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30% National Broadband Penetration by 2018 Achievable-Johnson

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Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, has reiterated that implementing a national broadband strategy and roadmap that seeks to increase broadband penetration from 6% to 30% in the country by 2018 is achievable.

Johnson made the remark during a presentation at the Pat Utomi Center for Values and Leadership celebration of the ICT sector, adding that ensuring 3G/LTE Wireless Broadband Coverage to 80% of the population; Fixed broadband to 16% of population based on fibre by 2018; Minimum download speeds of 1.5 Mbps; Open Non-Discriminatory Access; Facilitating increased investments in ICT infrastructure; Spectrum auctions; Regional Infrastructure (fibre) Companies (Infracos); Smart States initiative (to reduce cost of infrastructure deployment) are part of top priorities set by the Ministry.

She added that through Universal Service Provision Fund, issues related to critical national infrastructure, particularly at the rural areas, are been tackled.

In Connect Nigeria initiative, government wants to speed up the building out of communications infrastructure so that all of Nigeria has access to good quality and affordable, high-speed telecom and internet services.

Also, with Connect Nigerians initiative, the Ministry is working to, “Ensure that Nigerians have affordable and convenient access to devices and have the capacity to use them; so that all Nigerians can share in the benefits of ICTs.

Lower the barriers to entry and increase the participation of Nigerian companies in the ICT sector; and stimulate job creation in the industry, form part of the policy thrust.

Specifically, she said, mobile money is currently mostly used to buy airtime; it however has the potential to serve as a platform for drawing more people into formal financial services

Backing up the claims with statistics, Johnson said that, “More people in Nigeria have a mobile phone than have a bank account. 75% of adults living in urban areas and 39% of them living in rural areas have access to a pre-paid mobile phone. 18 Mobile Money Operators registered in Nigeria; since commencement of operations: Approx. 1m subscribers; About 67,000 registered Agents and Over 11million transactions of over $600 Million have been conducted.

She admitted that whilst uptake has been initially slow, improving infrastructure, fine-tuning of legislation and increasing confidence in product by consumers will result in significant acceleration.

Analysis shows that a significant proportion of payments in Nigeria are cash based.

Total payments are estimated at US$695bn per annum; Cash accounts for over 90% of transactions in terms of volume, and about 60% in total value.

Bank transfers and cheque payments combined make up less than 0.5% in terms of volume and approximately 38% in terms of value.

Other digital forms of payment are increasing in volume, however they currently make up only about 2% in value.

Most payments (in terms of value) are between businesses and persons (B2B, B2P, P2P).

Government payments however have high potential to change the payment landscape of the country.

Cash transactions are expensive, risky and promote insecurity in the financial system and country.

Government is therefore implementing policies to increase the adoption of digital forms of payments.

The Minister said that, ICTs are at the heart of the success of such policies with infrastructure for the delivery of services, applications for management, security and adoption of services.

Although the situation is improving, currently 35 million adult Nigerians (about 46%) are financially excluded.

Adoption of products and services not supplied by deposit money banks has contributed the most to reducing exclusion (i.e. the “formal other” category).

Johnson was optimistic that Nigeria’s positioning in the growth story of the global ICT industry is improving and strategic hence successes achieved in several sub sectors are worth celebrating but key initiatives are still a work in progress.

“Delivering an ICT environment that is ‘enabling’ for consumers and engages more Nigerians at a high level will only be possible through creative partnerships and collaborations,” she added.


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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New CAMON Device Set to Redefine Mobile Content Creation

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TECNO is gearing up to launch the next CAMON series device, which promises to be the next evolution in mobile photography.

TECNO

The CAMON lineup has always been known for its innovation in capturing and sharing cherished moments. Now, TECNO is taking it to the next level with a groundbreaking camera innovation that aims to redefine what’s possible.

For years, the CAMON series has been the driving force behind countless memorable shots, empowering users to unleash their creativity and capture the world in stunning detail. With the upcoming device, TECNO promises to exceed your expectations and deliver an unparalleled photography experience that’s second to none.

The new CAMON device will feature cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance, setting a new standard for mobile photography and content creation. Imagine being ten steps ahead of the curve, armed with a device that empowers you to capture the perfect shot every time.

Stay updated on the latest news and announcements regarding the upcoming TECNO CAMON device by following TECNO on FacebookInstagram, and X(Twitter). Join TECNO on this exciting journey towards the future of mobile photography!


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Data Protection: NIMC’s Licensees to Face More Scrutiny

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Following the reported incident of unauthorized NIN verification by expressverify.com, investigation reveals that a third-party who, among others, was originally authorized to provide verification services to citizens and genuine businesses might have allowed expressverify.com to use its NIN verification credentials to conduct verification. The circumstances surrounding this permission is still under investigation.

 

To remedy this incident, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in line with established remediation protocols, barred all forms of access to its database.

Though necessary, barring all forms of access affected all genuine and crucial verification requests. After a painstaking review, limited access has been granted to few establishments that are providing pivotal public services such as education and security.

