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Info Tech
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Nigeria boosts phone subscriptions by 13.3% KUNLE A ZEEZ
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elecoms companies in Nigeria have increased the number of active telephone subscriptions in the country by 13.3 per cent in first 10 months of 2012 into October, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission. According to the NCC in its latest industry statistics, active telephone subscriptions increased from 96.1 million in January 2012 to reach 109.4 million at the end of November, 2012. The boost, which saw telecoms operators adding about 13.8 million active telephone lines, represents a 13.3 per cent in telecoms subscribers’ growth in the 10-month period. Analysis of the NCC latest data showed that the Global System for Mobile Communications operators were the major contributors to the current increase in active subscriber base to 109.4 million. From beginning of 2012, GSM operators have continued to record astounding increase on their networks while the CDMA and fixed networks have consistently witnessed a decline month-on-
month. According to the NCC data, while active mobile subscriptions on GSM networks increased from 91 million in January to 105.9 million at the end of October 2012; that of the CDMA operators declined from 4.4 million to 3.1 million during the 10-month period. It was learnt that the GSM active subscriptions standing at 91 million in January, 2012, increased to 92 million in February and94.5 million at the end of March. The GSM subscriptions continued upward growth reaching 96.6 million in April and in May, 2012, the figured grew to 97.5 million active subscriptions. In June, July and August, the combined active GSM subscriber base increased to 98.3 million; 99.4 million and 101.4 million respectively. In September and October 2012, the active GSM subscriptions moved to 103.6 million and 105.9 million respectively. However, active subscriber base on CDMA networks was hovering around slightly over 4 million between February and March but further declined to 3.9 in April.
The figure further plunged to 3.7 million in May; 3.5 million in June and in July, it fell to 3.4 million and finally to 3.3 million at the end of August, 2012. Also in September and October, 2012, CDMA subscriptions fell to 3.2 million and 3.1 million respectively. On the fixed lines, the figure which stood at 688,333 million has, by the end of August 2012, reduced to 488,088 lines while standing at 454,644 at the end of October, 2012. Over the years, only the GSM segment of Nigeria’s telecoms companies have continued to witness impressive performance with CDMA and fixed line networks facing perpetual decline in subscriber base. Analysts have expressed mixed reactions over the viability and success of a merger arrangement being put together among the CDMA operators - Starcomms, Multi-Links and MTS Wireless. However, the ongoing merger plans of the three CDMA firms are expected to raise the performance bar of the CDMA segment.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
HP Windows 8 PC Portfolio: Offering unique user experience
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ewlett Packard has annnounced availability of its ts new lineup of consumer er and business Personal Compututers that are designed to work with th Windows 8. The new HP products, ranging ng from stylish notebooks and desktops to a tablet, leverage premium materials and a purposeful design philosophy to deliver a distinct HP look and feel. Unique form factors, including a hybrid PC with a detachable screen, a business tablet with functionality-boosting HP Smart Jackets and an ultrathin all-inone (AiO) desktop, enable users to take advantage of Windows 8 along with HP innovations such as HP TouchSmart technology. Senior Vice President and General Manager, Personal Computer Global Business Unit, HP, Mr. James Mouton, said, “HP’s portfolio of ultrathin notebooks, sleek all-in-ones and high-performance business PCs is designed to meet the needs of customers anticipating the release of the Windows 8 OS.” According to him, “Consumers and organisations now can choose from a broad range of HP PCs featuring multi-touch displays, versatile form factors, sleek designs or customisable solutions that address their needs.” The HP consumer notebook portfolio featuring Windows 8 includes a hybrid PC and notebooks with slim and sophisticated designs, multitouch display technology, strong performance and great value. One of the products, the HP
ENVY x2, is a powerful, ultrathin hybrid PC that delivers the power of a notebook and the freedom of a tablet in one stylish, lightweight device. A notebook that doubles as a tablet, the HP ENVY x2 has a detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard via a seamless magnetic latch. The HP ENVY x2 includes a vivid 11.6-inch/295 millimeters (mm) diagonal high-definition (HD) touch display, Beats Audio, an HD webcam plus an 8-megapixel camera, and near field communication (NFC) technology that lets users share content, including photos, contacts and URLs, with a simple tap. Also, the HP Spectre TouchSmart Ultrabook is a premium Ultrabook featuring a 15.6-inch diagonal multitouch Radiance Full HD IPS display, strong performance and a sophisticated all-metal design. Measuring 7 inches/179mm thin, this Ultrabook is HP’s first notebook with Intel Thunderbolt technology, providing blazing-fast transfer of music, movies and data to external devices.
