Connect with us

Telecom

Terragon Group Unveils fAfrican-focused Mobile Advertising Technology at MWC 2015

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) has been pointed out as being one of the most important annual global events for the mobile industry, covering all verticals in the mobile ecosystem.

At this year’s event, Terragon Group, Africa’s innovative and largest digital media company, is set to unveil its dynamic data monetization and advertising platform; a first for mobile in developing markets
.
The data and advertising technology, called the ‘Adrenaline’, allows for advertisers to buy inventory and access to reach mobile users on organically generated channels which sit on non-internet based platforms on mobile devices.

These channels include USSD based balance enquiry, Call-Me-Back messages, End of Call Notification, among others.

This unveiling follows the company’s move in 2014, where it debut at the international event, launching its proprietary Mobile Advertising Server with new Advert formats built for the African market, for the company’s Mobile advertising arm of its business, Twinpine Limited.

Speaking on this development, Elo Umeh, chief executive officer, Terragon Group, said that the planned unveiling of ‘Adrenaline’ was a reaffirmation of the giant strides the company has been making since its existence:

“The Mobile World Congress event affords us the opportunity to be able to show that innovation can come out of Africa. We continually seek to use global events to showcase our local innovation, with both elements reinforcing each other to maintain market leadership in the digital media industry. This is what we believe at Terragon Group. Our passion for innovation allows us take intuitive steps towards a digital Africa.”

Umeh further stated, “Our ‘Adrenaline’ technology is a first of its kind around the world. This is because no other platform gives advertisers access to a wide range of African premium publishers and channels as we do. Our channels generate a lot of traffic daily and constitute the primary medium where a pre-dominant number of African mobile users access daily, considering that they are mostly prepaid subscribers.”

Giving more details on the planned unveil, Ayodeji Balogun, chief technology officer, Terragon Group, gave more insights into the technology and the thinking behind it: “We identified that more innovation can be fostered through integration of available non-internet based mediums which we tied to the advert network of one of our businesses, Twinpine Limited. As a Group, our independent yet convergent businesses, offer local account management teams in key markets to help with productization and delivery of custom offerings over an extended service bouquet. We combine and integrate the inventory into our ‘Adrenaline’ platform. Such a technology platform has never had one tailored to African inventory and built by Africans.”

The GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015 comes up in Barcelona, Spain, from the 2nd to 5th of March. MWC is an annual event combining the world’s largest exhibition and conference for the mobile industry, featuring prominent executives representing mobile operators, device manufacturers, and technology providers, among others.

The event for 2014 recorded an attendance of more than 85,000 professionals representing 200 countries from across the globe
.
Terragon Group boasts of being a truly African firm, operating out of Nigeria and four other markets including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and India, and with the capacity to do business across the continent.

The group houses three independent, yet convergent businesses – Terragon Limited (TL), Twinpine Limited and Terragon Media Limited (TML) – all of which focus on different aspects of the digital media sphere. Terragon Group is a member of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF).


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Telecom

Google, Meta Criticize Australia’s Rush to Pass Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Tech giants Google and Meta have called on the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing most social media platforms.

The companies argue that more time is needed to assess the bill’s impact and await results from an age-verification trial.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the legislation—one of the strictest globally on children’s social media use—by Thursday, the final day of the parliamentary year. Introduced last week, the bill was open for public submissions for just one day, drawing criticism for its expedited timeline.

The proposed law would require social media companies, rather than parents or children, to enforce age-verification measures, potentially using biometrics or government-issued identification. Companies found in breach could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Meta criticised the bill as “inconsistent and ineffective” without clear results from the age-verification trial. Google echoed the sentiment, urging for a measured approach to ensure Australians understand the implications of the legislation.

TikTok raised “significant concerns” over the lack of consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations, and young people. “Novel policies must be drafted thoroughly to ensure their success,” the company stated.

Elon Musk’s X also opposed the bill, arguing it could infringe on children’s human rights, including their freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, accused the government of using the bill as a backdoor to control internet access.

The opposition Liberal Party has signalled support for the bill, while some independent lawmakers have criticised the government for rushing its passage. A Senate committee report on the bill is expected on Tuesday.

If passed, the bill will place Australia at the forefront of regulating children’s online activity, but its swift progression and potential implications have sparked a heated debate over privacy, freedom, and the role of government in digital spaces.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Unforgettable Moments and Big Wins at the TECNO SPARK 30 City Tour

Published

on

Kindly share this post

TECNO SPARK 30 city tour made a memorable stop at Ikeja City Mall on November 15th, bringing with it an infectious energy that electrified the entire city.

