Telecom
CVDB Goes Live on ICS BANKS Universal Banking Solution from ICSFS
Cities and Villages Development Bank (CVDB) has gone live in a record time of five months, on ICS BANKS Universal Banking software solution from ICS Financial Systems (ICSFS); the global software and services provider for banks and financial institutions.
The Cities and Villages Development Bank is a publicly owned bank that finances Jordanian municipalities for the development of their infrastructure. CVDB provides long-term financing to establish both; services and productivity projects, through the local councils.
The bank administrates and guarantees loans held between the councils and any other party, to support and provide the councils with essential services.
The Bank continues as well to contribute to the development process of the local councils, by providing adequate funds, experiences, services, technical and administrative skills within the government’s effort in developing and reforming the municipalities.
Osama Al Azzam, Cities and Villages Development Bank (CVDB), Director-General; commented: “Today, we focus on the digital transformation of the fundamental functions of the bank to achieve our vision of: “a smart development bank that promotes sustainable local development.”
As a long-standing public bank, one of the challenges we face is shifting our traditional business structure to digital. After the profound business and technological advancements provided by ICS BANKS from ICSFS, I am able now to say that we are now riding the digital transformation wave.”
CVBD supports local development projects by providing the necessary financing, banking services, consultancy, and technical support.
CVDB supports as well the capacity building of local authorities and interested parties through servicing and investing in development projects, and encouraging partnership between the public and private sectors, to improve the authenticity of the local communities.
Robert Hazboun, Managing Director of ICSFS, stated: “We are content to announce another milestone achievement; CVDB’s implementation project started during the second quarter of this year and went live during the fourth quarter of the same year.
“With our full support, CVDB will be utilising ICS BANKS holistic software suite’s innovative products and services to support the local council’s projects and mobilise their local and foreign financial resources. We assure CVDB that by operating on our innovative technology, they will soon see improvements across their ecosystem.”
ICSFS invests in its software suites by utilising modern technology in launching new products, constructing a secured and agile integration, and keeping pace with new standards and regulations worldwide.
ICS BANKS software suite future-proof banking activities by providing a broad range of features and capabilities with more agility and flexibility, to enrich customers’ journey experience, hence improving the trust and confidentiality between the customer and the bank.
ICS BANKS has always been a pioneer in utilising the latest technology to serve financial institutions. In addition to its embedded Service-Oriented-Architecture (SOA), the system can be deployed on-premises or on the cloud.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Renews Spectrum Lease Agreement with NTEL
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.”
Telecom
Glo Felicitates Nigerians on Christmas Celebration
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.
Telecom
FG Gives Banks, Telcos Six-Month Deadline to Resolve N250Bn USSD Debt
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.”
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