The traditional market leaders are under threat from manufacturers with shiny, new devices
In the mobile handset space, volume market leaders like Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony Ericsson are being challenged by RIM, Apple, HTC and Palm, which are significantly eroding their market share with an assault in the smartphone market.

These challengers will continue to steal market share in 2010, with figures released Wednesday predicting that the market share of the four underdogs will jump to 35 per cent of all smartphones sold in 2009 from 32 per cent in 2008 and just 24 per cent in 2007.
It’s no secret that while sales in the mobile handset space in general are in decline, the smartphone segment is actually growing and has turned into the most profitable segment of the mobile handset market. Informa Telecoms & Media forecasts that volume sales of smartphones are to grow by 33.5 per cent year on year in 2009 and by 36 per cent in 2010 to account for 27 per cent of the total number of handsets sold in 2010.
Incidentally, smartphones will also represent over half (55 per cent) of the value of the total mobile handset market and almost two thirds (64 per cent) in terms of profitability.

“As demand for mid-tier handsets declines, competition in the smartphone segment is set to intensify which is forcing manufacturers to innovate and differentiate their products in terms of hardware, software and content,” said Malik Kamal-Saadi, principal analyst at Informa.
Kamal-Saadi said that key to the success of these new entrants and smaller players is the adoption of new operating systems that have been built from scratch and better reflect the realities of modern mobile device requirements. In addition, they are not burdened with the support of a long legacy of devices and content already in market.

However, the analyst notes that the challenge for these players is to keep pace with innovation rather than getting trapped in the progressive OS upgrade cycles.
“Volume market leaders have responded, with a multitude of me-too iPhones offering multi-touch and an enhanced internet experience but true innovation is still lacking from many incumbent OEMs’ portfolios,” Kamal-Saadi said. “Some players (Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, and Samsung) have responded by opting for Google’s Android as key OS to bring innovation to their smartphone portfolios.  These changes will completely transform the smartphone market landscape and could potentially lead to the emergence of new leaders in the mobile handsets market,” Kamal-Saadi added.
Culled from telecoms.com

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, will this weekend confer the honorary degree of D.Sc on Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.  An announcement from the University’s Vice-Chancellor, says Ndukwe is being recognized for “his contribution to the telecommunications industry and to the socio-economic development of Nigeria”.The University will also use the occasion to launch an endowment fund with the aim of building a Faculty of Technology Hall of Fame and the OAU TechExcel Foundation which, apart from honouring great achievers in the Technology sector, will also provide excellent facilities in Engineering and Technology geared towards the preservation of mankind and enhancement of modern human existence.

A new initiative aimed to facilitate and support network connectivity among all Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) in Lagos including monotechnics, polytechnics, colleges of education, Research Institutions and Universities in Lagos has been announced. Prof Charles Uwadia of the Centre for Information Technology and Systems, CITS, University of Lagos announced early this week that the programme will be launched on December 15, 2009 at the CITS Unilag, Akoka.
 All ICT Directors and their teams from all higher education institutions in Lagos and telecommunication companies are invited to the launch. It will start at 8.30am and it is free.

The multi-institutional project is initiated by the University of Lagos in partnership with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria and Datasphir Solutions.

 For more information, contact foss@unilag.edu.ng  Tel 01-7397052

ITU's 5th World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-10) will take place in Hyderabad, India from 24 May to 4 June 2010. Participants are expected to include government delegates, Ministers, Ambassadors and representatives from the private sector, as well as regional and international organizations. It will be an opportunity to review the programmes and activities of ITU-D as well as to set the agenda for the following four-year cycle.

It is expected that the ITU will be reminding developing nations that the digital divide would have merely has transformed to a broadband divide if developing nations do not pay attention to broadband development in their regions.

ITU’s 4th World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-06) took place from 7 to 15 March 2006 in Doha, Qatar. It gathered 969 participants, including 820 government delegates from 132 countries, 71 Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Ambassadors, 93 representatives from the private sector, and 38 representatives from regional and international organizations.

The purpose of the Conference was to agree on development priorities in view of the high-level recognition of the Digital Divide created by the rapid but uneven expansion of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Another objective of the Conference was to promote international cooperation and partnerships that can sustain and strengthen telecommunication infrastructure and institutions in developing countries.

The Conference adopted the Doha Declaration and the Doha Action Plan. The Doha Declaration stresses the need to quicken the “pace towards the creation of a truly global Information Society in order to bring opportunities to countries, and to create conditions aimed at deriving maximum benefit from the implementation of new services and applications in order to accelerate overall development”.

World Telecommunication Development Conference'02
The 3rd World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-02) was held at Lütfi Kirdar Convention and Exhibition Centre in Istanbul, Turkey from 18-27 March 2002. It established work programs and guidelines, defined ICT development questions and priorities in view of the high-level recognition of the digital divide created by the rapid and pervasive expansion of ICTs.

The 2nd World Telecommunication Development Conference took place in Valletta, Malta, from 23 March to 1 April 1998. It was attended by delegations from 139 Member States of ITU, headed by ministers or senior officials, 79 Sector Members and representatives of 29 organizations and agencies, as well as many private sector representatives. The purposes of the Conference were to:

• review the results of global telecommunications since the Buenos Aires Conference
• review the current major policy issues
• examine technologies for the future
• adopt a strategic plan for ITU-D as well as an action plan for 1999-2002: the Valletta Action Plan
• consider financing and innovative forms of cooperation
• take decisions on the ITU-D structure and working methods
• set goals and objectives up to the year 2003 and define and establish a common vision and strategies for achieving balanced telecommunications development by and beyond the end of the century.

The Conference adopted the Valletta Declaration and the Valletta Action Plan to guide the activities of the Telecommunication Development Sector in the years 1999-2003.

World Telecommunication Development Conference'94
The 1st World Telecommunication Development Conference took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 21 to 29 March 1994. Delegations from 133 Member countries of the ITU, headed by ministers or senior officials, and representatives of 31 organizations and agencies, as well as many private sector representatives, participated in the Conference. The purposes of the Conference were:

• to review the progress made in telecommunication development since publication in December 1984 of the Report of the Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development "The Missing Link";
• to set the goals and objectives up to the year 2000 and to define and establish a common vision and strategies for achieving balanced telecommunication development by and beyond the end of the century; and
• to approve an action plan which translates the goals and objectives agreed upon into a concrete work programme to be implemented over the next four years, identifying those priorities specific to the ITU and those areas of cooperation with its development partners.

A new monthly ICT magazine Africa Telecom & IT Business which focuses on issues and application of IT products and services in Africa has appeared at  newsstands in Lagos.

With circulation targeted at the African continent and major ICT hot spots around the world, the magazine adds to a very rich reservoir of education and information about the bourgeoning ICT industry in Africa and the rest of the developing world.

Of its launch the magazine’s editor Mr. Clifford Agugoesi said “Africa Telecom & IT Business”  delivers  high quality ICT magazine with timely news updates, incisive analysis and reviews, educative tips and general information that suits the reader of all categories”.

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) hosts National Information Technology (IT) Merit Award (NITMA). NITMA is meant to acknowledge, celebrate and reward outstanding corporate organisations and individuals in Nigeria who have played major roles in the development and growth of Information Technology (IT).

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) is the Umbrella Organization of all Information Technology Professionals, Interest groups and Stakeholders in Nigeria. The Society comprises of Associations like Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria-ITAN, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria-ISPON, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria-ISPAN, and Nigeria Information Technology Practitioners in the Civil Service, The Nigerian Information Technology Academic Group and National Association of Computer Science Students-NACOSS etc.

The mission of NCS is the advancement of Computer Science, Information Technology and systems and their deployment/application as solutions and business enablers in all industry practices of human endeavor.

NCS seeks to confer valuable professional advantages and privileges, impose professional ethics and responsibilities on her members and support works that are important to the general Community and the Profession at large.

NITMA’09 is scheduled as follows:
Venue:        Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos
Date:           December 15th, 2009
Time:           6:00pm prompt

AWARD CATEGORIES:
1.       Computer (Hardware) Manufacturer of the year
2.       HR Software Developer of the year
3.       IT-Driven Bank of the year
4.       e-Payment Solution Provider of the year
5.       IT-Reporting Media of the year (Prints and Electronics)
6.       IT-Driven Airline of the year
7.       IT-Driven Telecoms Company of the year (CDMA and GSM)
8.       IT Excellence Award for the year

Leading mobile operator, Zain Nigeria has commenced another phaseof its Fixed Payphones rollout across the country designed to increase access to a more affordable telecommunication service to more Nigerians.
The new rollout of the fixed payphone terminals in designated public locations isaimed at breaking barriers to communication in several locations in the country as well as empowering more Nigerians to communicate regardless of their income level, location, social status and age.

Speaking on the planned deployment, Marketing Director, Zain Nigeria, Mostafa Younes, said the rollout is part of the company’s robust plan to help Nigerians improve on its Universal Access and Rural connectivity rating and on the number of Nigerians that can afford telecommunications services.

He said Zain Fixed Payphones is being used as a platform by the company to bring tangible benefits to Nigerians and to enable customers experience the Zain brand.

Younes added that with Zain Fixed Payphones, people in various locations in the country, especially students, residents and workers in places where the use of mobile phones is restricted, will now have access to more affordable telephony services.

The service can also be used by people who do not immediately have airtime on their mobile phones, rural dwellers, new customers on the Zain network and customers who do not have the financial means to purchase handsets. Interestingly, users of Zain fixed payphones do not require handsets as their special SIM cards will enable them access any fixed payphone terminal across the country.

The Marketing Director noted that the move, which was the first by any GSM operator in the country, will go a long way in breaking barriers to communication services while reducing the cost of becoming a GSM subscriber as it offers customers with unique phone numbers, PIN and PUK with access to calls and sms.

“We are seeking to deploy the phones in different locations such as the prisons (pan - Nigeria), model markets, bus/motor parks, high foot traffic bridges (e.g the millennium bridges in Lagos), shopping malls, Zain shops, beside ATM machines, federal and state secretariats, barracks, etc.” said Younes.

Zain Fixed Wireless Payphone is a special device designed to serve people in rural/urban areas, universities, secondary schools, military institutions, hospitals, prisons and other locations where access to telecom service is constrained because of restriction in the use of mobile phones, high cost of handset or call tariff.

He also explained that the service provides voice and SMS telephone services to customers in locations where they are installed. “With the service, a user does not need to own a handset to stay connected with friends, family members and loved ones. With the  fixed payphone SIM card, users will be assigned a phone number; PIN (Personal Identification Number) number and PUK (PIN Unblock Code) code that will enable them access the fixed phone terminals wherever they are located,” he said.

Some of the benefits of Zain Fixed Phones include ease of use, convenience, ability to monitor calls, elimination of the inconvenience of carrying phones or handset, accurate and transparent billing, easy access to communication services, ability to make and receive calls, send SMS at anytime at affordable rate, amongst others advantages.

