Telecom
Newwaves Ecosystem Inks MoU with Galaxy Backbone to Deploy Konn3ct Solution in Public Service Space
Newwaves Ecosystem, a creative Digital Company has partnered with Galaxy Backbone Limited, to facilitate the deployment of Konn3ct solution in the public service space in line with the local content drive of this administration.
Officials of Galaxy Backbone Limited and Newwaves Ecosystem during the MoU signing in Abuja, recently
Konn3ct solution, a brainchild of Newwaves Ecosystem is Nigeria’s first unified video communications platform that spans video, voice, content sharing, and chat across desktop, mobile and workspaces.
Speaking during the formal agreement signing, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar, managing director of Galaxy Backbone (GBB) represented by Baffajo Beita, Head Of Enterprise Business Group, said, Galaxy Backbone is happy to promote indigenous solutions especially, in the areas of aiding business of government.
Konn3ct platform will give the best value for money in terms of ease of communications, improved security, ease of use and payment in Naira which will help to save government foreign exchange.
Williams Olufemi, Chief Enabling Officer/Director, Newwaves Ecosystem thanked the Management of GBB for their belief in local solutions that is better than many other competing products in the market.
According to him, “I am sure that Nigerians and the Federal Government will be proud of what we have been able to develop here.
“We are happy to announce that the Konn3ct platform had been registered by NITDA.
“Apart from the retail online meetings and Web conferencing features, we have integrated a Learning Management system to Konn3ct to make it suited for the educational sectors in Nigeria”.
Olufemi further noted that government should not pay lip service to National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content but be seen to consume the content.
He questioned why government and its agencies will still be using foreign platforms for their meetings, conferences, webinars, live-classroom, syndicate events, and remote cinema among others, when we have a local platform that is challenging the statuesque.
He said, “Why should Federal executive Council meeting be held on Webex, why should NITDA be using MS Teams, Why should the VP office be using Zoom, Why should the Federal and State legislature be holding their meetings on foreign platforms.
“Government need to not just preach local content but be seen to consume the content.
“You will notice how vibrant and profitable the entertainment industry is now because Nigerians develop taste and preference for the local content.
“Konn3ct could just be a vehicle for radical change and transformation of the local ICT sector.
“Don’t forget that Nigerian banks collectively spend over 1Trillion Naira on core banking software every year. Imagine if local players are encouraged” he added.
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.”
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