tarcomms Smart Centres operators, are now set for an exciting celebration in their homes during the yuletide as prizes, which they won in the third edition of the Starcomms Bonuzee Loyalty promotion has be redeemed at a ceremony full of funfair and jubilation.
Excited by the several prizes, which they won and the impact such prizes will have on their families, the elated winners did not hide their joy and appreciation for Starcomms Plc as they pour encomium on the award winning telecommunications company for bring the good things of life into their homes.
All Smart Centre operators who were present at the presentation prize ceremony went home with prizes ranging from cars, television sets, microwave ovens, DVD players as well as huge sums of money.
Titilayo Tokun, an educationist who combined the Smart Centre business with her career said that although the car was not her first, she is so excited that the news of the new car will add colour to the yuletide celebration in her family.
Tokun who operates her Smart Centre in Ibadan said that the news that she has won a new Kia Rio car initially did not jolt her into jubilation saying that the prevalence of fraudulent claims made her to doubt the news.
She however said that arriving the venue of the event and seeing the cars packed outside the premises of the event venue increased jolt her into excitement about the prize thanking Starcomms for putting smiles on her face and that of other Smart Centre operators who have been loyal to the Starcomms brand.
Describing Starcomms as a worthy partner to do business with, she called on all other Smart Centre operators in the country not to relent in their commitment to the Starcomms brand noting if they did not win today tomorrow they will win.
As for Sylvester Chukwuebuka Orji, the Onitsha based Smart Centre operator who brave all odds to confirmed the authenticity of the promised prize from Starcomms, the excitement of having a new car to drive his family around during the yuletide began when he was presented the keys to the brand new Kia Rio car.
According to him, it was a thoughtful thing for Starcomms to reward her loyal business partners during the yuletide saying that such gesture adds value to the Starcomms brand, which has brought joy into his family.
Also Idiong Justice who won the cash prize of N750, 000 describe the gift offer from Starcomms as an opportunity for a celebration galore for him and his other colleagues who won other cash prizes of N500, 000 and N50, 000.00 saying that “we are happy that Starcomms is giving us this gift at a thing like this in the year when families are looking for money to celebrate the Christmas and the New Year”.
Presenting the prizes to all the winners, Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari said that the Starcomms Bonuzee Loyalty, which began in 2007 was designed to reward diligence and good business sense noting that it is the tradition in Starcomms to reward loyalty in business.
He said that as a Nigerian company, Starcomms is poised towards making every citizen it does business with to enjoy the fruit of their labour saying that a total of N25 million was won in cash and item prizes.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
India set to ban 3G data
India’s 3G operators will reportedly be banned from offering data services within a week unless they can demonstrate the ability of law enforcement officials to monitor data traffic in real time.
The country’s Intelligence Bureau demanded a temporary ban on all 3G data services during a meeting between representatives of telcos, the home ministry and security agencies, the Economic Times reported citing a senior Department of Telecom (DoT) official.
Operators have been given seven days to show that data services can be tapped in real time, the newspaper said.
Last week, the DoT banned 3G video calls due to similar concerns over real-time tapping, despite operator objections that there is no technology available to monitor live video calls, and the country is mulling a law to ensure networks can be monitored in real time by security agencies.
State-owned BSNL and MTNL, as well as private operators Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, have already launched 3G services, and a ban would force 3G licensees Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, and Aircel to delay their launch plans.
“If we need to go through an equipment retesting drill, services will be delayed for at least six to eight weeks,” an anonymous telecoms official told the ET.
The country’s Intelligence Bureau demanded a temporary ban on all 3G data services during a meeting between representatives of telcos, the home ministry and security agencies, the Economic Times reported citing a senior Department of Telecom (DoT) official.
Operators have been given seven days to show that data services can be tapped in real time, the newspaper said.
Last week, the DoT banned 3G video calls due to similar concerns over real-time tapping, despite operator objections that there is no technology available to monitor live video calls, and the country is mulling a law to ensure networks can be monitored in real time by security agencies.
State-owned BSNL and MTNL, as well as private operators Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, have already launched 3G services, and a ban would force 3G licensees Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, and Aircel to delay their launch plans.
“If we need to go through an equipment retesting drill, services will be delayed for at least six to eight weeks,” an anonymous telecoms official told the ET.
From centre, Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms Plc., Tushar Maheshwari displaying the Starcomms myPAD to journalist during a press conference at the company’s corporate office, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. With him is Nkiru Onono, Marketing & Communications Manager, Starcomms Plc and Managing Director, TPT International, Limited, Charles Igbinidu.
Egyptian authorities arrest bizmen for spying
Egyptian authorities have charged a local businessman and two Israelis for recruiting agents in Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon to spy for Israeli intelligence, a State Security prosecutor has said.
Prosecutor Hisham Badawi told reporters that a businessman named Tarek Hassan was arrested in August and has now been charged with harming the country's national interests. Two other Israelis have been charged in absentia.
Hassan allegedly received $7,500 dollars to search for potential agents working for telecommunication companies in the three countries that could spy for Israel.
Over the last few months, Lebanon has also repeatedly accused Israeli intelligence of attempting to spy on and infiltrate its telecommunication networks.
Israel said that it had no information about the case.
"We are not familiar with the charges," said Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor. "We will have to look into it in order to understand what this is all about."
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, however, relations have been cool and Egyptian authorities have since periodically arrested and convicted people of spying for the Jewish state.
Earlier media quoted unnamed security officials saying that four Egyptians had been arrested for spying for Israel as well as gathering information about tourists in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. There were also two Israelis involved in this version of events and both involved infiltrating telecommunications companies.
The discrepancies between the two versions could not be immediately resolved.
News about the longstanding case came out as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak publicly criticized Israel for causing a stalemate in peace talks with the Palestinians.
Prosecutor Hisham Badawi told reporters that a businessman named Tarek Hassan was arrested in August and has now been charged with harming the country's national interests. Two other Israelis have been charged in absentia.
Hassan allegedly received $7,500 dollars to search for potential agents working for telecommunication companies in the three countries that could spy for Israel.
Over the last few months, Lebanon has also repeatedly accused Israeli intelligence of attempting to spy on and infiltrate its telecommunication networks.
Israel said that it had no information about the case.
"We are not familiar with the charges," said Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor. "We will have to look into it in order to understand what this is all about."
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, however, relations have been cool and Egyptian authorities have since periodically arrested and convicted people of spying for the Jewish state.
Earlier media quoted unnamed security officials saying that four Egyptians had been arrested for spying for Israel as well as gathering information about tourists in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. There were also two Israelis involved in this version of events and both involved infiltrating telecommunications companies.
The discrepancies between the two versions could not be immediately resolved.
News about the longstanding case came out as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak publicly criticized Israel for causing a stalemate in peace talks with the Palestinians.
World Trade Centre invites Nigerian President over power supply
Nigeria‘s quest for stable power supply and growth has attracted the attention of the World Trade Centre in Wilmington, Delaware, United States, which has invited President Goodluck Jonathan for a meeting with major American energy providers.
In a letter of invitation, the President/Chief Executive Officer, WTC, Rebecca Faber, said that arrangements had been concluded to receive the Nigerian delegation to be led by Jonathan to meet with the energy companies on how to ensure 24-hour power supply in Nigeria in the shortest possible time.
According to Faber, Jonathan will also meet with Delaware‘s top government officials and investors for bilateral discussions and agreements on other critical areas of economic interests, including agriculture, commerce and industry, construction and food processing.
The President‘s letter of invitation dated, October 6, 2010, was sent directly to the Presidency and another copy was sent through Nigeria‘s Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye. No date has been fixed for the important visit.
Commenting on the proposed visit in a statement sent from Philadelphia to media houses in Nigeria on Tuesday, a US-based Nigerian businessman, Mr. Leonardo Alliyu, said that Nigeria‘s economy, and indeed that of the entire Africa, would benefit tremendously from the visit.
The businessman whose company, Greater Philadelphia Import-Export Company, is partnering with the WTC Delaware to organise the visit, said that the desire to help Nigeria achieve its economic goals as contained in Vision 2020 was the reason for the invitation extended to Jonathan.
In a letter of invitation, the President/Chief Executive Officer, WTC, Rebecca Faber, said that arrangements had been concluded to receive the Nigerian delegation to be led by Jonathan to meet with the energy companies on how to ensure 24-hour power supply in Nigeria in the shortest possible time.
According to Faber, Jonathan will also meet with Delaware‘s top government officials and investors for bilateral discussions and agreements on other critical areas of economic interests, including agriculture, commerce and industry, construction and food processing.
The President‘s letter of invitation dated, October 6, 2010, was sent directly to the Presidency and another copy was sent through Nigeria‘s Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye. No date has been fixed for the important visit.
Commenting on the proposed visit in a statement sent from Philadelphia to media houses in Nigeria on Tuesday, a US-based Nigerian businessman, Mr. Leonardo Alliyu, said that Nigeria‘s economy, and indeed that of the entire Africa, would benefit tremendously from the visit.
The businessman whose company, Greater Philadelphia Import-Export Company, is partnering with the WTC Delaware to organise the visit, said that the desire to help Nigeria achieve its economic goals as contained in Vision 2020 was the reason for the invitation extended to Jonathan.
STARCOMMS BLAZES TRAIL WITH FIRST OF ITS KIND myPAD
Driven by the passion to keep adding value to the lives of its customers, Starcomms Plc, Nigeria’s innovative and multiple award winning telecommunications company has introduced the first of its kind myPAD into the Nigerian mobile telephone market. It would be recalled that starcomms recently blazed the trail as the first CDMA company in the world to introduce international inter-standard roaming between CDMA and GSM operatorsInnovatively designed as a high-end tablet/data device, the stylish hi-tech device is technologically crafted to support multiple and up to date data functionalities that helps the user maintain his /her high social profile.Besides being powered by a 2.1 Android operating system that gives the best of processing speed, the Starcomms myPAD comes with an exquisite and attractive appearance that radiates the grandeur that the Starcomms brand is known for in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari, myPAD is only available in Nigeria on the Starcomms network saying that the introduction of the device is timely in this convergence era.He said that in line with Starcomms passion in ensuring that its customers have access to innovative products and the service that keeps them in tune with technological trends, myPAD has embedded functional applications that will excite the user saying that some of the applications include: Skype, Yahoo, YouTube, MSN, Yahoo messenger and FaceBook. He further said that there are entertainment applications for music and games with free downloadable games. MyPAD has a wider screen of 10.2 inches that offers the user excellent visibility while using the tablet.He explains that the device, which comes with an optional branded luxury leather case carrier, has a 10-giga byte memory that can be expanded to 64-giga byte, 2 USB and LAN port, an HDMI out and a 2.0 mega pixel webcam, a user friendly manual and a battery charger. MyPAD offers an exciting movie experience for movie lovers as it comes with an HDMI out for connecting and downloading video to TV.
With an introductory offer of N74, 999 the Starcomms myPAD comes with a bundled offer of free i-zap Internet Router that connects up to 5 Users and 3 months Internet. Without the router and Internet access myPAD sells at a price of N54, 999.While speaking on the value that the Starcomms myPAD will add to the life style of the user, Maheshwari said that the new mobile device, in addition having exciting features that makes its use pleasurable, it has been designed specifically to leverage on the desire of every upwardly mobile individual. Hence, he said that Starcomms has creatively kept to its tradition of innovativeness in the delivery of unmatched quality products and services while designing the myPAD noting that it conveniently suits the data communications needs of its customers and that it is a device everyone will find very useful.
With an introductory offer of N74, 999 the Starcomms myPAD comes with a bundled offer of free i-zap Internet Router that connects up to 5 Users and 3 months Internet. Without the router and Internet access myPAD sells at a price of N54, 999.While speaking on the value that the Starcomms myPAD will add to the life style of the user, Maheshwari said that the new mobile device, in addition having exciting features that makes its use pleasurable, it has been designed specifically to leverage on the desire of every upwardly mobile individual. Hence, he said that Starcomms has creatively kept to its tradition of innovativeness in the delivery of unmatched quality products and services while designing the myPAD noting that it conveniently suits the data communications needs of its customers and that it is a device everyone will find very useful.
Financial experts warn on inflation
Financial experts have urged the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria to continue with its tight monetary policy, saying that the inflation rate was responding to it.
According to them, the consumer price index for the month of November, which dropped by 0.60 per cent to 12.80 per cent, from 13.40 per cent in October, showed that the inflation rate was dropping.
Analysts at the First Securities Discount House said that the latest inflation figure of 12.80 per cent represented the lowest level recorded since January 2010.
They noted that the declining trend in inflation rate recorded since September was a welcome development. According to them, investors in fixed income securities and other fund managers consider inflation rate in making investment decision.
The inflation rate had dropped for the second consecutive month in October to 13.4 per cent from 13.6 per cent in September.
The CBN Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, had said in an interview in London that, ”For cosmetic reasons, it is extremely important to make sure that we attack inflation. The CBN is targeting an inflation rate of less than 10 per cent.”
The Managing Director, Lewix Financial Services Limited, Dr. Tunde Lewis, said in an interview that the monetary authorities had adopted a right approach by the tight policy.
He added, “If a single digit inflation rate is achieved and sustained, government is then in a position to achieve the other goals of adequate and accelerated rate of economic goal, low rate of unemployment or full employment, equitable distribution of national income and external balance of payment equilibrium.”
According to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, consumer price index for the month of November, 2010, showed that the year-on-year inflation rate in Nigeria dropped by 0.60 per cent to 12.80 per cent, from 13.40 per cent recorded in the month of October 2010.
The composite consumer price index stood at 112.8 points in the month of November, an increase from 112.7 recorded in October.
The percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve-month period ended November 2010 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve month was 13.9 per cent, the same figure as the previous month.
Core inflation, which is all items less farm produce and energy, stood at 11.30 per cent year-on-year.
It would be recalled that the MPC of the CBN in its November meeting maintained its policy stance by leaving the monetary policy rate at 6.25 per cent and also adjusting the asymmetric corridor of interest rate by 200 basis points.
According to them, the consumer price index for the month of November, which dropped by 0.60 per cent to 12.80 per cent, from 13.40 per cent in October, showed that the inflation rate was dropping.
Analysts at the First Securities Discount House said that the latest inflation figure of 12.80 per cent represented the lowest level recorded since January 2010.
They noted that the declining trend in inflation rate recorded since September was a welcome development. According to them, investors in fixed income securities and other fund managers consider inflation rate in making investment decision.
The inflation rate had dropped for the second consecutive month in October to 13.4 per cent from 13.6 per cent in September.
The CBN Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, had said in an interview in London that, ”For cosmetic reasons, it is extremely important to make sure that we attack inflation. The CBN is targeting an inflation rate of less than 10 per cent.”
The Managing Director, Lewix Financial Services Limited, Dr. Tunde Lewis, said in an interview that the monetary authorities had adopted a right approach by the tight policy.
He added, “If a single digit inflation rate is achieved and sustained, government is then in a position to achieve the other goals of adequate and accelerated rate of economic goal, low rate of unemployment or full employment, equitable distribution of national income and external balance of payment equilibrium.”
According to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, consumer price index for the month of November, 2010, showed that the year-on-year inflation rate in Nigeria dropped by 0.60 per cent to 12.80 per cent, from 13.40 per cent recorded in the month of October 2010.
The composite consumer price index stood at 112.8 points in the month of November, an increase from 112.7 recorded in October.
The percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve-month period ended November 2010 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve month was 13.9 per cent, the same figure as the previous month.
Core inflation, which is all items less farm produce and energy, stood at 11.30 per cent year-on-year.
It would be recalled that the MPC of the CBN in its November meeting maintained its policy stance by leaving the monetary policy rate at 6.25 per cent and also adjusting the asymmetric corridor of interest rate by 200 basis points.
CDMA operators may merge in 2011
The erstwhile Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has predicted that the much talked about consolidation in the CDMA market will happen soon.
Ndukwe, who spoke to journalists at the Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Annual Lecture, said the solution to poor financial performance by the CDMA operators was to consolidate their operations.
There are currently four CDMA operators in the country namely; Starcomms, Multilinks, ZOOMmobile and Visafone.
Ndukwe said, ”I think the way forward and what I will recommend is the consolidation of those companies. I think some of them should merge and bake a bigger cake rather than the segmented way they are today.
“And I think, as an industry, there is a move towards that direction. Some call it consolidation in the industry. When that happens, I suspect you will see better days for CDMA in the country.”
According to Ndukwe, it is fallacious for anyone to assume that CDMA operators are not doing well because they are not adequately protected by the NCC.
