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Tag: Umar Danbatta

  • NCC boss, Obaseki, Ganduje, others honoured at Independent Awards

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Saturday in Lagos received an Outstanding Regulator of the Year Award for setting performance standard in the country’s telecommunication industry.

    Danbatta was honoured at the Pacesetters Independent Newspaper Awards 2020 which celebrated excellence in various fields in the country.

    Zenith Bank won the Bank of the Year, while Airtel received Telecommunications Company of the Year in the 27 categories awards held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Among other award recipients were Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, who received Governor of the Year in Economic and Youth Empowerment; Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje – Man of the Year and Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who bagged State Legislator of the Year award.

    Others included Deputy Gov. of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro – Peace Ambassador of the Niger Delta, Central Bank of Nigeria – Federal Institution of the Year, while Mercy Johnson-Okojie was Actor of the Year.

    The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Mr Steve Omanufeme, said the event was to recognise and honour eminent Nigerians who had contributed to the development of the country.

    “Today is the day we recognise and honour eminent Nigerians who have done well in their respectful fields.

    “We are pleased to celebrate and honour you for your contributions,” Omanufeme said.

    Speaking on behalf of the awardees, NCC Spokesman, Dr Henry Nkemadu, who represented Danbatta, said the Commission would continue to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product of the country and sustain excellence in all areas of service.

    “We are grateful for the award and recognition as the Outstanding Regulator of the Year.

    “Our work touches the lives of every Nigerian and we will continue to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

    “We dedicate the award to the consumers and other ICT teams,” he said.

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, was the Royal Father of the Day at the awards which featured cultural displays by various dance troupes.

  • NCC advocates public-private partnership to protect communication infrastructure

    NCC advocates public-private partnership to protect communication infrastructure

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says there is need for public-private partnership to protect communication infrastructure in the country.
    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta stated this in Lagos on Tuesday during the 20l9 Cisco African Academy Cyber Security Conference for English West and Central Africa.
    Represented by Aminu Abdullahi, the Principal Manager, New Media and Security Services, NCC, Danbatta said that in Nigeria, majority of the communication infrastructure resided in private hands.
    He said the risks to national and economic security associated with the compromise or failure of these assets meant that their protection required concerted public-private partnership efforts.
    According to him, NCC and key industry stakeholders have been working to foster and implement a robust cybersecurity environment for effective lnformation and Communications Technology infrastructure security management, as well as data protection and privacy.
    “The internet has become an essential part of our daily activities. Statistical indicators show that more than half of the world’s population uses the internet, thereby generating about 2.5 quintillion bytes of data on daily basis.
    “The NCC’s industry statistics show that the number of internet users is about 119.5 million subscribers as at April, 2019.
    “Despite the slow start, internet use is growing exponentially in Nigeria.
    “While a huge amount of data is useful in a number of fields such as banking. medicine, communications, government, education, among others, it also poses unprecedented threats for users’ security and privacy,’’ Danbatta said.
    He said that though NCC was not a security agency, it ensured its support for the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in investigating telecommunications -related security incidents, as required by law.
    He said that the Commission was actively involved in all the collaborative processes that culminated in adapting the ‘National Cyber Security Policy’ by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
    Danbatta said that the regulatory body was involved in processes and adaptation of the National Cyber Security Strategy and the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.
    He said that the Commission also played a key role in its collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) toward the establishment of the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) Coordination Centre.
    According to him, the centre provides support to the coordination of cybersecurity incidents in Nigeria.
    “The Commission also supports initiative of all sectorial Computer Security Incidence Response Teams (CSlRTs), which will collaborate and work with the ngCERT in tackling cyber threats and vulnerabilities; thereby forming an effective and well-coordinated national CERT ecosystem.
    “Hence, in conformance with the National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS), the Commission has commenced the process of establishing a Cyber Security Incidence Response Team (CSlRT) exclusively for the telecommunications sector.
    “The sectorial CSIRT will complement the ngCERT by handling and containing Cybersecurity incidents in the telecommunications sector.
    “The NCC-CSIRT, when established, will facilitate intervention, swift identification of threats/vulnerabilities and sharing of valuable information and resources to assist in fortifying the resilience of the national lCT infrastructure,’’ Danbatta said.

  • We must checkmate cybercrime, says Danbatta

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta has said the Commission in line with its mandate will continue to collaborate with the industry’s stakeholders especially on the issue of cybercrime.

    Danbatta reiterated this at the 88th Edition of Telecom Consumer Parliament with the theme ‘’Challenges of Cybercrime: The Role of the Telecoms Service Providers’’ which held on Thursday in Abuja.

