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General News

Broadbased Projects Aim to End Fiber Trouble Tickets- Ise-Okojie

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Prince Henry Ise-Okojie, executive vice chairman, Broadbased Communications
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Prince Henry Ise-Okojie, executive vice chairman, Broadbased Communications, is an experienced international business entrepreneur with over 25 years in starting and managing various successful companies.
Prior to his position at BroadBased Communications, he was a co-founder, chairman and 50% owner of M&B Products Limited, a highly successful household appliances company with 122 distributive outlets in Nigeria.
Ise-Okojie has been involved in several local and international startups which have become successful corporations.
He spoke to peter ugwu during the Company’s launch of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) equipment, aimed at tackling the challenges of laying fiber optic cables in the country.

Broadbased Communications in the Nigerian IT Space
Broadbased Communications is fiber optic metro access gateway. In other words, it is an infrastructure company. What are we trying to achieve? We found there were gaps in the system.
To give a kind of description about happenings in the space, some of understand this because we all suffer it.
Now, in Nigeria, we have five sub-marine cable providers as four of them are active. One is ‘ill’ right now, because it has had severed cables for over year and it has not been able to fix it. That is SAT3n owned by NITEL. NITEL SAT3 is owned by a consortium of 35 countries of which Nigeria is one. But we have other cables such as Glo 1, MainOne, MTN’s WACS, and Dolphin Telecoms’ ACE.
ACE has not been performing optimally, but they are trying to be active. However, the combined capacity of the five sub-marine cables bring to Nigeria is about 14.5 terabyte.
But, the dedicated frequency available to all to distribute wirelessly account for only 2.5% of that entire lots.
Treat that product as the fuel for your car; without that product, the mobile and other devices we use today cannot be of utmost meaning to us.
As we know, daily, weekly and yearly these devices are becoming quite congested; you are having more drop calls.
Failed calls, because more people are entering the same network that hardly had the capacity to handle what it has.
 In other words, you ask somebody to lift a trailer load of fuel of about 33,000 liters, but then, he arrives with a Volkswagen, telling you he is ready to lift the fuel.
That is what the industry is currently doing. What we need exceeds what is readily available and everybody is struggling to get a lot of attention.
Traditionally, wireless does not work well with large bodies of water. That is why when you are driving through places like the 3rd Mainland Bridge you drop a lot of calls.
It is the same reason when it is raining your DSTV shuts becomes shaky. It does not mean wireless is not good, rather both should complement each other.
Wireless is supposed to be utilized when you are mobile, but you still need your fixed lines or devices. For instance, when you get to office, you are using your fixed line; your mobile will rest.
 It’s mainly while on transit that wireless becomes so much important. But we have converted mobile to 100% device that we utilize; as a result, we do not have the capacity to do it as an industry.

Utilizing Surplus Bandwidth
People have severally asked why we cannot find a way of utilizing the surplus material and make it available to the consumer.
But, you cannot use what you do not have. There is no metro gateway to make it happen; especially, one that has large capacity to carry it.
In other countries such is driven by the national carrier like NITEL. In the United Kingdom, it is the British Telecom; US-AT&T.
They own the fiber optic backbone that carries heavy bandwidth. All the bandwidth we have can enter two or three cables.
 But if you do not have that metro access, how can it be achieved? That is what we are suffering in Nigeria.
Therefore, Broadbased Communication is building a metro access to carry fiber around town; such that all telcos can rent from us and there are others that have cable who can rent from them, because this business requires redundancies.
 If you use ‘A’ you still need ‘B’, should ‘A’ fails. And ‘A’ and ‘B’ do not necessarily come from the same path. So, our role is very simple: to provide that platform for all telecos to ride on. We do not put content; we are not the ones to make it ‘work’, rather the telcos and others. Still, we are utilizing a verity of success including LCC, NITEL; and we are creating rooms for redundancies, so that the cables will be in LCC’s, other will be in our manhole, or in NITEl’s.
So, it is robust and the idea is to build a mesh where if your cable is located somewhere and gets cut, it can re-route itself through another cable; that is the long term goal.
The essence is to get it right, infrastructure-wise; today is so far away from five years ago in Nigeria. All we wanted then was just to make a call, but today that is not good enough.
We want to send videos, pictures, be on Skye and be in these other applications that require a lot of bandwidth. If you have a car with 20litters fuel capacity, you cannot force 50 litters into the tank.

Partnerships and Spread to Rural Areas
The truth is that you cannot execute this kind of project without the backing of the financial institutions. We have the backing of some banks in the country. They have the right vision and can understand where we are headed.
They are strategic investors who are willing to wait till the time to recoup the investment. They are not thinking of investing in the morning and reap the profit by same evening.
 Our technical partners are from ZTE, presently, the largest telecom manufacturing company around the world. They are the manufacturers of the all important transmission networks which helps us isolate where we have problems and quickly fit it.
They have a support team in Lagos that works with us. As for why an ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ Company may go to a rural area; that is difficult for me to answer. But from our point of view, we have to do a research on a particular location.
There must be a business case that forces us to go into a particular location. If there is no business case, there is body that wants to invest and lose the money.
 Remember, we are trading with finances from banks and they are extremely expensive to utilize. So, if we take cables to locations that cannot pay, then, how do we pay the banks; except government institutions are willing to encourage telcos to go to certain locations.
With all sense of purpose and highest degree of sincerity the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) is doing the best within its powers to support and encourage telcos to deploy certain services at the rural areas.
But there must also be concerted commitment from all of us to encourage more local players participating in this space. Whether we believe it or not, we were not there during the industrial revolution, so we couldn’t influence it. This is the technological revolution; we can participate and influence it or contribute to it. 

Plans for Networking Lagos Metropolis
We have talked about our clients and partners. Actually, we are not starting, but have been engaged in this business for four years.
 We have all banks connected to us; it is just that most of them have spent a lot on wireless devices. So, trying to get there to where they ought to have been is very difficult.
Those who have accepted it are seeing the values in it. Also, we are not alone, there are other players doing good jobs in the industry. Meanwhile, migrating from wireless to wired is a different process.
Now, the biggest wireless provider in Nigeria has 6,000 base stations, with 53 million subscribers; in fiber, if you have 1,000 subscribers you have wired 1,000 locations. It is a totally different ball-game. Looking at how do you run cables in a metro location.
Four years ago we had what the industry called Trouble Tickets. In other words, a link laid has problems. No company wants trouble tickets because you are spending good money after bad money.
That is why we acquired the ‘monsters’. Do you know a road that is 6-feet high in Nigeria? The cables and manhole the equipment will lay will be 6-feet deep.
Our manhole covers cannot be lifted by two or four men; it must be opened with a Crain. Those are the investments that are eating us up and why we need these partners.
So, one of the reasons we need these rigs is because we are working in a city that is already developed, so you cannot be breaking the roads.
One of the rigs we have has a range of 500 meters; which means we can penetrate up to 500 meters of the road without anybody seeing signs to show we worked there.
That way, if a construction comes five years down the way, our cables are too far down to be damaged, because they have a lifespan of 25 years.

Perception of Infracos Licenced by NCC
The Infraco mandate is to ensure point to point presence. We already have several points of presence. We will help them move from one PoP to the other.
It is a brilliant idea coming from the NCC; it segments the process to smaller pieces. So, people who own certain segment will be forced to do a good job. Why is it that these prices have come down to the point it is; it is competition.
As long as there is competition in the space, everybody will be struggling to do better. It is for the overall good of the consumer. Before now, the mentality has been ‘I own this base station; therefore, nobody can come here’.
But, five companies can use it as far as your frequencies are different; there will be no interference. It reduces the cost of running business on your side. However, there is a transition in Nigeria for better business models.
Although, they do not have a choice to change; should they maintain that old business acumen, they will be out of business.
The ultimate is that your cost of doing business must come down; otherwise, people can under-cut you in pricing.
We must have a share-services platform, but that platform must be none-compete, because if today you ask Company ‘A’ to go and share with Company ‘B’, he wouldn’t be willing to do that. They have created an environment of lack of trust. Shared services require trust.