He said, ”I think their biggest problem is that they all came in as smaller companies. In this business, you need to play big. Etisalat is a GSM operator, which came in after these companies and today, it has over six million lines. The only reason is that the company came in with adequate investment in the country.
“Remember, CDMA started before the GSM operators. Multilinks was the first to interconnect to NITEL and this was around 1998/99 before GSM operators started in 2001. So, they had a good head start, but the problem was that they had little money.
“They were small people, who got licences and started playing small and when the big players came with a lot of investment, things changed. You need to have adequate investment to play in the telecoms industry.”
The CDMA operators in Nigeria have lost about 1.08 million active subscribers between January and July 2010, according to official data.
According to the NCC subscriber data covering December 2009 to July 2010, active mobile CDMA lines, which stood at 7.7 million in January 2010, dropped to 6.6 million by July. This means that 1.08 million active lines have become inactive.
The number of CDMA lines increased from 7.77 million in January to 7.79 million in February, but dropped to 7.66 million in March. It, however, increased to 7.74 million in April.
However, the active subscriber base recorded a sharp drop from 7.49 million in May to 6.83 million in June, and rose again to 6.69 million in July.
The highest drop was experienced in June when the figure dropped from 7.49 million in May to 6.83 million.
Although, the total connected CDMA lines stood at 11.5 million as at July, the GSM subscriber base has recorded exponential growth from total connected 83.4 million lines in March 2009, and an active subscriber figure of 68.7 million, to 91.6 million and 72.2 million respectively, as at July, 2010.
Poor financial performance has been widely considered as the bane of growth in the CDMA telecoms market.
Investigation revealed that Multilinks, Starcomms, ZOOMmobile and Visafone lost about N1.95bn in the first six months of 2010.
According to the subscriber data provided by NCC, the CDMA operators lost about 1.08 million active subscribers between January and July, 2010.
The National Bureau of Statistics put the Average Revenue Per User of telecoms services in Nigeria, including that of the CDMAs, at N1,800.
Based on N1, 800 per user, an average of N1.95bn must have been lost on the 1.08 million subscribers by the CDMA operators in the first half of the year.
Telkom SA, the owner of MultilinksTelkom, had put up its mobile operations in Nigeria for sale due to poor fiscal standing.
As the fortune of the CDMA operators is hanging, experts have recommended consolidation by the ailing telecoms players.
The former Acting EVC of NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, in an interview with our correspondent, had encouraged the CDMAs to consider consolidation as an option.
The Chief Executive Officer, Starcomms, Mr. Maher Qubain, had said the current financial losses being experienced by CDMA operators made consolidation an option that must be considered.
He said, ”We must consolidate in the telecoms sector because there are too many players and people are marginalising business. However, it will take about 26 months for consolidation to happen because of the ego of the players.”
Qubain said that the company was open to consolidation and was ready to talk with any interested operator in the industry. He also agreed that consolidation was essential in the telecoms industry.
”There is still scope for consolidation in the telecoms sector and the level of interest in mergers and acquisitions is now on the rise,” he said.
Responding to questions that lower spectrum was responsible for the CDMAs‘ woes in the country, Ndukwe said, ”Lower spectrum is supposed to be an advantage because the lower the frequency, the less base stations you require and the higher the reach of each base stations. So, it is an advantage.
”I think what you should be asking is making provision for spectrum for new services that will be coming out of the country. When the consolidation happens in the CDMA space, that will also lead to further improvement in the operating environment in the country.”
Ndukwe, who spoke to journalists at the Distinguished Electrical and Electronics Engineers Annual Lecture, said the solution to poor financial performance by the CDMA operators was to consolidate their operations.
There are currently four CDMA operators in the country namely; Starcomms, Multilinks, ZOOMmobile and Visafone.
Ndukwe said, ”I think the way forward and what I will recommend is the consolidation of those companies. I think some of them should merge and bake a bigger cake rather than the segmented way they are today.
“And I think, as an industry, there is a move towards that direction. Some call it consolidation in the industry. When that happens, I suspect you will see better days for CDMA in the country.”
According to Ndukwe, it is fallacious for anyone to assume that CDMA operators are not doing well because they are not adequately protected by the NCC.
He said, ”I think their biggest problem is that they all came in as smaller companies. In this business, you need to play big. Etisalat is a GSM operator, which came in after these companies and today, it has over six million lines. The only reason is that the company came in with adequate investment in the country.
“Remember, CDMA started before the GSM operators. Multilinks was the first to interconnect to NITEL and this was around 1998/99 before GSM operators started in 2001. So, they had a good head start, but the problem was that they had little money.
“They were small people, who got licences and started playing small and when the big players came with a lot of investment, things changed. You need to have adequate investment to play in the telecoms industry.”
The CDMA operators in Nigeria have lost about 1.08 million active subscribers between January and July 2010, according to official data.
According to the NCC subscriber data covering December 2009 to July 2010, active mobile CDMA lines, which stood at 7.7 million in January 2010, dropped to 6.6 million by July. This means that 1.08 million active lines have become inactive.
The number of CDMA lines increased from 7.77 million in January to 7.79 million in February, but dropped to 7.66 million in March. It, however, increased to 7.74 million in April.
However, the active subscriber base recorded a sharp drop from 7.49 million in May to 6.83 million in June, and rose again to 6.69 million in July.
The highest drop was experienced in June when the figure dropped from 7.49 million in May to 6.83 million.
Although, the total connected CDMA lines stood at 11.5 million as at July, the GSM subscriber base has recorded exponential growth from total connected 83.4 million lines in March 2009, and an active subscriber figure of 68.7 million, to 91.6 million and 72.2 million respectively, as at July, 2010.
Poor financial performance has been widely considered as the bane of growth in the CDMA telecoms market.
Investigation revealed that Multilinks, Starcomms, ZOOMmobile and Visafone lost about N1.95bn in the first six months of 2010.
According to the subscriber data provided by NCC, the CDMA operators lost about 1.08 million active subscribers between January and July, 2010.
The National Bureau of Statistics put the Average Revenue Per User of telecoms services in Nigeria, including that of the CDMAs, at N1,800.
Based on N1, 800 per user, an average of N1.95bn must have been lost on the 1.08 million subscribers by the CDMA operators in the first half of the year.
Telkom SA, the owner of MultilinksTelkom, had put up its mobile operations in Nigeria for sale due to poor fiscal standing.
As the fortune of the CDMA operators is hanging, experts have recommended consolidation by the ailing telecoms players.
The former Acting EVC of NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, in an interview with our correspondent, had encouraged the CDMAs to consider consolidation as an option.
The Chief Executive Officer, Starcomms, Mr. Maher Qubain, had said the current financial losses being experienced by CDMA operators made consolidation an option that must be considered.
He said, ”We must consolidate in the telecoms sector because there are too many players and people are marginalising business. However, it will take about 26 months for consolidation to happen because of the ego of the players.”
Qubain said that the company was open to consolidation and was ready to talk with any interested operator in the industry. He also agreed that consolidation was essential in the telecoms industry.
”There is still scope for consolidation in the telecoms sector and the level of interest in mergers and acquisitions is now on the rise,” he said.
Responding to questions that lower spectrum was responsible for the CDMAs‘ woes in the country, Ndukwe said, ”Lower spectrum is supposed to be an advantage because the lower the frequency, the less base stations you require and the higher the reach of each base stations. So, it is an advantage.
”I think what you should be asking is making provision for spectrum for new services that will be coming out of the country. When the consolidation happens in the CDMA space, that will also lead to further improvement in the operating environment in the country.”
