₦airaland Forum

The Association of Telecoms Company of Nigeria (ATCON) is to partner the Akwa Ibom state government to help create an enabling environment for technology companies in the state. ATCON led by its President, Mr. Olushola Teniola recently met with the Secretary to the State Government of Akwa-Ibom State, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem during a working visit by the association to the oil rich state.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/20/atcon-akwa-ibom-talk-collaboration-promote-technology-investment/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it is seeking for the intervention of the National Economic Council (NEC) to eliminate multiple taxation and other regulatory hurdles in the sector.
Multiple taxation and issues concerning right of way (RoW) have connived to hamper network rollout and slow down operators’ growth projections. About $70 billion telecoms investments have been stalled, said those in the sector who should know.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/19/ncc-seeks-necs-intervention-eliminate-multiple-taxation/

Nigeria may exceed its 30% broadband target by the end of 2018, Nigeria’s telecom regulator and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta told an audience of technology writers this week in Lagos.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP 2013-2018) has a target of 30% penetration by the end of 2018. Broadband penetration is currently 22% but the regulator says an aggressive policy thrust and rollout by licensed infrastructure companies (InfraCos) may help jump the target despite cynicisms in some quarters.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/19/can-surpass-30-broadband-target-2018-says-telecom-regulator-danbatta/

Technology cannot make rapid progress without the right political decisions; and corporate Nigeria, beware! Technology will make a dinosaur of many big players in less than a decade from now. The caveat is from Elder Chima Onyekwere, Chairman and founder of Linkserve Limited.
Onyekwere is fondly touted as the ‘Internet Father’ in Nigeria. His company, Linkserve pioneered internet services in Nigeria over a decade ago and helped to kick-start the country’s connectivity race. Linkserve is Nigeria’s first Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/17/technology-will-grow-faster-right-politics-says-onyekwere-nigerias-father-internet/

The African Entrepreneurship Award 2018 is here and is offering USD$1 million for African entrepreneurs in Africa and abroad.
Submit Your Idea By April 30, 2018
Do you have a business or idea in Sports
or a business or idea that is innovative?
Submit it now for mentoring and funding!

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/14/1-million-grabs-african-entrepreneurship-award-2018/

The GSMA has announced the launch of the GSMA Mobile Money Certification, a global scheme for mobile money providers to offer safer, more transparent and more resilient financial services to millions of mobile money users around the world. The certification relies on an independent assessment of a mobile money provider’s ability to deliver secure and reliable services, to protect the rights of consumers and to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/14/gsma-launches-global-mobile-money-certification-scheme-safer-financial-services/

In furtherance of its capacity building mandate, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched a computer literacy training programme for the northwestern region of the country. The month long training, targeted at women in the region, is an initiative of the current leadership of the agency aimed at supporting the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Addressing participants and guests at the event which held at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital, the host Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru remarked that the Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami led administration has made unprecedented strides with its ICT intervention projects in the state and the region in general. He disclosed that the agency has committed over N400 million to ICT developmental programmes in the state.

Continue reading:
http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/14/nitdas-capacity-building-train-berths-jigawa/

Austin Okere, founder of CWG Plc and now an entrepreneurship guardian, has made his mark to firm up Nigeria’s business and technology space. It’s almost three decades he founded CWG and built a team to nurture it into a thriving technology conglomerate. Okere shares, in Lagos with IT Edge News, the often overlooked details of sustaining businesses in an under-infrastructure economy. He tells IT Edge News, Oluwatobi Opusunju, that government is still hollow at advancing ICT agenda and argues that an entrepreneurship culture is best fostered on passion and focusing on solving problems. But he’s optimistic that problems are transitional like solutions too. So long people, businesses and countries can adapt, they will thrive. Nigeria still has a good chance to alter its narrative for good, Okere hinted. He should know. He has grown and sustained a corporate vision through the power of adaptability.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/13/opportunities-broadband-nigeria-hampered-greed-lack-patriotism-austin-okere/

Looking for an international platform to highlight your organization’s smart tech innovations? Join UN global tech event ITU Telecom World 2018, Durban, 10-13 Sept. @ITU #ituworld

Here’s how: https://telecomworld.itu.int/take-part-2018/

Lebara and WorldRemit, two leading brands serving international residents, have entered into a strategic partnership making WorldRemit the exclusive global money transfer partner of Lebara, including transfers to over 40 African countries.
The deal allows over three million Lebara Mobile and Lebara Money users to use WorldRemit’s digital money transfer service seamlessly, directly from the Lebara app and website.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/10/worldremit-partners-lebara-connect-new-customers-money-transfer-service-africa/

Some weeks back, the Nigerian government gleefully announced that both China Great Wall Industry Corporation(CGWIC) and Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China will be committing about $550m to produce and launch two new communication satellites (comsat) for the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) Limited, the government owned comsat company established over a decade ago.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/10/nigeria-nigcomsat-beware-chinas-sri-lankan-tea/

Some top functionaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, are asking that the recent allegations of corruption against Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu by his former media, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare be investigated.
The former media aide claimed in several online publications that went viral that the minister, through corrupt practices, had acquired 12 luxury houses, 25 luxury cars among others, asides the eight official cars attached to him since assuming office in 2015.

