Telecom
ESET Bags BoICT 2018 Information Security Company of the Year Award
ESET has emerged the Best Information Security Company of the Year at Beacon of ICT awards 2018, duly for the dedication to developing high-performing security solutions for home users and corporate customers, predicting, preventing, detecting and remediating all known and emerging forms of cybersecurity threats.
The Company took home the prestigious award two years in a row after topping other challengers during the online voting, the BoICT Awards organisers said.
ESET is notable for her extensive line of solutions which protect across all types of environments and platforms from computers and servers to mobile devices, helping their clients maintain maximum protection across all types of environments.
According to Mr. Ken Nwogbo, Founder/Editor In-Chief, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, the superior detection capabilities, low system requirements of the Company’ solutions, coupled with the local presence and premium support services to their clients, irrespective of the company size came to play even as the products are priced among independent antimalware testing organizations.
Mr. Nwogbo further described the award as a testament to array of talents at ESET Nigeria who are constantly innovating and contributing their quota to the growth of the ICT industry, adding “we are at Communications Week Media are happy that Nigerians have recognized ESET’s hard work, sincerity and dedication towards the defense of the of industry”.
“Our researches also show that ESET has an extensive partner and reseller network spanning more than 200 countries worldwide.
“This is huge and impressive. Gartner, this year, rated ESET as the only Challenger in the Gartner Magic Quadrant Report and in Nigeria, Deloitte recognised ESET to have grown by 274% in the last five years. This is an award well deserved”.
Commenting shortly after collecting the award, Mr. Olufemi Ake, the country manager, dedicated the award to the numerous ESET loyal customers in the country.
He also appreciated the team for their consistency and resilience over the years. “We are happy that Nigerians recognized our efforts in offering a full range of business and consumer products.
“In fact, more than 95% of our customers in Nigeria are retained annually. This says a lot about our commitment to providing proactive protection and enviable technical support service to existing customers.
“Our product ranges from Endpoint Security, Server Security (both File Server and Mail Security for Exchange Server), Access Protection (Two-Factor Authentication), Data Loss Prevention, Encryption, Mobile Device Management, Patch Management and Threat Detection & Management.
“ESET has over 120 active partners in Nigeria and over 95% of sales generated since the past nine years were made through these partners”.
“ESET Nigeria continuously prioritize educating the citizens on the importance of IT security of their personal and work devices over any other objective in the region hence have invested in projects such as ESET Secure School over the years which has provided over 100,000 copies of premium IT security solutions free for the academia and still running.
“The initiative is available for interested Secondary and tertiary institutions so as to ensure adequate management and protection of their resources and assets over the internet and as they transfer data between devices”, the Country Manager said.
ESET Enterprise Security Solution is currently the most acceptable security outfit with their unequal local presence in Nigeria and support for organisations and government in reducing the alarming losses to cyber criminals and downtime from such breach.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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