Telecom Archives — Page 5 of 9 — Business Bells

Business Bells

Category: Telecom

  • Airtel Rated Best in Broadband Speed, Coverage in Nigeria

    Airtel Rated Best in Broadband Speed, Coverage in Nigeria

     

    Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has been declared the ‘Best in Test’ following a nationwide broadband assessment by umlaut, an international, full-service, cross-industry, end-to-end company that offers advisory and fulfilment services to clients globally.

     

    According to Hakan Ekmen, CEO of Telecommunications at umlaut, Airtel achieved the best-rated broadband coverage and user download speed among other mobile network operators, scoring the highest with 697 points, while MTN emerged second with 663 points, 9mobile with 591 and Glo with 486 points.

     

    The tests were carried out with umlaut’s crowdsourcing methodology, which was used to evaluate the mobile networks in Nigeria. Consequently, an extensive analysis revealed two-hundred and sixty-three thousand (263,000) users have contributed 707.4-million samples in 24 weeks from October 2020 until early April 2021.

     

    Speaking on the metrics of the assessment, Ekmen stated that over 80% of urban build-up and population areas were tested to arrive at the results. He went on to laud Airtel for emerging the best-rated, citing it as a remarkable feat and a positive step towards attaining digital equality in Africa.

     

    “In our nationwide assessment, 82.8% of the urban build-up area and 83.9% of the Population area were tested. We concluded that Airtel Nigeria is Best in Test, achieving the highest umlaut score with 697 points.

     

    “Airtel achieved the best-rated broadband coverage and user download speed. This is remarkable in one of the largest telecommunications communities on the African continent, a positive step towards Digital Equality”, he stated.

     

    Ekmen went on to state that umlaut’s sophisticated methodology enables the results to be comparable across network operators globally, emphasizing the transparency it provides in not only boosting network quality and performance but also improving experience for every customer.

     

    He further stated that while the results in Nigeria are quite impressive, there is still room for improvement in global comparison, however, the competition in the Nigeria’s telecoms landscape is working favorably for consumers in the country.

  • Buhari Receives First Made-In-Nigeria Phone

    Buhari Receives First Made-In-Nigeria Phone

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday took delivery of the first ever Nigeria-made cellphone called ITF Mobile.

     

    The product was presented to him by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, just before commencement of the week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

     

    Introducing the product to the President, Adebayo said it was produced by the Electrical/Electronics Technology Department of the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) Model Skills Training Centre, using locally sourced components.

     

    “Twelve indigenous mobile cell phones produced by the Model Skills Training Centre of the Industrial Training Fund; an agency under Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment was launched.

    “It gives me great pleasure, Mr President, to present you with one of the phones,” Adebayo said.

     

    Also before the start of the FEC meeting, Buhari also presided over swearing-in ceremony of a Commissioner each for the National Population Commission (NPC) and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

     

    Those sworn-in were Wakil Bukar as Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCC) and Mohammed Dattijo Usman as Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC).

     

    Bukar is to replace the FCC Commissioner from Bauchi State while Usman replaces the NPC Commissioner from Niger State.

     

    Representatives from the two States died recently.

  • FG, Twitter in Talks Over Suspension

    FG, Twitter in Talks Over Suspension

     

    The Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, on Monday, confirmed that Nigeria is in discussion with Twitter over suspension of its operations in Nigeria.

     

    Leonard said this during a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, ambassadors and representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and the EU in Nigeria.

     

    Onyeama had said the suspension of Twitter was in the interest of national security and peace.

     

    He stressed that the objective of the ban was to advocate for a responsible use of social media platforms that would not destabilize the peace and unity of the country.

     

    Reacting, Leonard thanked the Minister for inviting them for the meeting and expressed satisfaction that the federal government and Twitter were in talks.

     

    She said the representatives were Nigeria’s strong partners on issues of security and they recognise the daunting task on the issues of security that confronts the country.