Telcos’ Responses towards Broadbased’s Services
At first, it was treated with a lot of suspicion. However, there was a period in our industry (in Nigeria) where we were asked to focus more on IP, because there was only a player, thus, the cost of IP was very expensive.
But on the process, we discovered that what we have supported a strategic investment in a long-term model. At the time, 1Mbps was $1,500; in 2009, I bought it at that rate! It was one pound in the UK. So, how did we get to $1,500.
The whole country was sharing 6Stm ounce, which is about 1gigg; while we are presently giving one empty pipe that is 1gig in a branch.
So, the space is changing and they must change. So, the model is really a telco model, because they are the ones that need a fiber to take them from point ‘A’ to ‘B’ and they put their dark devices to see each other.

Provision for Infrastructure Liaise
It is a conscious choice we have made. We are the first and the equipment have been around for some years. We didn’t ask anybody not to approach the company to buy them. It is a choice they made, probably, to cut corners.
They may be right, we may be right, but time will tell. The chief operating officer of the Company told us when we thought we should be in the IP business, that, we are in for infrastructure.
When we finish those who wants to sell IP can come, rent and put their contents. We could have been selling at that initial time, but that could have dented our plan.


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General News

FG to Provide High-fibre Internet in 12 Universities by Year End

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Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, on Wednesday said that no fewer than twelve federal universities will benefit from high-fibre digital infrastructure before the end of the year.

In addition, some Nigerian universities are set to begin enjoying 24-hour electricity supply to enhance teaching, research, and learning on campuses, according to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa.

Dr. Tijani disclosed this at the commissioning of a High-Fibre Digital Facility at the University of Abuja’s old Boys Hostel. He said the initiative aims to equip students with digital skills and access needed to explore emerging opportunities in the global tech ecosystem before graduation.

Citing examples of young Nigerians who have successfully built billion-dollar online payment firms, Dr. Tijani urged students to leverage the digital infrastructure being provided by the current administration to develop themselves and build a future in tech.

The project is a collaboration between the federal government, Galaxy Backbone Nigeria Ltd, Huawei Technologies Nigeria, and other tech firms. It will deliver free Wi-Fi services across campuses, serving as a digital equalizer for students.

Present at the inauguration were the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa; the National Commissioner for the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji; the Managing Director of NigComSat, Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen; and the Postmaster General of the Federation, Mrs. Tola Odeyemi.

Also the Vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof Patricia Lar and the institution’s Registrar and the Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Mr Teorens Wu attended the event.

Dr Tijani further said digital inclusion was necessary especially for the students to navigate contemporary challenges and become successful in the digital space without waiting for white collar jobs on graduation.

He said the University was the first of the seven universities for the first phase of the pilot scheme. And that by the end of June, they would have connected the seven universities for the first phase.

“This initiative we are launching here today is the first of the seven in a pilot scheme, and by the end of July, we will have connected the seven universities”, he said.

“Galaxy Backbone has the infrastructure in place already; all we are doing is to take the fibre to hostels,” the Minister added.

“Your challenge today is what you do with the knowledge that you’re being given. And this is why to actualise the dream of our president, we’ve taught it to be important that Nigerian university students cannot continue to learn without access to meaningful connectivity.

“It is unacceptable because we know when we give you this access that not only are you going to be better in what you’re learning, but you’re actually going to create the future that our president is asking that we create as a nation”, Dr Tijani said.

Dr. Alausa, on his part, noted that the University was a special institution selected by the government to enjoy a 24-hour power supply. And that other special institutions will enjoy 24hrs power before the end of 2026.

“The president is energising institutions. We have special institutions in the country today enjoying 24-hour electricity via the presidential renewable mini-grid project, the solarisation project.

“The University of Abuja is one of the beneficiaries. You have a 3.3 megahertz mini-grid here and everybody can attest to it now that you have a 24-hour electricity supply.

