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MTN Group has won the prestigious African Mobile Operator of the Year award at the third annual Comms Middle East and Africa (MEA) awards organized by ITP Technology Publishing, just as MTN also won the inaugural award in 2006.
The Comms MEA Awards, according to the organizers sets out to celebrate and pay tribute to the telecoms industry professionals and operators that have shown outstanding performance and results in key market segments.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online indicated that the judges selected MTN for successfully providing innovative services to its pan-African subscribers such as per second billing for prepaid customers.
The judges also praised MTN for evolving from a traditional mobile operator to an all-round communications service provider, with the deployment of the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and fibre-optic networks, a mobile television offering and a banking service.
MTN Group Executive for Corporate Affairs, Ms Nozipho January-Bardill, said the accolade reaffirms the status of the group as an innovative mobile operator in emerging markets.
“We’re proud of this acknowledgement and we will continue our efforts to provide innovative solutions across all our markets,” said January-Bardill.
Twelve awards were presented at the ceremony in categories that encompassed different facets of the telecoms industry from individual excellence, to corporate success, to outstanding service and expertise in implementation.
In addition to these categories, there was also the hotly contested category of lifetime achievement award, presented to an individual who has helped shape and inspire the Middle East and Africa telecoms market.
The winners were judged by a panel of industry experts selected from within the regional communications sector.
The awards acknowledged those operators and individuals who have taken a leadership role in the growth of the regional industry.
The winners were chosen for consistently investing in technology, implementing winning strategies and developing services that capture the hearts and minds of end users.
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Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Omo-Ettu tasks Akunyili on ministerial reforms
Telecommunications expert and chief executive officer, The Executive Cyberschuul (TEC) Lagos, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu has tasked the new administration of Prof. (Mrs) Dora Akunyili, in the ministry of Information and Communications reforms of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector.
One of the key subjects of the proposed reform has been the Ministry of ICT.
Proposing agenda for the new Information and Communications Minister, Mr. Omo-Ettu, said that stakeholders expect her to throw more lights on the position of the government, which he described as the “unfinished business of industry restructuring of technology.”
According to him, government under the leadership of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has taken nonchallant posture as far as this restructuring is concerned, which commenced during the immediate administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and precisely in 2006 with a Committee established to that effect.
“There is unfinished business of industry restructuring of technology, information and communications apparatus of government; roadmap to achieve improved quality of service in the telephone system; and strategies for upgrading broadband access to Nigerians,” he said.
While enjoining the nation’s ICT media practitioners to ensure they represent the populace by keeping the new leadership in the ministry on its toe, Omo-Ettu noted that several questions are begging for answers and if they fail to live up to expectation, it could be swept under the carpet, which have been the hallmark since Yar’Adua’s administration.
Mr. Omo-Ettu recalled that government in 2006 commenced a desire to restructure the information and communications industries when it set up a Committee to examine the wherewithal of a converged industry.
Restructuring of the ministry in its present state, he said, goes beyond mere change of name, lamenting that though the government after setting up the committee to this effect surprisingly went on to create the nomenclature called Ministry of Information and Communications.
“It however impulsively went ahead to create the Ministry of Information and Communications ahead of the work of the Committee only to realize that restructuring in a true sense was more than mere name-changing and merging of
Ministerial portfolios,” he said.
The telecom expert pointed out that the Committee completed its work and advised government on the amount of work required to effect a true change that will take advantage of the march of science and technology in the years ahead, he found it irresponsible for that process to still be in the coolers after about two years since the committee was inaugurated.
“Work has since stalled on the project and the Yar’ Adua government, since take-over in 2007, has operated as if the issue never mattered,” he decried, stressing that stakeholders may spoil for war with the Yar’Adua’s administration as this current position is not acceptable.
“We should not accept this posture and we must call government to account,” he asserted.
ITRealms Online recollects that proponents of a restructured industry had argued that because of the radical changes that the like of Internet and indeed Internet Protocol (IP) has introduced into the polity, insisting that it must be contentious if not totally difficult to determine what is telecommunications, broadcasting, technologies and services, especially in distinguishing between where one stops and the other commences.
This, a school of thought said, would provide a clear view and sharp industry management that could translate to enhanced smooth management, thereby reducing cost of doing business and ultimately cost of service provision.
Conversely, they argued that a continuous application of legacy systems and management of new systems using the old methods will create confusion, duplicity, legal entanglements, increase cost of doing business and ultimately impose severe cost on consumers.
