Info Tech
Google, Facebook and other ICT companies gather at CTO forum
… seeks easy broadband access for all
ABUJA – Participants at the just concluded 2013 edition of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization, CTO, forum held in Abuja have among other things resolved to develop, adopt and implement policies and establish regulatory environment that would encourage investments in affordable, safe and equitable broadband.
The event entitled: Innovation Through Broadband, offered participants critical updates and insights into infrastructure, security, and application challenges.
Six key topics discussed at the forum were: future networks; internet security and cyber security; social media; data management; broadband as an enabler for women and youth empowerment.
Concerned with the persisting wide gaps in global internet access, particularly broadband access including gender gaps, the forum which was hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on behalf of the Nigerian Government further agreed to promote local initiatives and innovation to advance entrepreneurship.
Future networks, infrastructure development and enabling business, Internet Security and Cybersecurity, developing protocol and ensuring resilience, among others were issues discussed at CTO 2013 forum which was hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on behalf of the Nige
Sponsored by Google, Huawei, MTN Dimension Data, 4A1, Etisalat, Facebook, MaianOne, Vodacom, Phase telecom, Galaxy Backbone, Coolink, Helios Towers among others , the forum believed that with right policies and infrastructure put in place in countries of Commonwealth, broadband challenges would be surmounted..
Harmonization of national regulatory frameworks
Also concerned with the persisting gaps in global broadband affordability, the forum comprising IT Ministers, senior officials, regulators, universal service fund administrators, operators and vendors resolved to be committed to work with regional and international organizations to ensure continued harmonization of national regulatory frameworks.
Recognizing that universal affordable broadband access will be best achieved through forward looking policies, facilitating regulations and innovative partnerships, the CTO forum agreed to facilitate research for solutions and applications on the adoption and use of the internet to unleash the transformational power of broadband.
Bridge the gender gap
While the Secretary General of CTO Prof. Tim Unwin assured to support countries in the Commonwealth on best practice in broadband plans and action, the forum resolved to create particular broadband services and applications for women in order to bridge the gender gap and actively promote the use of specific of broadband services and applications to support youth.
Moral agenda
Meanwhile, the Communications Technology Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson earlier in her closing remarks urged the forum to grab with both hands the issue of the “moral agenda” that has been graphically laid out for everybody over these past few days. “We have heard from the actual creators of the Internet and can appreciate how much this tool has progressed from being a “good to have“novelty to a “must have” necessity if we are to address our developmental challenges” she said.
ITU, CTO, key to formulating policies
According to the Minister, organizations like the ITU and CTO will also be key to formulating policies and helping bring well-placed pressure to bear on the globally popular applications and Internet services that will ultimately benefit the most from the high speed access that we want our citizens and their customers to have.
Affordable broadband for digital economy
For the excited Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, broadband must be affordable and available for all may for digital economy.
While thanking IT Ministers Directors of other Commonwealth countries for their commitment for finding time to attend the capacity building event appealed to the governments to support broadband initiatives of countries in the Commonwealth, saying that Nigerian broadband plans should be a model for other countries.
Multi-stakeholder’s approach needed
Although many countries across the Commonwealth region have their broadband plans to tackle last mile challenge, participants at the forum said that unless multi-stakeholder’s approach was adopted to drive broadband by governments across the region , accelerated broadband infrastructure development may be farfetched.
With ‘Innovation through broadband’ as year’s theme speakers after speaker at the international capacity building event noted that it was time for countries in the region to move from talking to action as time was already running out.
Time to begin work:
At the event that offered opportunity for both public and private sectors to discover how suitable partnerships can hasten ICT development for the benefit of all, including the marginalized across the world, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo earlier his opening remarks told the gathering it was time to begin work.
The Vice President who was represented by the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Mobolaji Johnson said that broadband development in Nigeria requires public private partnership engagement for digital economy.
Open access model
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah said that t government has studied different models and has adopted the open access model where government would provide major infrastructure and rent out to licensed operators to make it easier for penetration.
“We are in full realization of the impact of broadband to the overall development of the economy in terms of stimulation of business activities, providing support for other economy, providing living and governance, nd improving relations between Nigeria and other nations with fellow Commonwealth countries.
“The good news is that government, at the highest level in Nigeria, has adopted broadband as a platform to leverage and improve on the gains already made in the telecoms sector. The national broadband development plan 2013 – 2018 produced by the Presidential broadband committee provided a realistic 80% penetration in its road map for broadband development in Nigeria” the NCC EVC explained.
The CT Minister also in her welcome address said that with Nigerian Broadband plan, the country would be among the countries in the world that will use broadband for economic growth.
nications infrastructure gap existed in the country.
Although the number of base stations in Nigeria has increased exponentially since the inception of GSM from 116 in 2001 to about 21,000 by 2010, the pace of growth, the Minister said has however slowed even as some existing base stations have been decommissioned as a result of terror attacks, theft and vandalisation.
– VANGUARD
In efforts at spicing up the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, the management of ITREALMS Media has partnered with E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) membership organisations for a day-long collection scheme of small electronic waste on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The EPRON members aligning their partnership with 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue are EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited and WEEE Eco-Friendly.
