Telecom
Huawei Launches Agile Network, IPv6 Ready Solutions in Nigeria
Huawei, a leading global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions provider, at its ‘Huawei Network Congress (HNC) West Africa 2015’ in Lagos gathered the ICT community sharing its vision, knowledge and experience of ICT transformation trends, challenges and latest technologies, launched agile network solutions and running on internet protocol version six (IPv6).
HNC 2015 was themed “From Agility to Imagination” focusing on “introducing SDN technology” and “upgrading customer experience”.
More than 200 stakeholders from Banks, Power DisCos, Government and channel partners etc, were in attendance at the HNC 2015 including CEOs, CTOs, analysts and others.
Huawei’s Agile Network is the industry’s first network centered on services, users, and experiences.
Since its rollout in 2013, Huawei Agile Network has been deployed in nearly 200 networks for commercial use in seven (7) industries: government, finance, medical services, large enterprise, transport, education, and broadcast media.
Huawei’s Agile Network has helped customers build multiple high-profile solutions such as intelligent transport, wireless cities, smart shopping malls, and smart travel.
HNC 2015 is the forum being used to share and discuss with industry partners the practices and future of the Agile Network, with the aim of helping enterprises to quickly enter the age of agility.
“We are now in a fast-changing era where Cloud computing, Big Data, and Software-defined networking (SDN) are no strangers to us. As mobility, Bring your own device (BYOD) , and digital social networking become terms commonly used in our work and life, the rapid changes of this era are more and more evident. In such an era, IT capability is becoming an extremely important core competency for an enterprise.”, Said Mr. Shi Weiliang, vice president of Huawei West Africa Region, in the keynote address of NHC 2015.
Shi added, “Huawei’s Agile Network focuses on services and user experience instead of technologies and connectivity, and implements a tremendous transformation from ‘best effort ‘to ‘all in control’. Huawei will continue to put forth innovative business models, and enable networks to be more agile for services, to help enterprises build their own differentiated competitiveness in a better connected world.”
The ICT industry’s first agile switch, Huawei S12700, was highlighted on HNC 2015.
The S12700 agile switch was designed with services, users, and experience in mind, and can support customization on demand.
The S12700 shortens service provisioning time from two years to one month and fault location from two weeks to several seconds, and is capable of identifying failure points down to the chip level. Based on agile technology, the whole network can be virtualized into a super chassis switch, significantly simplifying network deployment and management.
At HNC 2015, Huawei has broadened the scope of its Agile Network Solution and is showcasing an end-to-end Agile Network architecture.
This more comprehensive architecture consists of agile campus, cloud data center, and high-efficient WAN sub-solutions.
It meets requirements of mobility, cloud computing, social media, big data, and Internet of Things (IoT), and brings new benefits to enterprises.
On his part, XueBin Zhu, enterprise network solution director, Huawei, said that campus network infrastructure is evolving rapidly due to the dynamic nature of enterprise mobility and BYOD rollouts, cloud services and applications, real time multi-media and UC applications.
Aside that, Zhu added that the need for a comprehensive approach to security across enterprise IT infrastructure- providing enterprises with the agility to support business and application needs continue to arise.
He said during a presentation on, “Agile network: weaving the future”, that Huawei’s vision is aligned with these trends, which along with its built-in programmable chip will afford the achievement of deriving future network needs via emerging networking architectures such as SDN.
Through its dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, Huawei established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing.
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.”
Telecom
NCC Launches Initiative to Combat Fraud, Spam Messaging
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other challenges in the Application-to-Person messaging sector.
The telecom regulator made this announcement in a statement.
The proposed framework, which was introduced during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, is said to be a key step towards enhancing the sector’s integrity and ensuring a fair, transparent environment for all parties involved.
The draft framework, presented by Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, who was represented by Chizua Whyte, NCC’s acting head of legal and regulatory services, seeks to regulate the A2P messaging space.
The A2P messaging, used for notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a vital communication tool in Nigeria.
However, the sector faces significant challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, and data privacy issues, as well as an unequal distribution of value within the ecosystem.
“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces gaps that have led to issues such as fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns. These challenges threaten the sustainable growth of this communication tool,” the NCC said.
The proposed framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.
“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges. We are here to engage with all stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it meets the needs of the entire ecosystem.”
The NCC stressed the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in creating an effective regulatory environment.
Telecom
Airtel Africa to Return $100m to Shareholders via Share Buyback
Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, has announced the commencement of a second share buyback programme that will return up to $100m to shareholders.
The share buyback reflects the Board’s confidence in the Company’s continued growth potential, the strength of its balance sheet, and the consistent cash accretion at the holding company level.
Furthermore, the buyback remains in line with the Company’s existing capital allocation policy.
According to the company, the programme will be executed in accordance with applicable securities laws and regulations.
The share buy-back programme is expected to be phased over two tranches, with the first tranche commencing today and anticipated to end on or before 24 April 2025.
The first tranche will amount to a maximum of $50m.
The Company has entered into an agreement with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (Barclays) to conduct the first tranche of the buy-back and carry out on-market purchases of its ordinary shares with the Company subsequently purchasing its ordinary shares from Barclays.
Under this agreement, Barclays will act as riskless principal and will make decisions independently of the Company.
The sole purpose of the buy-back programme is to reduce the capital of the Company.
It noted that as such, all shares purchased under the buy-back programme will be cancelled.
In a statement signed by Simon O’Hara, group company secretary, the company noted that the share repurchase process will adhere to pre-set parameters agreed upon with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (Barclays), the executing partner for the first tranche of the buyback programme.
This partnership ensures that purchases are conducted transparently and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.
The buyback will be executed under the authority granted by shareholders during the Annual General Meeting held on July 3, 2024, which permits the repurchase of up to 374,141,187 ordinary shares.
Following the completion of a prior buyback programme, the remaining authority allows for the acquisition of up to 328,842,995 shares.
Additionally, Airtel Africa confirmed its commitment to adhering to the Financial Conduct Authority’s UK Listing Rules 9.6 and the provisions of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, as incorporated into UK domestic law.
The company also clarified that share purchases may occur during closed periods, consistent with these regulations and the agreed parameters.
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