“Those who are opposed to change argue issues which surround who gains what and who losses what. They talk about persons when the argument is about issues and they particularly make otherwise healthy debates to become unexciting. These are usually enough to confuse a government that has no view of its own,” he warned.
Emphasizing that government’s mandate is to resolve these issues or to quit if it lacks the interest or will to apply emerging technologies into governance, which is why government cannot be allowed to do nothing.
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One of the key subjects of the proposed reform has been the Ministry of ICT.
Proposing agenda for the new Information and Communications Minister, Mr. Omo-Ettu, said that stakeholders expect her to throw more lights on the position of the government, which he described as the “unfinished business of industry restructuring of technology.”
According to him, government under the leadership of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has taken nonchallant posture as far as this restructuring is concerned, which commenced during the immediate administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and precisely in 2006 with a Committee established to that effect.
“There is unfinished business of industry restructuring of technology, information and communications apparatus of government; roadmap to achieve improved quality of service in the telephone system; and strategies for upgrading broadband access to Nigerians,” he said.
While enjoining the nation’s ICT media practitioners to ensure they represent the populace by keeping the new leadership in the ministry on its toe, Omo-Ettu noted that several questions are begging for answers and if they fail to live up to expectation, it could be swept under the carpet, which have been the hallmark since Yar’Adua’s administration.
Mr. Omo-Ettu recalled that government in 2006 commenced a desire to restructure the information and communications industries when it set up a Committee to examine the wherewithal of a converged industry.
Restructuring of the ministry in its present state, he said, goes beyond mere change of name, lamenting that though the government after setting up the committee to this effect surprisingly went on to create the nomenclature called Ministry of Information and Communications.
“It however impulsively went ahead to create the Ministry of Information and Communications ahead of the work of the Committee only to realize that restructuring in a true sense was more than mere name-changing and merging of
Ministerial portfolios,” he said.
The telecom expert pointed out that the Committee completed its work and advised government on the amount of work required to effect a true change that will take advantage of the march of science and technology in the years ahead, he found it irresponsible for that process to still be in the coolers after about two years since the committee was inaugurated.
“Work has since stalled on the project and the Yar’ Adua government, since take-over in 2007, has operated as if the issue never mattered,” he decried, stressing that stakeholders may spoil for war with the Yar’Adua’s administration as this current position is not acceptable.
“We should not accept this posture and we must call government to account,” he asserted.
ITRealms Online recollects that proponents of a restructured industry had argued that because of the radical changes that the like of Internet and indeed Internet Protocol (IP) has introduced into the polity, insisting that it must be contentious if not totally difficult to determine what is telecommunications, broadcasting, technologies and services, especially in distinguishing between where one stops and the other commences.
This, a school of thought said, would provide a clear view and sharp industry management that could translate to enhanced smooth management, thereby reducing cost of doing business and ultimately cost of service provision.
Conversely, they argued that a continuous application of legacy systems and management of new systems using the old methods will create confusion, duplicity, legal entanglements, increase cost of doing business and ultimately impose severe cost on consumers.
“Those who are opposed to change argue issues which surround who gains what and who losses what. They talk about persons when the argument is about issues and they particularly make otherwise healthy debates to become unexciting. These are usually enough to confuse a government that has no view of its own,” he warned.
Emphasizing that government’s mandate is to resolve these issues or to quit if it lacks the interest or will to apply emerging technologies into governance, which is why government cannot be allowed to do nothing.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Zain tops operators in MEA zone
The parent company of Nigeria’s mobile operator, Zain Group, has emerged top among peers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) zone as it bags the prestigious Best Overall Operator at the annual CommsMEA awards 2008 organized by the regions foremost business-to-business telecoms publication.
This is coming as its Bahrain operation was selected as the Middle East Operator of the Year.
The awards ceremony took place recently at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, with the judging panel comprising of international telecom professionals and regional industry peers.
According to the citation for Zain Group, as the “Overall Operator of the Year,” the award was in recognition of the company leading the remarkable trend of mobile communications within the Middle East and Africa.
The award also recognizes Zain’s rapid transition from a single mobile operator in Kuwait with 600,000 customers in 2002 to a major telecom conglomerate in the Middle East and Africa, serving over 56 million customers in 22 countries.