L-R : Tunde Odetunde, Starcomms Senior Dealer Manager, Tushar Maheshwari, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, Lot Yahaya, winner of N750,000 cash prize in the just concluded car concluded Bonuzee promo for payphone operators during the presentation at The Place in Ikeja GRA Lagos on Saturday 18 December 2010
Starcomms Chief Commercial Officer, Tushar Maheshwari presents the key of a Kia Rio to Titilola Tokun, an educationist and Smart Center operator who won the star prize of a car in the just concluded Bonuzee promo for payphone operators during the presentation at The Place in Ikeja GRA Lagos Tunde Odetunde, Starcomms Senior Manager, Dealer watches during the presentation at The Place in Ikeja GRA Lagos on Saturday 18 December 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ghana Marks First Oil Production
The President of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills, would symbolically press the button to officially commence full-scale production of oil in commercial quantity at the Jubilee Fields in the Western Region today, Wednesday, December 16.Today's event is remarkable in the annals of the country as the sitting president is joined by the two surviving former presidents of Ghana for the historic pouring of the Jubilee Oil.Both former presidents, Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, have official confirmed their participation offshore at the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah terminal.It marks a three-year journey which began with the announcement in June 2007 that crude had been discovered in commercial quantities offshore. The Jubilee Field is estimated to hold 1.8 billion barrels of crude, but there have since been other discoveries which would boost the reserves significantly once appraisal works are complete.There would also be a grand durbar of chiefs and people of the Western Region with government officials and other dignitaries to celebrate the discovery of oil.As part of the first oil celebrations, the Jubilee Partners are also organizing 'The First Oil Thanksgiving Service' on Sunday, December 19th 2010, at the Accra International Conference Center.The interdenominational Thanksgiving Service will feature a sermon by Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church.The First Oil Thanksgiving service is an initiative of the Jubilee partners –Anadarko, E.O Group Ghana Ltd, GNPC, Kosmos Energy, Sabre Oil and Gas and Tullow Oil.
Ghana Telecomms Operators Oppose International Call Monitoring
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT), comprising all telecom operators in the country, has endorsed a declaration by the West African Telecommunications Conference (WATC) which condemns international call monitoring in Ghana. The WATC issued a communiqué at its recent meeting in Dakar, Senegal on November 25, 2010, describing government's monitoring and imposition of levy and surcharges on incoming international call as a breach of International Telecom Laws, the ECOWAS Treaty and the West African Union Treaty. It condemned the practice and called on all telecom operators in countries where the practice is on-going like Ghana, Guinea and Congo, not to cooperate with any company employed by their respective governments to monitor calls and impose surcharges and levies. 'We recommend that operators in the sub-region should cease all commercial relationships with any firm implicated in the imposition of such a surcharge system,' it said. WATC said it will continue to fight against the imposition of such systems in the sub-region and support all telecom operators to do same. 'We reaffirm our determination to pursue actions against the development of this practice and support operators subjected to this surcharge across our entire economic area,' it said. The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said they endorse the position of the WATC. In Ghana, the government has imposed a 19 cent per minute charge on all incoming internationals calls and employed Global Voices Group (GVG) to monitor those calls and ensure that government gets its revenue. The telecom operators have resisted the move from day one, but government has insisted that some operators under-declare international call revenue which affects revenue mobilization in the country. Government also insist that it has evidence that some telecom operators connive with fraudsters to use simboxes to do call by-pass, which enable them to re-route incoming international calls through local SIM cards to make those calls come in as though they were locally generated. Since Ghana government started monitoring and levying incoming international calls, it has generated not less than $15 million in taxes, and Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu has stated emphatically that nothing will stop them from monitoring incoming international calls to check fraud and generate revenue for the state. But WATC, in a communiqué, dubbed 'Dakar Declaration – concerning government surcharges on incoming international traffic,' refuted allegations that operators make false declaration of traffic and are directly involved in the proliferation of simboxes. It said the practice runs counter to point seven of the communiqué issued by the ECOWAS ICT and Telecoms Ministers in Bamako on July 29, 2010, which enjoins member states to avoid levies and surcharges on incoming international calls. 'This tax also runs counter to the trend of lowering settlement fees per the recommendation of the International Telecoms Union (ITU)' of which Ghana's Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu is Chair.' The communiqué said the taxes result in general increase in retail prices that affect both local consumers and those in the Diaspora, and thereby increase the digital divide. It said significant increase in settlement fee and monitoring of calls increases fraud and reduces incoming international calls and revenue and diminishes fiscal receipts. The WATC therefore called on all countries that have imposed or propose to impose such a system to re-consider their action in the interest of the citizens and the sub-region. Meanwhile, Senegal, Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso have also agreed to suspend the system in their countries.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Reliance launches 3G in India
Indian carrier Reliance Communications has said that it is launching 3G services in the metro regions of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chandigarh. The company aims to launch services in all 13 circles where it holds 3G licences by the end of 2011.
Reliance rolled out 3G services within around 100 days of receiving spectrum in some of the major urban areas in India. The carrier claims to offer blanket coverage in every town specified with all 3G sites connected through fibre optic IP backhaul to provide maximum download speeds and minimum latency. The network is capable of peak speeds up to 28Mbps and will deliver services including video calling, mobile TV, video streaming and applications.
Nokia will provide devices; Facebook, Nokia and Ericsson will offer applications; Universal Music will deliver content; and Motricity will run Reliance’s web portal.
“The launch of Reliance 3G is an integral part of our Vision 2015 of creating a “Wirefree India” built upon the ‘affordable 3G for All’ platform,” said Syed Safawi, CEO of the wireless business at Reliance Communications.
In May 2010, Reliance Communications won spectrum in 13 telecom circles, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya, Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa and Assam.
Reliance rolled out 3G services within around 100 days of receiving spectrum in some of the major urban areas in India. The carrier claims to offer blanket coverage in every town specified with all 3G sites connected through fibre optic IP backhaul to provide maximum download speeds and minimum latency. The network is capable of peak speeds up to 28Mbps and will deliver services including video calling, mobile TV, video streaming and applications.
Nokia will provide devices; Facebook, Nokia and Ericsson will offer applications; Universal Music will deliver content; and Motricity will run Reliance’s web portal.
“The launch of Reliance 3G is an integral part of our Vision 2015 of creating a “Wirefree India” built upon the ‘affordable 3G for All’ platform,” said Syed Safawi, CEO of the wireless business at Reliance Communications.
In May 2010, Reliance Communications won spectrum in 13 telecom circles, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya, Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa and Assam.
Sweden to auction 800MHz spectrum in February 2011
The Swedish telecoms regulator, PTS, has set a date for the auction of wireless broadband spectrum in the 800GHz band, making the announcement on the eve of the first anniversary of the commercial introduction of LTE. The auction will begin on February 28th 2011, with interested parties required to apply for participation by the end of January. Nordic carrier TeliaSonera launched the world’s first LTE service in Stockholm and Oslo on December 14th last year.
In total, 2 x 30MHz of spectrum is being made available, split into six licences of 2 x 5MHz each. A spectrum cap means that no one bidder can win more than 2 x 10MHz of the total available spectrum, as the regulator wants to ensure that at least three carriers win spectrum. Sweden currently has three mobile operators.
PTS is also imposing a coverage requirement on one of the licences in a bid to help meet the objectives of the Swedish government’s Broadband Strategy programme.
The conditions attached to this licence state that the winning bidder must deploy service so that all permanent homes and businesses that are currently without broadband service are covered by the new rollout. This deployment will be given a fixed cost, decided at the auction—it will be no less than SEK150m ($22.13m) and no more than SEK300m ($44.2m).
The successful bidders for the technology neutral licences must also undertake to remedy any interference that arises with Swedish TV broadcast services.
Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to get a commercial LTE service, when national carrier TeliaSonera launched in Oslo and Stockholm a year ago. Since then TeliaSonera has premiered LTE services in Finland and Denmark. The carrier’s operations in Lithuania, Latvia, Uzbekistan and Estonia have all launched 4G trials, it said.
In total, 2 x 30MHz of spectrum is being made available, split into six licences of 2 x 5MHz each. A spectrum cap means that no one bidder can win more than 2 x 10MHz of the total available spectrum, as the regulator wants to ensure that at least three carriers win spectrum. Sweden currently has three mobile operators.
PTS is also imposing a coverage requirement on one of the licences in a bid to help meet the objectives of the Swedish government’s Broadband Strategy programme.
The conditions attached to this licence state that the winning bidder must deploy service so that all permanent homes and businesses that are currently without broadband service are covered by the new rollout. This deployment will be given a fixed cost, decided at the auction—it will be no less than SEK150m ($22.13m) and no more than SEK300m ($44.2m).
The successful bidders for the technology neutral licences must also undertake to remedy any interference that arises with Swedish TV broadcast services.
Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to get a commercial LTE service, when national carrier TeliaSonera launched in Oslo and Stockholm a year ago. Since then TeliaSonera has premiered LTE services in Finland and Denmark. The carrier’s operations in Lithuania, Latvia, Uzbekistan and Estonia have all launched 4G trials, it said.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Nigerian IT wizkid dazzles abroad
No matter where they are, Nigerians that work hard make waves! Iyinoluwa Aboyeji is another Nigerian representing Nigeria proudly abroad.
Waterloo, ON. uWaterloo undergraduate students launch online peer learning platform that enables students from all over the world colleges to interact with each other on the pages of academic material in which they share a common interest.
