TheNewsGuru

Tag: Broadband

  • Broadband penetration: NCC to license more infracos, auction additional spectrums

    In the bid to achieve its broadband penetration target, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it will license more infrastructure companies (Infracos) and also auction additional spectrums very soon.

    Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC stated this recently saying Nigeria is left with just 8 per cent to attain the 30 per cent broadband target set by the Federal Government by the end of this year.

    “At the moment, Nigeria has moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration in the pursuit of the 30 per cent target set for December 2018.

    “Effort is ongoing to deepen the penetration as part of this administration’s eight-point agenda.

    “Plans are also ongoing to license Infrastructure Companies, Infracos, auction some frequency licences, while some are being initiated and some being reframed to achieve the broadband penetration target.

    “In broadband, we have moved from 10 per cent to 22 per cent broadband penetration at the moment. All these are going on simultaneously,” Danbatta said.

    Meanwhile, Edo state government has made drastic moves to take advantage of this development with the view to attracting more telecoms infrastructure to the State in order to provide its citizens with world class telecoms and ICT services.

    In an elaborate meeting between the Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the NCC, led by the Commission’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Mr Sunday Dare, the NCC assured Obaseki of readiness to support the achievement of the ICT aspirations of the State through the deployment of fiber infrastructure under the Commission’s InfraCo project and interventions by the Universal Service Provision Fund.

    Dare, at the meeting, assured the Governor that NCC is keen to partner Edo State to achieve win-win solutions in the overall interests of the good people of Edo State.

    In his remarks, the Governor noted that the Edo State Government is focused on exploring non-oil resources and has therefore articulated developmental priorities focusing on creating a sense of order (participative, accountable and open governance); and a sense of security, safety and stability necessary to attract requisite investments to develop the State.

    Since its developmental goals relies on the seamless availability of telecoms/ICT infrastructure, Edo State is passionate about the need to attract robust telecoms infrastructure to drive manufacturing, education and other socio-economic activities.

    As an example of the State’s forward-looking approach, the Governor noted that Edo State has always made provision for shared fiber ducts in its road projects and looks forward to engaging with NCC and operators to agree on fiber deployment projects and routes as necessary.

     

  • IT company launches free broadband, targets 10,000 hotspots in Lagos

    Swift Network, a telecommunications company, on Monday introduced a free broadband Wi-Fi service to Lagos residents, targeting 1,000 hotspots within the next six months.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Swift Network, Mr Charles Anudu, during the unveiling of the service said the service would be pushed out through a new brand under the stable of Swift Network called ”Red Cheetah”.

    “The Red Cheetah is expected to help deepen Nigeria’s broadband penetration and aspiration for universal access to greater social equity and inclusion.

    “The service follows the Swift tradition of demystifying and making technology to work for Nigerians so that they can hook up to the digital world to explore, work and entertain more effectively.

    “This cutting edge service model will rapidly be extended to more cities in Nigeria and the continent,” he said.

    Anudu said as regards the security of the service, users access would be enhanced by Red Cheetah app, which would establish a distinct and secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to the internet for each device on the platform.

    “We are happy that everything about Red Cheetah is Nigerian and this shows that we can achieve when we commit to solving the problems of our society, taking our context into consideration.

    “Our plan is to roll out Red Cheetah hotspots in Lagos which will be the largest Wi-Fi footprint anywhere in Africa and will cover many verticals including schools, airports, buses, taxis, shopping malls, anywhere Nigerians need research, catch up on work.

    “This revolutionary service powered by Swift is fast, secure, reliable and supported by legendary sponsor brands with strong commitment to corporate social responsibility to Nigerian,” he said.

    Anudu said that Red Cheetah hotspots went live in Lagos earlier this month at certain locations like in over 200-BRT buses, some Taster Fried Chicken, Eko Hospital and is still ongoing to meet the 1000 target in Lagos.

    He said that for an outlet to have the service, it had to attract 20 people with smart device on a daily basis.

    He urged users not to decline on the adverts that take place in the service, so as not to be cut off.

