Siemens Communications has announced its new catch with the winning of the contract to install and deliver its Next Generation (NextG) networks solution, Surpass to the Beijing Telecom.
The solution will provide Beijing Telecom, with what the company is a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in Beijing market.
With versatile access methods, such as Ethernet, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and Wide Local Area Network (WLAN), Beijing Telecom, could now offer its customers a number of value-added services such as voice/data convergence and multimedia applications.
President of Fixed Networks at Siemens Communications, Mr. Christian Unterberger, said the networking equipment from Siemens allows Beijing Telecom to offer differentiated value-added services, such as Internet Protocol (IP) cafe, video, freephone and prepaid services, paving way for it to gain more momentum in the highly contested Chinese telecommunications market.
He said due to the carrier-grade stability and powerful processing capability of the Surpass NGN solution, Beijing Telecom could fully address data and service stream pass-through session border control between public and private networks and enterprise intranets of its key customer, the China education network (CERNET).
The contract involves the Surpass hiE 9200 core softswitch as a media gateway controller, the Surpass hiG media gateways and terminals.
“At Siemens, we are committed to contributing to the success of our customers – and that of their customers – by offering best-in breed solutions tailored to their specific needs. That is the central factor that differentiates us from the competition,” Mr. Unterberger,
Champion Infotel recalls Siemens has been working with Beijing Telecom in the NGN arena for over two years.
On the strength of continuous marketing activities, including the trial projects in Chongqiang and Hangzhou, the Siemens Surpass NGN solution is now widely recognized and has been adopted by several carriers in the Chinese telecommunications market.
The contract is seen as a milestone for Siemens Surpass in the Chinese NGN market.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Ndukwe lauds Globacom for honouring African ministers
Second National Operator, Globacom has received commendations from the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Earnest Ndukwe, for hosting African Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministers to a bash, recently in Abuja.
He described the display of honour as deep commitment to the cause of telecommunications development not only in the country but on the continent.
Champion Infotel recalls that African ICT ministers were in the nation’s capital for a one-week pan-African Regional Preparatory meeting of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) held in the Federal Capital Territory recently.
The meeting was a prelude to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference coming up in Qatar in February 2006.
Globacom sponsored a Gala Dinner for delegates on the last day of the event, at the Sheraton Hotel and towers.
Present at the dinner were communications ministers and government representatives from over twenty African countries.
Speaking on that, Dr. Ndukwe expressed thank to Globacom for its act which brought forth warm praises for the company from the audience.
Globacom, it would also be recalled, has in over one year of operations, given overt support to public events and social projects aimed at promoting leisure, making life better for Nigerians and improving the image of the nation.
He described the display of honour as deep commitment to the cause of telecommunications development not only in the country but on the continent.
Champion Infotel recalls that African ICT ministers were in the nation’s capital for a one-week pan-African Regional Preparatory meeting of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) held in the Federal Capital Territory recently.
The meeting was a prelude to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference coming up in Qatar in February 2006.
Globacom sponsored a Gala Dinner for delegates on the last day of the event, at the Sheraton Hotel and towers.
Present at the dinner were communications ministers and government representatives from over twenty African countries.
Speaking on that, Dr. Ndukwe expressed thank to Globacom for its act which brought forth warm praises for the company from the audience.
Globacom, it would also be recalled, has in over one year of operations, given overt support to public events and social projects aimed at promoting leisure, making life better for Nigerians and improving the image of the nation.
TechnoWorld opens in Lagos
Multi-million dollar Korean technology company, LG Electronics (LGE) Nigeria Limited, has formally opened its ultra-modern TechnoWorld in Lagos, where it plans to share its Information Technology (IT) experience with consumers based on its dream to contribute to the technological growth of the country.
President, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Tae Hun Ryu, while declaring the facility open said it is yet another landmark achievement for his company and the nation.
He reiterated LG Electronics’ commitment to the country, saying that the new facility is designed with a class- room that seats 25 people at a time.
The TechnoWorld, he said, is the second LG Electronics showroom to be opened in the country after the commissioning of the first Digital Center in May last year.