Users can also send and receive SMS, retrieve voicemails, check credit balance, and send “credit me” or “Call Me Back” (Value Added Service or SMS service from Zain) using the terminal.
Other benefits of Zain Fixed Phone include an opportunity to own a line on which they can receive calls, receive credit or airtime transferred to their SIM card by other Zain customers, and a chance to convert the SIM card into a regular number which they can use on their handset should they choose to own a mobile handset.

To use Fixed Phones to make calls, the user is expected to insert a special SIM card into the device and dial the number he or she wants to call.

The introduction of Fixed Wireless Payphones was pioneered by Zain and the service was initially piloted in selected schools including Covenant University, Ota, hospitals, secondary schools with boarding facilities and more recently at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) premises.

Zain’s fixed payphones target students, travellers, low income earners, those who reside or work in locations where access to phones are either limited or restricted, and also to those who would like to take advantage of the unique benefits of the service.

The well attended ceremony saw several individuals, corporate bodies from within and outside Nigeria and government agencies in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry carted away awards in various categories. Participants from the arts and entertainment industry like alibaba, tunde kelani dele momodu, Miss Ecowas from Accra, miss galaxy and more were fully in attendant.The event was described by engineer Ernest Ndukwe of the NCC, the minister of science and technology Dr Alhassan Zaku Baku and Dele Momodu the ovation publisher as the most attended and best organised ict event in recent years. The event opened with cyber Nigeria forum with the theme building a new Nigeria internet as a catalyst. One of the two speakers, Mr Anayo Agu, in his presentation, decried the attitude of people saying nothing works in Nigeria, saying, “I feel depreciated when somebody says nothing works here... we are Nigerians and if we are the Nigerians, then, if things are not working here, it means we are not working”

The second speaker, Dr. Tunde Adegbola, Executive Director of African Languages Technology Initiative, noted in his paper that digital divide will not end with everybody having computer and having access to the internet, for as long as foreign language is used as channel of communication, adding that no nation had been known to develop technologically using another country’s language.

“I think that if today, computer becomes available to everybody, the internet becomes available to everybody, there will still be a digital divide, because there will still be a restriction on the use of these facilities by the fact that they will have to be used in English. And that is why there is a need in bridging the digital divide to ensure that these ICT facilities can be used in our languages.... “There is no record of any nation in the world that became great by using another nation’s language”

According to him the secret to the technological wonders of the Asians, Russians and other rising nations is that they are able to teach science and technology in their local languages.  This he said will help Africa to come up with technological need that will address our peculiarities.

The main event of the evening was the African information society merit award (AISMA). Just as the name sound it did not fail to impress as all the awardees were present. No one received on behalf of another. to the attendants it was historic. It started with the individual category. the first were Information Technology (IT) gurus like Alhaji Ladi Oguneye, Managing Director of Data Sciences Nigeria Limited and Mrs Florence Seriki, Chief Executive Officer of Omatek Computers Plc received awards for IT ICON OF THE DECADE, “in recognition of your efforts at uniting the industry while you served as COAN/NCS President,” and IT AMAZON OF THE DECADE, “for her entrepreneurial achievements in ICT in the past decade,” respectively.

Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Managing Director of Teledom group got the award for ICON OF ICT4D PROMOTION IN THE PAST DECADE, just as the BEACON OF TELEMEDICINE AND e-HEALTH award went to Dr. Olajide Adebola for the promotion of telemedicine in Nigeria. The Managing Director of JUNIPER Solutions Limited (JUNISAT), Mr Gboyega Ojuri was presented with “OUTSTANDING AND MOST CONSISTENT ISP THIS PAST DECADE,” award; Engr. Femi Akinsanya, Managing Director of Royal Digit got the award for “OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN ICT IMPLEMENTATION AND KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION;” Mr Uchenna Obidike, Managing Director of WECO was bestowed with the “LEADING IT SOLUTION PROVIDER IN THE PAST DECADE.”

Others in the individual award categories are Engr. Ahmed Rufai, Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT, for “FIRST CEO OF AFRICA’S FIRST SATELLITE IN SPACE (for inspiring leadership in insuring Nigeria’s entry into this new level of digital empowerment),” Engr. Bayo Banjo of DISCOM got an award for “PIONEERING ROLE IN THE CONVERGENCE OF BROADCAST AND TELECOM”  and the award for “EXCELLENCE IN ICT CONSULTANCY AND ADVANCEMENT OF ICT IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR” went to Dr. Takang Armstrong, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alteq (ICT) Limited. Guardian Compulife also got an award for being the best ICT information and education platform in the past decade under the leadership of Sonny Aragba Akporie.

In the corporate category, Computer Warehouse Group got the “BEST IT COMPANY OF THE DECADE” award; HIIT was honoured with an award for “TENACIOUS ROLE IN ICT EDUCATION AND INNOVATION,” International Data Management (IDM) got the award of “PILLAR IN IT DEPLOYMENT AND PROMOTION IN THE PAST DECADE.” New Horizons Nigeria Limited received the award for “MOST INNOVATIVE IT INSTITUTE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP” and CYBERSPACE Nigeria Limited clinched the “BEST IN ICT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOLUTION PROVIDER” award. Others include ZAIN Nigeria for “BEST GSM OPERATION IN SERVICE AND INNOVATION” and NIIT for “LEADING IT TRAINING INSTITUTE IN THE PAST DECADE.”

