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Leading wireless provider in advanced Internet Protocol (IP), Aviat Networks took its global expertise to the recently concluded West African Telecommunication exhibition and conferences (Wafritel) held in Lagos.
The company, which is making its first appearance in Nigeria since changing its name from Harris Stratex, showcased its range of wireless next-generation solutions at the three-day event.
Territory Manager for Aviat Networks, Mr. Olabode Sowunmi, told ITRealms Online at the event ground that the firm’s participation was seen as an avenue to introduce its new brand identity to potential and existing customers of the company in the West African telecommunication industry.
He explained that the company was at the expo to interact with their customers, announce latest technological advancements as well as showcase improvements.
“Of the greatest interest with the visitors to the stand turned out to be the award-winning Eclips Packet Node wireless backhaul solution with its enhanced cell site gateway functionalities for mobile operators seeking innovative and integrated solutions,” he said.
Additionally, he said, the event offered the industry the opportunity to appreciate the new brand identity of the company.
One of the customers and a telecoms engineer, Osunkeye Mathews said at the Aviat stand that it was reassuring to see the new image of a reliable old-timer.
“I’m impressed with the efforts of Aviat networks in its new identity” Mathews said.
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Wednesday, June 09, 2010
ATCON, ALTON support forum on taxation, clean environment
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) have given their supports to the on-coming conference on taxation and cleaner environment scheduled for next month in Lagos.
The conference is being coordinated by three media organisations in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector includes AIT-Infotech network, Tribe Media, owners of TribeTimes, eWorld Magazine and Know How Media, publishers of IT Edge News.Com.
In a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, the coordinator, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, quoted acting Executive Secretary, ATCON, Mr. Ajibola Olude, the association commended the initiative and the extent to which the three media houses have moved the idea.
ATCON President, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, was quoted as saying that he considered the issue for discussion as timely.
On the other hand, ALTON said its chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, would work with the conference coordinators to rally key players that are relevant to the issues slated for discussion. Mr. Ukodie also disclosed that efforts have been made to involve the chairman of the Joint Tax Board so as to ensure that the issues slated for discussion are given the required attention and policy consideration.
According to him, the pursuit of greener and healthier environment is a topical issue in the global arena and no effort is too much to ensure the right awareness is created and effective and efficient policies are articulated to achieve the objective.
The conference, scheduled to hold in Sheraton Lagos on July 30, 2010, he said, would focus on how to promote the deployment, usage and management of environmentally friendly technologies and appropriate taxation in the sector.
The conference’s theme is: ICT and the Nigerian Environment 2010: Appropriate Taxation and Promotion of Healthy Environmentally Friendly Technologies.
The underlining call for the conference is that ICT applications, power and transportation are some of three main areas which contribute to the bulk of environmental emissions. In Nigeria the growth of ICT and its infrastructure are beginning to pose a challenge to the environment as it relates to safety, health and economic growth.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The conference is being coordinated by three media organisations in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector includes AIT-Infotech network, Tribe Media, owners of TribeTimes, eWorld Magazine and Know How Media, publishers of IT Edge News.Com.
In a press statement made available to ITRealms Online, the coordinator, Mr. Aaron Ukodie, quoted acting Executive Secretary, ATCON, Mr. Ajibola Olude, the association commended the initiative and the extent to which the three media houses have moved the idea.
ATCON President, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, was quoted as saying that he considered the issue for discussion as timely.
On the other hand, ALTON said its chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, would work with the conference coordinators to rally key players that are relevant to the issues slated for discussion. Mr. Ukodie also disclosed that efforts have been made to involve the chairman of the Joint Tax Board so as to ensure that the issues slated for discussion are given the required attention and policy consideration.
According to him, the pursuit of greener and healthier environment is a topical issue in the global arena and no effort is too much to ensure the right awareness is created and effective and efficient policies are articulated to achieve the objective.
The conference, scheduled to hold in Sheraton Lagos on July 30, 2010, he said, would focus on how to promote the deployment, usage and management of environmentally friendly technologies and appropriate taxation in the sector.
The conference’s theme is: ICT and the Nigerian Environment 2010: Appropriate Taxation and Promotion of Healthy Environmentally Friendly Technologies.
The underlining call for the conference is that ICT applications, power and transportation are some of three main areas which contribute to the bulk of environmental emissions. In Nigeria the growth of ICT and its infrastructure are beginning to pose a challenge to the environment as it relates to safety, health and economic growth.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Globacom: Ghanaian govt denies pull-out threat
Ghanaian telecommunications regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA) has denied knowledge of the threat by the Nigeria’s second national operator, Globacom Limited to pull out of the country.
NCA said that it has not received any official report from Globacom over the alleged destruction of its properties and installations in the country, which is actually stalling its roll-out commercially.