“Zain, whether in terms of its new vibrant brand, strategy and vision, financials, products and services, people, management, communication with and social support of the communities it serves, has earned its right to be among the top mobile operators on the globe,” part of the citation read.
A press statement from Zain Nigeria, quoted the group’s chief executive officer, Dr. Saad Al-Barrak as saying, “This acknowledgment rewards and recognizes the dedicated efforts of our entire 16,000 workforce who have made Zain the successful company it is today. It is also an affirmation of the 3x3x3 expansion strategy we commenced back in 2003 aiming to be a top-ten global telecoms company by 2011.”
He said, Zain Group highlights over the past 12 months, included the further cementing and enhancing of its new brand across the Middle East and rebranding 14 operations in Africa from Celtel to Zain in August 2008.
The successful acquisition of Iraqna in Iraq with over 3 million customers for $1.2 billion and the acquisition of Westel in Ghana for $120 million were named as some of the landmarks that characterized the recognition.
Zain commenced operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on August 26 and in three months has attained over one million customers.
Additionally, Zain was reputed to had raised $4.5 billion from a capital increase despite the world economic turmoil and introducing ‘One Network’ to the Middle East in April and later connecting two continents in August encompassing 16 countries, 50 million customers and population coverage of 500 million people.
“This service is contributing to the economic and social well-being of many communities,” the Public Relations Manager, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine said.
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This is coming as its Bahrain operation was selected as the Middle East Operator of the Year.
The awards ceremony took place recently at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, with the judging panel comprising of international telecom professionals and regional industry peers.
According to the citation for Zain Group, as the “Overall Operator of the Year,” the award was in recognition of the company leading the remarkable trend of mobile communications within the Middle East and Africa.
The award also recognizes Zain’s rapid transition from a single mobile operator in Kuwait with 600,000 customers in 2002 to a major telecom conglomerate in the Middle East and Africa, serving over 56 million customers in 22 countries.
“Zain, whether in terms of its new vibrant brand, strategy and vision, financials, products and services, people, management, communication with and social support of the communities it serves, has earned its right to be among the top mobile operators on the globe,” part of the citation read.
A press statement from Zain Nigeria, quoted the group’s chief executive officer, Dr. Saad Al-Barrak as saying, “This acknowledgment rewards and recognizes the dedicated efforts of our entire 16,000 workforce who have made Zain the successful company it is today. It is also an affirmation of the 3x3x3 expansion strategy we commenced back in 2003 aiming to be a top-ten global telecoms company by 2011.”
He said, Zain Group highlights over the past 12 months, included the further cementing and enhancing of its new brand across the Middle East and rebranding 14 operations in Africa from Celtel to Zain in August 2008.
The successful acquisition of Iraqna in Iraq with over 3 million customers for $1.2 billion and the acquisition of Westel in Ghana for $120 million were named as some of the landmarks that characterized the recognition.
Zain commenced operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on August 26 and in three months has attained over one million customers.
Additionally, Zain was reputed to had raised $4.5 billion from a capital increase despite the world economic turmoil and introducing ‘One Network’ to the Middle East in April and later connecting two continents in August encompassing 16 countries, 50 million customers and population coverage of 500 million people.
“This service is contributing to the economic and social well-being of many communities,” the Public Relations Manager, Zain Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
ATM: Two women return $1m
Two Jamaican women have been lauded for returning the sum of $1 million recently left at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) stand at Portmore Mall, reports The Gleaner.
A legal secretary, Ms Dhaima Brookes, who initially on December 28, discovered a white plastic bag containing several neat stacks of $1,000 bills alerted another woman who turned out to be a policewoman and jointly they ensured that the found money was deposited with the police authority despite verbal abuse from some standby in the vicinity.
According to the report, the bag was lying on the floor and had been left by a cash carrier that had failed to secure it in the ATM. After learning of her discovery, mall goers threatened and taunted her, causing Brookes and a nearby police officer to flee to safety at a local police station, where they promptly handed over the money to representatives of the Guardsman cash delivery service.
The reports also said that the undeterred by any possible temptation to walk away with the money, Brookes displayed an act of goodwill, which angered many when she handed the money over to the authorities.
Brookes was cursed by persons at the mall who witnessed the discovery after she stumbled on the 10 stacks of $1,000 bills neatly packaged in a white plastic bag.
Speaking after making her statement to the Waterford police in Portmore, Brookes recounted how she attempted to draw cash from one of the two ATMs at the plaza.
The other machine was being serviced by two Guardsman armoured security personnel.
