E-Business
‘Bridging Digital Divide, Panacea to Rural Development’
The advantages of mobile technologies such as HSPA are set to drive broadband to a true global mass market and turn millions of users into billions.
While there are around 350 million broadband subscriptions worldwide, the vast majority of the world’s population still does not have access to broadband. Rural areas in particular are being left behind. If broadband is to be enabled for everyone, then combing existing fixed broadband with then latest HSPA technology is the only answer.
Key to Sustainable Growth
Providing broadband access is a key priority for many governments and international bodies – the socio-economic benefits are well documented. Broadband improves many aspects of our daily lives, providing access to healthcare and education, as well as information and entertainment. It stimulates entrepreneurial activities, facilitates industrial growth and can enable a more sustainable society.
To make the best out of the benefits of broadband, it is important to bring it to the rural dwellers in the 774 local government areas of this country. The advantage of mobile technology is that it is often the only way to quickly and cost-effectively reach those in rural areas or areas with little or no fixed infrastructure. Australia’s Telstra is a good example. Ericsson assisted in rolling out broadband access with WCDMA/HSPA to more than 98 per cent of the population in less than 10 months and Nigeria can do same for God’s sake.
Access to Broadband
Mobile broadband is also revolutionalising the way people learn. It widens access to education and makes it flexible regarding when and where it can be acquired. A collaboration between Ericsson and Stanford University, for example, is bringing the benefits of mobile distance learning to several countries in Africa. Students in remote locations in countries like Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa are able to submit and access video, audio and text-based course materials and participate in online discussion forums.
A US Department of Commerce study in 2006 determined several positive effects of broadband, including growth in employment levels and business establishments. Interestingly, it also found that weaker economic regions were just as likely to benefit from having access to broadband, and in some cases the impacts were actually greater.
There is a clear proportionate relationship between growth in GDP and access to information and communications technology. It can be the catalyst for economic and social development.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into allegations that the confidentiality and integrity of candidates’ personal data may have been compromised by hackers.
The Commission initiated the inquiry following concerns over possible data breaches during examinations.
Preliminary findings indicate that several examination centres may not have implemented adequate technical and organizational measures to safeguard candidates’ personal information, as required under data protection regulations.
Although the incident reportedly affected 379, 997 candidates, the NDPC’s investigation is poised to cover a systemic audit of data processing and third parties.
It will be recalled that JAMB recently admitted that a technical error on its platform affected a total of 379,997 candidates in 157 examination centres across Lagos and the South-East.
Further investigation led to the arrest of at least 20 suspects who are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police Force.
Cyber security firm, Kaspersky, has once again warned that sophisticated cybercriminals increasingly target Africa as ransomware and advanced persistent threats (APTs) escalate across the region.
Speaking at the company’s annual Cyber Security Weekend for the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region, the cybersecurity firm’s Global Research and Analysis Team highlighted growing digital threats affecting African nations.
Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa emerged as hotspots, with Kenya recording one of the highest web threat incident rates at 20.1% in first quarter 2025.
“While ransomware is less prevalent in Africa due to lower levels of digitisation and economic constraints, countries like South Africa and Nigeria are seeing a sharp rise in attacks,” said Sergey Lozhkin, head of META and APAC regions at Kaspersky.
Kaspersky noted a 0.01 percentage point increase in African ransomware cases year-on-year, reaching 0.41%, still below global and Middle Eastern averages, but a troubling sign for the continent’s emerging digital infrastructure.
Experts warned that attackers are refining their tactics, shifting focus to unconventional entry points like IoT devices, smart appliances, and misconfigured hardware.
“As these economies expand digitally, sectors such as manufacturing, finance and government are becoming key targets,” said Lozhkin
The cyber-crime landscape is evolving quickly, fuelled by AI tools and dark web access to large language models, which enable less skilled actors to launch convincing phishing and malware campaigns.
Groups like FunkSec, which uses AI-generated code and a low-cost ransom model, are redefining ransomware operations.
“African organisations face the dual challenge of expanding digital footprints and limited cybersecurity awareness. This makes layered defense strategies, including network segmentation, real-time monitoring and regular staff training, essential,” stated Lozhkin
Kaspersky continues to monitor 25 active APT groups in the META region, including SideWinder and MuddyWater, some of which are known to target African institutions.
To bolster defenses, the firm recommends using tools such as its free Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business and the Kaspersky Next suite for threat visibility and response.
Nigeria recently launched a new joint case team to step up its response to cybercrimes that affect people and businesses at home and abroad.
The ‘Joint Case Team on Cybercrime’ brings together Nigeria’s key justice and security agencies to work as one, making it easier to detect, investigate, and prosecute digital offences.
It is supported by the UK National Crime Agency, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, as part of a wider effort to promote international cooperation on cybercrime.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, minister of justice and attorney general of the federation described the initiative as “a bold and transformative stride in Nigeria’s justice system.”
He said that although Nigeria has a national legal framework to address cyber offences, laws alone are not enough.
Nigeria is among the countries most affected by cybercrime around the world, with increasing financial losses.
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