Nigerian SolarKobo wins ITU Young Innovators Competition

ITRealms:

SolarKobo, a startup, invented by young Ogbonnaya Bassey emerged winner out of a pool of 124 applications across 34 countries in an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organised Young Innovators Competition ITRealms reports.

  

Bassey is joint winner with Ugur Can Bastik, a young entrepreneur from Turkey who built TactiX, a tactile smartphone for the blind. They have both been invited to attend the Intel-sponsored in Budapest, Hungary between October 12-15, 2015 for an opportunity to pitch their ideas, participate in workshops, benefit from a year of ongoing mentorship, and win seed funding.

ITU Telecom World is a global event which brings together policy makers, regulators, industry leaders, SMEs and entrepreneurs to explore accelerating ICT innovations for social and economic development. The Young Innovators Competition is an integral part of the event which recognizes gifted young entrepreneurs who have ideas for innovative social enterprises, as a result of development challenges

SolarKobo, ITRealms gathered, is an innovation that will allow small businesses and families benefit from solar systems for relatively low monthly fees and will use single board devices for remote monitoring and customer payment systems. This will be achieved through the provision of solar powered systems with zero-upfront financing in Nigeria as a cheaper, more reliable and cleaner electricity source than the private gasoline generators which are widely used to supplement the insufficient public electricity supply.

Bassey said, “Most of the ingredients for our success exist. The need is critical, the demand for our solution is proven, the technology is tested and we have a sustainable model. We applied to the Young Innovators Competition to create awareness for our cause, get seed funding, investment, mentorship, and access to help from Intel in developing smarter systems.”

ITU Secretary-General,  Houlin Zhao, said,  “These talented young people have made great use of ICTs to meet a wide range of development goals, and their innovations have the potential to impact lives for the better. Start-ups such as these have a key role to play within our ICT ecosystem and I am very pleased that ITU Telecom World 2015 is providing them the global platform to showcase their innovations.

The Vice President and General Manager, Governments and World Ahead, Intel Corporation, Gordon Graylish, ITRealms learnt, said about the competition: “We are extremely honoured to be part of such a great initiative. We are even more impressed with the fantastic work from the young innovators. As a company, we are always looking to work with the brightest minds to make a positive impact, develop new technologies and make a difference. Part of this is creating new jobs in ICT and helping these fresh ideas to thrive. The brilliant ideas put forward – whether it is helping the blind to communicate in a digital world or encouraging more people to use solar power.

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Viettel invests N146.61trn on infrastructure in Tanzanian

ITRealms:

Viettel Global Investment has made an initial venture of USD 736 million, about N146.61 trillion constructing and installing network infrastructure in Tanzania in one year, ITRealms reports.

Viettel’s operations have enabled services to all 26 provinces in the country across rural and urban areas while creating more than 2,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs. With a strong infrastructure comprising 18,000 km of optical cable and more than 3,000 base transceivers, Viettel’s services can cover up to 81 per cent Tanzania’s population. 1,500 villages are now connected for the first time. 

Viettel, October 15, announced the launch of mobile and internet services in Tanzania, under the brand name of Halotel. The launch reflects Viettel’s expansion in its tenth market, and to the second biggest economy in East Africa, ITRealms learnt. Beside 2G services, Viettel’s offerings in this market will bring competitively-priced 3G connectivity to the most remote areas of the country, empowering not just urban but rural areas through connectivity, and offering mobile services as a basic commodity.  In a press release issued by African Press Organization (APO) on behalf of Viettel, the General Director, Viettel Group, Nguyen Manh Hung, said “Viettel’s vision is to provide every Tanzanian with a mobile phone and bring communication and information technology to every corner of life of the country. Our entry into Tanzania reflects our belief that when telecommunications services are accessible to everyone, and become a part of everyday life, they can be a driving force contributing to socio-economic development for the country as a whole” ITRealms learnt. Viettel, ITRealms also informs, is placed among the top 15 telecom companies in terms of cellular connections (ranked by GSMA’s Wireless Intelligence). At the end of 2014, Viettel is providing services in 10 countries across Asia, Africa and America with 260 million population and 75 million customers, bringing the total revenue of US$9.8 billion and US$2 billion profit in 2014.  Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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Senate confirms 18 ministerial nominees, Amaechi to wait

 ITRealms:

The Nigeria Senate, Wednesday, confirmed 18 ministerial nominees while the Former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi was asked to wait till tomorrow, ITRealms reports authoritatively.

Confirming the already screened nominees, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read the names of all nominees for confirmation and the House consented to all 18 nominees that were screened. They include Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (Delta state), Abubakar Malami (Kebbi state), Chris Ngige (Anambra state), Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba state), Solomon Dalong (Plateau state), Kemi Adeosun (Ogun state), Hadi Sirika (Katsina state).

Others are: Udoma Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom state), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti state), Audu Ogbeh (Bayelsa state), Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi state), Osagie Ehanire (Edo state), Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano state), Lai Mohammed (Kwara state), Amina J Mohammed (Gombe state), Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa state) and Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa state).

Meanwhile Rotimi Amaechi will wait till Thursday following inability of Senate committee on petition and privileges to submit finding on Amaechi, ITRealms gathered.  

In another development, President Muhammadu Buhari withdrew the name of immediate past Deputy Governor of Niger State, Ahmed Musa Ibeto from the list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate. He was immediately replaced with Abubakar Bawa.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ED,OPs/GEE
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Globacom unveils Free Tomorrow, Glo CAF Award bonanza

ITRealms:

Globacom, the pacesetter mobile telecommunication company has rolled out two strategic subscriber-based bonanza which include Free Tomorrow and Glo CAF Award, ITRealms reports.

Free Tomorrow enables subscribers to get back exactly what they paid for today tomorrow. If you recharge N1000 today, for instance, by midnight tomorrow the same amount  is credited back to you and such bonus must  be exhaust the same day even though your main balance will remain. The Glo CAF Award  bonanza, on the other hand, was designed to enable  Glo subscribers who use up to N10,000 monthly from October 2015 to January 2016 to be given double invitation to go and watch the Glo CAF award coming up on the 7^th of January, 2016. The bonanza will include voice calls and data.

The Regional Chief Marketing Manager of the company, Ashok Israni, made this revelation at a news briefing, Tuesday, at Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, he added that this latest Glo breakthrough will change the way business is done in Nigeria, and all you need to do is dial *300# and you are on Free Tomorrow. He also said that the company has enough infrastructure and investment to withstand the traffic that may result from the latest initiative.

He stated that Globacom has always challenged the status quo. “In 2003 the telecom company rolled out with per second billing at a time other multinational companies said Nigerians should wait for another three years. Globacom in like manner set the pace with 3G and Blackberry in Nigeria and indeed Africa,” adding that the Glo Free Tomorrow is the biggest gift to the subscribers after per second billing.

Devices and Partnership Manager of the company, Odafe Akerejole, said Glo has been given proud support to football not just in Nigeria but in Africa also. He stressed that Nigerians have a way of uniting around football and that passion is what drives Glo support. He said Nigerian League is waxing strong today because of Glo support and that even though the Super Eagles of Nigeria are not wearing the company brand the club and the supporters are enjoying the Glo support. ITRealms also learnt that Glo sponsors the transmission of English Premiership in Nigeria.

On the continental level, ITRealms gathered, the company’s CAF Award sponsorship has made the award the Oscar of football in Africa. He said the CAF award bonanza is a way of saying thank you to the teaming subscribers so that they can attend the event and interact one on one with world stars, and at the same time have a wonderful  experience in an atmosphere of conviviality. He said to be part of the bonanza it is by SMS: CAF to 33002.

“There will be mind blowing performances by glow ambassadors at the event in Abuja”. They include P-Square, Flavour, Korode Bello and comedians will thrill the audience at the event, ITRealms learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ED,OPs

 
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ITU, MEF sign MoU on CE 2.0, LSO

ITRealms:

 

The International Communication Union (ITU) and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), have signed a memorandum of Understanding for mutual standards referencing for CE 2.0 and LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration), ITRealms reports.

The Director of the ITU Standardization Bureau, Chaesub Lee and MEF President, Nan Chen, signed for their different organizations the on the eve of opening of ITU Telecom World 2015 in Budapest.

ITU and MEF, according to the MoU would cooperate on standards that advance on-demand connectivity services and standards to support growth of digital economy in hyper-connected world.

The agreement, ITRealms learnt, would also focus on opportunities for mutual standards referencing for CE 2.0 and LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration), standards compliance/certification and global education as well as alignment in emerging areas, such as trust in the information society, orchestration and virtualization, as well as 5G Cloud Access.

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 member states and a membership of over 700 private sector entities and academic institutions, while Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF),is a service provider consortium devoted to defining interoperability standards for Carrier Ethernet.

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Buhari submits second ministerial list, senate screens 10

ITRealms:

President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted second list of cabinet nominees to the senate for approval even as the senate screened10 today, ITRealms reports.

The president who is constitutionally required to nominate 36 candidates for the cabinet, one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory, ITRealms learnt, had earlier submitted 21 nominees to the senate.

The names of the ministerial nominees include Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe State), Alhaji Adamu Adamu, Dr. Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah (Abia State), Mr. James Ocholi (Kogi State), Professor Isaac Adewole (Osun State), Professor Claudis Omoleye Daramola (Ondo State).

 Other nominees on the list are Professor Anthony Anwuka (Imo State), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa State), Brig.-Gen. Dan Ali (rtd), and Hajia Aisha Abubakar.

