Ict/Telecom
Review Of Nigeria’s Telecoms Sector In 2011
The country’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry witnessed a remarkable growth last year.
Though a bunch of challenges greeted the industry, but experts in the area arrested all situations with a firm promise to keep the ship a float amidst the tempest.
From January till about July 2011, there was normal business growth in the ICT world as it affected Nigeria. When sometime in the year under review, the Federal Government announced the compulsory registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, it threw many into panic due to the fear of what may befall them should they (subscribers) fail to register their SIM cards within the specified time frame (March-September) by the Federal Government.
At this point, the Federal Government had threatened through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to block all those whose SIM cards were not duly registered.
All the registration centres visited then were crowded by enthusiastic subscribers who never wanted their lines blocked. Some heaved a sigh of relief when the Federal Government later announced September 2011 as deadline of the registration and later extended it indefinitely.
Within that time, some dealers had commenced the sales of pre-registered SIM cards to unsuspecting members of the public who did not know its, implication.
In a swiff reaction, the Federal Government, through the NCC again, ordered the arrest and prosecution of any dealer caught selling pre-registered SIM card .
The Federal Government’s threat acted as “healing balm” as fear gripped both suspected dealers/buyers.
The NCC then, had earlier announced that its agents saddled with the exercise were ready to register all the 90 million subscribers in the country without qualms.
All the visit to the NCC’s office in Port Harcourt last year during the exercise indicated that they were not mincing words about the exercise.
Around August, Nigeria launched another satellites (Sat 2 and Satx) to the existing ones. Many attributed it to the erudite leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan. Players in the industry were optimistic that the lunch of Sat 2 and Sat X will go a longway to bridge the gap between Europe and Nigeria, technology-wise. They believed that the country now had an edge over most African countries who are yet to launch their first satellite.
Here in Rivers State, an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Team that paid a courtesy call on the Special Adviser to the Governor on ICT, Engr Goddliffe Nmekini, rated the ICT development in the state high.
According to the team, the ICT development in the state was upto international standard and at the same time, has all its takes to transform the state economically.
They also expressed hope that the ICT provision in the state will enable the younger generation to appreciate ICT earlier even as it will create employment opportunities for graduates in the state.
The month of September, brought a lot of challenges in the ICT/Telecoms industry. Around September 14, 2011, the issue of killer number (09141) ensued.
There was repeated calls warning their loved ones not to call or answer any call from any five digit number.
The atmosphere remained tensed until the Federal Government through the NCC’s spokesman, Ruben Mouka, announced that it was “unimaginable that somebody will die while receiving a call”. Before the announcement, there were rumours that about five persons have died in some parts of the country. In the same month, Senator David Mark, hinted that the Senate has started investigations to help unearth the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the government-owned NITEL/M-Tel telecommunications. Until the end of last year, the Senate Committee on Communications was yet to make open its findings why all the government-owned telecommunications outfits were not functional.
To add to subscribers’ joy in Rivers State, Samsung indicated interest to carry out free repairs of all its products for Rivers State residents. The notice which came through its corporate head, marketing, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Donald Etim when he visited Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, as part of efforts of the company to celebrate its week with its teeming customers.
The Minister of Communication Technology Mrs Omobola Johnson, tasked the Committee on National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the urgent need to harmonise ICT policies. Johnson informed that the call became imperative so as to quicken its records in the market structure.
She also charged investors/stakeholders to increase their commitments by investing more on ICT infrastructure.
In October, the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), commenced full process of number portability in the country. It explained that the process will boost subscribers interest due to its uniqueness.
Some oil companies operating in the state like Chevron and NNPC donated ICT equipment to the state-owned University of Science and Technology in order to boost Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in the area. In a similar development, about 16 students from the state who under- took post-graduate courses in information and communication technology (ICT) at Teeside University, United Kingdom returned to the state. The Tide was told that the students will be part of ICT development in the state as they will be made to man the ICT centre in the state.
In November, the Minister of Communication Technology, Johnson, gave insight to the certification of Galaxy Backbone certification by the British Standard Institute (BSI). Johnson said it will boost public confidence in internet technology organisation. The Galaxy Backbone was one of the smartest ICT/telecoms developments of last year as it was certified by an international organisation. Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) was not left out in the development of ICT last year as it also adjusted to meet the latest ICT training needs. The Tide learnt that NIPOST now operates e-transfer and other packages as one of its efforts to improve on its services in a bid to compete favourably in the ICT/telecoms industry.
In December, NCC said it decided not to sanction the three main telecommunication providers in the country (MTN, Glo andAirtel) when it discovered a considerable service improvement by the service providers. The threat to sanction the big three after poor network was experienced throughout the country in the previous month. The NCC’s Director, Public affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo said the commission would have thrown its weight on the big three if not for the remarkable change they made in the last quarter of the year.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (Nigcomsat), also launched Nigcom Sat-1R into orbit at the Xichang Satelite Launch Centre in South West China. It was a replacement of Nigcom Sat-I which was launched years ago.