    With respect to cyber security, the EVC said the Commission would continue to ensure dialogue and active participation where we can harness additional ideas and implementation in order to protect ourselves.

    Reflecting on e-services, Danbatta affirmed that all telecom stakeholders need to go back to the drawing board in order to inspire confidence in consumers to patronize the communications services because if Nigerians do not subscribe to telecommunications services, the services will die and millions of Nigerians will lose their jobs, the revenue the telecom Industry generates to GDP will not be there and that is a recipe for disaster.

    The TCP resolved that service providers should have a unified database for Sim cards in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to reduce the number of Sim card fraudsters.

    It was also agreed that cyber crime offenders instead of just being jailed, should be put in facilities where their skills can be deployed for development of Technology as opposed to just being incarcerated.

  • NCC addresses disclosure of subscribers’ identity by telecom operators

    The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, says it is an offence for any telecommunication operator to disclose data of subscribers on their network.

    Danbatta said this at the 88th Edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) with the theme: “Challenges to Cybercrime: The Role of Telecom Service Providers ” on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said cybercrime had become pervasive in the country, adding that every consumer should be protected, except in exceptional cases with permission of the security authorities.

    The vice chairman said the commission came up with such annual events so as to sensitise Nigerians, to ensure adequate protection of networks thereby taking measures to protect access to privacy.

    “It is wrong for telecommunications operators to disclose any data identity of subscribers on their network without permission. It is unlawful.

    “If such instances take place, then the subscriber in question can escalate this matter to the NCC and we will investigate and establish whether that is the case and take necessary regulatory measures.

    “The database of subscribers with network operators is not supposed to be disclosed to anyone.

    “It can be done lawfully with interception project in place where such data can be acquired in the interest of security of the nation.

    “We must try to ensure the security and privacy of all subscribers on the telecommunication networks, that is the only way we can instil confidence in subscribers and other Nigerians to patronise telecommunications service,” he said.

    He, however, said operators had been encouraged to embark on the know your customer programme as it was very important for customers to be enlightened on what to do when challenges surfaced.

    According to Danbatta, at the national level, we have the Nigerian Computer Response Team that domiciles in the office of the national security adviser and put in place in order to secure the Nigerian cyberspace by keeping cyber attacks at bay.

    “By preventing them from getting into the national networks, whether telecommunications, broadcast and other networks deliberately put in place in order to ensure the wellbeing of things of this country.

    “The strategies that we are recommending are strategies that are easily implantable; they are strategies that will assist citizens on what to do to protect themselves from cyber attacks.

    “People, who commit these kind of crimes take their identities. There is the need to continue to change usernames as well as some authentication that will ensure security of data,” he said.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, Head Information and Reference Unit, NCC, said they had gone round the country on a sensitisation programme so that everybody would know about the telecom industry.

    Adedigba explained that the commission gave licence to telecom operators to deploy services everywhere in the country.

    He also said the universal service provision fund helped in subsidising to make sure that everyone was included in the digital revolution to enjoy availability, affordability and accessibility.

  • NCC’s priority is to ensure consumer protection, satisfaction — Danbatta

    NCC’s priority is to ensure consumer protection, satisfaction — Danbatta

    Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says consumer protection
    and satisfaction are its major priorities.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said this when the President of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce,
    Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) led other officials of the chamber on a visit to the commission in Abuja on Monday.

    Represented by Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, the NCC Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs, Danbatta said “the
    commission places emphasis on consumer rights.

    “NCC places more emphasis on issues of consumers as a section of the telecom act 2000 is dedicated to consumer protection.

    “Because of that, we have series of programmes by which we make sure that consumers are protected.

    “NCC’s priority is to ensure that consumers get value for their money and feel satisfied with services rendered to them.”

    The NCC boss said that the organisation disseminate information to educate customers so as to protect them
    from being cheated by service providers.

    According to him, trade fair is one of the avenues through which NCC educates consumers.

    He added that “this year is not going to be an exception because we have KADCCIMA’s invitation to participate in this year’s trade fair in Kaduna.

    “We have actually processed the required fees that will enable us to participate at the fair and we plan to go the extra mile to make sure
    that we organise NCC Special Day and the whole essence of that is to express our support for the activities of the chambers.”

    Danbatta said that with respect to the request by the chamber on sponsorship of quiz competitions for secondary schools, there was
    a circular which prohibit the commission from sponsoring such events “but by way of collaboration, we will see how we can help.”