“My card wasn’t working, so I let someone go ahead of me when I noticed a white bag was on the floor in the other ATM,” she said.
After deliberating on her next move, Brookes alerted the woman who was in the other ATM. She did not realize, however, that the woman, Michelle Lewis, was a policewoman attached to the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston.
“I knew whoever we gave the money to I would need to have all of their details,” Lewis said. “So I held the package tight to my bosom. I wouldn’t give it to anyone but the Supe (superintendent).”
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A legal secretary, Ms Dhaima Brookes, who initially on December 28, discovered a white plastic bag containing several neat stacks of $1,000 bills alerted another woman who turned out to be a policewoman and jointly they ensured that the found money was deposited with the police authority despite verbal abuse from some standby in the vicinity.
According to the report, the bag was lying on the floor and had been left by a cash carrier that had failed to secure it in the ATM. After learning of her discovery, mall goers threatened and taunted her, causing Brookes and a nearby police officer to flee to safety at a local police station, where they promptly handed over the money to representatives of the Guardsman cash delivery service.
The reports also said that the undeterred by any possible temptation to walk away with the money, Brookes displayed an act of goodwill, which angered many when she handed the money over to the authorities.
Brookes was cursed by persons at the mall who witnessed the discovery after she stumbled on the 10 stacks of $1,000 bills neatly packaged in a white plastic bag.
Speaking after making her statement to the Waterford police in Portmore, Brookes recounted how she attempted to draw cash from one of the two ATMs at the plaza.
The other machine was being serviced by two Guardsman armoured security personnel.
“My card wasn’t working, so I let someone go ahead of me when I noticed a white bag was on the floor in the other ATM,” she said.
After deliberating on her next move, Brookes alerted the woman who was in the other ATM. She did not realize, however, that the woman, Michelle Lewis, was a policewoman attached to the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston.
“I knew whoever we gave the money to I would need to have all of their details,” Lewis said. “So I held the package tight to my bosom. I wouldn’t give it to anyone but the Supe (superintendent).”
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year To Our Dear Readers '09
Hello subscribers,
As You log out of the year 2008 and browse into 2009, may you download success & good health, delete failure, store excellence, then enter www.itrealms.blogspot.com and download as well as print out ICT4D news that would propel you to good life. Happy New Year.
Signed:
Remmy Nweke
Editor
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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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Optimising your Google mail account (5)
Instant Communication
Chat
As you’re looking around, you’ll probably notice the Chat box in under the links in the left navigation bar.
Chat allows you to talk to your Gmail contacts (those who use Gmail, Google Talk, or even your AIM buddies) in real-time, directly within Gmail.
The status icon to the left of your contacts’ names indicates whether they’re available (green), idle (yellow), busy (red), or offline (grey). You can also add a note, by clicking the Set status here link, which will show under your name in your friends’ Gmail.
To chat with a friend:
1. Click the name of your friend in the Chat section. A window will open in the lower-right corner of the page.
2. Type into the text field.
3. Press Enter to send your message.
Unless you choose to chat off the record, your Chat conversations will be archived and stored in your Gmail Chats label. This way, you can search for content from your chats, or you can browse your previous conversations by clicking the Chats navigation link.
Further reading
That should be enough to get you started. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit our Help Group and ask our community of users, or browse the Help Center for more information.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Chat
As you’re looking around, you’ll probably notice the Chat box in under the links in the left navigation bar.
Chat allows you to talk to your Gmail contacts (those who use Gmail, Google Talk, or even your AIM buddies) in real-time, directly within Gmail.
The status icon to the left of your contacts’ names indicates whether they’re available (green), idle (yellow), busy (red), or offline (grey). You can also add a note, by clicking the Set status here link, which will show under your name in your friends’ Gmail.
To chat with a friend:
1. Click the name of your friend in the Chat section. A window will open in the lower-right corner of the page.
2. Type into the text field.
3. Press Enter to send your message.
Unless you choose to chat off the record, your Chat conversations will be archived and stored in your Gmail Chats label. This way, you can search for content from your chats, or you can browse your previous conversations by clicking the Chats navigation link.
Further reading
That should be enough to get you started. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit our Help Group and ask our community of users, or browse the Help Center for more information.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Globaltouch advantage by Mohammed
Managing Director and chief executive officer, GlobalTouch West African Limited (GWAL), Mr. Isaiah Abdulai Mohammed, has said that his firm has competitive advantage over other telecommunications services providers in the country.