ITRealms gathered that names on the previous list include Chris Ngige – Anambra, Kayode Fayemi- Ekiti, Rotimi Amaechi – Rivers,  Babatunde Fashola –Lagos, Abdulrahman Danbazau, Aisha Alhassan – Taraba, Ogbonaya Onu- Abia, Kemi Adeosun –Ogun, Abubakar Malami (SAN) –Kebbi, Sen Hadi Sirika –Katsina, Barr. Adebayo Shittu –Oyo, Suleiman Adamu –Jigawa, Solomon Dalong –Plateau, Ibe Kachikwu-Delta, Osagie Ehanire –Edo, Audu Ogbeh – Benue, Lai Mohammed –Kwara,  Ahmed Isa Ibeto –Niger, Amina Mohammed – Kaduna

Those screened by the senate today include Udo Udoma (Cross River), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Audu Ogbeh (Benue), Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano).

Others, ITRealms reports include Lai Mohammed (Kwara), Amina J Mohammed (Gombe), Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa),  Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa)

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Internet brought positive impact to Nigeria - Folayan

ITRealms:

The President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) Engr. Sunday Folayan, has said that the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought positive impact on the country, reports ITRealms.

Speaking to ITRealms exclusively, Mr. Folayan noted that both IoT and next generation of technologies would continue to make a positive impact on Nigerian businesses and economy in general.

“… Just as the Internet has brought a very positive impact to the nation,” he declared.

He recalled that a Nigerian online store had reportedly last year, made impressive sales on a boxing day alone, which was more than the annual sales of the average store for the entire year. 

This development, he cited, is an example of the positive impact that the Internet has brought to businesses in the country. 

IoT, he pointed out, would allow Nigerian businesses do more, with less human errors and minimum manipulations. 

Folayan predicted that in the future, “our vehicles will report risky driving patterns to the Insurance companies directly, so that good and decent drivers will get better premiums directly, without anyone assessing them.”

For him, the revolution has just started.

+ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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University of Manchester set to delight children, adults

ITRealms:

The University of Manchester is set to delight both the young and old come Saturday, October 31, with its Spectacular Science event offering a dazzling display, ITRealms reports.

At least 25 science buckers will be lining the Oxford Road dishing out dazzling displays of scientific wizardry. It’s all part of the Manchester Science Festival and the Manchester European City of Science celebrations.

In the same vein, ITRealms gathered, The University of Manchester’s Science Spectacular takes place in Whitworth Hall and, with more than 40 interactive stalls, there's something for everyone at this family fun day. Help create a mini-tornado, crack secret DNA and computer codes, and snuggle up to some creepy crawlies. Play the imitation brain game, build a world of fungus, work with mini robots, and much, much more.

This extravaganza of sound and vision will definitely catch attention and generate enthusiasm. Enjoy an introduction to the world of atoms, molecules, solids, liquids and gases, with exciting experiments featuring sudden colour changes, chemical clocks, fizzes, whizzes, fireworks, flashes, welding, melding, crashes and bangs.

University of Manchester Lead, Public Engagement with Research, Sheena Cruickshank, said, “This fantastic event showcases some of the best research at The University of Manchester and enables people to discover more about our science and gets hands on with fun activities.”

Manchester Science Festival is produced by the Museum of Science and Industry and runs from 22 October to 1 November.

Manchester has a proud history of scientific discovery and by coming to the Science Spectacular you’ll be able to make some discoveries of your own!

Cyriacus Nnaji/ED,OPs

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StarHub delivers world's fastest, future-ready 4G network

ITRealms:

 

StarHub, a Singaporean fully-integrated info-communications company, said it has delivered the world's fastest, future-ready 4G network that can address the ever-growing data traffic demands,ITRealms reports.

The Chief Technology Officer, StarHub, Mock Pak Lum, said, "Leveraging the latest technologies to provide our mobile subscribers with the best possible service experience remains our priority. With HetNet and through our close collaboration with Nokia Networks, we are proud to deliver the world's fastest, future-ready 4G network that can address the ever-growing data traffic demands of our customers without compromising on the quality of service, paving the way for Singapore to build the world's first Smart Nation."

While on the other hand, the Head of Singapore, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, Nokia Networks, Ray Owen said, "As StarHub's privileged infrastructure partner, Nokia Networks takes a lot of pride in achieving yet another milestone that clearly differentiates the operator as an innovation leader in Singapore. This achievement builds further on a partnership that has flourished and evolved over time. We will continue to work together on our goal to tap futuristic technologies to deliver an unmatched service experience to subscribers."

HetNet solution comprised Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Stations with TD-LTE and FDD-LTE, and Nokia Flexi Zone small cells Carrier Aggregation software to aggregate different spectrum bands for speedy data transmission. Load balancing capabilities to facilitate optimal utilization of spectrum resources for delivering an unmatched service experience, Project management capabilities provided by global service delivery experts.

The press statement emanating from the partnership stated that in the deployment, Nokia Networks leveraged its solutions and services expertise to integrate TD-LTE, FDD-LTE and small cells into one high-performance network carrying immense amounts of voice and data traffic. As part of the solution, LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation delivered high data rates, while Nokia Flexi Zone small cells were installed at strategic traffic hotspots to handle peak-hour data demand. As a result, subscribers enjoyed an ultra-fast mobile broadband experience with optimum network coverage and capacity.

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