     

    “We recognise that there are issues of irresponsible use of social media, but we remain firm in our position that free access to the ability to express self is very important and perhaps more important in troubled times,’’ NAN quoted her as saying.

     

    She said many of the things Onyeama referred to, including incitements and violence, were crimes the Nigerian government had legitimate right to prosecute.

     

    Leonard urged the federal government to use its judicial processes within the scope of respect for human rights and the rule of law to restrain such behaviours. 

  • Telcos Finally Block Twitter Following FG’s Order

    Telcos Finally Block Twitter Following FG’s Order

     

    Telecoms operators in Nigeria have blocked Twitter in Nigeria, a day after the Federal government announced its indefinite suspension.

     

    Twitter users in the country woke up on Saturday unable to access the microblogging websites while some navigated the hurdle using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

     

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), an industry group, confirmed it had received directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.

     

    The President of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

     

    Mr Adebayo noted that the association wished to confirm that its members had received formal instructions from NCC, the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.

     

    “ALTON has also conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles.

     

    “Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with the directives of NCC, the industry regulator.

     

    “We will continue to engage all relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC, ” Mr Adebayo said.

     

    He said the association remains committed to supporting the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.

     

    He, however, said as an industry, ALTON endorsed the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online.

     

    He noted that this included respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications.

     

     

    Civil War Tweet

     

    The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

    announced the suspension in a statement issued by his office in Abuja.

     

    He cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

     

    The Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

     

    The government had announced the suspension barely 48 hours after the microblogging site deleted a post by Mr Buhari referencing the country’s civil war, and threatening to treat those attacking government buildings “with the language they understand.”

     

    His comments received condemnation from Nigerians.

     

     

     

    -‘Repressive action’ –

     

    Amnesty International on Friday condemned the move, calling on Nigeria to “immediately reverse the unlawful suspension”.

     

    “This repressive action is a clear attempt to censor dissent & stifle the civic space,” Human Rights Watch researcher Anietie Ewang said.

     

    Twitter said that the move was “deeply concerning”.

     

    “We’re investigating and will provide updates when we know more,” the company said in a statement.

     

    The UK’s deputy high commissioner in Nigeria, Gill Atkinson in reaction to the suspension said “any action taken by government must be measured, proportionate and not suppress basic freedoms.”

     

    Nigeria in 2019 had announced it would tighten regulations on social media to fight fake news and disinformation, sparking concerns over freedom of expression.

     

    Several countries including China and Turkey have come under fire for putting restrictions on social media platforms such as Twitter.

     

    In February Twitter condemned Myanmar for blocking access to its platform as part of a crackdown on social media, days after a coup that saw Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders jailed.

     

  • Five Ways To Remain Connected As #TwitterBan Takes Effect in Nigeria

    Five Ways To Remain Connected As #TwitterBan Takes Effect in Nigeria

     

    The ban on Twitter appears to have taken effect hours after the announcement with many Nigerians unable to access the latest messages on the microblogging site on Saturday morning.

     

    The Nigerian government on Friday announced it has indefinitely suspended the operations of Twitter in the country.

     

    This decision came two days after Twitter deleted a controversial post by President Muhammadu Buhari referencing the country’s civil war, and threatening those who attack government properties “with the language they understand”.

     

    The federal government based its decision on the “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

     

    However, authorities did not clarify how and when the ban would start, but on Saturday morning, many Nigerians are unable to access new information on the microblogging site.

     

    This action by the government has left many Nigerians no choice but to engage the services of Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers as an alternative option to access Twitter and other social media networks.

     

    A VPN is a secure tunnel between your device and the internet.

     

     VPNs protect you from online snooping, interference, and censorship.

     

    Here are some VPN providers you can pick from;

     

    1. ExpressVPN

     

    Ranked No 1, by Tom’s Guide, for its intuitive apps, great speeds, reliability and wide device support. You can also use Tom’s Guide offer to claim 3-months Free usage.

     

    1. Surfshark

     

    The app is nice and intuitive, and offers one-touch connection to the best server. It’s got all the essential features like a kill switch, a selection of protocols and auto-connect.

