bounds in so short a time,” she said, stressing that this much was achieved in 10 years of the inception of the Global System for Mobile (GSM).

She further commended the leadership of NCC in ensuring that it takes cognizance of the telephony needs of the country’s huge population, even as it works hard at developing the sector in complete adherence to international best practices.

ICAF, she said, would appreciate suggestions on relevant areas including , but not limited to quality and cost of service; access of physically challenged persons to telephone services; unsolicited Short Messaging Service (SMS) and caller tunes, conduct of sales promotions, inadequate customer care centres.

Additionally, she said that ICAF expect suggestions from telecom consumers on prolonged delays on customer care lines, erratic data or internet service, matters arising from billing problems, namely the incorrect billings and wrongful deduction of airtime, privacy and security of subscriber information as well as number portability to name a few.

ITRealms Online recalls that NCC, had in 2009 in Abuja, stepped up its telecom consumer protection initiatives with the inauguration of an twelve-man Industry consumer Advisory Forum, ICAF, to review the general consumer code of practice regulations by the Commission as well as facilitate consumer protection, information and educational programmes.

Remmy Nweke
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Cisco, Ford, Visa chiefs to speak @ GSMA’12

The GSM Association has said that executives from Cisco, Ford, Visa and ZTE will be making keynote presentations at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, which will be held from 27th February ­ 1st March 2012 at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc venue in Barcelona.

They also disclosed that new developments across other programmes at Mobile World Congress, including the exhibition, App Planet, the GSMA Forum Series and the mPowered Brands Programme would be touched.

Michael O¹Hara, the chief marketing officer, GSMA said that mobile is connecting the world in ways never thought possible just a few years ago,, noting that more than a mere communication device, mobiles now serve as books, health monitors, payment devices, social connectors and tour guides.

“Mobile technology is embedded in our cars, homes, appliances, governments and utilities. Mobile World Congress 2012 will celebrate the current state of mobile and offer a glimpse into the future,” he said.

He outlined in a public statement that some executives would be participating in the Mobile World Congress keynote programme, including John Chambers, Chairman and CEO, Cisco Systems; William Clay Ford, Jr., Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company; John Partridge, President, Visa Inc.; and Shi Lirong, President, ZTE among others.

ITRealms Online recalls that the GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning over 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations.

The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo.

Remmy Nweke

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Draft ICT policy: DSA boss applauds CommTech, seeks extension of deadline

Mrs. Nkem Nweke, ED, Operations, DSA

The Executive Director, Operations at the DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA), Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke has commended the Minister of Communications Technology (CommTech) for living up to her promise to seek stakeholders comments on the draft national policy on the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Speaking at the weekend, she said that this approach is the first of its kind by the Ministry since its creation and should be commended, urging the Minister to extend the comment period by one week due to the period lost to the fuel subsidy removal protest in the country.

As said by her, already several stakeholders’ organizations are warming up to ensure inputs from their various end to ensure their comments are included, but with the extension of the deadline, would really boost the quality of inputs.

“Fulfilling this promise by the minister means there is hope for the sector and Nigerians generally,” she said.

Mrs. Nweke also urged stakeholders to concentrate on topics capable of moving the ICT sector forward rather than individualism, noting that every input made at this time would aid the ministry led by Mrs. Johnson to reposition, especially as the stakeholders work towards actualizing the converged ICT regulation for the sector at large.

She also said that with the calling off the strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, that lots of issues are waiting professionals in the industry, whose holidays period have been extended immediately after the Christmas and New Year with the strike declared by Labour in response to the Federal Government’s hike of pump prices from N65 to N140.

The DSA boss explained that with the suspension of strike, stakeholders definitely would need an extended little time to contribute meaningfully to the draft national ICT policy, which current deadline is next week Monday.

She noted that CommTech Minister may be working on schedule, but maintained on the need to at least extend the comment period by one week, especially given that people’s access to the document could be limited during the strike that last for one week.

She recalled that Ministry of Communications Technology, has last week Monday unveiled the draft National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy document on its website for comments by stakeholders in the country.

The draft policy was uploaded Monday morning in fulfillment of pledge by CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson on the Ministry’s website at http://commtech.gov.ng and the Ministry’s Blog at http://blog.commtech.gov.ng.

Noteworthy is that the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Mrs. Efem Nkanga had said that the 55-page policy document is the harmonization of the disparate policies governing the ICT industry.

Remmy Nweke

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Ericsson acquires Telcordia @ N186.2bn

Ericsson, at the weekend, concluded the acquisition of Telcordia, a global leader in the development of mobile, broadband and enterprise communications software and services, for USD 1.15 billion, about N186,2bn  in an all cash transaction, on a cash and debt-free basis.

Telcordia is now part of the Ericsson Group and its approximately 2,600 skilled employees have joined Ericsson.

ITRealms Online gathered that this acquisition consolidates Ericsson’s position as a leading player in operations support systems/business support systems (OSS/BSS) market with key position in service fulfillment, assurance, network optimization and real-time charging.

Also, industry watchers said that this deal would boost Ericsson’s earnings per share within 12 months, adding that the conclusion of the Telcordia deal follows the announcement on June 14, 2011, that Ericsson had entered into a merger agreement with Providence Equity Partners, LLC and Warburg Pincus to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Telcordia.

Per Borgklint, Head of Ericsson’s business unit Multimedia, said that the addition of Telcordia’s skilled people and knowledge, is a good multi vendor product portfolio and an important customer base in North America, thus complements Ericsson’s already established position in the OSS/BSS space.