Speaking at a recent chat with media in Kaduna, Mohammed said, it is now clear that with the GlobalTouch pioneering spirit as the nation’s Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licensee.
“It is clear that GlobalTouch’s GMPCS services have strategic advantages over other telecom services providers,” he declared.
Mohammed enumerated some of these rare advantages to include that GWAL service has the universal coverage merit, which is beyond the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) coverage; involvement of one-off capital outlay in covering a large space of land, hence extending to the entire Nigeria’s land mass and West African countries.
“This is unlike other telecoms operators that rely on continues construction of base stations in covering the whole nation, thus, our services are cheaper,” he said.
Apart from its ability to operate virtually everywhere, he also explained that GMPCS has exceptional clarity of voice due to the nature of technology deployed to facilitate better voice quality cellular networks and greater system capacity.
“Comprehensive and vast usage data solutions for corporate users, asset tracking, data monitoring, no matter the location via satellite, unlike the GSM service providers who rely solely on base stations,” he said.
Stressing that with GlobalTouch, there would be more reliable services delivery, superior technology, no drop voice or data calls to name a few.
“Consumers will get value for their money, ensuring consumer satisfaction,” he asserted.
One of the unique services of GWAL is the assets tracking technology, which affords customers on the network to use the satellite modems and integrated back office management solution to track mobile assets such as aircraft, vehicles, trailers, cargo containers and maritime assets.
Meanwhile, GWAL has set date for its commercial roll out on or before April, 2009.
This is coming as the management of GWAL, has announced it voted the sum of $10 million (about N1,330,000,000 billion) to facilitate the take off of its satellite gateway project initiative located near Kaduna.
GWAL is partnering in this whole project with a United States-based world’s largest provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, Globalstar.
Founded in 1997, GlobalTouch, is a Nigerian company with 70 per cent investment equity, while its partners, Globalstar has 30 per cent.
“Our satellite gateway is under construction as you have seen in Kaduna to provide services to Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries as well as parts of the coastal Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea maritime region. We hope to commence commercial service in April 2009,” Mohammed said.
Affirming this, management consultant to GWAL, Mr. Peter Beacon, said that Globalstar with head office in Silicon Valley, also has corporate offices in Canada, Ireland, Panama and Brazil.
He said that the telco has shifted from a wholesale business model, to offering of mobile satellite voice and data services to over 329,000 commercial and consumer subscribers in over 120 countries globally.
Mr. Beacon also said that Globalstar’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite architecture is well positioned to meet the growing demand for global satellite voice and data.
“Globalstar operates a constellation of 48 operational low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites at approximately 1414 kilometres (km), while it has Geostationary satellites orbit at approximately 32,000 Km.
“LEO is a global constellation of multiple satellites, while each GEO or Geostationary satellite covers a specific region of the earth’s surface,” he said, enumerating the advantages to include that Globalstar spectrum holdings are global, customers in over 120 countries, with virtually no latency and lower power requirements for handsets and data terminals.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Speaking at a recent chat with media in Kaduna, Mohammed said, it is now clear that with the GlobalTouch pioneering spirit as the nation’s Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licensee.
“It is clear that GlobalTouch’s GMPCS services have strategic advantages over other telecom services providers,” he declared.
Mohammed enumerated some of these rare advantages to include that GWAL service has the universal coverage merit, which is beyond the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) coverage; involvement of one-off capital outlay in covering a large space of land, hence extending to the entire Nigeria’s land mass and West African countries.
“This is unlike other telecoms operators that rely on continues construction of base stations in covering the whole nation, thus, our services are cheaper,” he said.
Apart from its ability to operate virtually everywhere, he also explained that GMPCS has exceptional clarity of voice due to the nature of technology deployed to facilitate better voice quality cellular networks and greater system capacity.
“Comprehensive and vast usage data solutions for corporate users, asset tracking, data monitoring, no matter the location via satellite, unlike the GSM service providers who rely solely on base stations,” he said.
Stressing that with GlobalTouch, there would be more reliable services delivery, superior technology, no drop voice or data calls to name a few.
“Consumers will get value for their money, ensuring consumer satisfaction,” he asserted.
One of the unique services of GWAL is the assets tracking technology, which affords customers on the network to use the satellite modems and integrated back office management solution to track mobile assets such as aircraft, vehicles, trailers, cargo containers and maritime assets.