He explained that unlike the Digital Center, the TechnoWorld is the company’s expression of commitment to Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Ryu described the TechnoWorld as a point of Information Technology transfer to the country, stressing that everything in the place is IT-driven with a focus on telecommunication and technology.
The training programme according to him, is IT skills acquisition and development for young Nigerians, even as the centre is fully air conditioned with 25 laptops attached to each desk of prospective students.
He pointed out that LG Electronics investment in the country has been very deliberate in the last couple of years from sports where it helped talent discovery through sponsorship of grassroots competition to international games such as the 2003 and 2004 LG four-nation cup.
LG Electronics has consistently displayed its leadership position in the country with the establishment of various consumer care programme such that the free product repair and warranty programmes.
The firm’s long-term goal for the IT market, he said, is to make every Nigerian information technology compliant by making LG’s products available while at this same time training the consumers.
President, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Tae Hun Ryu, while declaring the facility open said it is yet another landmark achievement for his company and the nation.
He reiterated LG Electronics’ commitment to the country, saying that the new facility is designed with a class- room that seats 25 people at a time.
The TechnoWorld, he said, is the second LG Electronics showroom to be opened in the country after the commissioning of the first Digital Center in May last year.
He explained that unlike the Digital Center, the TechnoWorld is the company’s expression of commitment to Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Ryu described the TechnoWorld as a point of Information Technology transfer to the country, stressing that everything in the place is IT-driven with a focus on telecommunication and technology.
The training programme according to him, is IT skills acquisition and development for young Nigerians, even as the centre is fully air conditioned with 25 laptops attached to each desk of prospective students.
He pointed out that LG Electronics investment in the country has been very deliberate in the last couple of years from sports where it helped talent discovery through sponsorship of grassroots competition to international games such as the 2003 and 2004 LG four-nation cup.
LG Electronics has consistently displayed its leadership position in the country with the establishment of various consumer care programme such that the free product repair and warranty programmes.
The firm’s long-term goal for the IT market, he said, is to make every Nigerian information technology compliant by making LG’s products available while at this same time training the consumers.
NEXTDAYSITE BOSS LAUDS MOI PORTAL
CHIEF executive, NextDaySite.com, Mr. Oliver Okafor, has lauded the recent launch of portal by the Ministry of Information (MoI) in Abuja.
A portal is online home site for Web browser and provides links to information and other Web sites, according to MSN Encarta.
Mr. Okafor who made his views known in Lagos, said the launch was in line with modern business modules, especially at the government circle.
He noted that it would afford Nigerian businesses the chance to align itself with the rest of the world through provision of adequate information on the country among others.
Mr. Okafor also lamented that less than five per cent of the nation’s businesses have functional websites.
“Nigerians must step up their game or risk extinction. The internet is a powerful engine that continues to bridge the physical and economic gap between us and the developed nations,” he said.
Internet, he pointed out, has empowered people in ordinary parts of the world to realize extraordinary financial wealth by taking their products and services to the world market.
Stressing that now is the time for the populace to think globally.
“Technology has made it possible for every individual to be an entrepreneur. I believe the time has come when an English teacher in Abuja can easily market her technical writing services, showcase her writing samples, and inform prospective clients on her labour rates on her website that will be viewed by the thousands of companies worldwide that control their overhead by outsourcing specialized tasks,” Mr. Okafor asserted.
To this end, he disclosed that NextDaySite is planning to introduce its full range of web enabled products and online solutions including eCommerce solutions, content management systems, database applications and Business to Business (B2B) communications architecture services.
Negotiations, he said, have already advanced for the firm’s proposed partnership with Fluent US to commence a new range of Learning Management Systems to encourage e-Learning for individuals and organizations alike.
Other core services of NextDaySite, he said, cut across the Internet, creative design, application development, e-learning and new media technologies
A portal is online home site for Web browser and provides links to information and other Web sites, according to MSN Encarta.
Mr. Okafor who made his views known in Lagos, said the launch was in line with modern business modules, especially at the government circle.
He noted that it would afford Nigerian businesses the chance to align itself with the rest of the world through provision of adequate information on the country among others.
Mr. Okafor also lamented that less than five per cent of the nation’s businesses have functional websites.
“Nigerians must step up their game or risk extinction. The internet is a powerful engine that continues to bridge the physical and economic gap between us and the developed nations,” he said.
Internet, he pointed out, has empowered people in ordinary parts of the world to realize extraordinary financial wealth by taking their products and services to the world market.
Stressing that now is the time for the populace to think globally.
“Technology has made it possible for every individual to be an entrepreneur. I believe the time has come when an English teacher in Abuja can easily market her technical writing services, showcase her writing samples, and inform prospective clients on her labour rates on her website that will be viewed by the thousands of companies worldwide that control their overhead by outsourcing specialized tasks,” Mr. Okafor asserted.
To this end, he disclosed that NextDaySite is planning to introduce its full range of web enabled products and online solutions including eCommerce solutions, content management systems, database applications and Business to Business (B2B) communications architecture services.
Negotiations, he said, have already advanced for the firm’s proposed partnership with Fluent US to commence a new range of Learning Management Systems to encourage e-Learning for individuals and organizations alike.
Other core services of NextDaySite, he said, cut across the Internet, creative design, application development, e-learning and new media technologies
ICT, key to e-payment solution
RISING from a two-day fifth edition of Smartcard exhibition and Electronic Payment (e-payment) forum 2005, recently in Lagos, participants made one point that must not be forgotten in a hurry.
The point being the consensus that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the key to the nation’s long-standing quest for global relevance, especially in this e-payment era through deployment of smartcards.
Electronic payment involves the deployment of ICT tools in the transaction system, but this dream seems to be obstructed by a lot of inadequacies including lack of infrastructure, awareness and usage, respectively.
Welcoming participants to the events, with the theme “Discover the World of payment,” chairman of Intermarc Consulting Limited, organizers of the event, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, said that this year’s programme was built around the consumer. She also said that a lot of changes have taken place in the banking industry as a result of automation.
“The advent of e-Banking and increase in capitalization entails that banking business is now becoming less manual and more electronic,” she said, decrying the situation where about 70 per cent of transactions today in the country are cash-based.
According to her, the essence of the forum was to change this trend through the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and smart wallets. She was of hope that by using the card technology, a strategy to bring forth the informal sector into the mainstream economy, a mission the government has been finding difficult to achieve.
Stressing that the use of cards would enhance business operations in the West African sub-region when common currency issues have been sorted out
In his opening speech, Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, represented by the Director, Research and Development (R&D) at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Emeka Ezekwesili, pointed out that ICT revolution presently has gone beyond the industrial revolution in impact and speed as it affects the digital global economy, hence, the theme is apt at this time.
He however, noted that security questions in online payment systems are instrument to the realization of this revolution, therefore, it is necessary to facilitate the law on cyber security that seeks to create a favourable legal and other environments for a successful e-payment systems.
The minister also stated that the e-payment system through cards is transparent, a trend that leads to a cash-less society with an added advantage of deterring armed robbers. He encouraged Nigerians to follow the global trend, by imbibing the culture of electronic payment.
The Director, Banking Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs) Sarah Alade, who was represented by Mr. Chris Odiaka, in a keynote address, said the forum is timely as it seeks to enhance financial intermediation through migrating the economy from cash-based to card payment system.
She enjoined the fora to recognize the critical mass as the hallmark of the success of the system and encourage the citizens to move fast towards imbibing the system in their hearts. Just as she noted the some challenges in the area of implementation of the card system to include low income base of Nigerians, infrastructure shortages, which she hopes a Public-Private Partnership could address.
Additionally, the CBN Director, noted what the apex bank has been doing in terms of helping to develop firm infrastructure so as to reduce systematic risk in the industry through the N25bn capitalization directive.
Emphasizing that the new challenges which the use of card may introduce into the monetary policy in the measurement of money supply needed to be identified and addressed.
Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System Plc, Mr. Paul Lawal, also in his keynote, raised an alarm that over N500 billion in circulation in the country are outside the banking system. This, he said, equals to more than 20 per cent of the total monetary liabilities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that are in currency outside the system.
“Electronic payment is the order of the day in all industrialized economies. Nigeria, and indeed all emerging economies, must deploy all appropriate resources to develop their respective payment systems,” he asserted.
Mr. Lawal also examined the state of the nation’s payment system, and said that the N500b represents about 90 per cent of the money supplied into the system as at the first quarter of this year.
Champion Infotel recalls that the country’s COB hovered between N300 billion and N400 billion.
He pointed out that this figure amounts to 20 per cent of the total monetary liabilities of CBN, against 4 per cent in the United Kingdom and 9 per cent in the United States. Stressing that the nation’s payment system is generally characterized by high cash payments volume and high resistance to new initiatives, resulting “in adequate data for planning”. This in effect causes the missing of economic development opportunities, even as low depth of financial intermediation also pervades the banking industry and the nation as a whole.
He said that this amounted to critical reduction in the efficiency of monetary policy, coupled with rife in corruption, which have contributed to the decay of the nation’s payment system. Thus the cost of banking business is high, “so much investment in cash handling machines, insurance, cash storage among others,” standing as obstacle to the growth of the system too.
According to him, duplication of payment structures and lack of infrastructure were not helpful at all and add to high under-utilization of installed capacity. But then, there are potentials of an efficient payment system in the country, that is, until customers embrace electronic payment solution fully.
This, he said, would bring about drastic reduction in the amount of currency outside the banking system as more funds would be available for banks to support credit demands.
He further said that the nation has potentials to earn foreign exchange due to export of new payment process, personnel and technology. Mr. Lawal also lauded the recent payment solution initiatives in the country, including the implementation of the Nigeria Automated Clearing System (NACS), which he said, reduces the clearing days for local cheques, just as the introduction of Electronic Funds Transfer by NIBSS has been very helpful.
Pointing out that the establishment of electronic payment schemes such as Valucard, Smartpay, eTranzact, Interswitch, Mastercard, GloMobile among others into the system, as well as the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) network have been on the increase and is very encouraging for the system growth.
Addressing the occasion on ‘Payment and the Macro-economy’ the Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, represented by Mr. Adeyinka Adebiyi, noted that the Nigerian economy is mono product-based while consumption is import dependent, and payments made mainly by cash.
ePayment system, he said, affords simplicity and capable of using the same card for a number of transaction, consequently cost-effective, even as it would lead to employment. However, to encourage customer buy-in the current absence of reliable price information that mars market transparency should be put to a stop, whereas, interconnectivity problems expected to affect capacity utilization of installed card payment systems, and security issues must be addressed.
“Lack of credit cards in Nigeria is due to absence of credit bureau
and poor identification system for customers,” he said, outlining tools for economic growth using cards to include effective consumer awareness campaign, government creation of enabling policies to encourage use of cards, introducing discount/incentives to win competition, making use of GSM for e-payment to enhance reach and the legal system be overhauling.
Other speakers included the Managing Director of Nextzon Ltd, Mr. Mac Atasie, Mr. Deon LaGrange of ACI Worldwide, Mr. Noble E. Ekajeh of ATM Consortium Limited, and Dr. Olu Agunloye, chief executive, National eGovernment Strategies Limited (NeGSt).
Conversely, a communiqué issued at the fifth edition of the events warned that the nation’s quest would be in vain if proper recognition is not accorded ICT in the scheme of things, more so as the most populous and most endowed black nation in the world.
The communiqué endorsed by Managing Director of Intermarc Consulting, Mr. Yinka Adeyemi, also stated that electronic payment (e-payment) system is a missing link in the effort to achieve an ICT-driven economy and a vibrant e-commerce nationwide and in the West African sub-region.
He pointed out that e-payment system, being transparent and open to audit trail, could be an important antidote to corruption and robbery since it is also a vehicle for a cashless economy.
“The efficiency and sophistication of any payment system has a direct correlation to the level of economic advancement in the country, and banks have a central role to play in the evolution of any payment system, including e-payment, by providing a viable foundation upon which the system is built,” the communiqué read in part.
Expressing dismay over most transactions and payments in the country were still cash-based, regardless of the efforts to usher in e-government and credit culture, the conference noted that the citizenry could be encouraged to adopt this new systems, such as in using smart cards through incentive packages and policies.
He stressed that security issues abound in e-payment systems, and decried the absence of appropriate laws in the nation’s e-commerce environment and the non-enforcement of even the existing, relevant anti-breach provisions in the statutes.
Mr. Adeyemi further stated that the myriad of challenges such as poor infrastructure and e-culture, interconnectivity problems, absence of a unified and uniform citizen’s identification process and absence of enabling policies, all of which inhibit the entrenchment of e-payment culture.
Participants however, commended the federal government for the recent efforts on proposing legislation, which is expected to aid electronic transactions and criminalize unwholesome online and electronic activities.
This realization is gladdening in that the background of the forum is from the financial and banking sector, it goes to add that the other part of the economy, would make the sector to reposition as inclined to the core ICT issues such as in proffering financial facilities that would be amiable to the likes of software developers and hardware section of the community.
The point being the consensus that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the key to the nation’s long-standing quest for global relevance, especially in this e-payment era through deployment of smartcards.
Electronic payment involves the deployment of ICT tools in the transaction system, but this dream seems to be obstructed by a lot of inadequacies including lack of infrastructure, awareness and usage, respectively.
Welcoming participants to the events, with the theme “Discover the World of payment,” chairman of Intermarc Consulting Limited, organizers of the event, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, said that this year’s programme was built around the consumer. She also said that a lot of changes have taken place in the banking industry as a result of automation.
“The advent of e-Banking and increase in capitalization entails that banking business is now becoming less manual and more electronic,” she said, decrying the situation where about 70 per cent of transactions today in the country are cash-based.
According to her, the essence of the forum was to change this trend through the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and smart wallets. She was of hope that by using the card technology, a strategy to bring forth the informal sector into the mainstream economy, a mission the government has been finding difficult to achieve.
Stressing that the use of cards would enhance business operations in the West African sub-region when common currency issues have been sorted out
In his opening speech, Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, represented by the Director, Research and Development (R&D) at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Emeka Ezekwesili, pointed out that ICT revolution presently has gone beyond the industrial revolution in impact and speed as it affects the digital global economy, hence, the theme is apt at this time.
He however, noted that security questions in online payment systems are instrument to the realization of this revolution, therefore, it is necessary to facilitate the law on cyber security that seeks to create a favourable legal and other environments for a successful e-payment systems.
The minister also stated that the e-payment system through cards is transparent, a trend that leads to a cash-less society with an added advantage of deterring armed robbers. He encouraged Nigerians to follow the global trend, by imbibing the culture of electronic payment.
The Director, Banking Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs) Sarah Alade, who was represented by Mr. Chris Odiaka, in a keynote address, said the forum is timely as it seeks to enhance financial intermediation through migrating the economy from cash-based to card payment system.
She enjoined the fora to recognize the critical mass as the hallmark of the success of the system and encourage the citizens to move fast towards imbibing the system in their hearts. Just as she noted the some challenges in the area of implementation of the card system to include low income base of Nigerians, infrastructure shortages, which she hopes a Public-Private Partnership could address.
Additionally, the CBN Director, noted what the apex bank has been doing in terms of helping to develop firm infrastructure so as to reduce systematic risk in the industry through the N25bn capitalization directive.
Emphasizing that the new challenges which the use of card may introduce into the monetary policy in the measurement of money supply needed to be identified and addressed.
Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System Plc, Mr. Paul Lawal, also in his keynote, raised an alarm that over N500 billion in circulation in the country are outside the banking system. This, he said, equals to more than 20 per cent of the total monetary liabilities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that are in currency outside the system.
“Electronic payment is the order of the day in all industrialized economies. Nigeria, and indeed all emerging economies, must deploy all appropriate resources to develop their respective payment systems,” he asserted.
Mr. Lawal also examined the state of the nation’s payment system, and said that the N500b represents about 90 per cent of the money supplied into the system as at the first quarter of this year.
Champion Infotel recalls that the country’s COB hovered between N300 billion and N400 billion.
He pointed out that this figure amounts to 20 per cent of the total monetary liabilities of CBN, against 4 per cent in the United Kingdom and 9 per cent in the United States. Stressing that the nation’s payment system is generally characterized by high cash payments volume and high resistance to new initiatives, resulting “in adequate data for planning”. This in effect causes the missing of economic development opportunities, even as low depth of financial intermediation also pervades the banking industry and the nation as a whole.