Government agencies that received awards at the grade A ceremony are National e-Government Strategy (NEGST) for “BEST e-GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE THIS PAST DECADE,” House Committee on Science and Technology for the “MOST EFFECTIVE AND PROACTIVE HOUSE COMMITTEE SINCE INCEPTION OF THIS DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION,” and NOTAP got the award for the “BEST TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION AGENCY.”

The climax of the award ceremony came when the man described as Mr. gsm Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) stood tall (no pun intended) to receive two awards: one for “EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA’S TELECOM REGULATORY AFFAIR (digital merit award presented by IT Edge Magazine) and the biggest award for any individual who have distinguished themselves in ict promotion, regulation and policy implementation on the continent in the past ten years. This award is conferred on one individual yearly. The award tagged THE ICON OF AFRICA INFORMATION SOCIETY. This was jointly presented by the chairman of the accassion the honourable minister of science and technology Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku and honourable abiodun Akinlade chairman house committee on science and technology, dele momodu the publisher ovation international magazine the executive director marketing Daar communication and the coordinator of the event bayero Agabi.

Earlier in his opening remark, the Chairman of the occasion and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku, acknowledged the importance of communication, even the affairs of farmer as according to him, “Through communication, even your farmers can benefit; through communication, you could tell the people what the weather is going to be like, you could tell your farmers when they should plant, when they shouldn’t plant, you could tell your farmers whether there will be flood or not.” in his charge to the information society the minister went on to say that he expect the professionals  to form themselves into a vanguard of making sure the right thing is done.

“I would therefore, like to congratulate ait InfoTech, bayero Agabi and DAAR Communications for this very, very resourceful award ceremony and pioneering ict broadcast on television and keeping for this long. More than that, I am sure you will make sure that Nigeria get the fruit of communication more than they are now getting. A lot of people don’t know how important communication is. I expect you to now continue to enlighten them and try to make sure that communication is used for good,” for me am very happy to be here, this is the first time am attending an award of this nature with such quality presence and all the awardees present. the Minister concluded.

One of the most famous faces in print media, Chief Dele Momodu, Publisher of soar-away Ovation magazine, in his remarks said: “I am here to felicitate with you on this special occasion and if you talk about technology, I would say I have been a great beneficiary of it. Just like the comedians would say that in those days when you put on your television, you will hear a few coughs, uh, uh, uh, publishing was like that in the past, but these days from my mobile handset I can read all the newspapers in the world. In fact, I wonder how newspapers still sell with this technology.

“Africa is one place where we are able to catch up easily with any modern invention and that is why we must salute the courage, the enterprise, the doggedness of members of this society... All I just want to say is that I am gladdened that we can have an event of this nature on a Sunday evening and we have so many people sitting down, important personalities sitting down here to identify with the great work that bayero Agabi ait InfoTech through DAAR Communication has been doing in the past ten years. I think it is a great thing and God will continue to bless all of you.”

The representative of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Mr. John Iwarue, and the Executive Director of marketing Daar communication said in his remark that “it is just like yesterday that InfoTech (network) started. It is unbelievable that it is 10 years already. I want to commend the indomitable spirit of Bayero Agabi and his never-say-die attitude... I know that whatever he has achieved today, it was not on a platter of gold, he really worked hard for it.”

The Executive Vice Chairman of National Communication Commission, in his good will message, said: “I congratulate AIT InfoTech network for 10 years of IT reporting on television. This is no doubt, a salute to hard work, to courage, professionalism and of course we need to recognise the dogged spirit of Bayero Agabi and his team at AIT InfoTech. So, I say again, congratulation!

“I am proud of Nigeria as a country. I am also proud of the contribution IT industry has made to the development of the economy. It’s been a very long journey over the past ten years and I would like to say that AIT InfoTech has every right to claim to be a part.”

The managing director of Africa independent television AIT Mrs. Tosin dokpesi did not fail to impress. In her remark she thanked all for honouring Daar communication and ait InfoTech, she described bayero Agabi as a hard worker. In her words ` bayero am proud of you and Daar communication is proud to associate with you. She congratulated the award recipients promising that 2010 will be tougher. For the awardees she charged them to do more next year.

Among other dignitaries that graced the ceremony included Mrs Tosin Dokpesi, Managing Director Africa independent television AIT, who said the Daar family was proud of Bayero Agabi and that she was proud of his courage and resilience over the years. The ace comedian, Ali Baba. Tunde kelani a veteran film maker, dele momodu ovation publisher and the general manager NTA channel 10 Lagos. The event was anchored by Kofi a popular comedian and biyi fashoyin a seasoned broadcaster.

Leading mobile operator, Zain Nigeria has once again set the pace in the Nigeria telecom industry with the introduction of the country’s first Telecom industry Loyalty and Reward Scheme. The launch of the scheme is another exciting and colourful addition to the highly impressive Nigerian telecom industry.

The scheme gives customers of Zain an opportunity to earn points, collect prizes and enjoy discount when they would have accumulated enough points. Various prizes can be won depending on the number of points earned by the customer. Points can be rolled over, according to the company. Under the terms of the newly introduced Zain Loyalty/ Rewardz Scheme, customers need to register for the programme. Registeration is free and customers will earn points irrespective of whether they use the airtime to make voice calls, send SMS (Short Message Service or for texting) or for Internet browsing.

Chief Commercial Officer, Zain Nigeria, Shamel Hanafi, said the programme is open to both pre-paid and post customers. He said the scheme is both a loyalty plan and reward programme and that it is specially packaged by the company to offer its customers special privileges and rewards for their loyalty to the brand.