Continue Reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/09/apc-functionaries-want-corruption-accusations-communications-minister-investigated/

MDXI data centre has inked a $20 million partnership with Avanti Communications Group Plc, a leading British satellite operator that will allow the MainOne’s subsidiary to host and manage the satellite operator’s in-country Gateway Earth Station (GES).
The deal has already delivered the commissioning of Avanti’s first GES in West Africa, hosted at MDXI’s satellite farm in Lagos. About $20 million has already been invested in the Nigerian Gateway, by Avanti to ensure data from the HYLAS 4 Ka-band satellite is delivered efficiently in-country and interconnected with other networks.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/01/mainone-avanti-inks-20-million-deal-accelerate-nigerias-broadband-agenda/

Sahara Sparks is one of the companies under Sahara Ventures. The broader mission of Sahara Ventures is to build stable innovation and technology entrepreneurship ecosystems in Africa one block at a time. Sahara Sparks is one of those blocks. We believe by running an innovation and technology entrepreneurship event we are creating a platform for the growth of African innovators, tech enthusiasts and startups founders. Our mission is to see more venture investment, trending technologies and innovations are emerging from the African continent, and these exciting stories are being shared, reflected and supported by local, regional and global ecosystems.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/04/03/big-data-collaboration-future-africas-innovation-sahara-sparks-jumannerajabu-mtambalike/

Building knowledge economies of citizens highly competent in science and mathematics is the key to African countries achieving the high income status necessary to climb out of poverty and take their place in global network of innovators, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has told an audience of global stakeholders in the Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering holding in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/29/africas-future-rests-scientists-innovators-paul-kagame/

Spacecom, operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, has announced it has chosen SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.), to build its AMOS-8 advanced communications satellite. The satellite will deliver state-of-the-art broadcast, broadband and data services from Spacecom’s 4°degrees West ‘hot spot’ to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/26/spacecom-selects-maxar-technologies-ssl-build-amos-8-communications-satellite-advanced-capabilities/

As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s human capital development objectives, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), with the mandate of developing and regulating the IT in Nigeria, has awarded 92 scholarships for Masters and Doctorate degrees in relevant areas of ICT including ICT Law for the 2017/18 Scholarship Year. This was revealed today in a press statement by NITDA and signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations Unit, Mrs. Hadiza Umar.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/26/human-capital-development-nitda-awards-92-postgraduate-scholarships-20172018/

The preferred bidder for 9mobile, Teleology Holdings has unveiled its 10-point agenda to turn the troubled telco around.
Promoted by Adrian Wood, a former chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Teleology made the mandatory $50 million non-refundable cash deposit for 9Mobile midweek to effectively secure its ownership of Nigeria’s fourth largest telecoms operator.
Having beaten the Thursday’s deadline for mandatory payment, Wood’s Teleology said it would now begin a full term turn around plan to reposition the company and make it profitable for its investors.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/24/teleology-announces-10-point-agenda-reposition-9mobile-partners-safaricom/

Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, embittered former aide of Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, has accused the minister of using his office to terrorize him in an attempt to shut him down.
Oluwadamilare explained to IT Edge News, at the weekend, that he faces personal safety and security challenges since his allegations of corruption against Shittu went viral.
“But I am determined to seek justice,” he told IT Edge News.
The former media aide claimed that the minister, through corrupt practices, has acquired 12 luxury houses, 25 luxury cars among others, asides the eight official cars attached to him since assuming office in 2015.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/25/cannot-shut-says-former-aide-communication-minister-shittu/

Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has committed to address thorny issues impeding growth of telecoms such as right of way (RoW), over taxation, and community resistance so to allow operators freedom to deploy ICT infrastructure and services within the confine of safety and compliance regulations in the state.
Obaseki spoke during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja stressing this was vital to fast track ICT and broadband pervasiveness in Edo State.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/23/obaseki-meets-ncc-commits-end-row-taxation-edo-state/

Lagos is coming under a total internet cloud as Swift Networks has announced plans to make free Wi-Fi connection available to about two million users daily in Nigeria’s commercial nerve center of over 15 million people.
The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Swift Networks, Mr. Charles Anudu at the launch of the free broadband Wi-Fi service dubbed ‘Red Cheetah’ said the intention of the free connection is to address the issue of broadband connectivity and also reach those who have limited access to connectivity.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/23/swift-networks-announces-total-wi-fi-plans-lagos/