It was reported in the media that Glo’s installations in Ghana comprising of properties, equipments and investments, such as billboards and lack of relevant support for the acquisition of land for installation of infrastructure like base stations and even stolen of some already on ground.
However, confirming this to Business Champion at the weekend, Director, Regulatory Administration at the National Communications Authority (NCA), Mr. Joshua K. Peprah said that Globacom has not officially served any notice of withdrawal from the Ghanaian telecom market, despite the recent media reports on the threat to pull out of the market.
“… I can tell you that Glo has not served any notice of withdrawal from this market to the NCA,” he said.
Mr. Peprah also revealed that National Communications Authority (NCA), has gone a step further to invite Globacom for discussion, so as to iron things out.
“However, the NCA has invited the Chairman and his team for further discussions on this,” he said, pointing out that the invitation was extended to Globacom since the beginning of last week and discussion when eventually they respond, would dwell on those allegations as reported in the media across the sub-region would form part of the agenda.
“Invitation was extended to Glo since beginning of this (last) week. Discussions would be on those allegations in the press, etc, since we have nothing official from Glo,” he said.
In a related development, some media reports alleged in Ghana that Glo’s plan to casualize employees, was actually a key source of face off with those purportedly destroying Globacom’s installations.
Efforts to get Globacom’s official reactions on both the invitation by NCA among others were yet to get response as at press time. But a source close to Mike Adenuga Towers, the headquarters of the telecom giant, informed that the allegation of casualization is not all that true as Glo does not indulge in such practices.
“If Glo is not casualising staff in Nigeria, why should it think of such in Ghana,” our source wondered.
Meanwhile, some of the allegations of destruction of Glo’s installations in Ghana comprising its properties, equipments and investments including billboards and lack of relevant support for the acquisition of land for installation of infrastructure, such as base station and even stolen of
some already on ground.
Additionally, the reports alleged that in February, about 15 light boxes mounted from the Airport Traffic Light median to the Opeibea House Traffic Light were destroyed with the flexi material used on both sides of the units torn.
Just as one of the Glo brand marks mounted in Accra was also destroyed about a month ago, while estimated 16 light boxes installed by Glo from the King Tackie Tawiah Overpass to Busy Internet were also vandalized.
“Every single unit, with materials made from top grade flexi was defaced with shape objects, suspected to be a knife or a razor blade,” the source said. “It was curious that light boxes belonging to another telecom operator deployed within the same stretch continuing from Busy Internet to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle were left unscathed,” he said. In December last year, some people were apprehended and handed to the police while they were attempting to sabotage a Glo mast located at the Baatsona area of Accra,” part of the reports stated.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
NCA said that it has not received any official report from Globacom over the alleged destruction of its properties and installations in the country, which is actually stalling its roll-out commercially.
It was reported in the media that Glo’s installations in Ghana comprising of properties, equipments and investments, such as billboards and lack of relevant support for the acquisition of land for installation of infrastructure like base stations and even stolen of some already on ground.
However, confirming this to Business Champion at the weekend, Director, Regulatory Administration at the National Communications Authority (NCA), Mr. Joshua K. Peprah said that Globacom has not officially served any notice of withdrawal from the Ghanaian telecom market, despite the recent media reports on the threat to pull out of the market.
“… I can tell you that Glo has not served any notice of withdrawal from this market to the NCA,” he said.
Mr. Peprah also revealed that National Communications Authority (NCA), has gone a step further to invite Globacom for discussion, so as to iron things out.
“However, the NCA has invited the Chairman and his team for further discussions on this,” he said, pointing out that the invitation was extended to Globacom since the beginning of last week and discussion when eventually they respond, would dwell on those allegations as reported in the media across the sub-region would form part of the agenda.
“Invitation was extended to Glo since beginning of this (last) week. Discussions would be on those allegations in the press, etc, since we have nothing official from Glo,” he said.
In a related development, some media reports alleged in Ghana that Glo’s plan to casualize employees, was actually a key source of face off with those purportedly destroying Globacom’s installations.
Efforts to get Globacom’s official reactions on both the invitation by NCA among others were yet to get response as at press time. But a source close to Mike Adenuga Towers, the headquarters of the telecom giant, informed that the allegation of casualization is not all that true as Glo does not indulge in such practices.
“If Glo is not casualising staff in Nigeria, why should it think of such in Ghana,” our source wondered.
Meanwhile, some of the allegations of destruction of Glo’s installations in Ghana comprising its properties, equipments and investments including billboards and lack of relevant support for the acquisition of land for installation of infrastructure, such as base station and even stolen of
some already on ground.
Additionally, the reports alleged that in February, about 15 light boxes mounted from the Airport Traffic Light median to the Opeibea House Traffic Light were destroyed with the flexi material used on both sides of the units torn.
Just as one of the Glo brand marks mounted in Accra was also destroyed about a month ago, while estimated 16 light boxes installed by Glo from the King Tackie Tawiah Overpass to Busy Internet were also vandalized.
