Telecom - Nigeria grows 1m subscribers monthly – Ndukwe

Story of the week:

Nigeria, the largest black nation in the world is on the verge of making another history in the development of telecommunications on the continent as the monthly subscriber growth rate is approximated at 1 million per month.

This is coming as expert noted that economic development of any country at this era depends largely on the progress such country has made in the provision of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the citizenry.

This position was accentuated by renowned telecommunications engineer and Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, in his paper as guest lecturer at this year’s Champion Better Society lecture with the theme: Telecommunications in National Development, in Lagos.

He explained that between 1993 and year 2002 mobile users in developing countries increased from 3 million to over 500 million.

He cited an instance with China that now has over 500 million phone subscribers, and India boosts of 6 million new subscribers every month, whereas in Nigeria, “the monthly subscriber growth rate approximates 1 million per month.”

Equally, he quoted the 2006 report of the World Bank on ICT for Development and World Economic Forum 2006 report on Global Information Technology as underlining the fact that economic development depends largely on overall progress in a country’s ICTs sector.

“Without such progress, both economies and private enterprises suffer,” he declared.

He stressed that companies that use ICTs grow faster, and have been rated to be more productive and profitable than those that do not.

“The value of products and services is increasingly a function of their information content and the knowledge used to produce them rather than the raw material content,” he asserted.

Dr. Ndukwe pointed out that the ability to easily access and share information and stimulate the creation of new ideas is viewed as essential to maintaining a strong economy and enhancing the quality of life of every citizen.

Hence, he found ICT solace in telecommunications networks, which he noted, have made it possible for developing countries to participate in the world economy in ways that simply were not possible hitherto.

This realty, he said, reflected in the rapid growth telecommunications has been experiencing around the world, noting that in 1999, there were 1.4 billion connected lines worldwide with 490 million mobile lines, 905 million fixed.

“Today, there are nearly 4.5 billion lines with 3 billion mobile and 1.5 billion fixed,” he said.

He also said that in the last eight years, a total of 31 billion lines were added, and according to recent publication of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), “today, most of the planet’s 6.1 billion inhabitants are within reach of telephone service.”

He emphasized that this goes to explain the importance the world today attaches to the development of telecommunications infrastructure.

In order to increase universal adoption of ICTs, Dr. Ndukwe said, implies that nations need to adopt ICTs or become less competitive, especially in developing economies by creating enabling environment to encourage development of ICT infrastructure.

“Indeed, the developing world has become the investment destination for new investment opportunities,” he said.

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Nigeria, Uganda join Linux affiliates

Worldwide promoters of skills on Linux and Open Source technologies, based in Toronto, Canada, the Linux Professional Institute (LPI) has increased its affiliation in two African countries including Nigeria, Uganda.

Announcing this, LPI Area Operations Manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Mr. John Meaney, said the development has shown the importance of Linux and Open Source Software in those countries.

“These two new affiliates are indicative of the growing importance of Linux and Open Source Software both in the field of education and Information Technology (IT) capacity development in Africa,” said Meaney.

He also said that there was significant interest in the region in Linux professionalism, which involves in ongoing discussions with other potential affiliates for the Middle East and Africa.

As said by him, LPI would be represented in Nigeria by Lifeforte, a member of Association of International Schools in Africa based in Ibadan, Oyo State in western Nigeria. While in East Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania would be the East African Centre for Open Source Software (EACOSS) located in Uganda.

He pointed out that Lifeforte is recognized as one of Africa’s foremost private, junior and high school establishments.

Chairman, Lifeforte International Schools, Mr. Johnson Olubi, said LPI’s vendor neutral Linux training and certification was a solid foundation for competence and relevance in both general computer literacy and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) profession.

He also said that by introducing the LPI programme into the high school and university curriculum will boost educate and empower the whole younger generation concerning Open Source Software and accelerate the shift from compulsory, expensive, proprietary software to having the choice of Open Source.

“This, in turn, will make the acquisition and application of computers much more affordable and widespread; leading to tremendous intellectual and economic development in developing countries, like Nigeria, and others in the West African sub region,” he said.

Mr. Meaney further informed that representing LPI in East Africa, EACOSS located in Kampala, Uganda at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology would be championing the course in that part of the region.

Managing Director, EACOSS, Mr. George W. Lule, pointed out that the adoption of Linux in East Africa as well as migration from proprietary platforms to Open Source Software (OSS) platforms has always been hampered by the absence of skilled and qualified personnel within the region.