Meanwhile, GWAL has set date for its commercial roll out on or before April, 2009.
This is coming as the management of GWAL, has announced it voted the sum of $10 million (about N1,330,000,000 billion) to facilitate the take off of its satellite gateway project initiative located near Kaduna.
GWAL is partnering in this whole project with a United States-based world’s largest provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, Globalstar.
Founded in 1997, GlobalTouch, is a Nigerian company with 70 per cent investment equity, while its partners, Globalstar has 30 per cent.
“Our satellite gateway is under construction as you have seen in Kaduna to provide services to Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries as well as parts of the coastal Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea maritime region. We hope to commence commercial service in April 2009,” Mohammed said.
Affirming this, management consultant to GWAL, Mr. Peter Beacon, said that Globalstar with head office in Silicon Valley, also has corporate offices in Canada, Ireland, Panama and Brazil.
He said that the telco has shifted from a wholesale business model, to offering of mobile satellite voice and data services to over 329,000 commercial and consumer subscribers in over 120 countries globally.
Mr. Beacon also said that Globalstar’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite architecture is well positioned to meet the growing demand for global satellite voice and data.
“Globalstar operates a constellation of 48 operational low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites at approximately 1414 kilometres (km), while it has Geostationary satellites orbit at approximately 32,000 Km.
“LEO is a global constellation of multiple satellites, while each GEO or Geostationary satellite covers a specific region of the earth’s surface,” he said, enumerating the advantages to include that Globalstar spectrum holdings are global, customers in over 120 countries, with virtually no latency and lower power requirements for handsets and data terminals.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Alawode emerges millionaire in Nokia promo
World leader in mobility innovation, Nokia, recently in Lagos held draws for the first set of winners in the ongoing Nokia Gift Fest promo, with an Information Technology (IT) specialist, Mr. Oludare Alawode, emerging one of the star prize winners worth N1 million.
The draws saw winners emerging in various categories of Blue, Gold, Green, Red and White with cash prizes ranging from N50,000 to N1,000,000.
The promo, which commenced nationwide on December 5, 2008, has been scheduled to run for six weeks, thereby terminating on the January 14, 2009.
Nokia Nigeria
Customer Marketing Manager, Nokia Manager, Ms. Titi Olubiyi, said that the promo is aimed at keeping Nigerians more connected, especially during the festive season.
“Our Nigerian consumers are very precious to us and we want them to have the best gifts for the season. Nokia is all about aspiring, engaging and sharing in everyway,” she said.
Stressing that Nokia is happy to see the first set of winners emerge and it’s Nokia joy to give these cash prizes to them and make them very happy.
“This is the season of giving and Nokia is pleased to be a part of it” Olubiyi said.
At the first prize draw, an IT specialist from Surulere, Mr. Oludare Alawode, won the Gold Category prize of N1million.
Commenting on his prize, Mr. Alawode said it was really an unexpected Christmas present and expressed thanks to Nokia for that gesture.
However, to be part of the Nokia Gift Fest Promo, the Communications Manager, Nokia West Africa, Mrs. Ngozi Ife Anene, said, the consumers are encouraged to purchase any Nokia mobile devices from authorized retail outlets across the country.
“All devices come with 12 months warranty. The focus devices for this promo are the new N79, the Nokia 5220 express music and the stylish Nokia 3600. Other devices are the Nokia 1200, 1208, 1680, 5320 Xpressmusic, Nokia 6500 slide and the Nokia 6600 fold. The consumers are advised to send in the correct IMEI numbers of the purchased devices to prevent disqualification,” she said.
Once purchased, consumers are to text the IMEI number of the device, their name and address by SMS to the short code number 32442. A response confirming the category qualified for and an electronic ticket number will be sent to the consumer.
Consumers are expected to bring the purchased product and the number for prize redemption.
Two more draws will hold in a January 2009.
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The draws saw winners emerging in various categories of Blue, Gold, Green, Red and White with cash prizes ranging from N50,000 to N1,000,000.
The promo, which commenced nationwide on December 5, 2008, has been scheduled to run for six weeks, thereby terminating on the January 14, 2009.
Nokia Nigeria
Customer Marketing Manager, Nokia Manager, Ms. Titi Olubiyi, said that the promo is aimed at keeping Nigerians more connected, especially during the festive season.