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) – ICT Driven Knowledge Park (OAK-Park), a World Bank fully funded project intended to drive the growth of ICT industry in the country will also empower startups to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the country.
The Co-Centre leader of the project, Professor Ganiyu Adesola Aderounmu who is also the President of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) revealed this at the recently held One day Academia-Industry Engagement/ Interface with the theme ‘Rethinking Academia- Industry Engagement’ in Lagos.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/20/oak-park-empower-startups-nigeria/

As connected cars and automated driving speed toward widespread commercialization and market acceptance, they hold great promise to improve road safety, reduce congestion and emissions, and improve our lives in a wide variety of ways.
But how can the expanding range of key public and private-sector stakeholders align to ensure the potential is actually realized, across borders – and in a safe and secure way?

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/19/whats-next-future-networked-car-top-experts-highlight-key-trends/

Millennials will soon outnumber all other generations in the workplace. This generation already represents a quarter of the workforce in the US – and more than half the workforce in India – and within two years will account for 50% of the total global workforce.
Companies’ success in attracting and retaining talent will depend on how well they can adapt to the drastic changes heralded by the entry of this highly skilled, connected and techno-savvy generation.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/19/coo-dilemma-digital-infrastructure-agility-needed-enable-tomorrows-workforce/

A recent report on the Nigerian Mobile Sector by Africa’s leading e-commerce company Jumia, has revealed an 11% increase in the number of Nigerians who visited the Jumia Website via their mobile phones, 79% in 2017 versus 71% in 2016.
Meanwhile, those who used their desktop computers or laptops dipped to 18% in 2017 compared with 29% in 2016.
The report also shows that in 2017, 70% of Nigerians preferred the cash on delivery option, compared to 28% & 12% for credit/debit cards and mobile money options respectively.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/19/nigerians-prefer-mobiles-phones-computers-online-shopping-jumia-report/

StartUp Arewa, the Northern Nigerian technology ecosystem is partnering with FavCode54, a US based FavCode54 is a non-profit initiative, to train 5000 young Nigerians desiring to build a career in software development and programming.
The training is free. Participants are not expected to make any financial commitments.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/17/startup-arewa-partners-favcode54-train-5000-software-developers/

The recent ‘hurricane’ in the Nigerian political landscape which ushered in President Muhammadu Buhari as well as other prominent political leaders in the 2015 elections -which is still considered to be the most keenly contested election in the history of Nigeria, also cuts across all aspects of the government sector with the aim of injecting a new form of leadership whose vision is in agreement with the government of the day.
Accordingly, the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) was not spared in this transformation process.

Continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/18/pantami-sectors-anti-corruption-czar/

VT iDirect, Inc and Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) are to deepen their business relationship to allow NIGCOMSAT better meet its growing customers’ expectations.
VT iDirect is a global leader in the provision of satellite communications technology solutions. The company offers IP-based satellite communications, network management, hubs and line cards, satellite remote routers, among other services. Founded in 1994, VT iDirect has enabled partners including NIGCOMSAT to “deploy advanced satellite services that profitably expand their businesses.”

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/16/nigcomsat-vt-idirect-deepen-partnership-company-extends-iq-remote-portfolio/

For years, the internet has been the wild west of international business. Borderless by nature; technology, and the way we interact with it has been evolving too fast and unpredictably for any law regulators to keep-up, let alone implement international governance. Any attempts would likely become irrelevant in a matter of months.
But with online businesses now entering an era of maturity, and the number of high-profile global data breaches continuing to rise, (Uber, Yahoo, LinkedIn); the European Union (EU) is attempting to lay down the international law.

CONTINUE READING: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/16/gdpr-guide-international-business-infographic/

Today, when everything is online, and our lives are intertwined with a world most of us know nothing about, privacy and safety become an issue of epic proportions.
That is why we need to talk about cybercrime and utilize the very best VPNs. However, instead of writing a tract of tedious length, here is an infographic that outlines the most important cybercrime facts all of us should be aware of in 2018.

Zenith Bank has confirmed that it is in a strategic partnership with Facebook and Twitter to launch a Masterpass QR bot for Facebook messenger, that will enable Nigerian businesses set up digital accounts and accept QR payments. A report published by Africa Business Communities by Andrea Ayemoba has revealed

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/14/zenith-bank-partners-facebook-mastercard-pioneer-qr-payments-facebook-messenger/

As satellite operators expand their footprints into new verticals and customer bases, the key to long-term sustainability will be integration with the broader telecommunications ecosystem. During the Tuesday opening session at the SATELLITE 2018 Conference & Exhibition, the executive leaders of five of the largest global satellite operators agreed that the future of wireless communications will be multi-faceted — with satellite and terrestrial networks operating seamlessly side-by-side within a range of markets.

continue reading: http://itedgenews.ng/2018/03/14/demand-operators-need-better-understand-end-users/