It is an open secret that the current education system is a failed one and there is a concerted global effort to fix it championed by heavy weights of all walks of life; from Bill Gates to Michelle Rhee. Nevertheless, as if the space for innovative and sustainable solutions to the problems of the education system was not saturated enough, two students of the University of Waterloo, in the heart of Canada’s famed technology triangle have thrown their hopeful hats into this crowded ring.
For Bookneto founders, 19 year old Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and 21 year old Pierre Arys, the problems of the education system need a student centered response – and they have one. According to Chief Executive Officer, Iyinoluwa, “education today is an industry that serves everyone but students. With the increasing cost of education publishers and educational institutions smile to the bank while students are left crackling under the pressure of debts they cannot pay and skills they cannot utilise. Bookneto is all about changing that through an open peer learning platform.”
With Bookneto, students from all over the world can upload and tag academic material in any format and have it displayed in a specially designed reader so any other student on the platform can add more knowledge and context to it by highlighting sections of the text and starting a discussion thread on it. “We think this is peer learning at its best” said Chief Operating Officer, Pierre Arys. “College students are often limited to their Professor’s understanding of course content and now we can broaden their perspective by providing a forum for them to meaningfully interact with their colleagues from different schools.”
And they are not stopping there. With a little bit of time, traction and funding, they have concrete plans to add on other features and tools that will further integrate valuable educational and social experiences with high quality academic content with a view to making lectures redundant. “We think with time, anyone interesting in a subject will come to our online platform, read the necessary academic material and gain useful context and clarifications by participating in open knowledge sharing across the ivory towers academic institutions often unconsciously build” said Iyinoluwa. “Professors will be better able to concentrate on developing and delivering quality academic content when they can save time on ineffective information transfer functions.”
When we asked the team what Bookneto’s long term vision was, Pierre told us, “Bookneto’s long term vision is to improve education by making learning fun, engaging and addictive. Especially because we are students, we have exactly what it takes to make that happen.”
Pierre Arys studies Computer Science at the University of Waterloo while Iyinoluwa Aboyeji studies Legal Studies at the same school. Before founding Bookneto, Iyinoluwa served as President of Imprint Publications, a leading Canadian student publications company while Pierre worked in California’s Silicon Valley with a very successful financial solutions start-up firm.
They are currently soliciting signups for their beta invites which will be released in the first week of the New Year. Interested students, potential investors, publishers and professors looking to receive beta invites can sign up at www.bookneto.com.
culled from webtrendsng.com
Waterloo, ON. uWaterloo undergraduate students launch online peer learning platform that enables students from all over the world colleges to interact with each other on the pages of academic material in which they share a common interest.
It is an open secret that the current education system is a failed one and there is a concerted global effort to fix it championed by heavy weights of all walks of life; from Bill Gates to Michelle Rhee. Nevertheless, as if the space for innovative and sustainable solutions to the problems of the education system was not saturated enough, two students of the University of Waterloo, in the heart of Canada’s famed technology triangle have thrown their hopeful hats into this crowded ring.
For Bookneto founders, 19 year old Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and 21 year old Pierre Arys, the problems of the education system need a student centered response – and they have one. According to Chief Executive Officer, Iyinoluwa, “education today is an industry that serves everyone but students. With the increasing cost of education publishers and educational institutions smile to the bank while students are left crackling under the pressure of debts they cannot pay and skills they cannot utilise. Bookneto is all about changing that through an open peer learning platform.”
With Bookneto, students from all over the world can upload and tag academic material in any format and have it displayed in a specially designed reader so any other student on the platform can add more knowledge and context to it by highlighting sections of the text and starting a discussion thread on it. “We think this is peer learning at its best” said Chief Operating Officer, Pierre Arys. “College students are often limited to their Professor’s understanding of course content and now we can broaden their perspective by providing a forum for them to meaningfully interact with their colleagues from different schools.”
And they are not stopping there. With a little bit of time, traction and funding, they have concrete plans to add on other features and tools that will further integrate valuable educational and social experiences with high quality academic content with a view to making lectures redundant. “We think with time, anyone interesting in a subject will come to our online platform, read the necessary academic material and gain useful context and clarifications by participating in open knowledge sharing across the ivory towers academic institutions often unconsciously build” said Iyinoluwa. “Professors will be better able to concentrate on developing and delivering quality academic content when they can save time on ineffective information transfer functions.”
When we asked the team what Bookneto’s long term vision was, Pierre told us, “Bookneto’s long term vision is to improve education by making learning fun, engaging and addictive. Especially because we are students, we have exactly what it takes to make that happen.”
Pierre Arys studies Computer Science at the University of Waterloo while Iyinoluwa Aboyeji studies Legal Studies at the same school. Before founding Bookneto, Iyinoluwa served as President of Imprint Publications, a leading Canadian student publications company while Pierre worked in California’s Silicon Valley with a very successful financial solutions start-up firm.
They are currently soliciting signups for their beta invites which will be released in the first week of the New Year. Interested students, potential investors, publishers and professors looking to receive beta invites can sign up at www.bookneto.com.
culled from webtrendsng.com
Thursday, December 9, 2010
E-reader sales doubles as year closes
Worldwide connected e-reader sales to end users are forecast to total 6.6 million units in 2010, up 79.8 per cent from 2009 sales of 3.6 million units, according to Gartner.
In 2011, worldwide e-reader sales are projected to surpass 11 million units, a 68.3 per cent increase from 2010.
The market for e-reading devices — portable devices that use an E Ink, e-paper or similar display technology — has become crowded and is at risk of commoditisation due to developments in adjacent markets, such as those for media tablets, according to Gartner analysts.
“The connected e-reader market has grown dramatically during the past two years, driven by sales of Amazon’s e-readers, primarily in North America. This is the dominant region for e-reader sales, and we predict that it will account for sales of just over 4 million units in 2010,” said Hugues De La Vergne, principal research analyst at Gartner. North America will remain a key market through 2014, although its dominance will decline significantly as regions such as Western Europe and Asia/Pacific become the leading locations for growth. Growth in North American and other markets will remain constrained by the success of media tablets, such as the Apple iPad.”
Although three vendors dominate today’s e-reader market (Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Sony), new competitors may well appear in the future with low-cost devices subsidized by content owners. Large consumer electronics and PC firms such as HP and Dell are also trying to position themselves strongly in the market for connected consumer devices.
E-readers have carved out a solid niche in the consumer electronics market due to their portability, long battery life, solid display technology (although most lack colour screens) and relatively inexpensive retail prices.
Cannibalisation by media tablets represents the biggest threat to e-readers. Media tablets can offer a compelling experience for electronic magazines and newspapers, due to their widespread adoption of displays that show color and support full-motion video. By incorporating e-reader functionality, media tablets can perform many different functions, including supporting e-reader applications.
“With media tablets offering more functionality, e-reader vendors need to target avid readers who may see the value of a stand-alone device that performs particularly well,” said Allen Weiner, research vice president at Gartner. “E-reader vendors will also need to offer lower prices than for more fully featured media tablets. This will entail smaller profit margins and potential hardware subsidies at retail, and/or the ability to obtain lower-priced components. We think few end users will buy both an e-reader and a media tablet, so it is important that e-readers retain a price advantage.”
In 2011, worldwide e-reader sales are projected to surpass 11 million units, a 68.3 per cent increase from 2010.
The market for e-reading devices — portable devices that use an E Ink, e-paper or similar display technology — has become crowded and is at risk of commoditisation due to developments in adjacent markets, such as those for media tablets, according to Gartner analysts.
“The connected e-reader market has grown dramatically during the past two years, driven by sales of Amazon’s e-readers, primarily in North America. This is the dominant region for e-reader sales, and we predict that it will account for sales of just over 4 million units in 2010,” said Hugues De La Vergne, principal research analyst at Gartner. North America will remain a key market through 2014, although its dominance will decline significantly as regions such as Western Europe and Asia/Pacific become the leading locations for growth. Growth in North American and other markets will remain constrained by the success of media tablets, such as the Apple iPad.”
Although three vendors dominate today’s e-reader market (Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Sony), new competitors may well appear in the future with low-cost devices subsidized by content owners. Large consumer electronics and PC firms such as HP and Dell are also trying to position themselves strongly in the market for connected consumer devices.
E-readers have carved out a solid niche in the consumer electronics market due to their portability, long battery life, solid display technology (although most lack colour screens) and relatively inexpensive retail prices.
