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How Telecom Fared in the Out Going Year

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Nigeria telecommunications sector in the out going year was felt with mixed given. The sector which has been adjudged the fastest growing in Africa, witnessed low level of activities compared to previous years as it grasp with the effect of global economic meltdown, which led to reduction in the revenue accruing to operators.
The year began with operators seeking a palliative measure in the face of global economic meltdown which forced equipment vendors downsizing as well as withdrawing credit facilities to operators. Telecom operators led by Bayo Ligali, then chief executive officer, Zain Nigeria, said that the sector does not need financial bail out as was the case in United State of America and some European countries, and that they are requesting for tax waivers as a way of cushioning the effect of economic meltdown.
This request was not granted as government through Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), explained that the effect of the global economic meltdown will not adversely affect the industry. He added that the industry is doing well and is not likely to be affected by the global crisis as it has the potential to act as a catalyst to other sectors for future economic recovery.
He pointed out that banks still want to do business with telcos because they remain the cash-cow of the economy, stressing that although people may not want to spend more money in other areas, ‘they still will make calls for business and social reasons.”
He anticipated that the sector would advance on its records by improving on broadband penetration, thereby accelerating the social and economic development in the modern world.
However, this did not happen as average revenue per user (ARPU) dropped drastically leading to operators adopting different internal strategy to reduce cost. Among such strategies is reduction in the budget for advert campaigns and downsizing. The situation, was compounded when Central Bank of Nigeria started the recent reform in the banking sector aimed at sanitizing the system, this resulted in banks’ refusal to grant loans to businesses including telecommunications operators while pressurizing those who were given loans to start repaying such loans.
More so, the government in this outgoing year realized the importance of ICT as a viable platform to transform the country’s economy into knowledge based economy. The telecom sector along with increased competition among players have brought substantial benefits to consumers in terms of lower subscription rates and enhanced choice. According to bharatbook research, ‘the country has a huge potential to boost its mobile market given the fact that penetration rate was just around 43% at the end of 2008. With rapidly improving mobile infrastructure and intense competition among mobile operators, the number of mobile subscribers will grow at a CAGR of around 15.5% between 2010 and 2012 and the penetration rate will exceed 75% (by 2012 end)’. In line with the escalating education and business in the country, it noted that the demand for Internet services will soar as businesses need new mediums to get exposure on the global map. Supported by forward-looking government programs, Nigeria is all set to become one of the leading Internet markets in Africa in terms of users, international bandwidth and services offered. The research report projects that the number of Internet users will grow at a CAGR of over 25% during forecast period.
Licensing of 2.3 GHz spectrum band
The licensing process of 2.3 Ghz spectrum band which was expected to boost telecommunications sector in 2009 turn out to frustrate the growth. Nigerian Communications Commission advertised for bidders to the spectrum it got from National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that was aimed at boosting broadband service delivery. By the end of the bidding time 46 companies applied for the license out of which Mobitel, Spectranet and Multi-Links emerged as winners.
The 2.3GHz licensing round, concluded on May 8, had raised a lot of dust and led to a deluge of petitions to the Presidency with several complaints of a flawed process in the conduct of the exercise. This resulted to Prof. Dora Akunyili, Minister of Information and Communications, directing the cancellation of the exercise and for a fresh and transparent one to be conducted, while money already collected to the tune of N4.104 billion be refunded to the announced winners and for the whole process re-advertised.
One of the grouse of the petitioners is that the NCC only effectively gave the companies that indicated interest in the licence just a week (or five working days) within which to raise N1.3 billion to pay for the licence.
One of the petitions alleged that in the period of economic meltdown, five working days were not enough to raise the amount required before the deadline.
The NCC adverts were published Thursday, April 30, while May 1 was a public holiday and 2-3 fell on a weekend, leaving the firms just five working days to raise the fees.
It was also alleged that the exercise lacked transparency as the NCC was accused of adopting first-hand information approach with some companies said to have been favoured over others because they had prior information even before the commission placed the adverts in the papers with a week’s deadline given for payment.
After several efforts made by stakeholders in the telecommunications industry aimed at resolving the issue failed as none of the parties were ready to shift ground that the issue was taken to the president, who ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission to start fresh licensing for the spectrum band, declaring the previous contest void. An official statement by Olusegun Adeniyi presidential spokesman said: ‘having carefully reviewed official reports and representations from stakeholders, and after availing himself of competent advice on the recent licensing of the 2.3GHz spectrum band, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has come to the conclusion that the letters and spirit of the stipulated rules and guidelines were not adequately complied with.’
Undersea Cable Initiative
The outgoing 2009 will ever be remember in many years to come as it witness the landing of the first single company initiated submarine cable, Glo 1 in Lagos.  The 9,800 km cable stretching from the UK across all the West African countries was anchored to its landing station in Nigeria at Alpha beach in Lagos. 
The trend in the global telecommunication industry is for a consortium of companies to build submarine cables as was the case with the SAT submarine 3 cable which was built by a consortium of 36 countries.
The project jointly executed by Globacom and its partners, Alcatel Lucent is expected to give Nigeria lead in telemedicine, eCommerce and egovernance among other practices that transform economies.
Jameel Mohammed, the group chief operating officer of Globacom Limited, said Glo 1 would deliver transmission capacity that would radically change Nigeria and West Africa’s economic landscape by linking 17 countries to the rest of the world.
Jameel said the landing of Glo-1 was another milestone in the history of Nigeria’s communications industry, adding that the cable would provide unprecedented high speed Internet services and make telecom services much faster, more reliable and cheaper for consumers.
The Globacom GCOO said implementing submarine cable projects, particularly the one spanning about 10,000 km from London to Lagos, is an initiative that usually takes between two to two and a half years to complete.
He said because the cable passed through various territorial waters and jurisdictions of several African countries, Globacom had to contend with lengthy approval processes.
He said Glo-1’s current and upgradeable capacity is enough to provide whatever broadband capacity Nigerians require for the next 15 to 20 years at the minimum projections.
The telecoms giant had factored Nigeria’s long term bandwidth requirements into the equation, he said, adding that Glo 1 can carry voice traffic of all operators internationally.
Mr. Adewale Shangowawa,  Globacom’s executive director, Human Resources, noted that with the landing of the Glo1 submarine cable, Globacom has scored another first and as well has taken a  bold step to give Nigeria the lead in the magical broadband revolution in Africa.
The cable which is of the 32 STM 64 type has virtual infinite capacity and therefore offers sufficient capacity for traffic for the Globacom’s mobile, fixed, and internet telecommunication services.
This will translate into much faster and more robust connectivity for voice, data and video. The cable will connect 14 West African countries through the branching units to the rest of the world. It will boost economic activities in the region, create job opportunities and serve companies in Europe and Africa.
The year also witnessed the completion of survey work on the route where the first private sector led and funded international telecommunications highway project between West Africa and the rest of the world, known as the MainOne Submarine cable will be laid.
The main route survey operation followed the completion of the 27 kilometres in-shore survey operation, near Portugal. The in-shore survey which commenced in January ahead of schedule was completed successfully in February. "Kommandor Jack" the MainOne cable survey vessel started mobilization in Lisbon, Porugal on Wednesday March 25 and arrive Nigeria in October.
Mrs. Funke Opeke, chief executive officer, MainStreet Technologies, owners of MainOne cable, said the submarine cable project will further reduce the cost of telecom services in the country by between 10 to 20 percent of what is currently paid for such services. The project, according to her, will provide unlimited transmission capacity at improved rate and reduced prices, such that it will enhance speed of Internet browsing. The technology, she explained, will help telecom operating companies who connects to the submarine cable, to have enough transmission capacity to offer services and still sell to smaller operators, if they so desire.
The Main One project will also ease the difficulties of switching traffic between African countries, eliminating the inconvenience and added costs of fist routing traffic to Europe. The first phase will span 7,000 kilometres and is billed for completion in June 2010.