He said that this amounted to critical reduction in the efficiency of monetary policy, coupled with rife in corruption, which have contributed to the decay of the nation’s payment system. Thus the cost of banking business is high, “so much investment in cash handling machines, insurance, cash storage among others,” standing as obstacle to the growth of the system too.
According to him, duplication of payment structures and lack of infrastructure were not helpful at all and add to high under-utilization of installed capacity. But then, there are potentials of an efficient payment system in the country, that is, until customers embrace electronic payment solution fully.
This, he said, would bring about drastic reduction in the amount of currency outside the banking system as more funds would be available for banks to support credit demands.
He further said that the nation has potentials to earn foreign exchange due to export of new payment process, personnel and technology. Mr. Lawal also lauded the recent payment solution initiatives in the country, including the implementation of the Nigeria Automated Clearing System (NACS), which he said, reduces the clearing days for local cheques, just as the introduction of Electronic Funds Transfer by NIBSS has been very helpful.
Pointing out that the establishment of electronic payment schemes such as Valucard, Smartpay, eTranzact, Interswitch, Mastercard, GloMobile among others into the system, as well as the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) network have been on the increase and is very encouraging for the system growth.
Addressing the occasion on ‘Payment and the Macro-economy’ the Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, represented by Mr. Adeyinka Adebiyi, noted that the Nigerian economy is mono product-based while consumption is import dependent, and payments made mainly by cash.
ePayment system, he said, affords simplicity and capable of using the same card for a number of transaction, consequently cost-effective, even as it would lead to employment. However, to encourage customer buy-in the current absence of reliable price information that mars market transparency should be put to a stop, whereas, interconnectivity problems expected to affect capacity utilization of installed card payment systems, and security issues must be addressed.
“Lack of credit cards in Nigeria is due to absence of credit bureau
and poor identification system for customers,” he said, outlining tools for economic growth using cards to include effective consumer awareness campaign, government creation of enabling policies to encourage use of cards, introducing discount/incentives to win competition, making use of GSM for e-payment to enhance reach and the legal system be overhauling.
Other speakers included the Managing Director of Nextzon Ltd, Mr. Mac Atasie, Mr. Deon LaGrange of ACI Worldwide, Mr. Noble E. Ekajeh of ATM Consortium Limited, and Dr. Olu Agunloye, chief executive, National eGovernment Strategies Limited (NeGSt).
Conversely, a communiqué issued at the fifth edition of the events warned that the nation’s quest would be in vain if proper recognition is not accorded ICT in the scheme of things, more so as the most populous and most endowed black nation in the world.
The communiqué endorsed by Managing Director of Intermarc Consulting, Mr. Yinka Adeyemi, also stated that electronic payment (e-payment) system is a missing link in the effort to achieve an ICT-driven economy and a vibrant e-commerce nationwide and in the West African sub-region.
He pointed out that e-payment system, being transparent and open to audit trail, could be an important antidote to corruption and robbery since it is also a vehicle for a cashless economy.
“The efficiency and sophistication of any payment system has a direct correlation to the level of economic advancement in the country, and banks have a central role to play in the evolution of any payment system, including e-payment, by providing a viable foundation upon which the system is built,” the communiqué read in part.
Expressing dismay over most transactions and payments in the country were still cash-based, regardless of the efforts to usher in e-government and credit culture, the conference noted that the citizenry could be encouraged to adopt this new systems, such as in using smart cards through incentive packages and policies.
He stressed that security issues abound in e-payment systems, and decried the absence of appropriate laws in the nation’s e-commerce environment and the non-enforcement of even the existing, relevant anti-breach provisions in the statutes.
Mr. Adeyemi further stated that the myriad of challenges such as poor infrastructure and e-culture, interconnectivity problems, absence of a unified and uniform citizen’s identification process and absence of enabling policies, all of which inhibit the entrenchment of e-payment culture.
Participants however, commended the federal government for the recent efforts on proposing legislation, which is expected to aid electronic transactions and criminalize unwholesome online and electronic activities.
This realization is gladdening in that the background of the forum is from the financial and banking sector, it goes to add that the other part of the economy, would make the sector to reposition as inclined to the core ICT issues such as in proffering financial facilities that would be amiable to the likes of software developers and hardware section of the community.