Cannibalisation by media tablets represents the biggest threat to e-readers. Media tablets can offer a compelling experience for electronic magazines and newspapers, due to their widespread adoption of displays that show color and support full-motion video. By incorporating e-reader functionality, media tablets can perform many different functions, including supporting e-reader applications.
“With media tablets offering more functionality, e-reader vendors need to target avid readers who may see the value of a stand-alone device that performs particularly well,” said Allen Weiner, research vice president at Gartner. “E-reader vendors will also need to offer lower prices than for more fully featured media tablets. This will entail smaller profit margins and potential hardware subsidies at retail, and/or the ability to obtain lower-priced components. We think few end users will buy both an e-reader and a media tablet, so it is important that e-readers retain a price advantage.”
Tigo Tanzania outsource Towers
The flurry of infrastructure outsourcing deals in Africa continues, as the Tanzanian operation of Millicom International Cellular, Tigo, agrees to sell approximately 1,020 towers to tower management firm Helios Towers.
As a result of the transaction, Tigo will receive at least $80m in cash up front and will retain a “significant minority interest” in Helios. The pair will also enter into a long term leasing agreement with Helios providing Tigo with access to wireless towers and a build-to-suit agreement to support the company’s network expansion.
Helios will seek similar agreements with other operators in Tanzania.
Commenting on the deal, Mikael Grahne, president and CEO of Millicom, said: “Millicom created the first tower joint-venture in Africa with Helios in January 2010. The initial results proved very satisfactory, with an improved service level and a reduction in both capex and operating expenses. Millicom is now happy to enter into a similar agreement with Helios in Tanzania.
“This agreement confirms our commitment to outsourcing passive infrastructure, and is entirely consistent with our strategy of improving both our capital and operating efficiency by focusing on our core activities. We believe that owning and operating our entire network infrastructure no longer confer a competitive advantage, and we consider that such outsourcing ventures will allow Millicom to focus on areas of genuine differentiation: sales, marketing, branding, distribution, service innovation and customer care.”
Charles Green, CEO of Helios, said: “[This deal] enables Tanzanian wireless operators to outsource non-core tower-related activities and focus capital and management resources on providing higher quality services more cost-effectively.”
As a result of the transaction, Tigo will receive at least $80m in cash up front and will retain a “significant minority interest” in Helios. The pair will also enter into a long term leasing agreement with Helios providing Tigo with access to wireless towers and a build-to-suit agreement to support the company’s network expansion.
Helios will seek similar agreements with other operators in Tanzania.
Commenting on the deal, Mikael Grahne, president and CEO of Millicom, said: “Millicom created the first tower joint-venture in Africa with Helios in January 2010. The initial results proved very satisfactory, with an improved service level and a reduction in both capex and operating expenses. Millicom is now happy to enter into a similar agreement with Helios in Tanzania.
“This agreement confirms our commitment to outsourcing passive infrastructure, and is entirely consistent with our strategy of improving both our capital and operating efficiency by focusing on our core activities. We believe that owning and operating our entire network infrastructure no longer confer a competitive advantage, and we consider that such outsourcing ventures will allow Millicom to focus on areas of genuine differentiation: sales, marketing, branding, distribution, service innovation and customer care.”
Charles Green, CEO of Helios, said: “[This deal] enables Tanzanian wireless operators to outsource non-core tower-related activities and focus capital and management resources on providing higher quality services more cost-effectively.”
From left, Marketing Director, Starcomms Plc., Richard Gill presenting the Starcomms Overall Best Boxer prize to Mutiat Adebayo of TIT For TAT Boxing Club, Lagos at the 15th monthly boxing competition organized by the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association and sponsored by Starcomms Plc. With her is the Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association, Monsuru Liasu. The event took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sport Centre (Rowe Park), Yaba, Lagos.
Orange unviels new developer interface
International carrier Orange has announced an overhaul of its own-branded application store that it said will dramatically cut the time it takes for developers to get their applications to Orange customers.
Orange Partner Connect allows developers to submit applications online through a single portal interface for distribution—if deemed suitable—across the Orange footprint, the carrier said. The initial phase of the project, which begins this month, caters only to developers of applications for Android handsets, although Orange said that support for Java and Blackberry platforms will be available in the first quarter of next year.
Orange said that developers can register online; sign a single online agreement to distribute their applications through the Orange App Shop in the markets of their choice; submit applications; create their publishing account; benefit from application review and quality assurance testing from Orange experts; know when their applications go on sale in each county; monitor sales and downloads; and collect payments.
The firm said that it will be giving developers a 70/30 split of revenues, although developers will be given the option to channel some of their share into marketing programmes that could see their applications given extra exposure on the Orange digital inventory.
“We have learned from our experience in publishing Orange-branded applications on various app stores and listened to the needs of application developers to create a service that works for them. Orange Partner Connect has been designed so that our developer partners can benefit from Orange’s global scale, local presence and trusted customer relationships. With this new service we aim to establish a transparent win-win business partnership that developers can trust to truly market their applications to local audiences,” said Yves Tyrode, Executive Vice President of Orange Technocentre.
Orange Partner Connect allows developers to submit applications online through a single portal interface for distribution—if deemed suitable—across the Orange footprint, the carrier said. The initial phase of the project, which begins this month, caters only to developers of applications for Android handsets, although Orange said that support for Java and Blackberry platforms will be available in the first quarter of next year.
Orange said that developers can register online; sign a single online agreement to distribute their applications through the Orange App Shop in the markets of their choice; submit applications; create their publishing account; benefit from application review and quality assurance testing from Orange experts; know when their applications go on sale in each county; monitor sales and downloads; and collect payments.
The firm said that it will be giving developers a 70/30 split of revenues, although developers will be given the option to channel some of their share into marketing programmes that could see their applications given extra exposure on the Orange digital inventory.
“We have learned from our experience in publishing Orange-branded applications on various app stores and listened to the needs of application developers to create a service that works for them. Orange Partner Connect has been designed so that our developer partners can benefit from Orange’s global scale, local presence and trusted customer relationships. With this new service we aim to establish a transparent win-win business partnership that developers can trust to truly market their applications to local audiences,” said Yves Tyrode, Executive Vice President of Orange Technocentre.
Foreign Investors worry over Reps interference with NCC
Controversy surrounding the delay in the approval of the 2010 budget of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, by the House of Representatives, on account of its provision for SIM Card registration, has attracted comments from foreign investors and Nigerians in the Diaspora who have expressed concerns about the consequences of this move.
A cross section of the investors who met with the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu in New York, USA to discuss the issue of independence of the telecom regulator, local content and other issues, including plans for registration of SIM Card in Nigeria, said the idea of withholding finance for any independent regulator, affects its independence, and should be avoided in order to sustain their confidence in the industry.
The group was further shocked when they learnt from Engr. Omo-Ettu, that the budget under discussion was the 2010 budget. He said his Association was aware that the budget for 2010 was submitted to the Presidency through the Ministry in September 2009 and was sent to the National Assembly for approval in January 2010. “We are also aware that the Commission has already submitted the 2011 budget proposal by September 30, 2010 in accordance with the rules”, the ATCON President told the group.
A member of the group, Mr. Chuma Emenike, Director, North Yield Investments, wondered how the nation intends to achieve healthy telecom investment friendliness with this delay of approving NCC’s budget. This hindrance in approving the Budget can be very detrimental to the telecom Industry and the economy as a whole.
Engr. Omo-Ettu pointed to the fact that the Senate has already approved the budget as an indication that at least some legislators understand the importance of the independence of the regulator. He expressed optimism that others be cognizant of the consternation the delay is causing amongst real and potential investors in the Nigerian telecom industry and will take necessary action to forestall the current impasse.
Describing the Nigerian market as in investment haven for ICTs, he urged US-based Nigerians to come home and join in nation building either as investors, consultants or even legislators.
A cross section of the investors who met with the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu in New York, USA to discuss the issue of independence of the telecom regulator, local content and other issues, including plans for registration of SIM Card in Nigeria, said the idea of withholding finance for any independent regulator, affects its independence, and should be avoided in order to sustain their confidence in the industry.
The group was further shocked when they learnt from Engr. Omo-Ettu, that the budget under discussion was the 2010 budget. He said his Association was aware that the budget for 2010 was submitted to the Presidency through the Ministry in September 2009 and was sent to the National Assembly for approval in January 2010. “We are also aware that the Commission has already submitted the 2011 budget proposal by September 30, 2010 in accordance with the rules”, the ATCON President told the group.