Cisco eager to regain ground as network security leader
A Group Managing Director, JKK Nigeria Limited, Mr. Lekan Yusuf (L) and immediate past chairman, Chief Ayo Otegbola, during the Annual General Meeting of the company held in Lagos recently.
Kitskoo to discuss benefits of network-based ICT services KUNLE A ZEEZ
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itskoo Incorporated, an international telecom and ICT services firm operating in Nigeria as Kitskoo Cloud Services Limited, has concluded plans to organise a one-day customer forum for IT managers in Nigeria. The event, being oraganised in partnership with MainOne Cable Company and Tech Mahindra is aimed at highlighting the business benefit of network-based ICT services to the target audience of ICT managers and consultants drawn from different segments of the Nigerian business community. It also serves as the company’s official launch and direct
introduction of its own products and services aimed at adding value to the Information Technology community in Nigeria. Speaking on the event, the Executive Director, Kitskoo Cloud Services Limited, Mr. Monu Ogbe, said the essence of having a direct engagement with the business community is to improve the company’s understanding of how best to serve the requirements of IT managers and personnel from the invited organizations. This, he noted, will help build value and enhance the working relationship between Kitskoo and its clients. He said: “In organising this event, we are asking the following questions in relation to our customers’ IT needs: What do our customers want? Where do they want it? And,
when do they want it? By tailoring solutions to each customer’s demand, we will be adding value to their business because the IT demands of each organisation are unique. “We also see this forum as a means of providing our customers with opportunities to collaborate with government, enterprises, service providers and each other. Our customers’ businesses are driven by critical mass, speed and performance. We believe that collaborative competition supports these requirements and help make services more affordable.” Also speaking, Service Manager, Kitskoo Cloud Services, Mr. Gilbert Kimeng, spoke about Kitskoo’s business offerings and their benefits to the business community in Nigeria.
fter failing to land a big acquisition in the security space last year and suffering a steady decline in market share, Cisco Systems Chief Executive, Mr. John Chambers, is determined to turn around his company’s lagging security business - whatever the cost. The growing expectation, from Silicon Valley to Wall Street, is that Chambers will not be able to do it with its SecureX product range, and needs to go back to the deal table to boost the business with an acquisition in the coming months. In December 2012, Chambers said he had granted Chris Young - Cisco’s first executive for security at a senior vice president level - a “blank check” for the next two to three years to hire and acquire as he sees fit to overhaul Cisco’s security business and spark a rebound. Cisco has lost around 10 percent of its market share in network security over the past five years to smaller, more in-
novative rivals such as Juniper Networks Inc, Checkpoint Systems Inc, and Palo Alto Networks Inc. The network equipment company fell behind in web applications, social media and video streaming that call for more complex security protection than traditional firewalls provide. Mike Rothman, analyst and president at security research and advisory firm Securosis, said Cisco was “years behind in terms of a lot of capabilities” and that Young “better get his M&A people in order”. Cisco is aware of the deficiency and has been actively looking for acquisitions to beef up its network security offerings for some time, three sources familiar with the matter said. However, there are only a handful of top picks - such as Palo Alto Networks, FireEye, Sourcefire, Fortinet and Barracuda Networks - and Cisco already struck out with at least one before Chambers’ “blank check” strategy.