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Treepz Doubles Down on Corporate Mobility in Africa with Launch of a New Website

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Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has expanded its corporate mobility and employee transportation services across the continent with a fresh new look for its website.

 

The company’s new website boasts a sleek, user-friendly interface with added features to better showcase Treepz’s range of services for companies looking to efficiently and sustainably move employees and clients in major African cities. From on-demand employee shuttles, and school bus solutions to intra-city group trips for events and conferences, Treepz is positioning itself as an all-in-one corporate transportation provider.

Managing transportation logistics across multiple sites has always been an operational nightmare for companies,” said Onyeka Akumah, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Treepz. “Our goal is to streamline that experience through Treepz’s powerful technology platform.”

With nearly 6,000 employees of companies daily relying on Treepz’s innovative tech and reliable fleet for employee transportation or staff bus commutes, we understand the complexities of managing corporate transportation firsthand. “Our revamped website simplifies the process, offering businesses a seamless solution to optimize their transportation needs and empower their workforce in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana,” Onyeka added

Key Features of the New Treepz Website

  • Trackable Dashboard for a bird’s eye view of all guests’ trips in real-time when using Treepz.
  • 24/7 customer support to assist with all mobility inquiries.
  • Wide selection of vehicle options, each with professional drivers tailored to specific needs.
  • Friendly interface for easy navigation and booking.
  • Client testimonials and case studies showcasing Treepz’s success stories.