“OSS and BSS are key to drive the customer experience and serve as the engine to monetizing traffic, offerings and products that operators sell. All in all, these systems are crucial to create the experience users expect in a cost efficient manner,” he said. 

The combination of the two companies, he said, creates the leader in service fulfillment, service assurance and network optimization and gives Ericsson a leading position in real-time charging and significant capabilities to support operators end to end.

The combination will address the needs of Communications Service Providers to deliver mobile broadband and operational transformation to their subscribers. 

The OSS/BSS, he explained is a growing market driven by the demand for business efficiency, innovation and high quality user experience. 

In 2010, the market for software and systems integration was valued at about USD 35 billion and is expected to show a compound annual growth rate between 6-8 percent between 2010 and 2013.

In addition, there is an attractive market for outsourced and hosted OSS and BSS managed services, growing in the same range.

Telcordia is headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, and generated revenues of USD 739 million during the last fiscal year ended January 31, 2011.

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Ekuwem, Odusan warn over hacking of govt websites

Odusan, COO, NIRA

Dr. Ekuwem, GCEO, Teledom Group

Following the recent spate of hacking of websites belonging to the Federal Government and its allied institutions, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts called for caution.

They also decried the fact that some Nigerians have resorted to hacking, especially now that the country is yet to get her own cyber laws.

Webopedia, an online encyclopedia, described a hacker as a term used for a computer enthusiast, that is, a person who enjoys learning programming languages and computer systems and could often be considered an expert on the subject(s). Among professional programmers, depending on how it’s used, the term could be either complimentary or derogatory, although it is developing an increasingly derogatory connotation than complimentary.

Also, word experts at Webopedia, the pejorative sense of hacker is becoming more prominent largely because the popular press has co-opted the term to refer to individuals who gain unauthorized access to computer systems for the purpose of stealing and corrupting data.

Hackers, themselves, maintain that the proper term for such individuals is crackers, and not hackers.

However, reacting to the development following the aftermath of the weeklong protest over the removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan, which has seen some government and its allied institution’s website being defaced one way or another.

At the last count, at least, about three known government agencies had their website mutilated including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC) to name a few.

For the group chief executive of Teledom International Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem lamented the fact that hacking is a cybercrime and Nigeria is still yet to finalise on cyber security law.

Ekuwem, who was the immediate past president of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), also decried that certain Critical National Information Infrastructure have not been classified, describing these state as sad, even as he noted that without adequate law in place it would be difficult to criminalize hacking of any website in the country, let alone those belonging to the Federal Government.

“Do we have a cybercrime and cyber security law in place? No! Sad! Have we designated our Critical National Information Infrastructure? No! Sad! There is no law yet that criminalizes the hacking of FG or any web sites. Pity!” he lamented.

And for the chief operating officer, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mr. Ope Odusan, urged online business owners in the country to take time out to know their web hosting companies.

“I recommend that website owners adopt a Know Your Hosting (KYH) company and demand their security programme for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack,” he advised, explaining that DDoS is an attack where multiple compromised systems, which are usually infected with a Trojan; are used to target a single system causing a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.

Remmy Nweke

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ICANN names VPs for Latin America, Europe

Coordinating organisation for the global Internet community, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has appointed two new Vice Presidents for Latin America and Europe respectively.

A renowned Mexican telecommunications and Internet expert, Mr. Rodrigo de la Parra was appointed the ICANN’s Vice President for Latin America, equally experienced governmental and regulatory expert, Mr. Nigel Hickson emerged the Vice President for Europe at ICANN.

Director of Global Media Affairs, ICANN, Mr. Brad White, confirming this said that both were selected after undergoing relevant screening to help build ICANN into its future.

He also said that Rodrigo was previously Regional Liaison for Latin America, a role in which he excelled.

Rodrigo, he said was also the Mexican representative to ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), which gives governments a voice in the organization’s policy formation and equally serve as a member of the Consultative Committee of Network Information Center Mexico, managers of Mexico’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) name NIC.mx.

Mr. White noted that Rodrigo has a Master’s degree in political economy and international relations from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom (UK).

Further, Rodrigo lectures at International Organizations and Economic Negotiations and a consultant to the Latin American Cooperation for Advanced Networks (CLARA).

On the other hand, Mr. White stated that the highly-experienced governmental and regulatory expert Nigel Hickson was appointed ICANN’s Vice President for Europe.

With over thirty year period, he noted that Nigel has held various technology related posts with the governments of the United Kingdom and Bermuda, as well as positions with public sector bodies.

Before joining ICANN, Nigel headed teams at both UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Department of Business, Innovation and Skills on global ICT policy and regulatory issues.

And most recently, Nigel worked on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary and the European Union (EU) Communications and Spectrum Framework, even as he represented the UK Government at the Internet discussions of the G8.

Nigel was educated in Hertfordshire, England, and holds a degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the City University in London.

In his remarks over the VPs appointment, ICANN president, Mr. Rod Beckstrom, described Rodrigo’s appointment as “an important development for ICANN and the Latin American region.”

“During his tenure as Regional Liaison for Latin America, Rodrigo has astutely managed ICANN’s relations with the Internet technical community in Latin America and effectively engaged with user groups, governments and regional organizations,” Beckstrom said adding that Rodrigo is perfectly suited for his new role as Vice President for Latin America.

Equally commenting on Nigel’s appointment, Mr. Beckstrom said, ICANN is pleased to have an experienced professional with vast expertise in technology policy development in Europe and beyond on board its executive board.

“In addition to Nigel Hickson’s governmental expertise, he also has significant experience in European Union policy development,” Beckstrom observed.

Remmy Nweke

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