“EACOSS trusts that in promoting the internationally-recognized vendor neutral LPI certification we will see a substantial increase in qualified IT personnel and assure employers, clients and other stakeholders that they are entrusting their OSS based IT infrastructure to professionals who meet an international skills standard,” Mr. Lule said.

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TD hosts schools on mathematics contest

Technology Distributions (TD), the No 1 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Distributor in West Africa, has announced its readiness to organize a contest in Mathematics for selected Secondary Schools in Lagos State.

The mathematics contest, TD said is being organized in partnership with Hewlett Packard (HP) Nigeria and has been designed in the first instance to arouse and sustain interest in Mathematics for Secondary School Students.

The contest, which would come up at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers would be monitored by the media and other credible socialites.

A press statement signed by the General Manager (GM), Marketing at TD, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, explained that the day–long would consist of three parts; the writing of the contest, the marking of the papers, and the declaration of winners and award of prizes. Mrs Chimere also revealed that the winning would be done at two levels.

At the first level, she said, the schools that produced the winners would be presented with photo labs, while the winning students would be presented with prizes ranging from ICT equipment to cash.

In a related development, the Managing Director, Technology Distributions (TD) Limited, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, has advised resellers in the country to develop a 10-year business plan as a means of keying into the current reforms based on Information Technology and aligned with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Speaking at the end of five-month promotion of her company in partnership with Hewlett Packard (HP) Nigeria, Mrs. Ekeh said that the business plan would form a window to enable them leverage on the project 2020 of some sectors of the nation’s economies, especially on IT.

The event also saw to the emergence of two resellers who went home with star prizes of Hyundai Elantra cars, which was won by the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) in the server category and the Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) category was won by Alhaji Nasir, an Ibadan-based bulk buyer.

“Resellers should resolve today to develop a 10-year business plan as a means of keying into the current reform environment in the country and as a guide into the continental market,” she said.

Mrs. Ekeh who spoke through the General Manager Marketing at TD Limited, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, elucidated that the purpose of the draws were to provide mobility, healthy competition, and companionship among resellers, even as it was supervised by the Managing Director of HP Nigeria, Dr. Lloyd Atabansi

She emphasised that the draws were in line with the TD key objective to facilitate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) among its resellers.

According to her, the vision of TD is to build globally recognised Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

“Our vision is to build a globally recognized ICT company and to become the key drivers of the ICT revolution across Africa,” she said.

Mrs. Ekeh further said that as TD strategies towards ensuring the achieving its vision, through flexible marketing options based on affordable prices, domiciliation of payment, and contract financing.

“All aimed at creating immense opportunities for TD’s resellers,” she declared.

Mrs. Ekeh added that TD has a firm focus to serve its customers through a proactive relationship with the resellers.

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Microsoft, NESG partner on technology platform

Microsoft Nigeria and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) have agreed to partner on drawing up a technology platform that would give a boost to the nation’s economy.

Director General, NESG, Mr Mansur Ahmed who disclosed this at the end of a recent meeting between the two entities in Lagos, noted that for the nation to realise its ambitious growth target, technology is the key driver for the development needs to be on the national agenda.

The private public sector, he said, must take a more robust and long term approach in creating the enabling environment for technology to serve as the catalyst for growth. It is only through technology that we can catch up with developed nations.

Affirming the partnership, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu said that it has become crucial for Nigeria to place the right premium on her intellectual asset.

The world economy is now driven by intellectual property. Technology, which is not only an enabler but also a great vehicle for gaining a clear advantage as a nation is a key part of this knowledge economy, he pointed out.

Mr. Mba-Uzoukwu added that at Microsoft, they believe that given the right tools and an enabling environment, every Nigerian could unleash their unlimited potential to build wealth through technology.

In Nigeria, he said, Microsoft currently works with over a hundred partners to deliver business, education, communications and financial business solutions in order to build capacity in the local IT community.

Under this plan, he explained that the company also work with non-governmental organisations (NGO) to bring technology to the underserved in various communities through the Microsoft Digital Villages and training programmes for various groups including women in seclusion and the physically challenged.

The strategic partnership between Microsoft and NESG, he said, would encompass several areas of cooperation including activities to ensure technology is at the top of the agenda for national and economic planning.

The two organisations would equally be collaborating on efforts to ensure that Nigerians begin to see the potential in themselves and drive to achieve more and compete in the global technology innovation arena.

Microsoft will also henceforth play a central role in the annual economic summits with a view to harnessing the technology agenda.

The 2007 Economic Summit organized by the NESG had as its theme - Nigeria top 20, by 2020.

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Uwaje tasks Nigerians on IKT

First vice president, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chief Chris Uwaje, has called on Nigerian stakeholders to be proactive by focusing on Information Knowledge Technology (IKT).