The introduction of the scheme, he explained, is an additional expression of the company’s well entrenched customer-centric culture of service delivery and value based product and service offerings. He added that Zain always device new ways of giving its customers more value for the money spent on the network.

Over the years, Zain has remained staunchly committed to delighting its customers by offering top class customer care Service delivery and introducing innovative products and services that take the customers’ needs into consideration. Hanafi said Zain recognizes the fact that it is in business because of its customers and will continue to seek more ways to please them. He added that the introduction of the new scheme is in line with its policy of empowering Nigerians especially its customers as well as its brand philosophy of enabling Nigerians enjoy a “Wonderful World”. Prizes that can be won include trips to Dubai (the United Arab Emirate), a weekend in Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross Rivers, Plasma Televisions, refrigerators, airline tickets, iPods, and a variety of other items.

To participate in the programme, customers can register by sending SMS containing the word: REWARDZ to 797 or by dialling *141*797*1#. The prizes that can be won by any customer is determined by the number of points he has earned.

For every N10.00 spent on any Zain services, a customer earns a Reward Point. Usually the customer’s account will be credited after 24 hours. The number of Reward Points earned can be verified by sending an SMS containing the word: POINTS to 797 or by dialling *141*797*2#.

Under the terms of the programme, customers can choose to accumulate “Reward Points” and “Level Points” and therefore, redeem big tangible rewards..

A special catalogue which indicates codes and points to be earned to redeem each item has been created by Zain to serve as a reference material for customers. The catalogue or Zain Rewardz Catalogue is available at selected Centres across the country, Zain website, and at the company’s business partners’ outlets nationwide.

To redeem any item in the ‘Zain Rewardz Catalogue’, customers are required to send by SMS “RD” followed by space, then, “PRODUCT CODE” of the item(s) of choiceto 797”. Customers who redeem non-GSM items will receive “Voucher codes” via SMS which they can present at designated Zain ‘Rewardz Partner Stores’ to receive their item of choice.

On the other hand, Zain will send SMS customers who redeem GSM related items such as airtime, SMS and data bundle, confirming the transaction and their phone number would be credited directly with the right amount of airtime redeemed. All vouchers are valid for up to six months.

Customers who register for the Loyalty programme will also have an opportunity to enjoy special discount and privileges such as 30% discount on accommodation at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, use Airport VIP Lounge and get priority check-in at the international wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport, enjoy discount at exclusive restaurant and receive first-class priority service at all Zain Shops as well as get priority treatment when they call 111 or Zain’s toll-free customer care line amongst others”.

Registered customers are classified into Bronze, Silver and Gold categories depending on the number of points (‘Level Points’) they have earned or accumulated.

By default, all newly registered customers are placed in the Bronze category and can move to other categories as they use more airtime. Level point of 3000 will earn the customer Silver card while 6000 points is required to reach the Gold category. 

Silver and Gold Card carriers get additional 20% and 50% extra on all Reward Points and can confirm their Level Points by sending ‘LEVEL to 797 or by dialling *141*797*3#’.

To enjoy discounts and privileges at all Rewardz Points, eligible customers will be required to present their Silver or Gold membership cards and another valid means of personal identification a valid form of personal identification.

Qualified Reward card carriers will be contacted automatically by Zain for their personal details and their preferred delivery options. All cards are valid for one year and validity will elapse every December 31st.

Controversy is brewing over the planned sale nitel through negotiated method with a potential buyer of the Nigeria`s national carrier NITEL and its mobile telephone subsidiary, Mtel.

The bureau of public enterprises BPE announce recently conditions to be met by interested potential buyers.  But presidency sources are uncomfortable that with the new plan, NITEL may be sold as a carcass since the interim technical board put in place with a mandate to among others things restore the former telecom giant as a going concern to beef up the profile of the place, selling is yet to properly take off.

The thinking in government circles is that the seemingly hurried privatization process this time may pitch government’s plan to revive the place against the BPE renewed process.

This industry watchers like the association of telecoms operators of Nigeria ATCON`s president Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem say may add to lethargy of failures.

According to information made available to AIT INFOTECH NETWORK it pointed out that the game plan to sell NITEL to a either the second national carrier Globacom or a yet to named company in uae was played out recently during a trip of BPE officials to Dubai, united Arab emirate UEA during which two former chieftains of NITEL and M-tel, among others, met with BPE and officials from this penciled companies. for Globacom telecoms experts in Nigeria like engineer bayo banjo ceo disc engineering said the industry will transit from public monopoly to private one if Globacom who is already a national carrier with its own optic fiber (glo1) from Europe to Nigeria is allowed to buy nitel.

The sale of 75 per cent share of NITEL/ M-tel to transnational corporation of Nigeria (transcorp) in November 2006 was the third and perhaps the most successful of the past three attempts.

Even at that, the 75 percent was reduced to 51 percent because the new buyers could not meet the financial obligation according to the share purchase sale agreement SPSA. Transcorp took a $500 million facility from a consortium of banks led by UBA plc.

This is part of the debt that the new buyers are likely to inherit if and when they come.

On June 2, 2009, government cancelled the sales to transcorp and named a technical management board which set up network restoration and finance committee to repackage the comatose enterprise. But the failed attempt of 2001 during which investors international London limited ILL. A special purpose vehicle SPV defaulted in paying the bid price of $ 1.317 billion, the fortunes of NITEL and the exercise to re vamp it dwindled.

