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Embracing Telecom Dynamics for Increased Access

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The explosion in technology which ushered in the information age has become the basis for defining power in the modern world.

It is a widely accepted fact that no modern economy can develop without an integral information technology.

 Consequently, the ability to easily access and share information and stimulate the creation of new ideas is viewed as essential to maintaining a strong economy and enhancing quality life of citizens.

Telecommunications networks are now making it possible for developing countries to participate in the world economy in ways that simply were not possible in the past.
Communications tools such as telephony, internet and broadband are increasingly critical to economic success and the citizen’s personal advancement.

The internet serves many functions – as virtual community, electorate marketplace, and information source/entertainment center, among others.

Through high speed internet, we can create new businesses or facilitate the delivery of basic services such as health, finance and education.

Available data from the International Telecommunications Union has shown that flows of international telephone traffic closely mirror the patterns of international trade. Indeed, variations in telephone traffic can be used as a leading indicator of national economic performance.

In agriculture, easier and faster access to up-to-date market and price information assists farmers and rural-based traders in their businesses.

Telecommunications can also deliver better access to information on improved seeds, availability of fertilizers, weather forecasting, pest control and other agricultural-related services.

Furthermore, telecommunications play an important role in politics and governance, by enhancing a government’s ability to provide security for its citizens, protect its borders and more efficiently handle civil emergencies and national disaster.

In turn, the citizens gain easier access to government and greater awareness of government programmes and activities. For instance, social media like facebook, twitter among others.

Traditionally, telecommunications had over the years been regarded as public utility provided by government.

However the need to improve services, encourage competition and attract private investment has led to the wave of privatization and sector liberation since the 80’s.

As at the beginning of 2008, nearly all countries in the world have either fully or partially privatized their incumbent operators and opened up the sector market liberalization.

 In African with 52 countries, this wave of market liberation has also seen Africa transform to an ICT enabled region, though a lot more needs to be done in the area of penetration of internet and broadband.

On a global level, there are about 150 countries that have established independent regulatory agencies (the ITU: Trends report).

The advances in the last twenty years notwithstanding, in number of countries in Africa, the incumbent operators still retain very strong control of certain segments of the market showing the growth in those markets.

These incumbents are quite often, protected unnecessarily, thereby limiting competition, privatization and commercialization

In some cases where the incumbents have been partly privatized, the selected partners could be those with links in government circles who would be in a position to leverage such connections in influencing delays in opening up of the markets to competition.

In few African nations, exclusivity for the incumbents has been known to have been negotiated for upwards of 10 to 15yeas for example in the Fixed line Networks and International gateway services.

 It is advised that where exclusivity still exists for the incumbents, such exclusivity should only be considered if it is for a number of service providers (at least two) so as to provide choice and encourage optimal investments while ensuring that competition exist.
 
Expectations
The rapid progress made in the telecom industry in the past 11 years in Africa has largely been as a result of the liberalized market, but even in a liberalized environment, government still has a vital role to play in growing the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure and ensuring a competitive environment that will reduce prices and make services more available and affordable.

Government best serves the industry through the establishment of strong regulatory institutions. The regulator’s role is to encourage competition, remove barriers to market entry, oversee interconnection of new operators with incumbents, monitor tariffs and quality of service, protect consumer rights and ensure the provision of telephone services for all.

Africa’s immediate requirement for local access to the telephone network is enormous and the required capital and time investment needed to compete is still huge.

Market reform has helped to accelerate investment flow into this vital sector, resulting in rapid roll out of networks, but we still require optic fiber highways within and between African nations.

The rapid rate of deployment means faster access to telecommunications facilities and consequently faster pace of national economic development and growth.

The Regulator is also today faced with the challenge of keeping pace with technological developments.

According to Ernest Ndukwe, immediate past executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), “convergence is changing businesses, equipment and services we have been accustomed to, in their place new companies, technologies, equipment and services are emerging”.

New challenges are also arising from these rapid changes. Therefore, new skill in multi-sector, multi-technology regulations will be needed. Security issues have assumed new dimension, with growing incidence of Cybercrime, identity theft, among others. Laws would therefore need to be upgraded to cover new areas such as electronic transactions, e-commercial and cyber security, and so on”.

Indeed privacy of transaction is constantly being threatened and the same consumers that are to benefit from the new technologies and services will be demanding even more protection from the Regulators.

Telecommunications is an essential infrastructure of the information economy and therefore countries that lack sufficient access to modern telecommunications networks, will find it difficult to be effectively integrated into the global economy.

The role of the regulator is critical to the attainment of the goal of an equitable and socially inclusive information society.


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Here are Six Ways You Should Use MoMo PSB for Seamless Transactions 

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In today’s fast-paced digital world, Mobile Money (MoMo) services have become essential for managing financial transactions conveniently and securely. MTN’s MoMo service offers a plethora of features that can enhance your financial management.

Here are six effective ways to utilise MoMo PSB (Payment Service Bank) to streamline your financial activities.

  • Cash Deposits and withdrawals

One of the key functions of MoMo PSB is for cash deposits and withdrawals. Users can easily deposit cash into their MoMo Wallets through authorised ATM or POS agents that support the service.

This feature allows you to manage your cash flow efficiently without needing a traditional bank account. To withdraw cash, simply visit a nearby MoMo agent, provide your wallet number, and receive your funds immediately.

  • Business Transactions

MoMo PSB recently announced their partnership with Vendy LTD, a marketplace on WhatsApp for business owners to get closer to their customers on their favourite apps.

Interested buyers browse inventory, place orders, get invoiced automatically and pay directly on WhatsApp using the MoMo PSB in app payment. You can now say bye to taking screenshots of payment receipts and say hello to a swift payment method.