Ongoing investigation – by relevant agencies – seeks to establish the medium through which expressverify.com obtained the credentials of bona fide third parties and to determine the liability of persons involved in line with extant laws.

At the moment, data processing by licensees generally are to be scrutinized and only those that are cleared based on credible evidence of regulatory compliance will be permitted to carry out NIN verification going forward.

Furthermore, series of intensive trainings will be conducted in order to ensure that personnel and licensees are abreast of the duty of care and the standard of care mandated by the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NIMC’s Privacy Policy and other relevant regulatory protocols.

In the meantime, NDPC calls on members of the public to see NIN as an essential data for sustainable development. While existing technical and organizational measures are being strengthened to ensure the protection of this data, it is important for citizens to ensure that they are not left unidentified in various frameworks for development. It is equally important to be vigilant when sharing personal information on various online platforms.


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5 Common Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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Are you confident that your valuable data is protected from unexpected disasters or cyber threats? Consider this: 1 in 10 computers fall victim to viruses, and a staggering 113 phones are stolen every minute every day[1].

With data loss being a sudden and potentially irretrievable nightmare, ensuring reliable backups is non-negotiable. March 31st, celebrated as World Backup Day, is a poignant reminder of this essential task. Let’s delve into the common backup mistakes people make and how to steer clear of those.

1. Skipping regular backups:

The most common mistake is forgetting to back up data regularly. Whether personal files or crucial business documents, not establishing a consistent backup routine leaves you vulnerable to data loss.

Unexpected system crashes or malware attacks can happen anytime, making your precious data inaccessible or permanently lost. But you can help avoid such a situation by setting up automatic backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
2. Putting all faith in a single backup device:

A device can get damaged or stolen, putting your backups at risk, so depending entirely on one storage medium is playing a dangerous game with your data’s safety.

 Instead, diversify your backup storage solutions with a combination of external HDDs, NAS, and cloud storage.

Portable HDDs like those from WD like Western Digital’s My Passport offer up to 5TB for simple, cost-effective backups. For smartphones, 2-in-1 flash drives such as SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C and SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe are convenient options.

These drives, compatible with USB Type-C devices, automatically back up photos, videos, and more. Just plug and play for seamless data transfer across devices.

If you need a device to store huge amounts of data, then the desktop drive called My Book  from WD is just the product for you, with up to 22TB of storage capacity.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
storage device

3. Forgetting version control:

Overlooking version control during backups is another blunder. Not keeping multiple versions of files increases the chance of saving corrupted or wrong data over previous versions.

Without a proper versioning system, fixing mistakes or retrieving older versions can become a challenge. To prevent forgetting version control, establish a system that tracks changes to your files over time.

This ensures that you can always revert to earlier versions if needed, helping protect against accidental data loss or corruption.

Regularly maintaining this system will help you stay organized and prepared for any unforeseen issues.

Additionally, it’s crucial to verify the version you’re backing up to ensure it’s the correct one.

This simple step can help prevent accidental overwriting of important data with potentially corrupted or incorrect versions.

Double-checking ensures that you’re safeguarding the most up-to-date and accurate information, minimizing the risk of errors during backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
4. Ignoring off-site backup solutions:

Many people overlook off-site backup solutions, assuming local backups are foolproof. However, relying solely on local backups makes you vulnerable to site-specific disasters like fires or theft.

Using off-site backups means keeping copies of your data in different places so that if something bad happens in one area, your data stays safe.

As an alternative, you could use cloud storage. Cloud backup devices are popular for remote data storage accessible via the internet. Various online cloud services offer features like file synchronization, sharing, and encryption for secure data storage.

5. Underestimating encryption:

Not prioritizing encryption in backups can be a costly mistake. Storing unencrypted backups makes your sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access or breaches.

Implementing strong encryption ensures even if your backups fall into the wrong hands, the data remains protected.

However, it is equally important to remember not to opt for out-of-the-box encryption solutions, as they might make it difficult for you to retrieve the backed-up information later.

My Passport HDD and My Book from WD come equipped with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection that helps keep content secure.

Additionally, maintaining proper key management practices is essential to ensure smooth decryption and access to your data when needed.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
Monitor and storage device

This World Backup Day, Western Digital urges you to back up your data safely, and at the same time, prepare for the unexpected by having a contingency plan in place for device mishaps like crashes, theft, or damage.

Worrying about losing data isn’t something you have to lose sleep over if you have an active data backup strategy.

A common rule of thumb for keeping important data from disappearing forever is the 3-2-1 Rule. It dictates that you should:

3. Have THREE copies of your data. One is a primary backup and two are copies.

   2. Save copies of your backups on TWO different types of media or devices.

   1. ONE backup copy should be kept offsite in case of disaster.

Determine where and how you’ll store backup files and identify support contacts for swift assistance.

These proactive measures ensure quick data recovery and safeguard your cherished memories for the long haul.


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