“The president is not stopping there. Before the end of next year, all the special institutions will have a mini-grid. You will all enjoy a 24-hour electricity supply, “Dr Alausa said.

The Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Patricia Lar in her welcome address described the project as a laudable one that would benefit the school community.

“It’s a special initiative that’s going to create opportunities for students of all economic status to access data to be able to use for knowledge and education, and to feed their creativity with ease.

“We are grateful for deploying fibre to our hostels. This also works with the solar power backup that has been installed in our campus,” she said.


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General News

Nigeria Approves $500m for AfDB’s Trust Fund Replenishment over Next 15 Years

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Nigeria has approved a fresh $500 million replenishment of the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) at the African Development Bank (AfDB), extending the facility for another 15 years.

President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, announced this during his opening remarks at the ongoing AfDB Annual Meetings in Abidjan as he expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their continued support.

“To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to Vice President Kashim Shettima, for your support over the past two years, I am profoundly grateful. Thank you for graciously approving the replenishment of the Nigeria Trust Fund for another 15 years for $500 million.”

The Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) was set up in 1976 through an agreement between the Nigerian government and the African Development Bank Group. It’s a revolving fund that sustains itself over time and is designed to support the development of low-income African countries in need of concessional financing.

The fund can be used in a number of ways—either to co-finance projects alongside the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund (ADF) or to finance projects independently. It supports both public and private sector initiatives and can also be used to top up funding for ongoing Bank Group-backed projects.

Unlike the ADF, which allocates funds to countries, NTF resources are tied to specific projects. This allows for more flexible, needs-based support where it’s most effective.


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Harmonised Tax Bills Ready, May Get NASS Approval Today

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The National Assembly has hinted that it may consider passing the harmonised tax reform bills by Tuesday, following a successful review of the troubling clauses in the proposed legislation.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, via his official X account on Sunday. Faleke is the leader of the House delegation for the bills harmonisation exercise.

He tweeted, “The conference committee set up by the House and the Senate on the Tax Reform Bills has successfully concluded its work. The joint committees thoroughly reviewed all sections and addressed the grey areas of the four bills, examining each clause strategically and resolving contentious issues.

“After an intensive deliberation that stretched through Thursday night, all day Friday, and into the early hours of Saturday, I am pleased to report that the bills are now ready for presentation to both the House and the Senate for final passage.

“I would like to especially appreciate the Senate conference committee, ably led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Distinguished Senator Sani Musa, as well as all members of the Senate Conference Committee.

“I also extend heartfelt gratitude to my colleagues on the House Conference Committee, which I had the honour to lead, for their unwavering commitment to the Nigerian people. We are truly grateful for your dedication and resilience in bringing this important task to a conclusion.”

It was reported that the four tax bills were sent two weeks ago to the joint harmonisation committee made up of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reconcile the amendments of both Chambers before it is transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for his assent.

After announcing the passage of the bills following a majority voice vote, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, praised the lawmakers for their sacrifice in ensuring that the tax system in Nigeria meets an international standard.

He said, “These four executive bills seek to transform and modernise the tax system in Nigeria.”

The move came barely 24 hours after the Upper Chamber earlier cleared two of the bills before pushing the remaining legislation for consideration on Thursday.

Addressing journalists after the plenary, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee for the tax reform bills and the lawmaker representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Sani Musa, explained that they did their best to ensure the taxation system in Nigeria meets international standards.

Musa also disclosed that parts of the tax proceeds will be used to fight cybercrime, boost defence infrastructure, the TETfund, and aid soldiers in their efforts to restore peace and safety in the country.

Continuing, the Niger Senator explained that the senators recommended that the President needs to appoint a chairman and create an ombudsman to arbitrate and adjudicate on tax-related matters.

The legislator also harped on the need for the establishment of a tax tribunal, which he said cannot be overemphasised.

“It is not à court of record. We have looked at the issue of VAT, coĺlection of taxes, development levies, and inheritance tax, which had been expunged.

“I believe Nigerians wiĺl see something nice from this. We also commend the President for giving a level playing field to all,” he said.

 


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