  • Bill Payment

With MoMo PSB, paying bills has never been easier. You can settle utility bills, school fees, and other recurring payments directly from your mobile device using USSD codes or the MoMo app. It eliminates the need for physical visits to payment centres and helps you avoid late payment penalties by ensuring timely transactions.

  • Airtime Purchases

Another convenient feature of MoMo PSB is the ability to purchase airtime directly from your wallet. Whether you need to recharge your phone or buy data bundles, you can do so quickly without needing cash or credit cards. Simply select the amount you wish to purchase and confirm the transaction using your MoMo PIN.

  • Peer-to-Peer Transfers

Transferring money between friends and family is seamless with MoMo PSB. You can send money instantly to anyone with a MoMo wallet by entering their phone number and the desired amount.

This feature is particularly useful for splitting bills or sending money to loved ones in need without incurring high transfer fees associated with traditional banking methods.

  • Linking your Wallet to Other Financial Services

To maximise the benefits of using MoMo PSB, consider linking your wallet to other financial services such as savings accounts or Investment platforms. This integration allows for easy fund transfer between accounts and provides better control over your finances by consolidating all transactions in one place.

By leveraging these five functionalities of MoMo PSB, users can enjoy greater convenience in managing their finances while benefiting from the security that comes with mobile money services.


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QNET and Transblue Limited Announce Second Product Expo in Lagos

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Global lifestyle and wellness-focused direct-selling company QNET, in collaboration with its Nigerian partner Transblue Limited, is set to host its second product expo in Lagos.

QNET

The two-day event, scheduled for November 16-17, 2024, at the Anchor Events Place in Ikeja, will highlight QNET’s dedication to enhancing lives through innovative products while providing an interactive platform for partners, independent representatives, government officials, and regulatory authorities to explore QNET’s offerings and business model.

The expo will feature a variety of health and wellness products that demonstrate QNET’s commitment to quality and innovation, including the EDG3 Plus supplement for vitality, the Amezcua e-Guard X for energy balance, Chi-Pendant 4 that provides protection against radiation, Bio-Disc 3 that breaks down water chemicals for easy absorption and ProSpark Toothpaste, which combines effective oral hygiene with unique health benefits. With the global wellness market now valued at over $1.5 trillion.

QNET aims to be at the forefront of providing products that meet the growing consumer demand for holistic health solutions.

“Our first product expo in Abuja and Lagos last year was a huge success, and we are excited to bring it back to Nigeria,” said Biram Fall, Regional General Manager for QNET Sub-Saharan Africa.

“This event allows us to showcase our health, wellness, and lifestyle products, demonstrating our commitment to helping people lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

Akeem Ajisafe, CEO of Transblue Limited, echoed the event’s importance, stating, “Our goal is to empower individuals with knowledge and opportunities for financial independence.

“This expo is a chance to demonstrate how our products positively impact lives while highlighting the potential for entrepreneurship in the direct-selling industry.”

The QNET Product Expo in Lagos promises an engaging experience for all attendees, offering direct interaction with products and a deeper understanding of QNET’s values and ethical approach to wellness and lifestyle solutions.

For more information on QNET and its product range, please visit www.qnet.net.


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Nedjip Tozun, CEO d.light Named in 2024 TIME100 Climate List for Transformative Impact on Clean Energy Access

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Nedjip Tozun, Co-founder and CEO at d.light, has been named one of the world’s most influential leaders driving business to real climate action in the 2024 TIME100 Climate list.

TIME’s annual climate list recognizes the world’s most innovative and impactful business leaders championing climate action and working toward a sustainable future. This honor celebrates Tozun’s visionary leadership and commitment to transforming energy access for underserved communities across Africa and Asia.

Since co-founding d.light in 2007 at Stanford University, Tozun has led the company’s mission to empower lives through sustainable, affordable, off-grid clean energy solutions. Under his leadership, d.light has reached over 180 million people, providing transformative products such as solar home systems, lanterns, and appliances, and connecting households and businesses to life-enhancing solar energy.

With a growing footprint across some of the world’s most energy-challenged regions, d.light’s innovative pay-as-you-go platform, Atlas, enables over 6 million transactions monthly, making clean energy accessible and affordable for millions.

“We are honored to see Nedjip’s dedication recognized by TIME as part of this esteemed Climate list,” said Wayne Keast, d.light board member and Managing Partner of Inspired Evolution. “His passion for bringing clean energy to the most remote communities is reshaping the future of energy, health, and opportunity in regions where the climate crisis hits hardest.”

As a pioneer in clean, off-grid energy solutions, Tozun has not only driven unprecedented growth for d.light but has also challenged and changed the industry landscape.

His work has made d.light a trusted partner in the global climate effort, positioning the company as a model for sustainable development and scalable solutions in emerging markets.

With a goal of impacting 1 billion people by 2030, d.light continues to scale operations and forge partnerships to meet growing demand while addressing critical climate issues head-on.

“I’m truly grateful to be recognized by TIME for our work in advancing clean energy access”, said Tozun. “This acknowledgment underscores the urgent need to prioritize equitable access to clean energy as we tackle climate change.

d.light’s work is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to energy, and I am proud of what we have achieved together with our team, partners, and the communities we serve.”

Tozun’s inclusion in the TIME100 Climate list highlights the impact of d.light’s work across Africa and elsewhere. It follows d.light’s recent recognition as a finalist in the 2024 Earthshot Prize, the international environmental award founded by the UK’s Prince William that recognises groundbreaking sustainable solutions for repairing and regenerating the planet.

 


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