A member of the group, Mr. Chuma Emenike, Director, North Yield Investments, wondered how the nation intends to achieve healthy telecom investment friendliness with this delay of approving NCC’s budget. This hindrance in approving the Budget can be very detrimental to the telecom Industry and the economy as a whole.
Engr. Omo-Ettu pointed to the fact that the Senate has already approved the budget as an indication that at least some legislators understand the importance of the independence of the regulator. He expressed optimism that others be cognizant of the consternation the delay is causing amongst real and potential investors in the Nigerian telecom industry and will take necessary action to forestall the current impasse.
Describing the Nigerian market as in investment haven for ICTs, he urged US-based Nigerians to come home and join in nation building either as investors, consultants or even legislators.
Glo set to make 200 millionaires during festive season
Globacom , Nigeria ’s national telecoms operator, has unveiled Season 2 of its popular, exciting and highly rewarding Glo “text4millions” promo.
Speaking during the media launch of the promo held at the Mike Adenuga Towers headquarters of the company in Lagos , Globacom’s Group COO, Mohamed Jameel said the promo was introduced because of the positive impact the first edition had on the lives of the network's subscribers.
“As you may recall, the first edition of the Glo “text4millions promo” which we launched last year, was warmly embraced by our subscribers. The promotion created over 133 millionaires from Glo subscribers nationwide, while thousands of other subscribers won valuable consolation prizes and airtime worth millions of Naira. It is on record that Mallam Ibrahim Abukar, a 36-year old electrician based in Abuja , FCT went home with the grand prize of N30million”, he said.
Jameel explained that while the first season saw the creation of one Glo millionaire daily for the duration of the promo, the stakes have been raised higher as Season 2 of the Glo “text4millions” promo will create two millionaires daily. This means that two winners of N1million each will emerge daily for the 100-days duration of the promo.
Also in the loaded package, one subscriber will smile home with the monthly jackpot of N10million cash for 3 months while the winner of the grand prize will go home with the whopping, life-changing sum of N30million.
Other exciting prizes to be won by Glo subscribers in the promo include one brand new 3.5 litres Toyota Venza for 3 months, one HP Laptop computer daily for 100 days and one motorbike daily for 100 days. 1000 Glo subscribers will also win a N500 recharge card every week.
Jameel said the promo was coming at the right time as it holds the promise of an exciting Xmas and New Year season of unprecedented rewards for current and new subscribers on the Glo network.
“With a total cash payout of over N200m and an additional prize value running into hundreds of millions of naira, this promotion will make an enormous contribution to the lives of the lucky winners, positively touch their families and give our subscribers a special reason to rejoice as we turn the corner into the New Year, 2011”, he stated.
In order to participate, subscribers are simply required to send “WIN” to the short code 555, thereby standing a chance of winning any of the fantastic prizes being offered in the promotion.
Speaking during the media launch of the promo held at the Mike Adenuga Towers headquarters of the company in Lagos , Globacom’s Group COO, Mohamed Jameel said the promo was introduced because of the positive impact the first edition had on the lives of the network's subscribers.
“As you may recall, the first edition of the Glo “text4millions promo” which we launched last year, was warmly embraced by our subscribers. The promotion created over 133 millionaires from Glo subscribers nationwide, while thousands of other subscribers won valuable consolation prizes and airtime worth millions of Naira. It is on record that Mallam Ibrahim Abukar, a 36-year old electrician based in Abuja , FCT went home with the grand prize of N30million”, he said.
Jameel explained that while the first season saw the creation of one Glo millionaire daily for the duration of the promo, the stakes have been raised higher as Season 2 of the Glo “text4millions” promo will create two millionaires daily. This means that two winners of N1million each will emerge daily for the 100-days duration of the promo.
Also in the loaded package, one subscriber will smile home with the monthly jackpot of N10million cash for 3 months while the winner of the grand prize will go home with the whopping, life-changing sum of N30million.
Other exciting prizes to be won by Glo subscribers in the promo include one brand new 3.5 litres Toyota Venza for 3 months, one HP Laptop computer daily for 100 days and one motorbike daily for 100 days. 1000 Glo subscribers will also win a N500 recharge card every week.
Jameel said the promo was coming at the right time as it holds the promise of an exciting Xmas and New Year season of unprecedented rewards for current and new subscribers on the Glo network.
“With a total cash payout of over N200m and an additional prize value running into hundreds of millions of naira, this promotion will make an enormous contribution to the lives of the lucky winners, positively touch their families and give our subscribers a special reason to rejoice as we turn the corner into the New Year, 2011”, he stated.
In order to participate, subscribers are simply required to send “WIN” to the short code 555, thereby standing a chance of winning any of the fantastic prizes being offered in the promotion.
MTN begins Tower sharing venture in Ghana
Pan-African carrier MTN has followed Vodafone’s lead in Ghana, embarking upon a tower sharing venture with specialist firm American Tower Corporation. MTN Ghana and American Tower are to establish a joint venture, TowerCo Ghana, to be 51 per cent held by American and 49 per cent held by MTN, with the operator as the anchor tenant, on commercial terms, on each of the towers being purchased.
The transaction involves the sale of up to 1,876 of MTN Ghana’s existing sites to TowerCo Ghana for an agreed price of up to $428.3m. TowerCo Ghana will also build at least an additional 400 sites for both MTN Ghana and other wireless operators in Ghana over the next five years.
Group president and CEO of MTN Group, Phuthuma Nhleko, said: “Infrastructure sharing makes absolute sense for MTN and was a key aspect of the updated strategy outlined to MTN shareholders on 15 July 2010. We have in the recent past looked at various permutations to reduce our infrastructure roll-out costs as well as the on-going costs of operating our passive infrastructure in our key markets. Because market conditions in each of the markets are unique, we have resolved to evaluate infrastructure sharing opportunities on a market by market basis. The Ghanaian market has presented us with an opportunity to partner with a leading independent global tower operator.”
Vodafone Ghana signed a ten year contract with African tower company Eaton Towers, to take over the operations and co-location management of 750 telecom towers for the Ghanaian operator, back in October.
Eaton will develop the existing infrastructure and build new towers and will also be able to sell co-location and shared-infrastructure facilities to other mobile operators, generating future revenues from separate long-term contracts.
Ghana is Eaton’s first operational market and telecoms.com has an upcoming interview with CEO Alan Harper. Speaking recently about the company’s launch, he said: “To some extent the business exists because Africa is behind rest of world. Penetration is low, look at Ghana with 30 to 40 per cent market penetration. Operators there have anything from couple of hundred sites to couple of thousand sites and many markets are still based on 2G and voice, but some have 3G rollouts taking place.
“The state of growth and pricing is not under the same economic pressure as many carriers in Europe. In developed markets operators might be looking at sharing to save costs and consolidation. That’s very different state of development to many African markets,” he said.
Vodafone Ghana is the country’s third placed operator, with 2.9 million subscribers. MTN Ghana leads the pack with 9.1 million users, followed by Millicom with 3.5 million. Zain and Kasapa bring up the rear with 1.4 million and 172,700 subscribers respectively.
The transaction involves the sale of up to 1,876 of MTN Ghana’s existing sites to TowerCo Ghana for an agreed price of up to $428.3m. TowerCo Ghana will also build at least an additional 400 sites for both MTN Ghana and other wireless operators in Ghana over the next five years.
Group president and CEO of MTN Group, Phuthuma Nhleko, said: “Infrastructure sharing makes absolute sense for MTN and was a key aspect of the updated strategy outlined to MTN shareholders on 15 July 2010. We have in the recent past looked at various permutations to reduce our infrastructure roll-out costs as well as the on-going costs of operating our passive infrastructure in our key markets. Because market conditions in each of the markets are unique, we have resolved to evaluate infrastructure sharing opportunities on a market by market basis. The Ghanaian market has presented us with an opportunity to partner with a leading independent global tower operator.”
Vodafone Ghana signed a ten year contract with African tower company Eaton Towers, to take over the operations and co-location management of 750 telecom towers for the Ghanaian operator, back in October.
Eaton will develop the existing infrastructure and build new towers and will also be able to sell co-location and shared-infrastructure facilities to other mobile operators, generating future revenues from separate long-term contracts.