    Earlier, the President of KADCCIMA, Dr Muheeba Dankaka, said that the group was in NCC to seek partnership over
    the forthcoming Kaduna International Trade Fair.

    Dankaka said that the fair, with the theme “Consolidating Interface Between Industry and Agriculture for Nigeria’s Sustainable
    Development”, is scheduled for March 29-April 7, 2019.

    She said that the theme was chosen complement government efforts toward revamping the country’s economy and to
    drive investment in agriculture and manufacturing.

    She added that during the 10-day fair, there would be some flagship events and appealed to
    NCC to sponsor quiz competitions for senior secondary students in the 19 Northern States.

    Dankaka congratulated the NCC boss and the management for “effectively steering the affairs of the commission.”

    Mr Ishaya Idi, a Council Member of KADCCIMA, said that the 2019 trade fair was special because it was the 40th anniversary.

    Idi explained that KADCCIMA was the first chamber of commerce to stage an international trade fair in Nigeria.

    He added that “we are happy that we have attained 40 years, so we will celebrate it in a big way with more exhibitors participating.

    “The chamber will use the opportunity of the fair to honour its founding members and beneficiaries.”

  • Samsung 5G phone: A long way to go in Nigeria

    Samsung on Wednesday launched its first ever 5G phone, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, but the phone has a long way to go in Nigeria as 5G network is not available as of yet.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Samsung announced rollout of Galaxy S10 5G particularly for markets where 5G is being rolled out.

    With Galaxy S10 5G, consumers on a 5G network can download a full season of a TV show in minutes, play graphics-rich cloud games with virtually no lag, enjoy enhanced VR and AR experiences and stay in touch with friends and family via real-time 4K video calls.

    To take full advantage of 5G connectivity, Galaxy S10 5G features the largest-ever Galaxy S series display, the 6.7-inch Infinity-O Display; Samsung’s 3D Depth Camera for 3D-image capturing to power Video Live focus and Quick Measure; powered by 4,500mAh with Super Fast Charging at 25W.

    Galaxy S10 5G users will be able to experience the full power of true 5G connectivity, but the network is not available in the country yet.

    Except Nigerians want to buy the 5G phone for other purposes when it is finally available, the Galaxy S10 5G is certainly not for Nigeria yet.

    Nigeria would be ready to roll out 5G networks with the 26GHz, 38GHz and 42GHz spectrum bands by 2020, according to Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    NCC is hoping to spread the network to at least 5% of the population upon deployment in the country.

    According to the NCC boss, trial testing of the rollout plan had commenced in the country beginning with the Eko Atlantic Project, where broadband data will drive connectivity and allow humans to interact with connected devices to check their health status and remotely control home appliances without physical contact.

    “NCC is already working on the three key factors that will drive 5G deployments, which include infrastructure, spectrum and regulation ahead of the 2020 rollout date.

    “We will rely on existing policies and regulation and still come up with additional policies and regulation that will address any hiccups,” Danbatta said at a collaborative meeting with GSMA for 5G rollout in Nigeria.

    Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be available in 2019’s second quarter for markets where 5G is being rolled out, beating Apple, which is not expected to have a 5G iPhone until the final quarter of 2020.

    However, Samsung did announced other devices along the Galaxy S10 line that will take the Nigerian smartphone market by storm soon.

    Samsung Electronics West Africa says it is leveraging a decade of industry leadership to usher in a new era of smartphone technology with the launch of the Galaxy S10 line.

    Mr David Suh, the company Managing Director, on Thursday night in Lagos, during launch of the new products, said the Galaxy S10 line, with three unique devices, was engineered to meet the distinct needs of today’s smartphone market.

    He said that the Galaxy S10 line was engineered to meet the distinct needs of today’s smartphone market, to enable consumers to do more of what they love.

    Suh said that each device delivers a next-generation experience in the categories which consumers care about most, that is, ground-breaking innovations in display, camera and performance.

    “As testament to a decade of innovations, Galaxy S10 is designed for those who want a premium smartphone with powerful performance and sets the stage for the next generation of mobile experiences.

    “For consumers looking for a supercharged device, Galaxy S10+ takes every spec – from display, to camera, to performance – to the next level.

    “Galaxy S10e is built for those who want all the premium essentials in a compact package on a flat screen.

    “Since its launch 10 years ago, the Galaxy S series has stood for premium innovation, offering consumers an incredible experience, and the ability to find the device that’s right for them.

    “Galaxy S10 builds on that incredible legacy, and delivers breakthrough display, camera, and performance innovations.

    “With three premium devices, each built for a unique consumer in mind,” Suh said.