Treepz’s mission extends beyond just transportation – they aim to revolutionize how over 1 million daily commuters experience mobility across Africa. Since its launch in 2019, the company has provided employee transit for top firms like Tekexperts, Wakanow, Somasource, and Brighter Monday across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. This has resulted in the transportation of about 5 million passengers since then.

With this digital reinvention, Treepz doubles down on transforming corporate mobility through tech-driven solutions. The company welcomes businesses seeking smarter ways to move their people to explore the new website www.treepz.com.


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Nigerian Business Leaders Partner Google for Strategic Advantage, Seeks Competitive Edge in Privacy-First Era

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Leading companies from Nigeria joined Google West Africa at a roundtable to discuss the shift towards privacy-first marketing as third-party cookies are phased out. The forum brought together leaders from FairMoney, Konga, Mondelez, Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Bank, highlighting a collective commitment to redefining consumer engagement in the digital age.

Businesses recognize that building consumer trust is essential in a world that increasingly values privacy. In this new era, adapting marketing strategies to be more privacy-focused is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards building sustainable customer relations. This transition challenges businesses to innovate while maintaining transparency and respect for consumer data privacy, turning potential constraints into avenues for deeper consumer engagement.

“Customer trust is the new currency,” noted Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google. “Consumers are demanding more control over their data, and the savviest businesses are seeing this shift as an opportunity. This is about reimagining how we engage with technology and data, ensuring that innovation and privacy go hand-in-hand.”

The discussions emphasised this point, highlighting the competitive advantage of adopting privacy-first strategies. Google showcased innovative solutions like Google Tag and Enhanced Conversions. These tools demonstrate a commitment to both high performance and privacy standards. Success stories illustrated how other businesses have successfully navigated this shift, offering valuable insights.

“We stand at a crucial juncture,” remarked Oluwadamilare Akinwunmi, Chief Data & AI Officer at Interswitch. “The winners of tomorrow will be those enterprises that strike a balance between innovative, data-driven marketing and a profound commitment to data protection and privacy-first practices. The essential dialogues we engage in, and the subsequent actions we take, set us on the path to achieve precisely this”

The roundtable underscores a pivotal shift towards privacy-first strategies in Nigeria’s digital marketing sphere, emphasising the critical role of collaboration and innovation in this transition. It marks a collective stride towards a future where consumer trust and data privacy form the cornerstone of business growth and competitive advantage.

“We are committed to empowering Nigerian brands in building a privacy-forward future. By harnessing AI and privacy-centric technologies, we aim to empower our partners to thrive amidst these changes,” stated Felicia Otolorin, Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google.


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MTN Nigeria, PAU Open Applications for 3rd Edition of MTN Media Innovation Programme

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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the School of Media & Communications, Pan-Atlantic University have announced call for applications from qualified media practitioners to participate in the 3rd edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP-3), which will commence on May 20, 2024, at the Main Campus of the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. 

MTN Nigeria in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, launched the Media Innovation Programme (MTN MIP) in 2022 to enable media practitioners gain deeper insight into the ever-evolving media landscape.

The six-month, fully-funded certificate fellowship, which includes a study visit to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and an innovation hub to incubate ideas, is open to media practitioners across all strata of the media industry including the print, electronic and online platforms. The programme is also open to social media content creators.

Speaking on the impact of the programme, Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria said: “The media play a crucial role in shaping the society. It is important that they are enabled with tools and opportunities to do their jobs better as this ultimately benefits the society.

“Our commitment is to continue to empower media practitioners, regardless of platforms, to be able to innovate and create technological-driven solutions to our world. This is what the MTN Media Innovation Programme seeks to accomplish.”

On his part, the Dean School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, stated that the programme brings into play the wide experience that the School has in the training of media practitioners.

In our various programmes targeted at journalists, we at the School of Media and Communication have always laid a lot of emphasis on the importance of creativity, ethics and professionalism.

“The Media Innovation Programme is one more opportunity to drive home these values but with a new emphasis on innovation.

“Journalism remains as important as ever to the society, and it is driven by the same values, but journalists require a retooling to meet the technological changes and challenges of today.

“This is the role that the Media Innovation Programme aims to play, and we are quite happy to be able to partner with MTN to achieve this goal.”

At the end of the training, the 20 successful applicants will qualify as Fellows for the 2024 cohort. The Fellows would be coached on Nigeria’s technology sector, the relationship between media and technology, and equipped with the skills to adapt to the changing realities that guarantee career and financial success in their professional practice.

Fellows will also have access to professional resources and mentorship from PAU’s erudite faculty.

Interested journalists, bloggers and content creators can apply for the Fellowship at https://smc.edu.ng/mtnmip

Applications open on Friday March 23 and close Wednesday April 10, 2024.


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