Orascom’s bid of $ 256.5 million three years later created a more nightmare. Even the resort to management farmn out by the appointement of pentescope of Netherlands did not bring any succor. Then in November 2006, BPE sold NITEL to transcorp for $500 million 

The Executive Board of Directors of the World Bank Group has announced its endorsement of the $215 million, ten-year Central African Backbone Program (CAB Program). This program will support the countries of the Central African region in developing their high-speed telecommunications backbone infrastructure to increase the availability of high-speed Internet and reduce end-user prices. The CAB Program will also help countries harmonize the laws and regulations that govern the ICT sector to increase private sector investment and improve competition.

Three countries – Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) – are participating in the initial $26.2 million phase of the Program. A further eight countries are also eligible to participate in the Program—Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Principe, and Sudan.

The CAB Program brings much needed connectivity to Central Africa. Until now, people in Central Africa have the lowest quality and highest cost Internet and telephone services in Africa. The population pays up to two times more in monthly Internet rates than people living in other African countries, and up to three times more than those living in other parts of the world. “The CAB Program is very important for the countries involved and lies at the heart of their development strategies. It will assist countries to strengthen their enabling environment, create competition and, ultimately increase access and lower the costs for end users,” said Mary Barton-Dock, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic.

In its recent Information and Communications for Development 2009: Extending Reach and Increasing Impact, the World Bank found that for every 10 percentage-point increase in high speed Internet connections there is an increase in economic growth of 1.3 percentage points. The report also identifies the mobile platform as the single most powerful way to reach and deliver public and private services to hundreds of millions of people in remote and rural areas across the developing world.

“Ultimately, our goal is to develop regional and national broadband backbones and significantly reduce the cost of ICT services in Central Africa. Through better and affordable connectivity, the aim is to leverage the transformational powers of ICTs to support economic growth, SME development, employment creation, productivity gains and trade integration in the region,” says Mohsen Khalil, Director of Global Information and Communications Technologies at the World Bank Group. 
The CAB aims to raise USD98 million from the private sector, with help from the International Finance Corporation. The initial USD26.2 million lending approved by the World Bank is split as follows: Cameroon USD9.9 million, Central African Republic USD7.3 million, Chad USD9 million.

ITNewsAfrica.com

Bharti and MTN have called off merger discussions once again Merger talks between emerging markets giants Bharti and MTN have been called off once again, after the two firms failed to convince the South African government – MTN’s biggest shareholder – on the benefits of the deal.

In a statement released Wednesday, Indian operator Bharti Airtel said it has decided to disengage from discussions with the MTN group when the exclusivity period ended on September 30.

Talks between Bharti and MTN began in May and have been extended twice, only to end once again without resolution. An earlier round of talks between Bharti and MTN, in 2008, was unsuccessful, with Informa analyst Matthew Reed noting that a reported factor in that failure was South Africa’s worry that control of MTN, which is perceived as a national champion, could pass into foreign hands.

South Africa’s communications minister has more recently made comments about the proposed alliance that suggest that the South African government’s support for the deal is not certain. The South African government is MTN’s biggest shareholder, with a 21 per cent stake, through the Public Investment Corporation, a state pension fund.

The proposed transaction would have been the single largest foreign direct investment into South Africa and one of the largest outbound FDIs from India, but Bharti said the government of South Africa has expressed its inability to accept the merger in its current form.

“We hope the South African government will review its position in the future and allow both companies an opportunity to re-engage,” Bharti said.      

Nigeria’s pioneer of ICT broadcast programme AIT INFOTECH NETWORK is 10. In ten years, AIT INFOTECH NETWORK has become Africa’s leading ICT programme reaching over 70 million audiences in Nigeria, UK, US, parts of Africa and Europe and the rest of the world where AIT signals are broadcasted via satellite.  
In ten years. AIT INFOTECH NETWORK www.aitinfotechnetwork.com, has become the only TV programme on ICT to win the prestigious UNECA/AISI AWARD twice for local content and over other 19 international and local awards. 
As a frontrunner, AIT INFOTECH NETWORK has inspired similar programmes on television such as Technology Today anchored by Don Pedro and ICT Watch anchored by Tayo Adewusi among others.  AIT INFOTECH NETWORK platform is celebrating 10 years of x-raying people, organizations and issues that have shaped the ICT sector.

According to the producer and coordinator of the programme BAYERO AGABI, part of the celebration will be CYBER NIGERIA FORUM 2009. In his words, the forum will afford participants the platform to discuss issues pertaining to the internet, security, online transactions, legislation, and internet based products and services, content cost and infrastructure.

The event’s overriding theme is INTERNET AS A CATALYST for the configuring of a new Nigeria, This will be rounded off with a pan African award tagged AFRICAN INFORMATION SOCIETY MERIT AWARD. This is meant to reward those individuals, initiatives and companies who have kept the industry together in the past ten years.  The theme of the event is to underscore the need to focus on the internet as it has become the defining platform for nations, organisation and individual’s success globally today.

Agabi added that the future will be completely internet based. He made reference to the role of the internet in the last America election, the power of the internet in the just concluded Iran election and the protests that follows, including new services like IPTV, IP radio, soft switches, online based media, businesses, transactions and even campaigns. We believe it’s time we begin to take seriously the internet as a catalyst to move us forward in this century. Part of the highlights of the forum will be the unveiling of thinktec Nigeria, an initiative meant to raise a national consciousness towards technology development, use and deployment in all sector of the economy.