    He said that Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10e would be available in Prism White, Prism Black and Prism Green.

     

  • NCC plans to deploy broadband infrastructure to rural areas – Danbatta

    NCC plans to deploy broadband infrastructure to rural areas – Danbatta

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the commission will deploy massive broadband infrastructure to rural areas to boost internet access.

    Danbatta disclosed this at the Post-Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2013-2018 on Thursday in Abuja organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

    “What we envisage to happen next is that there will be massive deployment of broadband infrastructure in rural areas that are unserved and underserved.

    “The whole idea is that we are going to have a fiber access point in virtually all the 774 local government areas in the country.

    “By the time this massive deployment of infrastructure takes place and is concluded we hope to see the penetration hit the 70 per cent that we are talking about here.

    “Even though this has not been conclusively agreed upon, I will like to assure Nigerians of our readiness to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural areas.”

    Danbatta said that there were close to 200 access gaps mostly in the rural areas of the country.

    He said that NCC knows where the access gaps are, adding that the Universal Service Provision Funds (USPF) was targeted to close the access gaps.

    “We intend to do that by deploying more base transmitters’ stations in these areas and recently we have experimented and did a pilot on how we can deploy a rural technology broadband solution in order to bridge the gap faster.

    “So there is a provision in the 2018 budget as well as 2019 budget for deployment of this rural technology solution to bridge the gap faster.

    “And we have succeeded in bringing down the number of the access gaps from over 200 to about 190.

    “We have cut down on the number of Nigerians that will not access especially internet services from close to 40 million to around 32 million.”

    The NCC boss said that the commission was working with the National Broadcasting Commission to develop guidelines for the introduction of TV White space deployment.

    He said that the deployment of the TV White Space would deepen broadband penetration.

    Mr Olusola Teniola, President of ATCON said that the meeting was principally to see how the industry can work towards achieving a greater broadband penetration.

    He said that the industry suggested 70 per cent broadband penetration as being realistic in the next five years through the removal of obstacles that worked against the initial plan.

     

  • NCC, stakeholders to collaborate to boost local content in ICT

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says collaboration is essential to boost local content in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

    The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made this known during the ICT Community Roundtable, organised by the Association of Information Communication Technology Local Content (ICTLOCA) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The theme of the roundtable is: “ICT Local Content: Dissecting Challenges and Proffering Solutions’’.

    Represented by the Lagos Zonal Controller of NCC, Henry Ojiokpota, Danbatta said that there was the need for stakeholders to work together to build the requisite skills that could boost local content.

    He said that there was the need to collaborate with tertiary institutions and the National Universities Commission (NUC) and look at contents the institutions had in the areas of ICT.

    According to him, the ICT industry needs to have a database of both formal and informal ICT skills across the country.

    He said that such database would ensure that skills required in a particular area were easily accessed.

    “We want to see how we can bring those people together under one roof, so that they can be able to speak with one voice.

    “Most importantly for us is having the data of all ICT skills available in the country, that will help people to be able to compete globally for jobs in other climes and also within Nigeria.

    “If Nigerians have the requisite skills, companies will not give their jobs to foreigners.

    “You don’t expect an employer to employ workers and then begin to train them all over again. The time is not there.

    “So if the skill that is required to take over the industry is not there, the problem of local content will continue.

    “We need to build up a database of ICT skills across the country, both formal and informal ICT skills and also collaborate,’’ he said.

    Danbatta said that NCC was bridging the skill gap by training people through the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), to help them to be able to compete for job in the oil and gas sector.

    He said that the commission was funding research proposals on ICT in universities across the six geopolitical zones, aimed at instilling local content.

    “We found out that people have excellent project proposals but with funding of those research proposals it can really help them to be able to bring those proposals forward and solve practical human problems,’’ Danbatta said.

     

  • TNG year in review: How Nigeria achieved 2013-2018 broadband target

    Nigeria, with the aim to drive internet and broadband penetration in the country, developed a five-year strategy, known as the Federal Government National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, through a presidential committee on broadband.

    To drive internet and broadband penetration in the country, the Federal Government National Broadband Plan 2013-2018 aimed to scale up Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) broadband growth by 30 per cent in 2018.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the country in 2018 achieved the five-year strategy broadband penetration target, with broadband penetration standing at 30.9 per cent in November, surpassing the 30 per cent target set by the presidential committee.

    As at September 2017, the country’s broadband penetration was empirically adjudged by global telecom regulator, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as 21 per cent.

    Going forward into 2018, there were concerns in different quarters that the nation might not be able to achieve the target; however, fast forward to November and it is a different story.

