Glo Prescribes Recipes for SMEs’ Growth

SMALL Small businesses need to adopt integrated and flexible communications plan in order to improve their efficiency, cut cost and expand their bottom lines.

Globacom’s Head of SME Business, Mr. Mike Ehumadu who gave this advice at a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Trade Fair organised by the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Lagos Branch at Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, said communication is one key aspect of any SME operation that can make a difference between success and failure.

 Ehumadu addressed a gathering of small business owners operating in various sectors of the economy ranging from agriculture through manufacturing, information and communications technology to fashion and tourism on the third day of the fair, which was designated as Glo Day.

According to him, having an integrated, yet flexible communication plan will enable SMEs to cost-effectively access up-to-date information on their chosen fields, thereby putting them ahead of their competition.

 “It is a better world today. You can sit in Nigeria and avail yourself of online training delivered by experts from all over the world via YouTube or similar platforms. All that is required is a smart device with data bundles,” he said.

He said that this precisely was the motivation for the introduction of SME Flexi by Globacom recently, adding that it gives SMEs the integrated communications solution.

He described Glo SME Flexi as one-of-its-kind integrated plan ‘with unmatched value’ that gives users the flexibility to call and use the internet without having to separately buy data bundles. According to him, the package is available in various denominations to suit the wallet of the SMEs. The package includes SME Flexi 500, SME Flexi 1000 and SME Flexi 2000. 

He explained that each of these denominations gives its users specific number of talk time and certain number of bytes for data use saying that SME Flexi 500 automatically gives its users 60 minutes of talk time or 650 MB of data, SME Flexi 1000 gives 125 minutes of talk time or 2000MB of data, while SME Flexi 2000 gives 275 minutes of voice call or 5000MB of data.

 He further explained that SME Flexi is compatible with Closed User Group (CUG) as well, meaning that SME Flexi users can also integrate the solution with CUG, thereby enabling them to call their members of staff free of charge for a whole month once they pay a rental charge of N500 or N1000.

 In addition to getting an integrated communication solution, Mr. Ehumadu advised the SMEs to embrace technology and install a proper accounting solution.

Ericsson to Boost Digitalisation of Nigeria

THE quest to deepen the digitalisation of Nigeria has gotten a new boost following the arrival of a new President and Managing Director of global telecommunications company, Ericsson into the country.

The new helms of Ericsson, Rudget Reman who signal his resumption of duties in the country with a breakfast meeting with technology editors at his office in Victoria island, Lagos disclosed to the media the digitalisation role of the Ericsson in the country in power point presentation stressing that there are three transformative technologies that will transforms every cities are mobility, broadband and cloud.

According to him, as the number leader in city connectivity in the world, Ericsson has the capability to connect cities in Nigeria saying that 40% of the world's mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks and it is also the LTE Leader in the world’s top 100 cities.

He said that for cities like Lagos, there are so much that can be done in transportation using Information Communications Technology, (ICT) so building sensors on the road that will make it for the relevant authorities to understand how the traffic flows adding with ICT data can be pulled together for the benefit of public transportation.

He said that different cities, like Lagos have their challenges and that issue like traffic congestions can be solved with data so that alternative routes can be provider for road users saying that ICT has a significant role to play in the energy sector particularly in managing waste.

Other areas, Reman highlighted that Ericsson help solve some of the problems of digitalisation in Nigeria are: education, health, waste management, public safety, pollution, environmental management, water provision as well as food and agriculture.

He said that across the world Ericsson has been able to solve problems similar to that which exist in Nigeria, saying that in São Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, there were customer challenge in modernising the city’s public safety, emergency response and traffic management operations, and ICT environment and integrate local police, traffic department and civil defence agencies.

However, through Ericsson’s solution made provision for emergency response and Traffic Management Control room solution for call taking and dispatch inclusive of real time GIS information, camera locations and traffic information as well as multi agency integration with real time tracking and dispatch of police and traffic department vehicles.

He added that Ericsson was able through Traffic Management Systems Integration (CCTV, traffic lights) 500 Video cameras, Fiber network (150 km), Control Room equipment, and Tablets on about 100 vehicles solve the problem.

He said that at the Miami Airport Security, there were customer challenges bothering on high risk characteristics, increase security while cutting costs and existing infrastructure cannot support modern security systems.

Oluwaseun Solanke; Head of Digital Services, Fisayo Araoye; Head of Network Products,&Rutger Reman; President &Managing Director.

He said that Ericsson worked closely with the Miami Dade Airport Authority during solution analysis, design, integration and delivery while providing project management and post-delivery support nothing that Ericsson solution provided for flexible, modular multiservice communications network,High speed video surveillance with synchronized 2-way audio, Access control solution integrated with video surveillance and Onsite interoperability lab.

The Ericsson helmsman in Nigeria revealed that in Israel, the Swedish company was able to offer  Nationwide Warning System that disseminates selective alerts and guidance messages to the population in real time saying based on immediate control of all available and relevant channels in Israel.

He added that in Australia through Ericsson’s technology, which used the 3G network combined with a reliable cellular router mounted on offshore stations, it created a robust and reliable tsunami early warning system helpful for the Australia’s Bureau of Metrology.

African Students to Enjoy Internet Connectivity from Glo 1

AN initiative from Globacom is expected millions of African students across the continent access to the internet as the integrated telecommunications service provider has expressed eagerness to leverage its massive telecommunications infrastructure and international partnerships to connect tertiary institutions in Africa.

Debut of Glo 1 Submarine Cable

The telecommunications outfit disclosed this through its Enterprise Group Commercial Coordinator, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe, at the third Annual Conference and fourth Annual General Meeting of the West and Central African Research and Educational Network (WACREN) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Addressing the gathering of policy and decision makers, scientists, researchers, network managers, identity and access management experts, and connectivity and equipment providers from across the world, Mr. Aderibigbe said Globacom is in the forefront of delivering connectivity to organizations and higher institutions in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.

Aderibigbe added that with its Glo 1 international submarine fibre-optic cable originating from Europe and crossing through West African countries, Globacom, would love to support WACREN in ensuring all the universities in the region have seamless connectivity to Europe.

The massive summit, with the main theme, "Catalyzing Quality Higher Education and Research", was also graced by the head of Glo1 Ghana, Mr. Joseph Odoi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Côte d’Ivoire, Prof. Ramata Bakayoko Ly, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Togo, Prof. Broohm, and the Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex, African Development Bank, Dr. Jennifer Blanke, among others.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Togo, Professor Octave Nicoué Broohm, reiterated the need for countries in the region to step up to the growing need for research in higher institutions by rapidly building digital capacities.

The minister stated that the government of Togo is currently building Data Centres in state universities and restoring optic fibre cable connections to all universities across Togo.

He added that by April 1, 2017 the government would have removed taxes on computers to help facilitate access to ICT and boost research.

Representing GÉANT, Europe's leading collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for research and education, Cathrin Stöver, in her remarks stressed the need to drive down the cost of bandwidth in the region and added that Geant has connected 42 universities in 15 years with €100s millions in contributions from the European Union and others.  Geant is responsible for connecting higher institutions in Africa to Europe to ensure students in Africa have access to knowledge bases from across the world.

The Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development Complex, African Development Bank, Dr. Jennifer Blanke, stated that investment in research will stimulate and sustain economic growth and development.

The next edition of WACREN holds in 2018, Lome Togo.

NCC Pledges Strategic Collaboration with Stakeholders

THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will continue to partner with governments at all levels and other stakeholders in its bid to move the telecom industry forward. 

Speaking at an investment forum of Kaduna State Government, KADINVEST 2.0, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta revealed that its strategic plans are aimed at moving the industry forward noting that the symposium struck a chord with NCC’s strategic vision.

 “I would like to congratulate Kaduna State people through his Excellency Governor Nasiru El-Rufai for organising this timely and commendable forum,” he said.

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has just rated NCC top in the country in terms of institutional work processes.

Director General of BPSR, Dr. Joe Abah who presented a report and plaque to Danbatta recently in Abuja noted that robust business organizational structure, policies and practices that facilitate effective and efficient service delivery were some of the high points which informed the agency’s decision.

He listed accountabilities and responsibilities for set Standardised Operating Procedure (SOP) manuals of the Commission’s 19 departments.

Accurate measurement of Responsibilities and Performance assigned to staff were the parameters for the evaluation of the Commission.

In terms of governance, the Bureau said “NCC strategic objectives are prioritised for potential impact using standardized principles including the balanced score card”.