“Every single unit, with materials made from top grade flexi was defaced with shape objects, suspected to be a knife or a razor blade,” the source said. “It was curious that light boxes belonging to another telecom operator deployed within the same stretch continuing from Busy Internet to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle were left unscathed,” he said. In December last year, some people were apprehended and handed to the police while they were attempting to sabotage a Glo mast located at the Baatsona area of Accra,” part of the reports stated.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Monday, June 07, 2010
MainOne Cable goes commercial June 30
•Nigeria to host WTDC in 2018
One of the Nigeria’s submarine cable provider, MainOne Cables, has declared that come June 30, its services would go commercial across the country, just as the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has expressed optimism on the sectoral growth and interest to host the International Telecommunication Union (ITU’s) World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2018 (WTDC-18).
Giving this indication in Lagos, Tuesday at the second edition of the West African Information and Communications Technology Congress (WAFICT), the chief executive officer of Main One Cables, Ms Funke Opeke represented by the Manager Sales, Ms Bolanle Ogundogba, said the submarine cable provider is ready for commercial launch on June 30.
“MainOne would be ready by 30th of June, 2010,” she declared, stressing that they offer a wholesale of full circuit services, which starts with STM-1, which contains about 63 E1 lines.
E1 has been described as a physical layer protocol for leased line transmissions, which carries thirty-two (32) 64 kbps channels at 2.048 Mbps each.
Opeke who spoke on operator’s perspective, said that by starting with STM 1 and landing cables in Lagos and Accra through the Telephone House London, the best is expected from the network.
According to her, for a long term purchase, it is expected to cost between $500 and $600 at about four STM-1, noting that there are further discounts at higher levels.
She said that there is plan for onward connectivity at wholesale prices from global supplies.
Disclosing that by next year, 2011, MainOne has projection to establish an international gateway for Internet Protocol (IP).
“So, we think of doubling existing capacity on day one and less than 5 per cent of the available capacity deployed with room to grow,” she said.
Maintaining that the landing stations in Lagos and Accra-Ghana have been completed and are ready for business.
In a related development, the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has expressed optimism on the sectoral growth, noting though some achievements have been made, expressing interest to host the 2018 edition of ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference, WTDC-18.
ATCON president, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu gave this hope in a goodwill message delivered at WAFICT, stressing that the next level of corporation in the West Africa’s ICT industry is cross-border synergies.
“So, as far as positivity goes, there is hardly a better time to be here as we ride on the crest of a wave geared towards moving our industry to the next level,” he said.
The Nigerian market by all indication, he said, is not a blank canvass, hence it is necessary, to address certain structural and infrastructural problems that might give the illusion or may be presented as if there is a saturated market on hand already.
Nevertheless, he said, the advantages of cross-border trade especially for the medium and long term future gives cause for optimism, “but only if, in the short term, we lay down plans and our modus operandi.”
ATCON, he said, is quite confident that given what the WAFICT organizers have recorded in terms of its reach and potential effect, in the context of their set objectives, “it is our view that with a well managed collaboration with other proven local initiatives, we should now be in a position to escalate our intentions to the International Telecommunications Union, (ITU), that under its auspices, Nigeria wishes to host a world class Telecommunications Expo.
“We must galvanize support as well as call on our officials in the Ministry of Information and Communications to begin to make necessary representation at the global level that we are ready to host the 2018 edition of ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference, WTDC-18,” Omo-Ettu said.
Assuring that ATCON’s immediate focus for the future is to continue to be a driving force of inspiration amongst all players as they attempt to meet the aspirations of the industry, pointing out that it is time to manage both volume and content of the traffic to ensure the best returns from investment.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
One of the Nigeria’s submarine cable provider, MainOne Cables, has declared that come June 30, its services would go commercial across the country, just as the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has expressed optimism on the sectoral growth and interest to host the International Telecommunication Union (ITU’s) World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2018 (WTDC-18).
Giving this indication in Lagos, Tuesday at the second edition of the West African Information and Communications Technology Congress (WAFICT), the chief executive officer of Main One Cables, Ms Funke Opeke represented by the Manager Sales, Ms Bolanle Ogundogba, said the submarine cable provider is ready for commercial launch on June 30.
“MainOne would be ready by 30th of June, 2010,” she declared, stressing that they offer a wholesale of full circuit services, which starts with STM-1, which contains about 63 E1 lines.
E1 has been described as a physical layer protocol for leased line transmissions, which carries thirty-two (32) 64 kbps channels at 2.048 Mbps each.
Opeke who spoke on operator’s perspective, said that by starting with STM 1 and landing cables in Lagos and Accra through the Telephone House London, the best is expected from the network.
According to her, for a long term purchase, it is expected to cost between $500 and $600 at about four STM-1, noting that there are further discounts at higher levels.