“The world is rapidly moving from digital divide to the more complex and fearsome knowledge divide,” he warned.

Giving this advice in Lagos, Uwaje who is the chief executive, Connect Technologies Limited, said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is only a temporary technology bus-stop, within the corridor and developmental process of human knowledge resources, technology history and learning curves.

By focusing on IKT, he said, Nigeria could commence with the policy makers becoming proactive and eschewing policies that could be irrelevant in few years time.

He pointed out that knowledge technology is here to stay and is beyond ICT bus stop, hence any nation, especially those in the so-called developing countries should start now to conceptualise what is next after the bus stop.

“Knowledge Technology (KT) is here! Beyond Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)? How did we get there? From Babbage, to before Bill Gates, to Data Processing (DP), to Information System (IS), to Data Processing Management System (DPMS), to Management Information System (MIS), to Information Technology (IT) and is there anything beyond ICT? In order words, what next, after ICT? “ he said.

According to him, available research and ICT white papers suggest that the world is already moving-on to adopt the concept and operational dynamics of the Information Knowledge Technology (IKT) or e-Knowledge Technology (eKT) as a new platform, model and strategic imperatives for globalised knowledge-everywhere for human development.

“We might as well now begin to rethink on how beneficial, durable and sustainable is the need for formulating an ICT policy framework for Nigeria at the tail-end or end-of-life momentum of existing ‘global communication’ fundamentals,” he asserted.

He stressed that the emergence of Quantum Computing, Megatronics and Nanotechnology are critical signpost to future revelations for the knowledge society.

“All these have now led to the emergence of “National Knowledge Commission” as strategic response framework,” he said.

Today, he noted that many stakeholders perceive IT and ICT as the “constant” and adopted as the ultimate end of the digital revolution, which may sooner than later reveal itself as a professional fallacy.

“Suddenly, every body has become an IT guru and ICT messiah. At home, the core of all these activities leads to ‘user-perception’ rather than ‘creator cum innovator’ vision,” Uwaje lamented.

He emphasised that the only thing constant is change, just as the world transits into the information knowledge age, new conditions are being created for future economic (industrial) and national development success.

He wondered if the current infrastructure and policies would stand the text of time.

“This is perhaps the ultimate question, whose strategic response will determine how nations will be positioned in the meandering ‘knowledge divide’ equation,” he asked.

Particularly, he wondered how Nigeria could position herself at the end of the tunnel of this digital knowledge evolution, and observed that it required a high level of conscious strategy for knowledge re-structuring and re-engineering the processes and machinery of government.

“This will require abundant political will and private sector commitment towards education and youth empowerment,” he said.

As said by him, for President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua’s government to function effectively, there is a need to completely re-define, overhaul the national knowledge-base and information system as well as constructively applying e-government tools to reactivate the operational defects of major ministerial deliverables, functions and human resource base.

“Thus it remained a fundamental assignment and herculean task,” he noted, adding that because e-commerce and e-government are inter-linked to e-citizens deliverables.

“It would amount to a great economic misnomer that while the organized private sector is busy restructuring and re-engineering its operations - through the infusion of information and communications technologies (ICTs), the operating structures of government remains unchanged,” he observed.

He posited that Nigeria must now rapidly move from the laboratory and ICT workshop excitements to constructive and practical knowledge-base “prove of concept implementation” process.

“We must fashion out a proactive actionable plan and quality approach, capable of cleaning-up our self-made accumulated socio-economic and political mess at both micro and macro levels of our (under-) development,” he submitted.

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HP to host SMEs on growth techniques

Global technology solutions provider, Hewlett Packard (HP) Nigeria, has concluded plans to host the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to a one-day workshop on business growth techniques.

Marketing Manager, HP Nigeria, Ms Ijeoma Onyiuke, informed that the company with offers spanning Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing would be taking Nigerian-based SMEs through modern techniques capable of helping their businesses to grow.

“As leading technology distributor, Hewlett Packard is organising a forum where experts, both local and international, will speak on challenges facing the sub sector,” she said in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel.

She quoted the Managing Director, HP West Africa, Dr. Lloyd Atabansi as saying that the event slated to hold on Thursday next week at Lagoon Restaurant, would attract speakers expected to proffer solutions to various challenges and problems facing small businesses in the country.

“It will specifically address technological constraints being faced by this sub sector of the economy,” he added.

Describing SMEs as the heroes of today’s economy, Dr. Atabansi said they often need a solid technology partner, as there is a fine art of starting, running, and growing a small business.