     

    1. Hotspot Shield

     

    Offers a fast, effective mobile VPN experience with a simple yet powerful interface and great connection speeds.

     

    1. NordVPN

     

    Nord’s apps are a sound choice for those looking to stay secure on the go and will make sure you are safe when connecting to public Wi-Fi. Check out NordVPN review for more info.

     

    1. IPVanish

     

    A VPN choice for beginners with a configurable interface, which makes it an ideal client for those who are interested in learning how to understand what a VPN does under the hood. It also has multiplatform flexibility.

     

    While free VPNs are a popular option for discount shoppers, it is advisable to pay for reliable technologies that encrypt your data while you browse online. If you absolutely must use a free VPN, use the free trial deals or introductory versions of paid VPN services.

     

  • Customers to Enjoy Massive Home Broadband Discounts as Airtel Rolls Out ‘HBB Seasonal Offer’

    Customers to Enjoy Massive Home Broadband Discounts as Airtel Rolls Out ‘HBB Seasonal Offer’

     

    Airtel Nigeria has announced the introduction of its HBB Seasonal Offer, a value offering that offers customers exciting discount deals on its Home Broadband devices.

     

    The telco says the offer is designed to ensure its Home Broadband customers get the best out of its Broadband services on the widest 4G Network in Nigeria.

     

    According to Airtel, customers now have the opportunity to own Airtel Home Broadband (HBB) devices such as routers and MiFis at discounted rates bundled with Broadband Data from June 1, 2021 till August 31st, 2021.

     

    The Routers, which were previously priced at N25, 000 will be sold at N19, 999 with up to 160GB bonus data and Mifis hitherto sold at N12, 000 can now be purchased for N9, 999 with up to 55GB bonus data.

     

    Commenting on the new offer, Godfrey Efeurhobo, Director, Home Broadband, Airtel Nigeria, said the HBB Seasonal Offer will further extend Broadband experience to more customers across the Country.

     

    According to him, the offer, which has been designed to meet the growing demand for quality Home Broadband experience with consideration for affordability is a veritable platform to support the new normal of Work from Home, Study from Home, Entertainment at home with friends and loved ones, connecting multiple devices simultaneously to Wi-Fi with superior data quality seamlessly.

     

    “Airtel is committed to creating unique and innovative value propositions that makes life simpler, easier, better and more fun for all its customers.

     

    “There is a growing demand for superior internet connectivity on Home Broadband internet, and with this new offer, we are confident that consumers in the segment will have an enriched experience and be further empowered to realize their full potentials, especially with its affordability and Reliability” he said.

     

  • BREAKING: FG Suspends Twitter’s Operations In Nigeria

    BREAKING: FG Suspends Twitter’s Operations In Nigeria

     

    The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, by Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant To The President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.

     

    The FG claims the suspension was due to “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

     

    The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

     

  • It’s Automatic, Subscribers NOT Required To Submit IMEI— NCC

    It’s Automatic, Subscribers NOT Required To Submit IMEI— NCC

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has clarified reports that mobile subscribers will be required to submit the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) of their phones to it from July 2021.

     

    The IMEI is an identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.

     

    Earlier reports had said the directive is to be implemented within three months, as contained in the revised national identity policy for SIM card registration which was released on May 11, 2021.

     

    In December, the NCC had directed Nigerians to get a national identity number and submit to their network operators.

     

    It recently extended the national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise till June 30.

     

    Reacting to the reports, Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s director of public affairs, said at no time did the commission issue a statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so.

     

    “The reports in question have emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which has been uploaded on the Commission’s website,” the statement read

    “It is pertinent to state that the Commission is in the process of deploying a Device Management System (DMS). The DMS will essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and will identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks. The system will capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.”

     

    Adinde advised the general public to disregard the publications which have created the impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks.