She said that there is plan for onward connectivity at wholesale prices from global supplies.
Disclosing that by next year, 2011, MainOne has projection to establish an international gateway for Internet Protocol (IP).
“So, we think of doubling existing capacity on day one and less than 5 per cent of the available capacity deployed with room to grow,” she said.
Maintaining that the landing stations in Lagos and Accra-Ghana have been completed and are ready for business.
In a related development, the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has expressed optimism on the sectoral growth, noting though some achievements have been made, expressing interest to host the 2018 edition of ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference, WTDC-18.
ATCON president, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu gave this hope in a goodwill message delivered at WAFICT, stressing that the next level of corporation in the West Africa’s ICT industry is cross-border synergies.
“So, as far as positivity goes, there is hardly a better time to be here as we ride on the crest of a wave geared towards moving our industry to the next level,” he said.
The Nigerian market by all indication, he said, is not a blank canvass, hence it is necessary, to address certain structural and infrastructural problems that might give the illusion or may be presented as if there is a saturated market on hand already.
Nevertheless, he said, the advantages of cross-border trade especially for the medium and long term future gives cause for optimism, “but only if, in the short term, we lay down plans and our modus operandi.”
ATCON, he said, is quite confident that given what the WAFICT organizers have recorded in terms of its reach and potential effect, in the context of their set objectives, “it is our view that with a well managed collaboration with other proven local initiatives, we should now be in a position to escalate our intentions to the International Telecommunications Union, (ITU), that under its auspices, Nigeria wishes to host a world class Telecommunications Expo.
“We must galvanize support as well as call on our officials in the Ministry of Information and Communications to begin to make necessary representation at the global level that we are ready to host the 2018 edition of ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference, WTDC-18,” Omo-Ettu said.
Assuring that ATCON’s immediate focus for the future is to continue to be a driving force of inspiration amongst all players as they attempt to meet the aspirations of the industry, pointing out that it is time to manage both volume and content of the traffic to ensure the best returns from investment.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Glo explains Senegalese license, launches VSMS
Despite the alleged maltreatment in Ghana, the second national telecommunications operator, Globacom, weekend, explained its reason for obtaining an operational license in Senegal.
A press statement from Globacom’s corporate communications department, indicated that its latest license was finalised with the endorsement of dotted lines by the government of Senegal, through the Ministers of Finance and Telecommunications.
According to the press statement, Globacom’s chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. was quoted as saying that the license would afford the telecommunications giant to offer world class telecom services to the government and people of Senegal.
Equally, the Senegalese licence will also allow Globacom to land its gigantic trans-Atlantic submarine cable, Glo 1 in the West African country with opportunities to extend the infrastructure to Mali.
This is in addition to giving Globacom the right to carry traffic for major operators, the government and wholesale customers.
“With this development, the people of Senegal have been positioned to be part of the telecommunications revolution which Globacom is bringing to Africa,” he said, noting that Glo 1 which is set to commence commercial services soon would deliver transmission capacity to offer unprecedented high speed internet and broad band services as well as make telecom services much faster, more reliable and cheaper for consumers on the continent.
Adenuga pointed out that with the Senegalese licence, Glo would be able to provide international carrier services for telecom operators in the country. The company which has gateway switches outside the continent is currently a major player in the global telecommunication industry.
Globacom said the new license gives impetus to the network’s desire to provide the needed opportunity for the African continent to leap forward economically through an excellent communication network and a cost-effective voice, data, video and e-commerce services.
“In line with our vision, Glo will continue to play a major role in stimulating a new era of prosperity in the sub-continent and build facilities that will offer Africa advanced telecom services such as teleconferencing, distance learning, disaster recovery, telemedicine, on-line diagnosis and video conferencing during surgery and research,” he asserted.
Emphasising that Globacom’s infrastructure would be deployed to improve on call completion to subscribers’ handsets, reduce call failure rate as well as the cost of international calls not only in Senegal but across all the markets where it operates.
ITRealms Online recalls that apart from Nigeria, Globacom which started commercial service in August 2003, has operating licenses Ghana, Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, Glo Mobile has extended its Voice Short Messaging Service (voice-SMS) to other networks.
With this development, Glo subscribers could send voice SMS to subscribers of other networks, which hitherto was only available on Glo network.
Glo Mobile had in February, 2006, launched the service which allows subscribers to record and sends a voice message to a recipient.
It is a “talk” and “listen” messaging alternative to the regular “type” and “read” service provided by short messaging service (SMS).
Globacom’s Head, Value Added Services, Samson Isa, said the service was extended to other networks in order to give Glo subscribers more opportunity to enjoy its benefits.
“Voice SMS enables the user to add a personal touch to his message by recording his own voice, in his own language and sending it to a recipient who in turn is able to listen to the voice of the sender,” he said.