The co-coordinator said Nigeria must also thank Daar Communications for instituting the programme and funding it this far and call on the industry to help knowledge based initiatives like InfoTech through sponsorship just as they are doing to the entertainment and sports industries. AIT InfoTech network started as Computer Link in 1998 and became InfoTech Network in 1999 in response to the need to preach ICT4D which began at that time.

Innovations brought about by information and communication technologies ICTs, have lead to the developments and emergence of new mediums of communication. The hitherto existing MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION is gradually giving way for the rapid spread and acceptance of new mediums. Brought about by the internet, the erasure of these existing traditional medium of communication of television, radio, telephone and newspaper is rapidly taking place by this new media practice.

With the emergence of new media, is the rapid change of new media. The distinguishing line between a professional journalist and a citizen journalist is fast blurring out. The emphasis in new media is social responsibility, stating that any one who for instance captures news worthy story can easily broadcast via the internet in his or her personal blog, for people to read or watch. Today bloggers are fast becoming veritable source of news. Therefore with the new media is birthed communication without barriers or geographical cleavage.

Bloggers today are fast becoming sources of news, gaining trust and acceptance from people more than most media houses; some blogs receive visitors close to 2million on a daily basis. The molestation of a girl by naval officers in Lagos was captured and reported by an amateur, a citizen journalist broke the news to the world, and the question therefore is who is a journalist in the this changing face of media practice?

Another issue that confronts new media concept is content control, and who regulates the content of what is posted on the internet through the phones or personal computer, by these citizen journalist, who are unawares of professional ethics and rules of the game-journalism. In the new media citizens may broadcast inciting and sensitive national, religious, cultural and personal stories, which may lead to social upheavals. Therefore the questions of who regulates content in the changing face of media practice? Needs to be answered, people will now deploy IPTV enabled phones to broadcast news. Giving this scenario should the Nigeria broadcasting commission NBC or the Nigeria Communications Commission NCC or a new regulator entirely?

Since people no longer have to be trained to be journalist, abiding to the rules of the game now is out of place. With the new media there will definitely be issues of libel, defamation and other ethical issues. The question confronting us now is, is Africa and indeed Nigeria prepared to tackle issues associated with the new media practice.

Again the question of capacity and infrastructure is important in this discourse of new media practice in Africa, the south-developed countries who are successfully operating in the new media have the necessary infrastructure, There is broadband ubiquity for easy internet access, stable power supply and computer literates, which the north-developing countries, cannot boast of having in order to effectively practice the concept of new media in Africa.

It seems the second largest telecommunications company, Globacom, is living up to its creed ‘rule your world’ as with the historic landing of Glo1 first submarine cable in Lagos, it is unquestionably taking on the whole world. On September 5th, 2009, the Glo1 submarine cable arrived at Alpha beach, Lekki, and during a very turbulent weather, the commissioning ceremony took off with high profile officers of Globacom and Alcatel-Lucent in attendance.
 With the landing of this cable, a feat has been achieved because Globacom is the first telecommunications company in Nigeria to embark on such a gargantuan venture single-handedly without creating a conglomerate of telecommunications companies as is more often than not, the institution in this industry. This became a reality due to Globacom’s pact with Alcatel-Lucent, a world power in submarine networks.
Glo1 has made accessible to Africa the possibilities of broadband as the 9,800km long optic fibre cable connects West Africa with Europe by way of building landing points in Lagos and Bonny in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Bude in London and an anticipated point in Lisbon, Portugal. Presently, Glo1 is deploying 16 branching units to connect countries in West Africa which will facilitate quality services delivering in speed and reliability.
 As it were, this venture is expected to go across the world linking diverse countries and enabling first-rate value added services. In his opening speech, the Globacom Executive Director of Human Resources, Adewale Sangowawa, said that the art cable will make possible for Globacom to “interconnect with several international networks and leading traffic carriers in the world. The capacity of Glo1 will fulfil the present and rapidly increasing high data requirements in the West African region”.
In view of the possibilities of the Glo1 cable, it will enable:

1. Transference of data and internet interchange between West Africa and the rest of the world.
2.  West African countries will have high dependability on satellite based operations thus fulfilling bandwidth requirements.
3. Call Transmission under 100mm per sec, crystal clear voice calls and high speed transmission of internet services.
4. Online diagnosis and video conference during research and surgery.
5. Distance online classroom learning from different parts of the world.
6. Effective communication for disaster management.
7. Availability of banking services anytime and anywhere without performing transactions in the bank.
8. Execute online insurance and license issuance.

 At a press conference held at Mike Adenuga Towers (MAT), the panel of Globacom officials stated that the relevance of the new technology will not only reduce call tariff but also create new and better promotional packages that will meet subscriber’s satisfaction and requirements, thus giving them a run for their money. A few of such packages include Text 4 Millions and the International MMS service and in the long run, these has been booming.  Globacom is looking forward to a long term business partnership with Alcatel-Lucent with a goal to further make and implement unparalleled IT initiatives that will reform and strengthen the ICT industry in Africa and her connection to the rest of the world.

In line with the recent newspaper advertorial by the Central Bank of Nigeria, we will like to state that we DID NOT take any loan to the tune of N1,649,380,634.77 with Afribank that is a bad debt.

OMATEK IS A 22 - YEAR OLD Venture that had worked hard to build its Credibility over the Years.  We have had Facilities with the Bank for over three years with very good turnover and good business relationship.  With the completion of the underwriting, which resulted into their taking us to the stock market, most of these facilities were paid down together with all sums of monies required to be liquidated from the SMEIS Exit.

