Wi-fi Will Address Nigeria’s Security Issue – ICT Expert

To contain the increasing security challenges in Nigeria, the use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-fi) in the dissemination of information, especially among security operatives, has been advocated.

The managing director Brain Box Matrix Services Limited, Engr. Samuel Kwelle who spoke with The Tide in Port Harcourt, Wednesday said Wi-fi which enables wireless access to deliver voice, data and video streams with no cables attached devices said the device not only keeps disseminated information safe but also facilitates the spread of video, evidences of events, thus making crime investigation easier.

Kwelle said it was also beneficial to the nation’s education as study materials could be shared between teachers/lecturers and students via Wi-fi enable smartphones.

According to him, the strain on our already burdened healthcare system would be reduced as health information that would keep our generation healthy and more productive are publicised through the Wi-fi device.

He however said that Wi-fi has its challenges which include security, range, reliability and even speed but was quick to add that “they are increasingly being overcome by improving technology”.

He therefore urged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to live up to its responsibility by ensuring that the quality of relevant imported Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and electronic gadgets meet the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

This, he said, would ensure quality service and control associated health hazards given the fact that wireless technology was driven by electromagnetic radiation of radio waves.

“Also users need continuous enlightenment on how to apply available encryption technologies to their wireless network in order to prevent hacking. Nigeria needs the best of technology in this information age, and our telecoms industry will grow if the operators are committed to abiding by internationally accepted codes and using only certified equipment” the ICT expert advised.

Wi-fi is a brand identity chosen by industry leaders in 1999 from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) based on IEEE 802.11 code, with the goal of adopting a single World-wide acceptable standard for high speed wireless networking, transfer and sharing of data and other internet resources.

Wi-fi was chosen because it was a more memorable and user- friendly name for the wireless standard compared with several options such as Dragon Fly, Hornet, Skybridge, Torch light among others.

According to January 2013 report by the Analyses Mason on Wi-fi Adoption in Mobile Network an estimated 75 per cent of US and selected European Countries US Wi-fi

On the whole, the percentage of smartphone data carried via Wi-fi is over 50 per cent already in Europe and the US with Ericsson predicting 65 percent of laptops using Wi-fi as preferred connectivity.

Most operators are responding to users’ data consumption needs by deploying Wi-fi. Seventy percent of the operators already have a Wi-fi proposition in place and those that have not yet deployed Wi-fi plan to do so in the near future, the report said.