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Infraco framework, funding options under review, Danbatta reveals

Oct 18, 2020Oct 18, 2020 Omobayo Azeez

$Infraco framework, funding options under review, Danbatta reveals$

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has constituted a committee to review the framework for the licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCo) and recommend sustainable funding options for effective implementation of the proposed national fibre project. The constitution of the committee was sequel to the requirements of the new Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025) and reports of relevant committees set up by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which include the Inter-Ministerial Review Committee on Multiple Taxation on Telecommunications Operators over Right-of-Way (RoW) and the Technical Sub-Committee on Right-of-Way for Deepening Broadband Penetration in…

Danbatta revisits N70bn interconnect debt

Oct 17, 2020 Omobayo Azeez

Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has again expressed concerned over unpaid interconnect debt among telecommunications companies in the country. Speaking recently at the National Dialogue on Telecoms and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) organized by the National Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the EVC urged operators to settle the huge debt, noting that this should be resolved in the wider interest of the industry. Danbatta said the “interconnectivity indebtedness valued at over N70 billion is a big challenge to infrastructure expansion…

MTN is Africa’s most valuable telecoms brand; worth $3.3bn

Oct 16, 2020 Omobayo Azeez

MTN has emerged as Africa’s most valuable telecommunications brand in 2018, according to a new research report by brand valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance. The MTN brand is worth US$3.3 billion, up 9 per cent from 2017’s report, Brand Finance said. The MTN brand has also moved up two places in the past year, from 47th to 45th worldwide. Vodacom is not included in the list as it falls under Vodafone, which is 10th, down from seventh previously, with a brand value of $18.7 billion. Other African companies included in…

FG restates commitment to hasten Nigeria’s digital economy

Oct 15, 2020Oct 16, 2020 Omobayo Azeez

FG restates commitment to hasten Nigeria’s digital economy The minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami, has re-emphasized the resolve of the Federal Government, through the Ministry, to continually advance the digital economy agenda of the country. Pantami stated this while delivering a keynote address at the maiden edition of the National Dialogue on Telecoms and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sectors in Nigeria held at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites, Abuja on Thursday. The event was organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in collaboration…

Huawei MatePad 10.4: Life without Google services

Oct 15, 2020 Business Metrics

Huawei has a good mid-range tablet on offer: the MatePad 10.4. The 10.4-inch Android tablet did a good job during our review and we were particularly impressed by its good price-to-performance ratio and connectivity. The MatePad 10.4 lacks access to Google services, however. Find out whether we can still recommend this tablet in our review highlights. Huawei’s newest tablet addition is called MatePad 10.4 and is marketed as an all-rounder. The MatePad 10.4 is available for a good price and competes with some impressive devices such as the Lenovo Yoga…

Lagos on course to deploy 6,000km of fibre, 2000 CCTV by 2022 – Sanwo-Olu

Oct 15, 2020Oct 15, 2020 Omobayo Azeez

In an attempt to deepen broadband penetration in the Nigeria’s economic capital, Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state has assured that the state government is committed to deploying 6,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the state by 2022. The governor stated this on Thursday in his Goodwill message at National Dialogue on ICT and Telecommunication organised in Abuja by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). He added that the government is also working to deploy minimum of 2,000 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras across…

FG charges NIMC to increase identity enrolments by 500%

Oct 15, 2020 Business Metrics

The Federal Government has charged the National Identity Management Commission to ensure a 500 per cent increase in the number of monthly citizen digital identity enrolments. Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, who gave the charge on behalf of the government in Abuja on Wednesday, said the exercise should increase from the current 500,000 monthly enrolments to 2.5 million monthly. Pantami said this while being briefed by the management team of the NIMC on their activities following the final transfer of the commission to the communications ministry. The…

NCC in strategic deals to hasten telecoms infrastructure deployment

Oct 15, 2020 Omobayo Azeez

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is strategically working with stakeholders to accelerate deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria. This was made known by Umar Danbatta, the executive vice chairman of the commission while speaking on the topic: “Multi-Stakeholder Approach to National Recovery Post-Pandemic” at the 2020 National Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Virtual Innovative Tech Webinar. According to the NCC boss, “achieving rapid connectivity means that we must engage with stakeholders to facilitate infrastructure deployment in the sector. “To this end, the Commission has intensified its engagement, collectively with Nigerian…

5G to add $8trn to global GDP by 2030

Oct 14, 2020 Banjo Olaniran

5G-enabled industries have the potential to deliver $8 trillion in value to the global economy by 2030, a new research from Nokia and Nokia Bell Labs has projected. The 5G Business Readiness Report surveys 5G adoption among businesses around the world, providing a cross-sector view of the path to full 5G deployment. This landmark report from Nokia underlines the potential for 5G to drive sustainable economic growth and define the next decade of innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic is forecast to further increase the value creation potential of 5G in the medium and…