We naturally have an existing IFF/Restocking Line for importing Raw Materials for the factory, which is a manufacturing concern. We Opened Form M’s, Bills for collection etc with the Bank to import raw materials. However, we have more than enough stock to match our exposure. 

On the other hand, Omatek Ventures Distribution Limited (OVDL) had done a considerable amount of Consumer business with AFRIBANK through our OMATEK e-Xpress factory Initiative that had been launched in over EIGHT STATES and SEVERAL Tertiary Institutions.  This Scheme had allowed Civil Servants, Teachers, Lecturers etc to OWN Computers and pay over a period of 24 months.   This consumer scheme was even redesigned recently as one of the Bank’s Consumer products and it has been very successful thus far. 

On this consumer scheme, we do usually do have invoices due for payment by the bank; whilst the import finance facility was running on its own to bring in the raw materials.

We have done very good business with the bank and we do not have any BAD DEBT.  Omatek is a going concern and there is a mutually beneficial relationship existing between both parties especially on this consumer scheme.
Omatek is A RAPIDLY GROWING COMPANY WITH FACTORIES IN NIGERIA AND GHANA. WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED OUR FRONTIERS WITH THE LAUNCHING OF OUR FRANCHISE RETAIL OUTLETS THROUGHOUT THE FEDERATION AND ACROSS THE WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION.

The Factory had CREATED Employment and empowered YOUTHS massively in Nigeria, Ghana and Africa as a whole.  We cannot over-emphasis our contribution towards ICT in Africa and in INNOVATION, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT as well as the Impartation of Technological Knowhow and Hands-on experience for our youths & in the Development of ICT in Africa.

We also wish to state that Mr Fola Adeola has seized to be a Director of Omatek Computers Limited – the factory, since the EXIT of the SMEIS scheme with the two partner banks. All inconveniences caused by the listing of Mr. Fola Adeola’s name in the said publication is regretted.

Omatek has more to give to the society and had done very well, working hard to bridge the digital divide between Nigeria, Ghana, Africa and the rest of the world.  We still stand as the BEST COMPLETELY KNOCKED DOWN FACTORY IN AFRICA TODAY.

WE sieze this opportunity to THANK AND APPRECAITE ALL OUR SHAREHOLDERS, CUSTOMERS, PARTNERS FOR THE STRONG CONFIDENCE, LOYALTY and especially the BELIEVE AND TRUST IN US.

Thank you.

Engr. (Mrs) Florence Seriki (MFR)
For and on behalf of the Board and management of Omatek Group

ALTON is the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators in Nigeria, a body corporate and duly registered under Part C of the Companies And Allied
Matters Act as an Incorporated Trustee. We represent the interest of all Telecommunications and Allied service providers in the Nigerian
telecommunication industry.

Our Association has, over the years, collaborated with or engaged, as the case may be, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on several crucial market issues in advancing the cause of the service providers and ultimately promoting the interest of the Nigerian Consumers. As important stakeholders in the sector, our members have observed, with keen interest, the on-going controversies surrounding the advertisement, bid and eventual award of blocks of spectrum in the 2.3GHz band to certain operators by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the subsequent faceoff between the NCC and the Ministry of Information and Communications over the award process. Whilst we are compelled as an Association, and on behalf of our members, to proffer an industry position on this matter, it is not our intention to join issues with the NCC, and the Ministry of Information and Communications, but to highlight our grave concerns and accentuate the need for appropriate and prompt intervention by the Federal Government. This intervention is of the essence to preserve the sanctity of the Nigerian Telecommunications Industry and maintain the continuous growth and development of our yet nascent telecommunications industry. We are aware that that the independence and stability of the Regulatory function is a prerequisite for the evolution and sustainable development of the telecommunications industry. Global best practice in developed and emerging markets advocates the separation of the regulatory function and oversight from Government functions, which seek to protect the modern day Regulator from interferences, and this has been reduced into statute in Nigeria by the provisions of the Nigeria Communications Act 2003. More than anything else, the independence and stability of the Regulator is a potent ingredient for attracting requisite foreign direct investment (FDI) from major players, financial and technical, the world over. These players, understandably, consider the protection of their investment from wanton changes in governments or policies and administration as a condition precedent for investment. They continue to seek comfort in regulatory consistency for additional and continued investment. Without them, there would not be any meaningful impact in any market, and the phenomenal growth so far recorded in the Nigerian telecommunication sector would not have been possible without this key element clearly encapsulated within the current framework.

We believe that the differences between the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Ministry of Information and Communication are best resolved in accordance with the provisions of the NCA, requisite administrative procedures and the guiding principles of transparency, equity, fairplay and the best interest of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. The continued escalation of the differences between the NCC and the Ministry will not augur well for the industry and we are very concerned about the implications of same on the telecoms industry and the drive for FDI in other sectors of the economy. The continued escalation of the differences between the NCC and The Ministry is already resonating in the global telecommunications investment community. It urgently behooves the Federal Government to immediately step into the matter and arrest the on-going rife through methods and procedures that demonstrate commitment to due process, and would be perceived in the international investment community as reinforcing the commitment of the Nigerian Government to global regulatory best practice. Government’s continued delay in resolving the matter would only create ominous restiveness in the investment community. Needless to say that the consequence may obviate the progress already achieved in the sector in the last few years and cripple the fundamentals of Government’s telecommunications policy objectives. The global telecommunications community is watching the Nigerian market and these developments with keen interest.
Thank you.

For: ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS OF NIGERIA (ALTON)
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo Barr. (Chairman)
Damian Udeh (Publicity Secretary)