Telecom
NASRDA Boasts of Capacity to Build, Launch Nigerian Satellites
Dr Francis Chizea, acting director general, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has said that the Agency currently has the human capacity to design, build and launch various satellites from Nigeria, if the required facilities are provided.
Chizea stated this when House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology paid an oversight visit to the headquarters of NASRDA in Abuja.
He said the Agency is endowed with human resources and experts that were trained in the best institutions across the globe, adding that most of them are young men and patriotic Nigerians who are ready to utilise the various trainings acquired to leapfrog Nigeria out of poverty and squalor through the application of space science and technology.
Therefore, he appealed to members of the committee to assist in the provision of necessary facilities for the Agency, particularly on the successful completion of the on-going Assembly, Integration, Texting and Design Centre (AITDC) which he described as a major facility in any space industry.
He said the facility will not only keep the various engineers and scientists fully engaged, but it will also assist the Agency in realising its various goals and objectives as encapsulated in the space road map.
The acting director general also identified underfunding and low budgetary allocations as a major constraint militating against NASRDA, which he described as the first Space Agency to be established in Africa and pleaded with members of the committee for improved budgetary allocation in order to meet various mandatory roles and objectives, and to enable the Agency compete favourably with its counterparts, particularly in the prestigious community of Space practice.
Chizea, who expressed appreciation to members of the committee for the visit being the first to be hosted since assumption of office also acknowledged the support received thus far from the entire management and staff of the Agency since he came on board.
Beni Lar, chairman, House of Representatives committee on Science and Technology, also speaking, applauded the achievements and immense contributions of NASRDA towards national development, particularly in its efforts towards accelerating the pace of development through space applications.
Lar said that the Space Agency was set up basically to encourage indigenous production and use of Space Technology for socio-economic development, pointing out that this is evident in the current efforts of the Agency on the telemedicine project as well as the use of satellite technology in the field of education, agriculture, communications and other critical sectors of the economy.
The committee chairman was particularly impressed with the achievements recorded thus far by the acting director general of the Agency, within three months of his assumption of office, saying he has not only succeeded in building on the noble achievements of the Agency, but has equally opened a new chapter in the drive towards actualising its core mandates.
Lar said the committee would continue to do its best to support the Space Agency in the successful implementation of its various programmes and projects in the actualisation of the Nigeria Space agenda.
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement between MTN Nigeria and Natcom Development and Investment Limited (NTEL).
Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary in a statement released recently said that the agreement covers the lease of NTEL’s 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz spectrum band and 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz spectrum band, which spans 19 states.
The renewal is for another two-year period, effective 1 May 2025. Additionally, the NCC has approved a one-year lease expansion of the spectrums, covering the remaining 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), effective 1 January 2025.
Commenting on the transactions, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said, “We are pleased with the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement with NTEL, which now includes coverage for all states, including the FCT.
“The lease enables us to enhance our 3G and 4G user experience as we improve coverage and capacity by utilising the spectrums.
“This positions us to capitalise on the growing demand for data and improve the delivery of services to our customers.”
Nigeria’s technology company, Globacom, has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Christmas celebrations.
In a goodwill message released in Lagos, Globacom urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of love and kindness during the festive season, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges.
The company emphasized the importance of practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly the virtues of obedience to God and loving one’s neighbor as well.
“Christ taught many virtues including obedience to God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself”, the company said, adding, “Now is the apt time to practise these teachings by sharing with the needy”.
Globacom also encouraged Nigerians to extend the conviviality of Christmas beyond the festive season by fostering love, peace, and harmony, as demonstrated by God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Assuring its customers of uninterrupted services throughout the Yuletide period and beyond, Globacom urged them to take advantage of its innovative products and services to stay connected and share the memories of the season with loved ones.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
NCDC Activates Emergency Response as Lassa Fever Kills 190
CBN Disqualifies 41.65m Shares in Access Holdings Rights Issue
2025 Budget: FG Earmarks N1.5Bn for Airports’ Internet, Others
World Bank Raises Nigeria’s NIN Target to 180m
MTN Nigeria Renews Spectrum Lease Agreement with NTEL
UBA Group Sets Foot in France with Full Banking Services
FG Begins N50 Electronic Levy Deductions from Moniepoint, Other Digital Banks
Report Reveals Most Organisations Fear AI-driven Cyberattacks but Lack Key Defences
Nigeria Risks Missing out on $1.2 Trillion AI Opportunity- NigComSat
Firm Sues NIMC, Others On Digital Rights Breach Allegations
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Africa to Return $100m to Shareholders via Share Buyback
Broadcasting2 days agoSpotify’s ‘Detty December’ Hub and Spotify’s ‘Songs of December’ now live
Broadcasting2 days agoQNET Collaborates with Lagos Food Bank to Aid Vulnerable Children
News3 days agoEgueke, Former Bank Manager Jailed for $46,900 Fraud
Telecom3 days agoFG Gives Banks, Telcos Six-Month Deadline to Resolve N250Bn USSD Debt
Broadcasting2 days agoNERC Discloses $5.7 Million Debt Owed by International Customers for Q3 2024 Electricity Supply
Telecom3 days agoNCC Launches Initiative to Combat Fraud, Spam Messaging
Broadcasting3 days agoAfrica Magic Announces Call for Entries for 11th AMVCA