He underscored the fact that with the conventional SMS, a subscriber ‘types’ and ‘sends’ his text message which is read at the receiving end, while the Glo Voice-SMS allows the user to ‘dial’, ‘talk’ and ‘send’ the recorded voice message which is listened to by the receiver,” Isa said.
“Glo Voice-SMS is one more demonstration of our commitment to meeting the changing needs of our customers. It adds a fun dimension to short messaging as it has the advantage of conveying the sender’s mood, passion and emotion along with the voice message, which the conventional SMS does not do,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A press statement from Globacom’s corporate communications department, indicated that its latest license was finalised with the endorsement of dotted lines by the government of Senegal, through the Ministers of Finance and Telecommunications.
According to the press statement, Globacom’s chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. was quoted as saying that the license would afford the telecommunications giant to offer world class telecom services to the government and people of Senegal.
Equally, the Senegalese licence will also allow Globacom to land its gigantic trans-Atlantic submarine cable, Glo 1 in the West African country with opportunities to extend the infrastructure to Mali.
This is in addition to giving Globacom the right to carry traffic for major operators, the government and wholesale customers.
“With this development, the people of Senegal have been positioned to be part of the telecommunications revolution which Globacom is bringing to Africa,” he said, noting that Glo 1 which is set to commence commercial services soon would deliver transmission capacity to offer unprecedented high speed internet and broad band services as well as make telecom services much faster, more reliable and cheaper for consumers on the continent.
Adenuga pointed out that with the Senegalese licence, Glo would be able to provide international carrier services for telecom operators in the country. The company which has gateway switches outside the continent is currently a major player in the global telecommunication industry.
Globacom said the new license gives impetus to the network’s desire to provide the needed opportunity for the African continent to leap forward economically through an excellent communication network and a cost-effective voice, data, video and e-commerce services.
“In line with our vision, Glo will continue to play a major role in stimulating a new era of prosperity in the sub-continent and build facilities that will offer Africa advanced telecom services such as teleconferencing, distance learning, disaster recovery, telemedicine, on-line diagnosis and video conferencing during surgery and research,” he asserted.
Emphasising that Globacom’s infrastructure would be deployed to improve on call completion to subscribers’ handsets, reduce call failure rate as well as the cost of international calls not only in Senegal but across all the markets where it operates.
ITRealms Online recalls that apart from Nigeria, Globacom which started commercial service in August 2003, has operating licenses Ghana, Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, Glo Mobile has extended its Voice Short Messaging Service (voice-SMS) to other networks.
With this development, Glo subscribers could send voice SMS to subscribers of other networks, which hitherto was only available on Glo network.
Glo Mobile had in February, 2006, launched the service which allows subscribers to record and sends a voice message to a recipient.
It is a “talk” and “listen” messaging alternative to the regular “type” and “read” service provided by short messaging service (SMS).
Globacom’s Head, Value Added Services, Samson Isa, said the service was extended to other networks in order to give Glo subscribers more opportunity to enjoy its benefits.
“Voice SMS enables the user to add a personal touch to his message by recording his own voice, in his own language and sending it to a recipient who in turn is able to listen to the voice of the sender,” he said.
He underscored the fact that with the conventional SMS, a subscriber ‘types’ and ‘sends’ his text message which is read at the receiving end, while the Glo Voice-SMS allows the user to ‘dial’, ‘talk’ and ‘send’ the recorded voice message which is listened to by the receiver,” Isa said.
“Glo Voice-SMS is one more demonstration of our commitment to meeting the changing needs of our customers. It adds a fun dimension to short messaging as it has the advantage of conveying the sender’s mood, passion and emotion along with the voice message, which the conventional SMS does not do,” he said.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Nigeria needs Internet Registry – Rudman
Managing Director, Internet eXchange Point Nigeria Limited (IXNP), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, has advocated for the establishment of a National Internet Registry (NIR) to oversee the management of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the country.
Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to devices participating in a computer network that use the Internet to communicate with each other.
Also referred to as ‘IP number’ or just ‘IP,’ this code usually consists of numbers separated by three dots that identifies a particular computer on the Internet. IP started with IP version 4 (IPv4) with 32 bit address worth 4.3 billion hosts and now there is version 6, (IPv6).
He also said that registry when established should be tasked first and foremost to develop a National IPv6 Roadmap to strategize the IPv6 transition, nationwide.
Speaking on ‘IPv6 and Challenges in Nigeria’ at the recently held one-day forum organized by Digital Sense Africa (DSA) with the support of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Lagos, in preparation of the country for the global Internet Governance Forum 2010 scheduled to hold in Lithuania, in September this year, Mr. Rudman also said there is need to set up an IPv6 awareness and capacity building through seminars and trainings and incorporate IPv6 into the university curriculum.
The Federal Government through the regulator, NCC, should as matter of urgency provide some incentives to Internet industry to encourage them to adopt IPv6-based Infrastructure.