    The Swift Network CEO said the advertisers pay for such free service, adding that with time and feedback from users, changes would be made as regards the adverts.

    He urged prospective Red Cheetah users to first download the app free on Android from Google Play Store and complete a mandatory one-time online registration process.

    He said that users were allowed to register multiple Android service as every device must be independently registered to access the internet via Red Cheetah.

     

  • Broadband operator to roll out national roaming service

    Nigeria’s foremost 4G/LTE broadband operator, ntel, in an effort to boost its operations in the country, is planning to collaborate with 9mobile Nigeria and MTN Nigeria to roll out national roaming service in April.

    The Chief Executive Officer of ntel, Ernest Akinsola, made the disclosure in Lagos at a meeting with Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association.

    “In repositioning ntel for growth, there is need to have a national roaming service that will push the network forward.

    “This roll-out will be in collaboration with two foremost operators, 9mobile Nigeria and MTN Nigeria; the service is expected to roll out in quarter two, April to be specific.”

    Akinlola said that the collaboration would ensure complementary skills and robust customer service for all the parties.

    He said: “National roaming will help us to accelerate custom acquisition.

    “Partnership with 9mobile which has 2G/3G will help customers to enjoy the best data with good speed.

    “It will help the network operators to become efficient and have less cost with the roll-out in 4G.

    “The planned roll-out with 9mobile is on commercial decision stage; MTN has agreed with the collaboration, and will be going for a trial period with ntel.”

    He listed some of the benefits of rolling out a national roaming service as immediate coverage parity, service backward compatibility of 4G to 3G and 2G, handset compatibility and speed to scale.

    Akinsola said that ntel partnered with companies such as Nokia, Samsung and Motorola for good 5G LTE devices that would push connectivity.

    He listed some key drivers of ntel’s growth as customer value management, increased smartphone support, rapid channel expansion drive and robust marketing.

    He said that ntel would expand its national coverage and ensure network resilience and commercial expansion.

    Akinsola said: “ntel coverage is 72 per cent in Lagos, 92 per cent in Abuja and 60 per cent in Port Harcourt; in 18 to 24 months, coverage will be in 20 states.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that ntel made its first on-net test data call in Lagos on January 18, 2016, and followed this up with the first on-net voice-over-LTE call in Lagos on February 25, 2016, while it started full commercial operations on April 8, 2016.

    ntel’s range of services include national bandwidth; international voice termination, international bandwidth, mobile and fixed communications.

     

  • Nigeria needs over 120,000km of fiber network to boost broadband —NCC

    Nigeria needs over 120,000km of fiber network to boost broadband —NCC

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the country needs more than 120,000 kilometers of metropolitan fiber network interconnected across the country to achieve its goal pervasive broadband penetration.

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    Danbatta said this when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council led by Ms Edirin Akemu.

    According to him, only 38,000 kilometers have been covered so far.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to ensure that all the 36 states governments of the federation adhere to the resolution of National Economic Council on the Right of Way charges.

    The charges according to him stipulates N145 per meter for laying fiber network in every part of the country.

    “The Right of Way issue is something that refuses to go away despite the existence of a document guiding what should be charged. Presently, nobody is complying with the provision of that document.

    “We cannot compel the state governments to charge N145 per meter for fiber.

    “The Federal Government can, however, meet with the governors and extract a commitment from them to ensure that NEC’s provision is strictly adhered to,” he said.

    The NCC boss also called for more Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capacity building in the country in order to fully take advantage of the digital transformation that taking place globally.

    He said that while Nigeria strives to build the needed ICT infrastructure, the efforts would be in vain “if there is no critical mass of ICT adoption and use to drive the digital revolution”.

     

  • NCC hosts forum on cost based pricing for retail broadband, data services

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set host stakeholders in the telecommunications industry and the general public to a consultative forum on determination of cost based pricing for Retail Broadband and Data Services in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru reports this is consistent with the telecoms regulatory body consultative approach and stakeholders’ engagement for effective regulatory oversight of the telecommunications sector.