“Our Nigerian consumers are very precious to us and we want them to have the best gifts for the season. Nokia is all about aspiring, engaging and sharing in everyway,” she said.
Stressing that Nokia is happy to see the first set of winners emerge and it’s Nokia joy to give these cash prizes to them and make them very happy.
“This is the season of giving and Nokia is pleased to be a part of it” Olubiyi said.
At the first prize draw, an IT specialist from Surulere, Mr. Oludare Alawode, won the Gold Category prize of N1million.
Commenting on his prize, Mr. Alawode said it was really an unexpected Christmas present and expressed thanks to Nokia for that gesture.
However, to be part of the Nokia Gift Fest Promo, the Communications Manager, Nokia West Africa, Mrs. Ngozi Ife Anene, said, the consumers are encouraged to purchase any Nokia mobile devices from authorized retail outlets across the country.
“All devices come with 12 months warranty. The focus devices for this promo are the new N79, the Nokia 5220 express music and the stylish Nokia 3600. Other devices are the Nokia 1200, 1208, 1680, 5320 Xpressmusic, Nokia 6500 slide and the Nokia 6600 fold. The consumers are advised to send in the correct IMEI numbers of the purchased devices to prevent disqualification,” she said.
Once purchased, consumers are to text the IMEI number of the device, their name and address by SMS to the short code number 32442. A response confirming the category qualified for and an electronic ticket number will be sent to the consumer.
Consumers are expected to bring the purchased product and the number for prize redemption.
Two more draws will hold in a January 2009.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
‘MTN, African mobile operator of the year’
MTN Group has won the prestigious African Mobile Operator of the Year award at the third annual Comms Middle East and Africa (MEA) awards organized by ITP Technology Publishing, just as MTN also won the inaugural award in 2006.
The Comms MEA Awards, according to the organizers sets out to celebrate and pay tribute to the telecoms industry professionals and operators that have shown outstanding performance and results in key market segments.
A press statement made available to Champion Infotel indicated that the judges selected MTN for successfully providing innovative services to its pan-African subscribers such as per second billing for prepaid customers.
The judges also praised MTN for evolving from a traditional mobile operator to an all-round communications service provider, with the deployment of the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and fibre-optic networks, a mobile television offering and a banking service.
MTN Group Executive for Corporate Affairs, Ms Nozipho January-Bardill, said the accolade reaffirms the status of the group as an innovative mobile operator in emerging markets.
“We’re proud of this acknowledgement and we will continue our efforts to provide innovative solutions across all our markets,” said January-Bardill.
Twelve awards were presented at the ceremony in categories that encompassed different facets of the telecoms industry from individual excellence, to corporate success, to outstanding service and expertise in implementation.
In addition to these categories, there was also the hotly contested category of lifetime achievement award, presented to an individual who has helped shape and inspire the Middle East and Africa telecoms market.
The winners were judged by a panel of industry experts selected from within the regional communications sector.
The awards acknowledged those operators and individuals who have taken a leadership role in the growth of the regional industry.
The winners were chosen for consistently investing in technology, implementing winning strategies and developing services that capture the hearts and minds of end users.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The Comms MEA Awards, according to the organizers sets out to celebrate and pay tribute to the telecoms industry professionals and operators that have shown outstanding performance and results in key market segments.
A press statement made available to Champion Infotel indicated that the judges selected MTN for successfully providing innovative services to its pan-African subscribers such as per second billing for prepaid customers.
The judges also praised MTN for evolving from a traditional mobile operator to an all-round communications service provider, with the deployment of the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and fibre-optic networks, a mobile television offering and a banking service.
MTN Group Executive for Corporate Affairs, Ms Nozipho January-Bardill, said the accolade reaffirms the status of the group as an innovative mobile operator in emerging markets.
“We’re proud of this acknowledgement and we will continue our efforts to provide innovative solutions across all our markets,” said January-Bardill.
Twelve awards were presented at the ceremony in categories that encompassed different facets of the telecoms industry from individual excellence, to corporate success, to outstanding service and expertise in implementation.
In addition to these categories, there was also the hotly contested category of lifetime achievement award, presented to an individual who has helped shape and inspire the Middle East and Africa telecoms market.
The winners were judged by a panel of industry experts selected from within the regional communications sector.
The awards acknowledged those operators and individuals who have taken a leadership role in the growth of the regional industry.
The winners were chosen for consistently investing in technology, implementing winning strategies and developing services that capture the hearts and minds of end users.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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