M-Tel, MTN must talk to each other – NCC
NIGERIAN Communications Commission (NCC) has directed that two Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators; MTN Nigeria and M-Tel who are currently having interconnection problems must speak to each other before the end of next month, August.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, gave this directive at the monthly Telecom Consumer Parliament held at Ogba-Ikeja in Lagos State.
He said that NCC has observed from the avalanche of complaints presented at the 22nd edition of the parliament that the two operators were not making life easy for their subscribers, who ordinarily would like to talk to themselves.
“MTel must talk to MTN, and MTN must talk to MTel,” he declared, stressing that failure for them to resolve their differences, if any, before the next edition of the parliament, the regulator may be forced to wield the big stick.
“Otherwise, NCC would intervene,” he asserted.
Dr. Ndukwe was not also comfortable with complaints of credit disappearances, saying that NCC would, along with the operators in the country, look into the cause and how to stop it forthwith.
He further cleared the air on the concept of Vmobile customers also using the firm’s website to reach the operator, which was endorsed by the parliament previously, even as he made it clear that it does not take the place of customer service lines.
Emphasizing that it is not every subscriber that has access to the Internet which would avail them the opportunity to make contacts via the internet.
Cautioning that free Short Messaging Service (SMS) should be ensured to be free, decrying the lots of complaints generated on that issue and misconception thereof by subscribers on means of managing it.
NCC further lauded MTN for being consistent at the parliament sessions, even as it should look into call drops while the credit warning time should be reduced drastically so as not to interrupt calls for a long time.
Earlier, Dr. Ndukwe has said NCC has embarked on a national survey particularly on GSM networks, which is expected to be published soon.
The June edition of the parliament which held in Onitsha-Anambra State, he reported, was well attended.
This, he said, was part of the resolve by NCC to ensure that the parliament has a national spread, hence, it is rotated.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, gave this directive at the monthly Telecom Consumer Parliament held at Ogba-Ikeja in Lagos State.
He said that NCC has observed from the avalanche of complaints presented at the 22nd edition of the parliament that the two operators were not making life easy for their subscribers, who ordinarily would like to talk to themselves.
“MTel must talk to MTN, and MTN must talk to MTel,” he declared, stressing that failure for them to resolve their differences, if any, before the next edition of the parliament, the regulator may be forced to wield the big stick.
“Otherwise, NCC would intervene,” he asserted.
Dr. Ndukwe was not also comfortable with complaints of credit disappearances, saying that NCC would, along with the operators in the country, look into the cause and how to stop it forthwith.
He further cleared the air on the concept of Vmobile customers also using the firm’s website to reach the operator, which was endorsed by the parliament previously, even as he made it clear that it does not take the place of customer service lines.
Emphasizing that it is not every subscriber that has access to the Internet which would avail them the opportunity to make contacts via the internet.
Cautioning that free Short Messaging Service (SMS) should be ensured to be free, decrying the lots of complaints generated on that issue and misconception thereof by subscribers on means of managing it.
NCC further lauded MTN for being consistent at the parliament sessions, even as it should look into call drops while the credit warning time should be reduced drastically so as not to interrupt calls for a long time.
Earlier, Dr. Ndukwe has said NCC has embarked on a national survey particularly on GSM networks, which is expected to be published soon.
The June edition of the parliament which held in Onitsha-Anambra State, he reported, was well attended.
This, he said, was part of the resolve by NCC to ensure that the parliament has a national spread, hence, it is rotated.
GLO MOBILE BOOSTS SUBSCRIBERS’ ACCESS DAYS
In readiness to sustain its subscribers, the Second National Operator (SNO) Globacom has announced an upward review of the validity days of its recharge cards.
This Globacom said was a new move to enhance subscribers’ access to its network.
The validity increase which cuts across all recharge card denominations was implemented with effect from July 28, 2005.
Officials of Glo Mobile said, weekend that N500 recharge cards which hitherto attracted five days access gives the subscriber now 20 days validity, even as the validity period for the N1,000 recharge cards have been increased from 10 to 45 days.
Similarly, the N2,000 recharge cards now offer 90 days validity each instead of the previous 20 days access.