    The event which is slated for Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Cappa, Oshodi, Lagos is part of the Commission’s engagement with industry players and stakeholders with a view to getting their inputs before arriving at any major regulation and guidelines for the sector.

    “The Commission has already appointed a consultant to carry out a study on cost based pricing and will unveil its preliminary findings to stakeholders at the forum.

    “Besides the consultant, there will be a keynote address after which the event becomes interactive, whereby stakeholders, industry players are expected to strategise with officials of the Commission on the best approach to cost based study to determine pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria,” NCC said in a statement.

    The forum is in line with the Commission’s 8-point agenda to promote Accessibility, Availability and Affordability for pervasive broadband penetration.

    It will hold on Tuesday, January 16, 2018.

     

  • Subscribers lament as accessories unavailability deface Ntel broadband services

    Accessories unavailability has defaced the services of Ntel in Nigeria as customers of the telecommunication services providing firm cannot get access to accessories as small as power packs and batteries.

    Some Ntel customers have over the past three months lamented unavailability of replacement batteries for Ntel MiFi devices and replacement batteries and power packs for Ntel Router.

    When contacted, a representative of Ntel said, “We are aware of the challenge and it will be resolved very soon”.

    The company had earlier in the year complained infrastructure has been a major challenge for the firm, saying in a statement “we do not have the required number of base stations that will give full telecoms coverage across the country”.

    But, as it stands the challenge for the firm is above and beyond base stations as there are indications that the firm is lacking funds to do business in the country.

    Three months after TheNewsGuru first contacted Ntel, another representative of the firm said, “Please note that your earlier inquiry about the availability of the ZTE Router is well noted and further update will be relayed very soon”.

    “You will be required to visit any retail store to purchase the accessories of the device. The accessories are unavailable at our outlets,” the representative later told TheNewsGuru.

    A visit to Ntel outlets at Marina, Falomo and Egbeda, and to Ntel super agent stores confirmed the accessories are actually unavailable. More also, we could not find any of the accessories at several retail stores we visited in Lagos.

    This means Ntel customers would have to dump the network and switch to other networks with better quality of service and with readily available accessories.

     

  • NCC assures of data availability, advances talks on licensing more Infracos

    Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said the significance of data availability through robust broadband is a key resource to the building of a digital economy.

    Ojobo declared in a keynote address he delivered extemporaneously at a critical segment of the just concluded Digital PayExpo in Lagos tagged Data Fiesta.

    Data Fiesta, came up for the first time at the 17-year old event to demonstrate the importance of data and broadband infrastructure in the implementation of an impeccable payment systems in the country.

    Accordingly, Ojobo took the stage to engage the audience, giving anecdotal evidence of the value of data so notable in massive sales by Nigerian-based online malls such as Yudala, Jumia, Konga and among others.

    He noted that the huge online banking transactions that have reduced physical traffic to the banking halls, and the amazing innovations and creativity bolstered by access to data and the Internet are proofs of what is possible with good broadband and also speaks to greater opportunities in the future which are already seen in many start-ups businesses.

    “This explains why NCC is opening up new and additional spectrum bands as data needs are growing in order to increase availability of data,” Ojobo told the audience.

    He recalled the auction of frequencies in the 2.3GHz, 2.6GHz, the re-planning of the 800MHz for LTE services, the re-farming of older frequencies held by operators in the sector – all of which are earmarked for data – as concrete steps taken by the NCC to ensure availability of data.

    He added that there are also measurable derivable benefits for the data segment in the NCC’s technology neutrality stance.

    Ojobo said all these are proofs of NCC’s mindfulness of the centrality of data for economic growth and development.

    The NCC Director of Public Affairs also reminded the audience of the licensing of two infrastructure companies (Infracos) two years ago and stated that the action was designed to push the deployment of backbone fibre across the country, and informed the audience that NCC has instituted processes for the licensing of additional five Infracos for the same purpose and to strengthen the wireless technology resources available in the telecom sector.

    Ojobo told the audience that the Commission is also engaging every stakeholder to secure required collaboration in all its activities.

    He recalled the visits of Management of the Commission to some State Governors to ensure that operators are given necessary permits to deploy infrastructure in the States, and he said these efforts have yielded good results most recently in Ogun and Kano States.