  • Buhari Directs Nigerians To Submit Phone ID in Three Months, Says NCC

    Buhari Directs Nigerians To Submit Phone ID in Three Months, Says NCC

     

    The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July.

     

    The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.

     

    The NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    A portion of the policy said, “Accordingly, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has directed that the Device Management System should be implemented within three months.”

     

    The NCC said, “With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.

     

    “The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.

     

    “IMEIs that have been reported as either stolen or illegal will be shared through the DMS to all the operators and service providers.”

     

    The IMEI number is the mobile phone’s fingerprint. It is a 15-digit number unique to each phone. With the IMEI number, a phone can be tracked and located irrespective of the cellular number in it.

    According to an expert that helps the Nigerian Police track stolen phones, who asked for anonymity, said, “The IMEI of a phone allows us to track the phone.

     

    “It allows us to track the phone’s information, people the phone calls each day and the house address of the people that call on the phone.”

     

    The expert added, “I can’t disclose how the IMEI of a phone works. It is sensitive information. Leaking the secret helps the people stealing the phone bypass the information.

     

    “Some people already try to change the IMEI of stolen phones, but we know what to do to get the original one.”

     

    With this move, the NCC will have the IMEI numbers, NIN, and mobile numbers of every Nigerian.

  • NITDA Advises Nigerians On WhatsApp New Terms Of Service

    NITDA Advises Nigerians On WhatsApp New Terms Of Service

     

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has advised Nigerians on how to avoid being victims of digital colonialism.

     

    This advice was contained is a statement on Monday titled ‘WhatsApp privacy policy changes: Implication for Nigerian users’ signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar.

     

    The statement read, “The National Information Technology Development Agency under Section 6 (f) of the NITDA Act 2007 wishes to provide this advisory to Nigerians to address Nigerian concerns on changes to WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy Policy which took effect on May 15, 2021.

     

    “Millions of Nigerians use WhatsApp platform for business, social, educational, and other purposes. The platform is the social media platform of choice for many Nigerians.

     

    “To understand the issues and give an opportunity to explain its views, NITDA in collaboration with the African Network of Data Protection Authorities engaged Facebook Incorporated, the owners of WhatsApp platform, specifically, its global Policy officials on 9th April, 2021. After the engagement, NITDA, as Nigeria’s data privacy regulator, wishes to advise Nigerians on how Facebook’s business decision affects their privacy rights.”

     

    NITDA told Nigerians that they are at liberty to decide on giving consent to the processing of their data.

     

    The statement added, “WhatsApp users are at liberty to decide on giving consent to the processing of their data based on the new privacy policy.

     

     “The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) recognizes consent (a clear, unambiguous expression of privacy terms communicated by the controller and accepted by the Data Subject) as one of the lawful basis for data processing. Acceptance of the new privacy policy and terms of use implies that user data would now be shared with Facebook and other third parties.

     

    “Users will now be subject to the terms and policies of Facebook and other receiving entities with or without being direct subscribers to such services.”

     

    NITDA further reiterated that Nigerians have other similar platforms open to them to explore beyond WhatsApp.

     

    The agency also advised that Nigerians should limit the sharing of sensitive personal information on private messaging and social media platforms, especially since business exigency has been prioritised over privacy and security.

     

    The statement concluded with a re-confirmation of Nigeria’s engagement with Facebook, while stating that the agency is focused on ensuring that Nigerians do not become victims of digital colonialism.

     

    “Nigeria’s engagement with Facebook continues. We have given them our opinion on areas to improve compliance with the NDPR. We have also raised concerns as to the marked difference between the privacy standard applicable in Europe, under the GDPR and the rest of the world.

     

    “Given the foregoing and other emerging issues around international technology companies, NITDA, with stakeholders, is exploring all options to ensure Nigerians do not become victims of digital colonialism. Our national security, dignity and individual privacy are cherished considerations we must not lose. Because of this, we shall work with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to organize a hackathon for Nigerians to pitch solutions that can provide services that will provide functional alternatives to existing global social platforms,” ​the statement read.