As the event unfolded, it was clear that this was more than just a product showcase – it was an immersive experience designed to thrill and delight.

The day’s festivities kicked off with the iconic TECNO SPARK 30 transformer bus, painted in bold red and blue hues, rolling into action.

The bus served as the hub for a games grotto, where fans immersed themselves in thrilling digital games and adventures.

Outside, the excitement spilled over, with attendees engaging in friendly competitions of Jenga, Monopoly, Ludo, and chess.

These games sparked laughter, playful banter, and a sense of camaraderie among strangers.

As the games heated up, so did the rewards. Purchasers of the TECNO SPARK 30 Pro enjoyed a N20,000 discount and a chance to win up to 100% cashback by participating in the games.

The atmosphere was electric, with cheers of victory, enthusiastic applause, and celebratory high-fives.

The excitement reached a fever pitch with the arrival of tech and lifestyle creator Kagan, accompanied by Big Brother Naija Season 9 stars Victoria and Ruthee.

The trio dove into the action, competing in games and claiming victory. They were awarded TECNO-branded gift items, earning cheers and applause from the thrilled crowd.

The event was an unforgettable experience, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Sophos Report Highlights Cyber Risks During Holiday Shopping Season

Published

on

Kindly share this post

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, we’re entering a high-risk period for cybersecurity.
A recent Sophos report highlights that malicious emails were the second most common root cause of ransomware attacks in critical sectors, responsible for 25% of cases.

During peak shopping days, this threat intensifies.

Here’s what happens: with the surge in online deals, more employees may be shopping from their work computers, feeling that Cyber Monday is a legitimate time to do so.

This increases the risk of them clicking more freely and potentially exposing the organization to malicious links or phishing attacks.

To keep your organization safe, encourage your team to follow these simple tips:

• Use an ad blocker – Advertisements are not only tracking your every movement and collecting enough information on your habits to make the FBI blush, but they are also a major source of malicious links and deceptive content on the internet. Not only is your browsing safer, but also faster and uses less bandwidth. Two of our favorites are uBlock Origin and Ghostery.
• Use private browsing or incognito mode – To prevent your shopping habits and interests from following you around from site to site (and potentially revealing what gifts you might be purchasing to others using your device, bonus!), you should enable private browsing (Firefox) or incognito mode (Chrome). This will block tracking cookies and help the internet forget your travels as the waves wash away your footprints in the sand.
• Make your browser “privacy smart” – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) provides a browser extension called Privacy Badger designed to automatically make all the right choices around browsing whilst maintaining our privacy and blocking invisible trackers.
• Avoid using one account on multiple services – When logging into an e-commerce site it is often tempting to use the “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Google” button. While it takes a few more minutes to create a new login, it will provide more privacy as you are not sharing all of the sites you shop at with these tech giants.
• Use guest login when available – In addition to letting you use an account from other websites, many have an option to use a guest login rather than creating a new account. This is a great option if you don’t expect to need technical support or to do business on a recurring basis. Fewer passwords, fewer personal details, fewer problems if they get hacked.
• Don’t save card details – Many e-commerce sites will default to storing your credit card information in your profile for your “convenience” (or their hope you’ll shop there again). They can’t lose what they don’t have, so tell them not to store your credit card unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Use temporary card numbers – Many financial institutions now offer temporary or one-time use credit card numbers. You can open the app on your phone or in your browser and get a single-use disposable credit card number preventing card fraud and tracking when merchants share card processors. Sometimes you’re even able to specify a card limit per temporary number to further protect your account.
• Use credit, not debit – All of us need to be wary of overspending during the holidays, but it is best to leave the debit card at home. Credit cards offer significantly more protection against online fraud, and you are in the power position in a dispute. You can simply not pay your bill while disputing the charge, rather than having criminals directly drain your bank account of your hard-earned cash.
• Beware of direct messages via social media/chat apps – With modern generative AI technology it is almost trivial to create an entire fake online store and lure people to share their personal information and payment data with you. It’s safest to shop at established sites or those personally recommended to you by friends and family. Many unsolicited messages lead to data collection or theft.

• Don’t click deals in email that look too good to be true or are from businesses you don’t have accounts from – these could be phishing emails hoping to bait you into clicking links to bogus, malicious web sites.

This season, small steps can make a big difference in protecting against cyber threats.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending