Connect with us

Telecom

Government Intervention Required to Attract Investments in Telecom- Teniola

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Nigerian Telecommunications industry was once referred to as one of the fastest growing in the world. The situation is, however, a lot different today as many operators are faced with loss of revenue, largely due to the economic recession, over the top players, multiple taxation, insecurity and other issues.

I was recently with Olusola Teniola, President of the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, and he spoke at length on the some of the challenges in the Telecom industry and the way forward.

Olusola stated that, the reason why investors are not investing in the Telecom industry in Nigeria for now can be looked at from both the macro and the micro economic environment within Nigeria.

Having being in recession for more than two quarters, and the low growth rate of between 0.3% and 0.8%, which is not the kind of growth rate that an investor is looking to invest in. “Investors will be looking for high single digit or double digit growth rate regime to invest in”, he maintained.

He stated that Kenya and Ethiopia are the current leaders in the Telecom industry in Africa at the moment, with Nigeria and South Africa lagging behind. The recession, he declared, has made many capital projects to be put on hold in the Telecom industry which is capital intensive.  

Olusola stated that the industry needs the government to create the enabling environment, as well as create a more stable foreign exchange regime because, the multitude of forex windows we currently have, is not encouraging the investor. He also stated that the debt facility problem being faced by about two of the players in the industry.

Speaking on how all these has impacted on the quality of service provided by these Telecom companies, Olusola stated that, there are two aspects to the quality of service provided and this is where the micro economic environment comes in. He emphasized that, one of them is the technical aspect of quality.

The NCC, he said, focuses on the technical aspect of it in terms of the KPI’s set and are usually driven by the ITU standards. The other aspect, he stated, has to do with capacity management, which has to deal with investments in networks. “If you look at the actual composition of the industry to date, there has been an investment of about $68billion, right from the time the industry was liberalized in 2001 to date and that represents quite a significant amount of Dollars flowing in”, he observed.

He emphasized that, about half of the $68billion investment, so far, came in through FDI, and if it is broken down further, only one operator has contributed 50% of that, as about $16billion came from only one operator, where we have many operators.

He opined, that, the investments, so far, has not covered the whole of Nigeria, hence, the industry is still in need of further injection of investment to grow. He said that there are about 150million subscribers where the networks have, so far, deployed in Nigeria.

He made it known that, services to these subscribers, is based on the infrastructure that we have, so far, which was built, predominantly, for voice, but which now also runs e-payments, mobile money, etc.

“You can see that, the struggle to try and keep up with the congestion requires that more capacity has to be put in place and that means funding”, he observed

When asked what he recommends as steps, going forward, Olusola stated that ATCON has always advocated that its members have their equipment and investments protected, which he reiterated, is significant.

He observed that, yes, ICT has now become critical to the success of the Nigerian economy, Telecom, however, is a key factor and an infrastructure player in Nigeria at the moment because, without the infrastructure, we cannot even use our smartphones for any other thing other than to using it for making the basic calls.

On security of the Telecom infrastructure, there has been a liaison with NCC and other security outfits, like the Nigerian Police, to protect these infrastructures.

The Association, he stated, also encourages the reporting of incidences of damages to infrastructures the more instead of just repairing the damages and keeping mum over the damages.

The idea, he maintained, is to raise awareness about the negative impact on the quality of services rendered, caused by tampering with Telecom facilities

Olusola is of the opinion that, it is not about the fact that, whether Floor pricing has to go or has to stay, but it is about innovation, competition and the best consumer choice. The extinction of the CDMA’s, he observed, had to do with the management of the companies involved as well as operating on a regional basis and not on national basis, rather than about pricing.

“The forces that dictate the market chose the GSM technology for many reasons, and one of the reasons is that the SIM card can be divorced from the device and the devices, in my opinion, are actually, more smarter and lovelier in the GSM realm than in the CDMA”, he concluded.

CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter,Tech Trends on Channels Television


Kindly share this post

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.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Telecom

New CAMON Device Set to Redefine Mobile Content Creation

Published

on

Kindly share this post

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!


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Data Protection: NIMC’s Licensees to Face More Scrutiny

Published

on

Kindly share this post

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.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

5 Common Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Published

on

Kindly share this post

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.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending