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‘NIGERIA CAN’T ATTAIN FULL BROADBAND ECONOMY ON WEAK PENETRATION’ have made up their minds to frustrate the efforts of the federal government in deepening broadband penetration across the country. Citing an example with right of way(RoW) permit for the laying of fibre optic cable for broadband access across states, Omoniyi said the states were busy frustrating the plans of the federal government to deepen broadband penetration in the country. He said the Lagos State government, the Ogun State government and some other state governments have not granted any RoW permit in the last two years, and that some states have actually suspended it, thus making it extremely difficult to increase broadband penetration across the country. DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION, RENEWAL SLIDE IN THREE YEARS same year. In October 2016, domain name registration was 3,483, but increased slightly in November same year to 3,732 and later dropped to 3,027 in December same year. In October 2017, Nigeria recorded 4,211 domain name registration, but the figure dropped to 3,974 in November same year and further dropped to 3,560 in December same year. In the same vein, renewal of registered .ng domain name also declined in the last three years. In October 2015, the total number of renewal was 1,276, which declined to 1,117 in November same year, but increased slightly to 1,157 in December same year. But in October 2016, the total number of renewal was 1,823, which dropped to 1,499 in November same year, and further dropped to 1,371 in December same year. In October 2017, the total number of renewal of registered .ng domain name was 2,126, which increased slightly to 2,280 in November same year, but drastically dropped to 1,917 in December same year. Although the total number of registered domain name as at December 2017 is 101,695, out of that number, 18,717 are .ng domain names registered at the second level.
Group Business Editor
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India Targets $100bn Investment, Nigeria Eyes Knowledge Economy Revenue Stories by Emma Okonji India’s telecoms regulator TRAI, has opened a public consultation into a four-year plan designed to propel the country into being a front-runner in the fourth industrial revolution. In Nigeria, industry stakeholders have urged the federal government to invest in broadband infrastructure that would drive broadband penetration from the seashores to the hinterland, especially in national backbone infrastructure. This, they said, would enable government and its citizens take better advantage of the ongoing global industrial revolution that is all about knowledge economy. The India draft document outlines a wide range of measures to increase the availability of connectivity and improve wireless and wired broadband speeds across the country, in addition to attracting $100 billion in investment into the communications sector. National Telecom Policy – 2018 is set to be the country’s first major statement on its targets and plan for the industry in six years. The version drafted by TRAI covers changes to regulatory frameworks, plans to expand connectivity into rural areas, quality assurance measures, business processes guidelines and rules to stimulate adoption and development of next generation technology.
TRAI said the policy was designed to “spur the socioeconomic development� and would: “Provide reliable and secured connectivity with assured quality of service, facilitate development of infrastructure and services for
new technologies including 5G and IoT, encourage innovation and manufacturing, and develop a large pool of digitally skilled man-power.� Its plan includes further urbanisation of areas into world class cities, with the eventual aim of assuming the
leadership role in the world economy. TRAI and the government aim to achieve the vision of India becoming the “front runner of the fourth industrial revolution� by 2022. The document was put together at the request of the
Department of Technologies and follows discussions with a range of stakeholders including operators, infrastructure vendors, industry associations and consultancy companies. The consultation closes on January 19 this year.