“HP’s unique approach delivers a personalized experience,” he declared.

Equally, he said that the forthcoming Lagos forum is a follow-up to the Art of Small Business launch, which held at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco on March 28, 2007.

He explained that the forum featured customers and new partnerships as well as new products, services and resources that HP has designed specifically for small businesses.

“The key take-away for the 100+ press, analysts, customers and partners in attendance is that HP is stepping up its commitment to small business and personally invested in their success,” he pointed out.

According to him, the success of SMEs have been overtime enhanced through HP technology and the event would avail participants how HP comprehensively addresses their needs through developing tailored solutions.

“HP offers total care for a worry-free technology experience, and partnerships with organizations that advocate their interests,” he said.

The Lagos forum, he stressed would bring HP partnership with some Original Equipments Manufacturers (OEMs) including Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco and ‘Starcomms’(telco) unveiling packages targeted specifically for the small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria.

Hence the forum has become imperative since small entrepreneurs may not immediately consider technology in their business plans, adding that HP’s partnership is a good opportunity to put HP products in front of its clients as they begin their business ventures.

“The news entails extending this relationship by jointly providing training to small businesses on how to protect and secure important data,” Atabansi said.

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NITDA places N250,000 on ICT graphic book prize

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced the N250,000 prize for any youth who publishes the best Information and Communication Technology (ICT) graphic book for primary schools in the country.

Even as the agency plans an annual software contest.

Director-General, NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye disclosed this in Lagos at the second annual Nigerian IT Youth Rally held recently at the National Stadium Lagos.

He also said at the event organised by Technology Africa that the winning book is anticipated to explain the composition, functions and benefits of ICT in the global community.

The competition with deadline fixed for December 31, this year, he said, is a challenge by his office to the Nigerian youths.

Additionally, he said, NITDA would soon introduce annual software contest among the youths on regional basis.

The grand finale, Prof. Angaye revealed would be held for the maiden edition at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

According to him, this would increase awareness, encourage youths and position Nigeria to take advantage of the global software market whilst earning additional revenue for the country.

He equally advised those out of school that IT could be learnt at any stage in life, hence he implored them to take full advantage of the available opportunities in both private and public sector to empower themselves with these technologies so as to be relevant in the new global economy.

“I wish to challenge our youths to be innovative in IT application and learn to develop technologies to suit our needs and not just bask in the euphoria of ‘consuming’ the technology of others,” he counselled.

Prof. Angaye further said that this would require youths to adequately appreciate IT as the major tool of the new world.

“Innovations in this area would assist Nigeria in the development of the much talk about ‘Nigerian content’ that would enhance our presence in cyberspace and improve technological advancement,” he declared.

He assured of government support to any initiative from any group that could enhance the development of Nigerian youth and channel their energy towards activities that could enhance job and wealth creation, poverty alleviation and general improved standard of living.

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Kleynhans identifies various types of UPS

The regional director for Africa at APC-MGE, Mr. Carl Kleynhans, has identified the need to know various types of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS’).

This, he said, would enable consumers to take adequate decisions and make good choice.

He noted that with several types of UPS in the market nowadays, it has become essential to understand the various characteristics of UPS, their strengths and weaknesses.

“In order for a company to make an educated decision as to the appropriate UPS topology for a given need,” he said.

Mr. Kleynhans enlightened that with varied types of UPSes and their attributes often cause confusion within the data centre industry specifically.

He cited an example, that it is widely believed that there are only two types of UPS systems, namely Standby UPS and Online UPS, stressing that these two commonly used terms do not correctly describe many of the UPS systems available.

“A variety of design approaches are used to implement UPS systems, each with distinct performance characteristics. The most common design approaches are Standby, Line Interactive, Standby on-line hybrid, Standby-Ferro, Double Conversion On-Line, and Delta Conversion On-Line.

Explaining further, he said, that Standby UPS is the most common type used for Personal Computers (PCs). The transfer switch is set to choose the filtered AC input as the primary power source and switches to the battery/ inverter as the backup source should the primary source fail.

“When that happens, the transfer switch must operate to switch the load over to the battery/ inverter backup power source, as such the inverter only starts when the power fails, hence the name Standby,” he said.

The Line Interactive UPS, he said, is the most common design used for small business, web and departmental servers, usually designed with the battery-to-AC power converter (inverter) always connected to the output of the UPS.

“Operating the inverter in reverse during times when the input AC power is normal provides battery charging,” Mr. Kleynhans said.

On the Standby On-Line hybrid, he said, its the topology used for most UPS under 10kVA, which are labelled “on-line” and affords the converter from the battery to switch on when an AC power failure is detected, just like in a standby UPS, even as the battery charger is small, similar to that in a standby type UPS and does not exhibit no transfer time during an AC power failure.

Equally, he informed that the Standby-Ferro UPS was once the dominant form of UPS in the 3 - 15kVA range and designed dependent on a special transformer that has three windings (power connections).

“The primary power path is from AC input, through a transfer switch, through the transformer and to the output. In the case of a power failure, the transfer switch is opened, and the inverter picks up the output load,” he pointed out among others.

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CDMA group commends Starcomms

The CDMA Development Group (CDG) has commended the management of Starcomms Limited for anchoring its massive deployment on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Rev A technology.

Champion Infotel recalls that Starcomms has successfully deployed CDMA 2000(1) 1xEV-DO Rev-A network in Abuja, the federal capital territory and other cities.

The CDMA Development Group, with over 130 members, is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA2000 technologies.

CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology with 227 operators in 97 countries, including 77 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems, serving more than 350 million subscribers.

Executive director, CDG, Mr. Perry LaForge, said that CDG applauds Starcomms for its leadership in bringing the world’s most advanced wireless telecommunications technology to the economic hub of West Africa. “Starcomms’ Rev. A network will have a broad and powerful impact on the region by demonstrating not only how 3G can drive operator revenue, but how 3G CDMA can outpace competing wireless and wireline technologies in performance and technological relevance,” he said.

EVDO Revision A, he added is the latest technology on the CDMA platform, was deployed in Abuja as Starcomms, Nigeria’s largest CDMA 3G Mobile network, spreads its operations to more cities across the country.

The latest technology is capable of delivering average speeds of 800 Kilo bites per second (Kbps) and provides world-class high-speed broadband experience to the users.

To improve service flexibility and economic performance, Starcomms’ Rev. A network has been enhanced with an Internet Protocol (IP)-based Next Generation Network (NGN) SoftSwitch-enabled network architecture. Starcomms also has sourced 10,000 Rev. A PCMCIA data cards from Huawei to support the introduction of several cutting-edge mobile data services. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. A offers average data throughputs of 600-1400 kbps with bursts up to 3.1 Mbps in the forward link, and average data throughputs of 350-500 kbps with bursts up to 1.8 Mbps in the reverse link, substantially lower latencies, greater bi-directional symmetry and advanced Quality of Service mechanisms to support a myriad of advanced mobile broadband and delay sensitive services.

Chief executive, Starcomms, Mr Maher Qubain, said the introduction of the Third Generation (3G) technology by the telco in the country was based on the realization that the Nigerian subscribers have become quite sophisticated and deserved to have world-class services using the best technology.

“CDMA2000’s evolution path and significant first-to-market advantage have always been its strongest points. With Rev. A, mobile broadband services in Africa can finally take off. Our state-of-the-art CDMA2000 network offers Starcomms customers the most powerful and affordable experience in telephony today,” Qubain said.

Apart from being the leading 3G wireless operator in Nigeria, Starcomms has effectively re- positioned itself as a total communication services provider, offering fixed wireless and mobile voice, data and fax services, and has connected more than 800,000 subscribers to date.

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DaniSAT unveils HYT 2-way radios @ NICOMM-07

Telecommunications service provider in the country, Danisat Communications Limited, has announced its readiness to unveil the much-expected brands of HYT two-way radios, TC 500 and TC 700, at the forthcoming Nigerian Communication (NICOMM 2007) expo in Lagos.

Managing Director, DaniSAT Communications, Mr. Aigbo Emigbuan, said that the event holding from next week Monday through Wednesday, at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan- Lagos, would herald the launching of the latest two-way radios, which come in two categories.

He explained that the two categories are the commercial and professional series respectively, reportedly very rugged with a higher performance ratio as well as cost effective.

“The new series of HYT radios the TC 500 and TC 700 are packed with cutting-edge technology coupled with the HYT long standing innovations for user-friendly operations which guarantees optimum performance,” he said.

Mr. Emigbuan also said that the rugged, reliable and compatible nature of the radios allow potential users the advantage of using a state-of the-art communications tool that not only guarantees optimum performance but also has the rare capacity of increasing efficiency and high productivity level.

According to him, these radios are applicable for security and allied companies, hotels and restaurants supermarket and warehouse, tourism and service line, manufacturers, banks, construction sites, residence safeguard management and agriculture to name a few.

He enjoined corporate organisations and visitors at NICOMM 2007, to visit DaniSat stand at the exhibition to have a feel of the radios.

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