ICT

Lagos, June 19, 2023 – Airtel Nigeria officially launched its fifth generation (5G) technology services in Nigeria on Monday. The launch brings the number of operators of 5G services in Nigeria to three. MTN Nigeria pioneered the launch of the service and was followed by Mafab Communications.  Femi Oshinlaja, the Chief Commercial Officer at Airtel Nigeria, said 5G services would be available in four major cities of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers states. He said the services would be extended to other parts of the country …

Abuja, June 19, 2023 -More than N200 million has been realized by the Federal Government from penalties imposed on violators of data privacy in the country. Dr Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner at the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said this on Monday. Olatunji addressed journalists in Abuja on Monday in the aftermath of the signing of the Commission’s Act into law by President Bola Tinubu last Wednesday. He said seven banks and some other financial institutions paid the fines, but did not name them. He said the penalties were within a …

Johannesburg, May 16, 2023 – Bayobab and Africa50 have entered into a partnership to develop Project East2West, a terrestrial fibre optic cable network connecting the eastern shores of Africa to those on the continent’s west.   The partnership will invest up to US$320 million connecting 10 African countries over the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.   Bayobab is wholly owned by MTN Group. This investment is within MTN’s previously announced Ambition 2025 plans and will contribute to Bayobab reaching the Group’s target of having 135 000km of proprietary fibre over the coming …

Abuja, May 15, 2023 – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is to launch a National Blockchain Policy to grow domestic talent in Blockchain solutions development. The agency said it had already trained more than 30,000 young Nigerians on Blockchain. A statement by Mrs Hadiza Umar, the Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, said that the policy would be launched on Tuesday, May 16. “As Nigeria moves into a more technology-driven world, Blockchain has emerged as a transformative force that offers unique benefits to various sectors. ”This …

Lagos, May 13, 2023 – Telecom operators have threatened todisconnect banks defaulting in payment of their debts for UnstructuredSupplementary Service Data (USSD) services amounting to over N120 billion. The telecom operators, under the aegis of the Association ofLicensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), gave the threat onFriday. In a statement signed by Gbenga Adebayo, its chairman, the group said it hadsecured the approval of the National Communications Commission (NCC) to takesuch action. It said that this was because the banks had continued to incur more debts,without making the commensurate payments, …

Lagos, May 13, 2023 – Telecom operators have threatened to disconnect banks defaulting in payment of their debts for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) services amounting over N120 billion. The telecom operators, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), gave the threat on Friday. In a statement signed by Gbenga Adebayo, its chairman, the group said it had secured the approval of the National Communications Commission (NCC) to take such action. It said that this was because the banks had continued to incur more …

Lagos, May 2023 -The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says over 2,000 Nigerian youths have benefited from its Digital Job Creation for Youths (DJCY) programme in the six geopolitical zones in the country. It said 600 youths were currently being trained in the ongoing edition. The commission disclosed this in a statement signed by its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta. The statement said the programme was in line with one of the pillars of the National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy, (NDEPS 2020-2030) aimed at accelerating  growth in digital …

Lagos, March 26, 2023 – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have agreed to work closely with other relevant stakeholders to provide operational guidelines for Submarine Cable and Pipeline Operators in Nigeria. Officials of the two agencies reached this agreement at a pre-audit meeting on submarine cable regulation in Lagos. Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of NIMASA,  who chaired the meeting, which also had the Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Mr Dasuki Arabi, in attendance, noted that the …