PRESENTING PROMO PRIZES
L-R: Specialist, Partnerships, Digital Business, 9mobile, Olashile Hassan; N2.5 million winner, Mohammed Bello Abubakar with his elder brother, Umar Abubakar and Customer Experience Specialist, 9mobile, Sowari Akosionu, presenting prizes to winners of ‘9mobile Sport Promo’ and ‘Spin The Wheel Promo’, at 9mobile’s oďŹƒce in Lagos...recently
ICT Stakeholders Faults NITDA Board Appointment The recent announcement by the federal government on the appointment of new members into the governing board of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has come under heavy criticism by industry stakeholders. The critics, who expressed their displeasure over what they described as faulty appointment, said it lacked professionalism. They are worried that the federal government could still appoint a non-technocrat as chairman of the governing board of NITDA that is supposed to oversee the implementation of the country’s Information Technology (IT) policy. The federal government recently announced the appointment of board members for all the federal agencies in Nigeria, and made a Professor of Political Science, Adeolu Akande, as the Chairman, NITDA Governing Board. Other members of the board include: Hon Kazeem Salako; Dr. Lawal Bello Moriki; Hajia Binta Mohammed; Mr. Uche Onwude; Rt. Hon Abdullai Bello and Sen. J.J. Akpanunudoedehe. Disturbed by the list of members for NITDA Governing Board, especially its chairman who is a Professor of Political Science, with no experience in technology, the Chairman, Education and Manpower Committee of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Mr. Rogba Adeoye, said the appointment of Akande negates the ethics of IT professionalism and the Act setting up the Computer Profes-
sionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), which has the mandate to accredit all IT professionals in the country. According to Adeoye, Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo had in the past, assured IT professionals in the country that appointment into any government parastatals that is driven by IT, would be based on professionalism, but the recent appointment into the NITDA Governing Board, is a complete derailment from the promises of the Vice President. “We have qualified IT personnel in the country that are registered with either CPN or NCS or both, yet the government still went ahead to appoint someone with no knowledge of IT to man a sensitive agency of government like NITDA that is saddled with the responsibility of implementing the nation’s IT policy. “Economies are thriving through IT development and Nigeria must take a clue from other economies to properly drive IT development in the country,� Adeoye said. The Chief Executive Officer, Pinnet Informatics, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, who also expressed his displeasure over the appointment, however, said technocrats must loosen up a little and also attach themselves to politics, since political appointments are meant for politicians. Speaking on the economic implication of not appointing a technocrat to chair IT-driven agencies like NITDA, Ajayi said the non-technocrat would use the first two years of his tenure to learn and understand the
technology terrain, before coming up with better policies that will enhance development. He
is of the view that appointment of technocrats into the NITDA would fast-track development,
since the technocrat has the pedagogy needed to drive development in the IT sector.
Spectrum Alliance Announces New Rules forTV White Space Technology The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) has announced the publication of new model rules for TV White Space (TVWS) technology. The new model rules will provide governments, policy makers and regulators with the tools necessary to enable the quick and efficient deployment of TVWS networks to help bridge the digital divide and support the Internet of Things (IoT). Replacing the original version published in 2014, the updated model rules offer higher availability for dynamic spectrum devices and stronger protection for incumbent users. They are based upon the regulatory environments already put in place by Ofcom in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Federal Communications Commission in the United States, incorporating learnings from the operation of TVWS networks, including DSA member Nominet’s experiences running its TVWS services. President of DSA, Kalpak Gude, said: “We are very proud to be releasing the latest TVWS model rules, incorporating the experience of many DSA members who are leaders in TVWS technology and deployment. “The Alliance has long been championing TVWS technology to connect those
in underserved and rural locations, which will in turn help to bridge the digital divide. Our membership consists of organizations at the forefront of TVWS developments, and we will continue to work together to ensure global connectivity, while maintaining the most effective and efficient use of spectrum is achieved.� TVWS refers to unused frequencies in the wireless spectrum between TV broadcasts. The new rules are designed to facilitate and encourage international regulatory harmonisation for TVWS, and to help countries where creating a bespoke regulatory environment for TVWS from scratch is difficult and time intensive due to limited resources and the nature of the process of developing new regulations. Instead, regulators can use the new model rules as a customisable out-of-the-box solution, for a faster and more efficient way to enable TVWS networks to be launched in their markets. Director of Emerging Technology at Nominet, an Ofcom-approved white space database operator and member of the DSA, Adam Leach, said: “We are delighted to publish the new set of model TVWS rules and hope they’ll help to
accelerate new deployments all over the world. TVWS has the potential to bring connectivity to people and places that have never had it before, and truly revolutionise their lives in the process. We have worked hard to build on the foundations laid by Ofcom and the FCC, and hope the new rules offer the best of both worlds to countries that are considering TVWS technologies. Once adopted, operators, device manufacturers and database providers alike will be able to enter new markets very quickly, and with minimal start-up costs – meaning they can launch and start delivering benefits to local communities faster than ever before.� The revised DSA model rules enable flexible network topologies such as mesh networks, TVWS in high-speed, long-distance scenarios such as on trains, and a more streamlined regulatory framework to facilitate market growth. In any location, rules must be in place to ensure that TVWS users will not cause interference to incumbent users, such as television broadcasters and domestic television users. The revised DSA model rules are ready and available now, for use across the world.