Ghana is Eaton’s first operational market and telecoms.com has an upcoming interview with CEO Alan Harper. Speaking recently about the company’s launch, he said: “To some extent the business exists because Africa is behind rest of world. Penetration is low, look at Ghana with 30 to 40 per cent market penetration. Operators there have anything from couple of hundred sites to couple of thousand sites and many markets are still based on 2G and voice, but some have 3G rollouts taking place.
“The state of growth and pricing is not under the same economic pressure as many carriers in Europe. In developed markets operators might be looking at sharing to save costs and consolidation. That’s very different state of development to many African markets,” he said.
Vodafone Ghana is the country’s third placed operator, with 2.9 million subscribers. MTN Ghana leads the pack with 9.1 million users, followed by Millicom with 3.5 million. Zain and Kasapa bring up the rear with 1.4 million and 172,700 subscribers respectively.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Internet Promo: IZAP Users Get Extended Browsing Time for Xmas
Customers of Starcomms Plc, who subscribe to IZAP, the number one internet product in Nigeria are now being offered a 50% extra validity period on their internet subscriptions. In a promotion that started on Thursday 2 December and which will close on December 12 2010, all IZAP users except those on the 250 hours plan will get the bonus validity time. Customers on the 250 hours already have the stretch three months validity on their subscription.
This largesse of the season which is expected to help IZAP customers, who activate or renew their subscription during the promotion period, browse the internet way into the new year before another renewal, will be enjoyed by all IZAP users in the country. With this, the customers can send and receive data messages all through the holiday period without the hassles of renewal that comes with their normal validity period. The extension comes automatically with new activation or renewal if it is done within the stipulated period of the promotion.
The chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari, while speaking about the promotion said that the company decided on it, knowing that the Christmas season is very crucial to internet users both for their businesses and for pleasure. The company therefore believes that it is the right period to add value to their lifestyles.
For instance customers on the hundred hours’ package will enjoy 45 five days of browsing time. This in effect signifies a roll-over of whatever number of hours is left on their package after the 30 days normal validity period of their subscription plan.
“We know that the flurry of activities that characterises this season, both in people’s private lives and their professional space will require uninterrupted communication channel for some customers. We also know that there are some people whose pleasurable activities will take them away from their IZAP cities to remote areas for some days during the season. This promotion therefore offers all our customers extra value on their IZAP subscription during the Christmas season through the first two weeks of the new year if they activate or renew their IZAP,” Maheshwari said as he enjoins internet users to take advantage of the promotion.
Starcomms IZAP, in the last four years, has ruled the world of internet products offered by telecommunication companies in the country for its speed, ease of use and value. Since 2007, the IZAP brand has been adjudged the Internet Product of the Year in the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards. This year the brand has won the same award at the African Telecom Hall of Fame.
IZAP is enjoyed by internet users on Starcomms’ network in major Nigerian cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin, Calabar Warri, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Katsina and their surrounding towns and villages. The product has empowered Nigerians in these cities with the diverse opportunities that it presents for entrepreneurs, professionals, students, as well as the entire tertiary institution communities. The current promotion is designed to make Christmas more enjoyable for IZAP users in the cities.
This largesse of the season which is expected to help IZAP customers, who activate or renew their subscription during the promotion period, browse the internet way into the new year before another renewal, will be enjoyed by all IZAP users in the country. With this, the customers can send and receive data messages all through the holiday period without the hassles of renewal that comes with their normal validity period. The extension comes automatically with new activation or renewal if it is done within the stipulated period of the promotion.
The chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari, while speaking about the promotion said that the company decided on it, knowing that the Christmas season is very crucial to internet users both for their businesses and for pleasure. The company therefore believes that it is the right period to add value to their lifestyles.
For instance customers on the hundred hours’ package will enjoy 45 five days of browsing time. This in effect signifies a roll-over of whatever number of hours is left on their package after the 30 days normal validity period of their subscription plan.
“We know that the flurry of activities that characterises this season, both in people’s private lives and their professional space will require uninterrupted communication channel for some customers. We also know that there are some people whose pleasurable activities will take them away from their IZAP cities to remote areas for some days during the season. This promotion therefore offers all our customers extra value on their IZAP subscription during the Christmas season through the first two weeks of the new year if they activate or renew their IZAP,” Maheshwari said as he enjoins internet users to take advantage of the promotion.
Starcomms IZAP, in the last four years, has ruled the world of internet products offered by telecommunication companies in the country for its speed, ease of use and value. Since 2007, the IZAP brand has been adjudged the Internet Product of the Year in the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards. This year the brand has won the same award at the African Telecom Hall of Fame.
IZAP is enjoyed by internet users on Starcomms’ network in major Nigerian cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin, Calabar Warri, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Katsina and their surrounding towns and villages. The product has empowered Nigerians in these cities with the diverse opportunities that it presents for entrepreneurs, professionals, students, as well as the entire tertiary institution communities. The current promotion is designed to make Christmas more enjoyable for IZAP users in the cities.
Starcomms completes US$81.4 million tower sale deal
Starcomms Plc has successfully concluded a sale and leaseback agreement with Swap Technologies and Telecomms Plc (“Swap”) relating to 407 of its 557 Base Station Towers for a consideration of US$81.4 million in cash.
Under the terms of the transaction, Swap will take over the operation and maintenance of the passive aspects of the 407 towers. These towers comprise the physical structures as well as the power components, while the core network and radio components remain under Starcomms’ ownership and control. The lease agreement is for an initial duration of 15 years, and allows Starcomms full access to the towers to operate its network.
Starcomms’ CEO, Mr. Maher Qubain, said, "Sale and leaseback transactions such as this have become commonplace worldwide within the telecommunications sector. By leasing rather than owning these passive infrastructure network facilities, we can free up capital to fund additional growth, reduce debts and operational costs in the company, as well as allow management to focus on its core business."
“$67 million of the proceeds realized from the sale will be applied towards repayment of a sizable portion of the company’s bank debts, thereby significantly strengthening the balance sheet of the company, while also reducing interest charges,” said Qubain. “The balance of the US$14.4 million will be used to fund growth of the business”.
Starcomms , a Nigerian-owned full-service telecommunications operator with an active subscriber base of 2 million, is the first and only telecommunications company to have its shares publicly listed and traded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Its network footprint covers 21 out of 36 states of the federation. It has consistently been rated as a leading telecoms operator, having recently been awarded the A.C. Nielsen’s 2010 / 2011 Super Brand Award for excellence.
Incorporated in 2003, Swap has operational bases in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, providing integrated services to major operators in those countries.
"These are excellent towers and are concentrated in very strategic locations around the country. They will enable us provide a more extensive range of fully integrated service benefits as wireless communications continue to grow. We are proud to be associated with Starcomms, which is a recognized leader in the Nigerian telecommunications market," said Olatunde Titilayo, Swap’s CEO, in a statement.
Under the terms of the transaction, Swap will take over the operation and maintenance of the passive aspects of the 407 towers. These towers comprise the physical structures as well as the power components, while the core network and radio components remain under Starcomms’ ownership and control. The lease agreement is for an initial duration of 15 years, and allows Starcomms full access to the towers to operate its network.
Starcomms’ CEO, Mr. Maher Qubain, said, "Sale and leaseback transactions such as this have become commonplace worldwide within the telecommunications sector. By leasing rather than owning these passive infrastructure network facilities, we can free up capital to fund additional growth, reduce debts and operational costs in the company, as well as allow management to focus on its core business."
“$67 million of the proceeds realized from the sale will be applied towards repayment of a sizable portion of the company’s bank debts, thereby significantly strengthening the balance sheet of the company, while also reducing interest charges,” said Qubain. “The balance of the US$14.4 million will be used to fund growth of the business”.
Starcomms , a Nigerian-owned full-service telecommunications operator with an active subscriber base of 2 million, is the first and only telecommunications company to have its shares publicly listed and traded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Its network footprint covers 21 out of 36 states of the federation. It has consistently been rated as a leading telecoms operator, having recently been awarded the A.C. Nielsen’s 2010 / 2011 Super Brand Award for excellence.
Incorporated in 2003, Swap has operational bases in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, providing integrated services to major operators in those countries.
"These are excellent towers and are concentrated in very strategic locations around the country. They will enable us provide a more extensive range of fully integrated service benefits as wireless communications continue to grow. We are proud to be associated with Starcomms, which is a recognized leader in the Nigerian telecommunications market," said Olatunde Titilayo, Swap’s CEO, in a statement.
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