“These incentives can include reduction in regulatory fee and tax rebates,” he declared, noting that currently, Nigeria has about 300 lnternet Service Providers (ISPs), but only an estimated 20 per cent, which is 60 of the licensees are operational.
Noting there are only two ISPs in the country with IPv6, namely, 2001:4270:: 32 was allocated to Netcom Africa on June 15, 2006 and 2001:43b0: 32 was allocated to Cyberspace on March 10, 2009.
He also advised that upstream Internet connectivity providers should be asked to enable IPv6 readiness in their networks.
Mr. Rudman told participants at the forum presided over by the chairman, Internet Service Providers Associations of Nigeria (ISPAN), Chief Samuel Adeleke that the world cannot wait for Nigeria to migrate, therefore the nation needs every step forward to ensure any leap makes a milestone.
Pointing out that when the internet began it was in a university and they have no problems giving out IP addresses and over time, the initial IP addresses available was the IPv4 with about 4bn, which is now depleting.
Globally, he said, IPv4 remains 10 per cent, hence the introduction of version 6 became crucial, noting though that in Africa her quota is still remaining about 60 per cent at the African Network Information Center (AfriNIC) based in Kenya and 40 per cent has been distributed, while Tunisia has 2 per cent, Morocco 4 per cent, Algeria 5 per cent, Egypt 16 per cent, South Africa 59 per cent with others including Nigeria having 14 per cent.
“Most of the Internet security we have been talking about has to do with IP addresses. And because of billions of new users in China and India and new devices like mobile phones, Personal Data Assistant (PDA), cars, with IP addresses so that you can browse, IPv6 was introduced,” he said, citing an instance within an Indian refinery that runs on IP addresses using 51,000 devices and each one must have an IP addresses.
On the IPv6 challenges in Nigeria, Rudman said ISPs need business cases, but presently lack technical knowhow, core equipment compatibility issues, maintaining that lack of IPv6 upstream service providers and non request of IPv6 from end users have contributed to slow in adaptation of IPv6 in the country.
“All new IT equipment supplied to government should be IPv6 compliant and government to set target date for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to have IPv6 compliant networks.
IPv6, he said, is scalability and has security, real time application, auto-configuration, mobility, addressing and routing, as well as extensibility, just as he assured that the transition and co-existence techniques showed that IPv6 has been designed for ease application with dual stack, which allows for simultaneous support for both IPv4 and IPv6 stacks, while the tunnels for IPv6 packet have been encapsulated in IPv4 models in addition to dual mechanism for translation.
According to him, based on the Darwinian imperative, it is either one modernizes, reorganize or die if not ready to adhere to IPv6.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
R & D: Nigeria to benefit from Oracle’s $4.3bn
Vice President and country leader at Oracle Corporation South Africa, Mr. Nicky Sheridan has disclosed that Nigeria is one of the countries on the continent to benefit from the research and development budget of the organisation worth $4.3 billion, about N652.5bn.
Speaking at the Oracle-Sun Customer Day in Lagos, put together by the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) and tagged ‘Oracle+Sun Transforming the industry’ Mr. Sheridan said that Nigeria is very important market for the organisation.
Insisting that Oracle strategy is to remain complete solution, open, offer lower cost in terms of deployment as well as fast and predictable performance.
He recalled that Oracle on April 20, 2009 announced acquisition of Sun common stock for $9.50 per share in cash; a transaction valued at approximately $7.4 billion, or $5.6 billion net of Sun’s cash and debt.
According to him, some of the value propositions of Oracle after it acquired Sun, has not changed, but would remain the fastest time to value and lowest risk, working database and system delivered.
For him, middleware bridges the business execution gap, so Oracle compete for the best – product quality, service excellence, especially now customers are competing for most effective and efficient business process.
“Middleware is absolutely essential in cutting cost of integration,” he declared, stressing that Oracle leads in industry system integration solutions.
“Our software would remain open and we have been open in over 20 years,” he asserted, assuring that Oracle would remain a complete open standard.
Open standard, he said, is consistent with Oracle’s vision and logical footprint, pointing out that the marriage with Sun, has three things to offer, namely the cost reduction, business intelligence and agile organisation.
Just as he said that data consolidation as far as Oracle acquisition of Sun is concerned, creates a valuable products for the end users, maintaining that the goal of Oracle is to bridge gap between the customer and organisations.
Equally speaking, the managing director, ExpertEdge Software, a CWG company, Mr. James Agada, said that Computer Warehouse has certification partnership with Oracle, Sun among others before the acquisition and therefore stand a better chance to serve Nigeria companies hoping to engage on Oracle portfolio and those already using it better.
Earlier in his message, the Commissioner for science and technology, Lagos State, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, represented by Mr. Adeyinka Sorungbe of ABAT Centre, commended the partnership between CWG and Oracle and assured that Lagos State would continue to use its Oracle application to the benefit of Lagosians.