    Ojobo also told the audience that NCC will continue to liaise with the National Assembly and other relevant institutions of government to ensure that the Bill on the Protection of Critical National Infrastructure is passed speedily to check the recurring vandalism and theft of telecom infrastructure and equipment because of the attendant disruptions the damage and theft of equipment impose on the quality of service.

     

  • How technology is transforming daily living 20 years down the line – a personal experience

    How technology is transforming daily living 20 years down the line – a personal experience

    In 1996, I was in primary two; fast forward 6 years, in 2001, I came in contact with computers and its attendant technology, where else than in Lagos of Nigeria. This marks a tech revolution in my world. Since then I have never been the same; I practically became a gadget freak.

    Between 2001 and 2016, bearing in mind that tech revolution began to take its toll in the year 2000 in Nigeria, technology has changed the world in diverse ways. Looking back into time is a stark reminder of just how much the awareness of technology has advanced barely two decades in our clime, occasioned by accelerations in the telecoms sector.

    ImageFile: Oyibo Ediri at Odunayo Cyber Hub in 2002
    Author as a Computer Desktop Publisher at the Odunayo CyberHub in 2002

    It is easy to forget that this was a time before many people had even a dial-up modem to access the World Wide Web and send Electronic mail, let alone a dedicated broadband connection that did not prevent anyone else in the house using the phone for actual calls.

    When I was entering primary school, Windows 95 was about to launch. Windows 95 certainly did make PCs more popular, and was followed by the massive success of Windows XP, which, despite being unsupported by its maker, is still being used by millions around the globe.

    Counting Windows 10, there have been eight versions of Microsoft’s ubiquitous operating system in the last two decades: 98, Me, Vista, 2000, XP, 7, 8, and now 10. Make that seven if you do not count Windows 2000 as a consumer OS.

    Wait a minute; if you played Dangerous Dave, Shadow Knight and Prince of Persia or even the DOS version of Mortal Combat, then you are on the other side.

    The import of the Internet and its attendant impact cannot be exhaustively discussed. It speaks volume more than 20 editions of encyclopaedia can hold. These days there is not much you can do with a Smartphone in Flight mode. Virtually every app relies on its connection to the ‘information superhighway’, the Internet. And, what is the use of an offline PC?

    How technology has changed the world in 20 years!

    The recommendation back then in 2002 was to buy a machine with a 200MB hard drive, 8MB of RAM and a 75MHz or 100MHz processor. Getting online was an expensive business. Your bargain basement PC cost a fortune, and that didn’t even include a modem, CD-ROM drive or sound card. If you had those you had a “multimedia” PC, and it means you are top notch.

    Today, even basic Smartphones have a CPU that is at least 10x more powerful than a 2002 PC and costs roughly one-tenth as much. In the budget laptops group, today, you will find models with 8GB of RAM, 1TB hard drives and processors that run at over 3GHz, and you can have all that after a little hustle.

    We look back 20 years and smile at the paltry figures, no doubt, but right now these machines are veritable bargains. Of course, we now know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

    In fact, the Internet has changed more than just technology: it has changed the way we communicate, the way we work, do our homework, listen to music… in short; it has changed the way we live.

    The future of computing, and that of technology, is even brighter. 3D printing technology is with us already; the Internet of things is here with us, and I am expecting when I will start downloading houses, cars and what have you in the actual sense of it.

    Smarthomes — where you can dial your kitchen from the office and you get your dinner made before you are home, where you can have a robot doing house chores and drones running errands for you — are here with us. Self-driving and smokeless cars are here with us.

    Air-conditioned clothing, gadgets that measure the performance of athletes, and the ones you are counting up in your mind now, are all here with us – all thanks to the advancement of technology, and as LG puts it, life’s good!

    Who wouldn’t want to pimp their existence!? Who wouldn’t want to be sophisticated in this era!?

    With the current drive for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), the future of the world with technology will be like some sci-fi movies.

    But, are you prepared for this future!?