    READ | Why Nigeria may not achieve 30% broadband penetration in 2018

    Mr Adeola Ogunbanjo, National President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) said NCC’s licensing of more infrastructure companies (InfraCos) was instrumental in achieving the 30 per cent broadband penetration target.

    The InfraCos licenced by the NCC are Raeanna Nigeria Ltd for South South, O’odua Infraco Resources Ltd for South West (excluding Lagos), Fleek Networks Ltd for North West, Brinks Integrated Solutions for North East, Main One Ltd for Lagos zone and Zinox Technologies Ltd for Southeast.

    According to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, while announcing the broadband penetration achievement in a recent interaction with newsmen in Abuja, the commission knew it has to meet the broadband implementation plan.

    “At NCC, we knew we have to meet the broadband implementation plan to get to 30 per cent at the end of 2018 due to the work done, we now stand at 30.9 per cent equivalent of 31 per cent.

    “NCC had issued license to seven infrastructure companies to deploy the needed infrastructure to facilitate the required penetration in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

    “This will enable penetration reach the served and underserved areas in the country,” Danbatta, ably represented by Mr Sunday Dare, NCC Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management said.

    He said all information and progress on mobile, internet and data usage penetration would be sustained to provide the necessary requirements for increased investments and effective regulation of the telecom sector in Nigeria.

     

  • Broadband deployment: Infraco for North-Central withdraws

    Infrastructure service provider (infraco) licenced for broadband infrastructure provisioning in the North-Central region of Nigeria has withdrawn.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this known in Lagos on Friday.

    He made this known during the 2018 4th Quarter Forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) with the theme: Achieving Last-Mile Connectivity Through Affordable Broadband’.

    Danbatta said that the core of robust and reliable telecommunications service was broadband infrastructure, which would provide the needed impetus to achieve last mile connectivity.

    He said that NCC’s commitment to achieve the three ‘A’s of Availability, Accessibility and Affordability was hinged on broadband deployment across the country.

    “Facilitation of Broadband penetration is the number one item and flagship of our 8-Point Agenda.

    “The potential in broadband penetration is enormous, which explains why the entire global community is investing huge resources to exploit and assimilate broadband that is expected to guide global economic index of development in the future,” the NCC boss said.

    He said that a major milestone was achieved recently with the licensing of four infracos to provide broadband infrastructure.

    Danbatta said that these companies were licenced for broadband infrastructure provisioning in the different regions of the country.

    According to him, Zinox Technology Ltd is for South-East Zone; Brinks Integrated Solutions Ltd for North-East Zone; O’odua Infraco Resource Ltd. for the South-West; and Raeanna Technologies Ltd. for the South-South.

    “The Commission had earlier licenced two InfraCos for Lagos in the South-West and North-Central regions which are Infrastructure Company Ltd. (a subsidiary of MainOne Cable Company Ltd.) and IHS Ltd. respectively.

    “However, efforts are underway to licence an Infraco for the North-Central, following the withdrawal of the licenced Infraco.

    “The Licencees are to provide fibre optic infrastructure on an Open Access basis for any telecommunications company to link its network and expand to deploy its services,” he said.

    The NCC boss, who also at the NITRA forum said the coverage of Fourth Generation (4G) technology in the country is still low, did not, however, state why the licenced infroco withdrew.

    Represented by Dr Henry Nkemadu, Deputy Director/Head, Special Intervention Projects, NCC, Danbatta said that there had been a tremendous growth and increasing ubiquity of the mobile networks in Nigeria.

    He, however, said that there was still a proportion of the population that were under-served or unserved with universal access to mobile and the internet.

    “Generally, the most pervasive networks are on 2G coverage and reaches about 90 per cent of the population, while the 3G or 4G coverage still low and a section with little or no coverage,’’ the NCC boss said.

    He said that the telecommunications regulatory body had facilitated universal access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services by providing enabling regulatory interventions to stimulate competition among the industry players.

    According to him, there is an appreciable number of submarine cables landing in Nigeria, delivering a capacity of about 9 Terabits capacity to the country.

    “This is mainly limited to landing points in the Lagos areas and some coastal states like Ondo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.

    “The commission has been making efforts to enable the companies extend this massive capacity inland through various regulatory instruments and interventions to drive down costs and for security reasons.

    “In the meantime, many of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have islands of cables interconnected in areas of high traffic like Lagos, with multiple fibre cable coverage, leaving other regions with lack of coverage.

    “This poor network planning, therefore, contributes to poor last mile connectivity in Nigeria,’’ he said.