ITREALMS’ day-long collection scheme is part of the commemoration of 2023 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) within the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme “You Can Recycle Anything with a plug, battery or cable” at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.
Revealing this collaboration, the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, the organisers of the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, Sir. Remmy Nweke, urged mobile device enthusiasts to come along with their devices that have reached their end-of-life to the venue for proper disposition by professionals who would also be on grounds to address some topical issues.
The collection of small electronic wastes especially mobile phones and like-devices, would be carried out by EPRON member organisation, EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited as facilitated by ITREALMS Media group as part of this year’s ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue on Friday, December 15, he added.
He disclosed that the exercise would commence at Welcome Centre Hotel by 9am till close of work hours the same day.
Nweke pointed out that the collection of small e-waste items would include mobile phones, pointers mouse, earpieces, rechargeable torches, phone chargers, to name a few.
Further, he said, that this initiative has become time-serving because some people may have missed any other opportunity before now for the year-long campaign, hence this awareness on e-Waste has to be continuous, “ITREALMS came up with this scheme.”
Nweke beckoned on Nigerians, especially mobile phone users, to leverage the opportunity in disposing of their mobile devices they no longer use, of course in exchange for a voucher or gift item.
In her reaction to this year’s day-long small waste collection, EPRON Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, described the initiative as commendable, expressing confidence it would intensify the collection of end-of-life devices for proper disposition.
Mrs. Faluyi, also urged Nigerians to take advantage of this day-long collection of small wastes courtesy of ITREALMS Media.
Recalling for instance that in October 2022, EPRON had partnered SLOT alongside some UN agencies for collection of small e-waste items in Lagos, including the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida and Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would both lead speakers at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue slated for this Friday, December 15, in Lagos.
Today, September 12, the tech corporation Apple will introduce the iPhone 15, their newest iPhone model.
According to a Forbes story, this model, which will be introduced at the company’s “Wanderlust” event in Cupertino, California, will be available in four variations: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Here are five things you should know about the new iPhone 15 model.
1. The new model is made of titaniu, not stainless steel as some other Apple smartphone models, Senior research analyst at DIGITIMES, Luke Lin reports.
2. The Pro Max model will feature double the optical zoom on the iPhone 14 as it comes with a newly-introduced ‘periscope lens upgrade, performing 5-6x optical zoom.’
3. The Pro models will carry an A17 bionic chip expected to make it perform faster.
4. The iPhone 15 model will feature a USB-C charging port, the same port featured on some Android phone models.
5. Due to its titanium shell, the new model is anticipated to be more expensive to purchase. The following is the speculated price list, as reported by Forbes:
The iPhone 15 starts at $799, the iPhone 15 Plus at $899, the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 ($100 increase), and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,299 ($200 increase).
In an effort to reduce the exorbitant cost of Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol, the Infrastructure Bank Plc announced its collaboration with FEMADEC Group on Monday to offer 500 buses powered by autogas (Compressed Natural Gas).
Partners in the agreement claimed that the project was created to provide citizens with dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly travel options, taking into account the negative effects of the nationwide increase in PMS costs.
Under Decree No. 51 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1992 Constitution, the Infrastructure Bank, originally known as the Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, was founded in 1992 to promote the quick development of infrastructure throughout the nation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on its partnership with FEMADEC, the bank said, “The preliminary offer extended by TIB lays a solid foundation for the expansion of FEMADEC Group’s CNG bus fleet.
“With plans to introduce 500 CNG buses within the next five years, commencing with an initial batch of 50 buses in the forthcoming year, this proposal stands poised to instigate significant change.
“The acceptance of this proposition by FEMADEC Group, notably championed by Fola Akinnola, the Group Chief Executive Officer, is a testament to their zeal and dedication to this alliance.”
The bank described the partnership as a “pivotal endeavour that is primed to redefine Nigeria’s public transportation landscape, offering dependable, cost-effective, and ecologically conscious travel alternatives for citizens, while harmonising with the nation’s broader sustainability ambitions.”
“This partnership represents a remarkable stride towards a more ecologically aware future for Nigeria’s transportation sector, highlighting the shared commitment of both TIB and FEMADEC Group to sustainable advancement and progress.”
It said FEMADEC Group’s strides in operating Compressed Natural Gas buses, including the existing fleet of 20 CNG buses under LAMATA, underscored their unwavering dedication to ecologically sound solutions, a commitment predating the fuel subsidy removal.
“Their leadership within the CNG value chain is undeniable, and the new alliance with TIB underscores their foresight.
“This partnership seamlessly aligns with TIB’s sustainability objectives, echoing their resolute endorsement of the government’s net-zero and climate change agenda.
“The bank’s aspiration to champion Nigeria’s infrastructure progress is evident in its endorsement of pivotal initiatives like this, yielding expansive positive impacts on both the environment and society,” the bank stated.
The bank added that it would continue to make a significant contribution to the country’s growth as a leading financial institution committed to advancing effective and long-lasting infrastructure projects.
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