     

  • Broadband: ICT stakeholders call for National Fibre provider

    Broadband: ICT stakeholders call for National Fibre provider

    Stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have called for a National Broadband Fibre provider to further deepen broadband penetration in the country.

    The stakeholders made the call at the Broadband Summit 2017 organized by BusinessDay Media Ltd in Lagos on Friday.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Spectranet, Mr David Venn said that there was the need for the National Broadband Fibre provider so that Nigerians would benefit from the broadband revolution.

    Venn said that voice calls through mobile phone had changed everything but the next phase was broadband.

    He said that broadband would have greater impact on the lives of Nigerians, hence the need to ensure it got to every part of the country.

    According to him, the challenges hindering broadband penetration should be addressed.

    “Nigeria needs a National Broadband Fibre provider. There is need for carriers to be able to get broadband to the hinterlands.

    “The cost of international bandwidth has changed demand for broadband in the last two years.

    “The Nigerian Communications Commission must sanitise the sector of anti-competitive issues,” he said.

    The Managing Director of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr Lanre Kolade said that the economy was biting hard on all the operators.

    Kolade said that the Tier II Telecommunications operators were struggling to survive.

    He said that there was need for a level playing field as such would stop anti-competition in the sector.

    According to him, the Tier I operators cannot be everywhere hence, the need for the smaller operators to go to the smaller areas and deploy business strategies that will work.

    “For this to happen, anti-competition should be addressed.

    “To deepen broadband penetration, there should be data centres across the country so that the rate at which our traffic goes outside Nigeria will reduce,” he said.

    The Chief Transformation Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Bayo Adekanmbi, said that there was high demand of broadband by Nigerians; but no adequate infrastructure to deliver high speed internet to them.

    Adekanmbi said that the nature of broadband was holistically different as it was more of a long term project as the issue of cost was critical.

    He said that infrastructure to deliver broadband should not be taxed; to ensure delivery to last mile at an affordable cost.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Ntel, Mr Kamar Abass said that to deepen broadband penetration, the industry should consider infrastructure sharing as active engagement on it was still lacking.

    Abass said that there was the need for more spectrums to deliver broadband to Nigeria.

    The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke said that broadband was an enabler of economic growth.

    Opeke however said that recession had changed the dynamics of the broadband industry.

    She said that the industry depended on importation of its infrastructure and there had been the challenge of foreign exchange.

    According to her, the country must pull itself out of oil dependency and broadband is the step toward economy recovery.

    “There is need to know we can create more power houses like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Alibaba, among other to develop the economy,” she said.

     

  • Telecoms industry lost 21 operators in 10 years – ALTON

    Telecoms industry lost 21 operators in 10 years – ALTON

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) says 21 telecommunications operators have gone into extinction in the country in the last 10 years.

    ALTON Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo made this known during the ”Broadband Summit 2017”, organized by BusinessDay Media Ltd., on Friday in Lagos.

    Adebayo said that the operators businesses went under due to the economic and operational challenges inherent in the industry.

    He said that as at 2006, ALTON had 35 members, but between 2007 to date, its members had reduced to 14.

    According to him, if care is not taken, more service providers might still close shop before the end of year.

    The ALTON Chairman said that the operators which had exited the Nigerian telecommunications space include Multilinks, Starcomms and O’Net.

    “The economic challenges include poor power generation, multiple taxation, exorbitant Right of Way levies, insecurity and over-regulation among others.

    “The operational issues are anti-competition and lack of fund to roll out,” he said.

    Adebayo said that the cost of getting the Right of Way was over 60 per cent of the total amount to putting up the infrastructure.

    He said that within the last five months, the surviving operators lost over 20,000 batteries to theft and vandals at their base stations.

    The ALTON Chairman said that some of the batteries, according to investigations carried out, were sold to some inverter operators in the country.

    Adebayo called on government at all levels to protect the sector because of its immense contribution to the growth of the economy.

    “Until we are able to classify the telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, the problems will persist.

    “There should be sanction of long term prison service for vandals of telecommunications infrastructure. If there is severe sanction, it will serve as deterrent,” he said.