Globacom also said the N3,000 and N5,000 denominations of its recharge cards would at present give subscribers 120 days access to Glo network rather than 30 days and 50 days access days respective, which prevailed before the review.
The company also announced that the maximum validity that a Glo Mobile Classic subscriber could accumulate, based on his recharge, has been increased from 90 days to 365 days.
Globacom, said, the increase in validity periods enable the subscriber to have more uninterrupted access to loved ones, friends and business associates.
Group Director of Marketing and Strategy at Globacom, Mr. Subhra Das, said this validity increase coupled with the current promotions – Zero Naira Classic SIM, ‘Everyone is an instant winner' and 'Glo 2nd Anniversary Double slam' - make Glo Mobile’s packages the most attractive in the industry.
He stressed that in the “Everyone is an instant winner” promo, subscribers of Glo Classic, Glo Premium and Profit Max are given 15 per cent discount on every recharge card loaded.
The 15 per cent extra airtime effectively reduces call charges by 15 per cent thereby making call costs more affordable to subscribers.
The bonus translates to a credit of N575 for N500 recharge card, N1150 for recharge of N1000, N2300 for recharge of N2000 and N3450 for N3000 recharge and N5750 for N5,000 recharge card, he explained.
On the other hand, the “Glo 2nd Anniversary Double Slam” which is termed the mother of all promotions offers Glo Mobile subscribers the chance to win 42 prizes including six tastefully furnished town homes, six Mercedes Benz E240, six Kia Sorento jeeps, six VW Polo, six Honda City and 12 Kia Picanto cars in an anniversary draw to be held on August 25.
Remarkably, this offer has also been designed to benefit customers from all over the country in line with Globacom’s vision of being a pan-Nigeria company. While the South West, with the largest number of subscribers on the Glo network, gets two houses and 12 cars, all other regions namely, the South East, the South-South, the North Central, and the North will get a house and six cars each.
This Globacom said was a new move to enhance subscribers’ access to its network.
The validity increase which cuts across all recharge card denominations was implemented with effect from July 28, 2005.
Officials of Glo Mobile said, weekend that N500 recharge cards which hitherto attracted five days access gives the subscriber now 20 days validity, even as the validity period for the N1,000 recharge cards have been increased from 10 to 45 days.
Similarly, the N2,000 recharge cards now offer 90 days validity each instead of the previous 20 days access.
Globacom also said the N3,000 and N5,000 denominations of its recharge cards would at present give subscribers 120 days access to Glo network rather than 30 days and 50 days access days respective, which prevailed before the review.
The company also announced that the maximum validity that a Glo Mobile Classic subscriber could accumulate, based on his recharge, has been increased from 90 days to 365 days.
Globacom, said, the increase in validity periods enable the subscriber to have more uninterrupted access to loved ones, friends and business associates.
Group Director of Marketing and Strategy at Globacom, Mr. Subhra Das, said this validity increase coupled with the current promotions – Zero Naira Classic SIM, ‘Everyone is an instant winner' and 'Glo 2nd Anniversary Double slam' - make Glo Mobile’s packages the most attractive in the industry.
He stressed that in the “Everyone is an instant winner” promo, subscribers of Glo Classic, Glo Premium and Profit Max are given 15 per cent discount on every recharge card loaded.
The 15 per cent extra airtime effectively reduces call charges by 15 per cent thereby making call costs more affordable to subscribers.
The bonus translates to a credit of N575 for N500 recharge card, N1150 for recharge of N1000, N2300 for recharge of N2000 and N3450 for N3000 recharge and N5750 for N5,000 recharge card, he explained.
On the other hand, the “Glo 2nd Anniversary Double Slam” which is termed the mother of all promotions offers Glo Mobile subscribers the chance to win 42 prizes including six tastefully furnished town homes, six Mercedes Benz E240, six Kia Sorento jeeps, six VW Polo, six Honda City and 12 Kia Picanto cars in an anniversary draw to be held on August 25.
Remarkably, this offer has also been designed to benefit customers from all over the country in line with Globacom’s vision of being a pan-Nigeria company. While the South West, with the largest number of subscribers on the Glo network, gets two houses and 12 cars, all other regions namely, the South East, the South-South, the North Central, and the North will get a house and six cars each.
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