The event was also graced by the Group Managing Director, CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, the chief operating officer, Mr. Phillip Obioha and Vice president, Hardware Sales for Oracle-Sun at Middle East and Africa, Mr. Tom Pegrume among others.
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Speaking at the Oracle-Sun Customer Day in Lagos, put together by the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) and tagged ‘Oracle+Sun Transforming the industry’ Mr. Sheridan said that Nigeria is very important market for the organisation.
Insisting that Oracle strategy is to remain complete solution, open, offer lower cost in terms of deployment as well as fast and predictable performance.
He recalled that Oracle on April 20, 2009 announced acquisition of Sun common stock for $9.50 per share in cash; a transaction valued at approximately $7.4 billion, or $5.6 billion net of Sun’s cash and debt.
According to him, some of the value propositions of Oracle after it acquired Sun, has not changed, but would remain the fastest time to value and lowest risk, working database and system delivered.
For him, middleware bridges the business execution gap, so Oracle compete for the best – product quality, service excellence, especially now customers are competing for most effective and efficient business process.
“Middleware is absolutely essential in cutting cost of integration,” he declared, stressing that Oracle leads in industry system integration solutions.
“Our software would remain open and we have been open in over 20 years,” he asserted, assuring that Oracle would remain a complete open standard.
Open standard, he said, is consistent with Oracle’s vision and logical footprint, pointing out that the marriage with Sun, has three things to offer, namely the cost reduction, business intelligence and agile organisation.
Just as he said that data consolidation as far as Oracle acquisition of Sun is concerned, creates a valuable products for the end users, maintaining that the goal of Oracle is to bridge gap between the customer and organisations.
Equally speaking, the managing director, ExpertEdge Software, a CWG company, Mr. James Agada, said that Computer Warehouse has certification partnership with Oracle, Sun among others before the acquisition and therefore stand a better chance to serve Nigeria companies hoping to engage on Oracle portfolio and those already using it better.
Earlier in his message, the Commissioner for science and technology, Lagos State, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, represented by Mr. Adeyinka Sorungbe of ABAT Centre, commended the partnership between CWG and Oracle and assured that Lagos State would continue to use its Oracle application to the benefit of Lagosians.
The event was also graced by the Group Managing Director, CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, the chief operating officer, Mr. Phillip Obioha and Vice president, Hardware Sales for Oracle-Sun at Middle East and Africa, Mr. Tom Pegrume among others.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
70% mobile phones reside in developing countries
An estimated 70 per cent of all mobile phones globally are located in developing countries, says the organizers of Mobile Money Summit 2010, which ended last weekend in Brazil.
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online, they said that this growth has helped to spur growth of mobile payments, for instance in making and receiving payments directly with a mobile phone rather than by traditional methods.
“Access to mobile payments holds a special significance in these regions because it makes low-cost financial services available to millions of people for the first time,” part of the press statement read.
Meanwhile, the business rationale for mobile money is compelling according to the 2009 GSMA-CGAP Mobile Money Market Study released recently.
This study revealed that by 2012, mobile network operators (MNOs) are poised to earn $7.8 billion in direct and indirect revenues from serving 364 million clients, the vast majority of whom are based in developing countries.
ITRealms Online recalled that historically, poor people have been excluded from payment systems because the transactions they engage in are very small, making it costly for financial institutions to serve them.
Moreover, the often marginal social status of both sender and receiver has resulted in a lack of focus on retail payments in these segments of society.
About 500 leaders and senior executives from mobile network operators, financial institutions, development organizations, solutions vendors, regulators, and policymakers from around the world are expected to attend the event.
The Mobile Money Summit is the mobile payments industry’s largest annual conference.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
A press statement made available to ITRealms Online, they said that this growth has helped to spur growth of mobile payments, for instance in making and receiving payments directly with a mobile phone rather than by traditional methods.
“Access to mobile payments holds a special significance in these regions because it makes low-cost financial services available to millions of people for the first time,” part of the press statement read.
Meanwhile, the business rationale for mobile money is compelling according to the 2009 GSMA-CGAP Mobile Money Market Study released recently.
This study revealed that by 2012, mobile network operators (MNOs) are poised to earn $7.8 billion in direct and indirect revenues from serving 364 million clients, the vast majority of whom are based in developing countries.
ITRealms Online recalled that historically, poor people have been excluded from payment systems because the transactions they engage in are very small, making it costly for financial institutions to serve them.
Moreover, the often marginal social status of both sender and receiver has resulted in a lack of focus on retail payments in these segments of society.
About 500 leaders and senior executives from mobile network operators, financial institutions, development organizations, solutions vendors, regulators, and policymakers from around the world are expected to attend the event.