The commission (NCC) established Emergency Call Centres (ECCs) in the 36 states including Abuja so as to enhance telecommunication in the country. The ECC, as The Tide learnt, was established to also boost security networking on the parts of government as a means of check-mating insecurity in the country.
At the tail end of the year (December), there was increment in the price of recharge cards in the country. N400 MTN card was sold for N420, while N100 and N200 cards attracted N10 each. Subscribers were left with no choice but to purchase.
Ict/Telecom
Nigeria Set To Host International Conference On Biotechnology
The Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has disclosed that Nigeria will be hosting International Conference on Biotechnology in June.
Mustapha, who made the disclosure recently in an interview with The Tide’s source in Abuja, said the conference would take place in June, adding that the agency was determined to introduce new things for the benefit of Nigerians.
“That is why we are organising this international conference where people across the globe will showcase what they are doing in their various countries in biotechnology. NABDA will also showcase what we are doing and had been doing to engage all our people in the country”, he said.
According to him, the conference would offer a platform where industries, private organisations, universities and others would have the opportunity to showcase their works.
The Director-General said the conference would be tailored around environment, industry, agriculture, genomics and bioinformatics as well as health.
Mustapha disclosed that he had inaugurated a committee toward organising the conference, adding that it had started work.
“The Nigerian policy on biotechnology was prepared in 2000, and I have seen that its about time to effect a change.
“This is imperative because the world is moving fast from what was regarded as the norm to a certain level of precision and accuracy in terms of investigations and deliverables”, he added.
He continued that Nigeria could meet up with advanced countries’ biotechnology as it could boast of scientists and experts.
“Whatever document we are going to produce is going to look at Nigeria and its projects in the next five to 20 years. This policy is what will drive Nigeria’s biotechnology to success”, he said.
Ict/Telecom
Expert Tasks Female Journalists On Content Creation
A digital media expert, Mr. Chimodo Paul, has charged female journalists in Rivers State to generate good contents in order to carve a niche for themselves in journalism.
He gave the charge at a one-day capacity building workshop held last Thursday, at the NUJ Press Center, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The workshop, tagged, “Maximizing New Media Platforms: Upscaling Digital, Entrepreneur Skills of Journalists”, was organised by the Step-up for Women in Journalism Initiative (SWIJ), with support from Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council.
Paul urged the women to upscale their digital skills in order to enable them improve their career prospects and earning potentials.
He expressed dismay that ego had prevented some veteran journalists from upscaling their digital skills, which, he said, had deprived them from reaching their full potentials and becoming visible in the present new media era.
He also urged those stucked in old fashion media to start maximizing the social media tools.
The women was further challenged to invest in themselves by acquiring good digital gadgets, subscribe to online trainings, sponsor their good contents on social media platforms.
“Most journalists do not know how to maximize the new media platforms yet. Ego and pride is not allowing them to learn digital tools. This is the major reason they are where they are and it’s not helping to build and improve professional competence in this new media era”, he said.
He insisted that journalists must identify the social media tools that aligns with their line of job and build presence on it to gain from opportunities that abound from such tools.
“Social media has made it easier for journalists to collaborate on stories with other journalists, photographers, and videographers. Collaborations can help journalists reach a wider audience, tell more complex stories”, he stated.
Ict/Telecom
Expert Wants Telcos To Prioritise Improved QoS
A Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Advisor, Mr. Jide Awe, has urged telecommunication operators to give priority to improving Quality of Services (QoS).
Awe, who is also the Founder of Jidaw.com, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos State, recently.
He said it was necessary to improve the current poor QoS using strategic investment in infrastructure to support current and future needs.
Awe said the future needs included increased number of users and increased traffic volumes of transactions among others.
“Customer journey has evolved significantly over the years, largely influenced by the advancements in telecommunications technology.
“Customers now expect seamless and uninterrupted connectivity across multiple touchpoints, be it through their smartphones, laptops, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices”, he said.
Awe also noted that the telecoms industry was plagued with right-of-way charges, multiple taxation, and insecurity of telecoms infrastructure.
According to him, addressing these challenges is essential for consumer protection to ensure QoS standards are met, and that consumers receive the promised level of service quality.
The policy advisor added that solving the issues would also help in promoting affordable broadband services.
On the role of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) as a regulator, he said the NCC needed to adopt an innovative, supportive, and visionary regulation approach that appreciated the importance of innovation and expansion.
“As new technologies continue to emerge, regulation cannot afford to be static. NCC should inculcate a spirit of innovation and growth in the sector.
“Innovative regulation helps to cultivate an environment that attracts investment to propel sectoral growth. Investor-friendly initiatives, simplification of regulations, strategic and disruptive thinking/approaches are crucial”, he said.
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