The Mobile Money Summit is the mobile payments industry’s largest annual conference.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Ghana leverages FOSS to leapfrog ICT industry
Ghanaian government has advanced plans to leapfrog its Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) industry with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
The Minister of Communications for Ghana, Mr. Haruna Idrisu, made this disclosure in Accra recently while declaring open the fourth African conference on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and Digital Commons at the Kofi Annan Indian Centre for Excellence in ICT Accra.
Mr. Idrisu who represented the Vice president of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, said at the conference with the theme “Development with ownership” that the government’s plan is to leapfrog by using ICT advantage.
“… We want to own our application. We cherish the passion of young people to take their place to position Africa to assume its rightful place in the world,” he declared.
He also challenged the conference to come up with how African governments could resolve the challenges between the proprietary and open source software to its own advantage.
“Find out how we can use open source to drive electronic learning (e-learning),” he said, while enjoining African states to increase investment in ICT and urged for development of Open Source (OS) application in fighting cybercrime.
In his address, the chairman of the occasion and Director, ICT at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Sola Afolabi, said that they were excited that Ghana, a member state is hosting the Idlelo 4 meeting, this year.
“Ghana is proud member of ECOWAS and ECOWAS is proud to be here,” he asserted, stressing that ECOWAS is implementing some regional projects to transform the community from community of things to community of people through its regional Wide Area Network (WAN).
Today, he said, Open Source has grown to become a key in mission critical applications, pointing out that nowadays Africa has seen FOSS as a veritable option for accelerated development and maintenance in addition to advancing capacity.
Therefore, Dr. Afolabi said that ECOWAS is interested in partnering with FOSSFA in implementing the outcome of the conference.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
The Minister of Communications for Ghana, Mr. Haruna Idrisu, made this disclosure in Accra recently while declaring open the fourth African conference on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and Digital Commons at the Kofi Annan Indian Centre for Excellence in ICT Accra.
Mr. Idrisu who represented the Vice president of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, said at the conference with the theme “Development with ownership” that the government’s plan is to leapfrog by using ICT advantage.
“… We want to own our application. We cherish the passion of young people to take their place to position Africa to assume its rightful place in the world,” he declared.
He also challenged the conference to come up with how African governments could resolve the challenges between the proprietary and open source software to its own advantage.
“Find out how we can use open source to drive electronic learning (e-learning),” he said, while enjoining African states to increase investment in ICT and urged for development of Open Source (OS) application in fighting cybercrime.
In his address, the chairman of the occasion and Director, ICT at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Sola Afolabi, said that they were excited that Ghana, a member state is hosting the Idlelo 4 meeting, this year.
“Ghana is proud member of ECOWAS and ECOWAS is proud to be here,” he asserted, stressing that ECOWAS is implementing some regional projects to transform the community from community of things to community of people through its regional Wide Area Network (WAN).
Today, he said, Open Source has grown to become a key in mission critical applications, pointing out that nowadays Africa has seen FOSS as a veritable option for accelerated development and maintenance in addition to advancing capacity.
Therefore, Dr. Afolabi said that ECOWAS is interested in partnering with FOSSFA in implementing the outcome of the conference.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Olufuye emerges WITSA’s vice chairman
The president, Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Dr. Jimson Olufuye, has been elected Vice Chairman of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) Vice Chairman for Africa, for the next two years.
Dr. Olufuye’s election came at the General Assembly meeting of the association on May 24, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in conjunction with the World Congress on IT 2010.
Olufuye was elected unanimously after his nomination by the outgoing vice chairman for Africa, Mr. Waudo Siganga of Kenya.
In the same vein, the incumbent Chairman of WITSA Dato Dan E. Khoo of Malaysia was re-elected as the WITSA chairman for the second and last term of two years. He defeated Dr Jorge Cassino of Argentina to retain his position.
Also, Mr. Phil Bond of USA was elected as the Deputy Chairman for WITSA. Mexico was elected VC for Latin America, Canada for North America, the Netherlands for Western Europe, Macedonia for Eastern Europe and Japan for Asia.
ITAN is the association of IT and services companies in Nigeria and the nation’s representative in WITSA.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
Dr. Olufuye’s election came at the General Assembly meeting of the association on May 24, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in conjunction with the World Congress on IT 2010.
Olufuye was elected unanimously after his nomination by the outgoing vice chairman for Africa, Mr. Waudo Siganga of Kenya.
In the same vein, the incumbent Chairman of WITSA Dato Dan E. Khoo of Malaysia was re-elected as the WITSA chairman for the second and last term of two years. He defeated Dr Jorge Cassino of Argentina to retain his position.
Also, Mr. Phil Bond of USA was elected as the Deputy Chairman for WITSA. Mexico was elected VC for Latin America, Canada for North America, the Netherlands for Western Europe, Macedonia for Eastern Europe and Japan for Asia.
ITAN is the association of IT and services companies in Nigeria and the nation’s representative in WITSA.
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D
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