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Battle for Supremacy Among CDMA Operators

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The introduction of Unified Access License by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2006 after the expiration of exclusivity right given to Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) operators was what Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators needed to stamp their feat in the telecommunications industry.

Before then, they were operating under limited mobile access license which restricted them from operating mobile service in unified manner. They as a result concentrated on offering fixed wireless and mobile service within the state they secured license to operate. More so, if any operator wishes to operate in another state outside its primary state of operation such operator would be required to apply for a license to operate in such location. This made it expensive to operate even as they were not required to offer roaming service like GSM operators.

As a result of these, CDMA operators were mere local operators who concentrated their service in Lagos and Abuja commercially viable cities. They were struggling for subscribers with GSM operators that offered more effective service basically, because a GSM subscriber can take his or her phone outside Lagos and it works in as much as such network has coverage the location, but mobile service rendered by CDMA could not offer this service, thereby giving them advantage over CDMA service.

Prior to the introduction of unified licensing regime which allows individual service provider to offer multiple services such as mobile telephony, fixed telephony, internet broadband and long distance services, there were over ten operators in this space. They include Starcomms, Reltel now Zoom Mobile, Intercellular, Multi-Links, Independent Telephony Network (ITN), Cellcom, Bourdex, Rainbownet, Prestel MTS first, among others.

Under the current dispensation, CDMA operators that want to play in the big wing are required to operate nationally, though there is choice of playing local but most see it as economically viable to play local which has led to some of the going for national unified access license which is the prerequisite.

Playing at this level entitles having foot print in almost every town in the country to be able to garner enough subscriber base which is the basis for profitability. To do this, they required strong financial base which most of these operators does not have.

This situation changed the landscape of operation in CDMA space as they had to change their operational module to be part of the moving train in the industry and has ignited a contest for supremacy among operators that has what it takes to play as a national operator. This saw Starcomms selling some of its equity to Actis to raise money to expand its network, since then it has secured foreign loans in this regard making it to claim the biggest in the space.

The company has already invested some US$600 million since it launched its network in 2002.

It has as well set itself a target of reaching 2.5 million subscribers by the end of this year, rising to 5 million by the end of next year and a ten fold jump to 50 million by 2011.

The company was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) few weeks back and raised around US$60 million. "We have always wanted two sectors of the economy, they are the oil and telecommunications sectors, represented in our market, said Binus Yaroe, the NSE’s general manager of listing and quotations and a representative of the director general. The stock market floatation raised funding for the company, while also allowing two investors, Actis and ECP to reduce their holdings.

Other operators did not seat to watch their competitors claim subscribers in a business they are also part of and equally have opportunity of playing big; this may have informed Reltel now Zoom Mobile is another contender for leadership in the CDMA space to embark on restructuring and repositioning. Before it changed its now to reflect the desire of its new investors from within the country, the company was the only privately owned telecommunications company that was playing in the big wings.

Zoom Mobile has raised N25.9 billion (US$223 million) from investors through private placement. The company says that the rebranding is to reposition the company as a national mobile services provider, taking full advantage of its Universal Access Service license.

The operator currently covers 62 cities and 350 villages and has a capacity for five million subscribers. The network recently passed the 1.5 million subscriber mark.

A foremost operator Multi-Links deal with Telkom of South Africa that saw the later acquiring 75% share of Multi-links at the cost of $280 million or N35.56 billion is the operator needed to launch itself in contention for leadership. Before now, the company was sluggish in its approach to expansion in spite of its position as one of the oldest PTOs.

Multi-Links-Telkom, the offspring of this acquisition, has set aside $1billion (about N127 billion) to fund an aggressive five-year expansion programme. This would enable it cover about 80 per cent of the country, thereby raising the bar of competition in the wireless/fixed line segment of the telecoms sector where seven other operators are also battling for market share and leadership in this post-unified access license,

Visafone the youngest by name in this CDMA sector of the telecommunications industry emerged from nowhere and is putting up an impressive performance in this contest for number one position among CDMA operators.

The company which is brainchild of Jim Ovia, a banker and industrialist has brought his managerial competence which he use in making Zenith bank one of the strongest banks in the post consolidation era to bear in Visafone.

Though, the name is new but the network has been operational in some cities for over a decade. This was as a result of the company’s acquisition of Bourdex Telecom that secure operational license to deliver services to some eastern parts of the country. It also bought Cellcom and Independent Telephone Network, all these were merged in one network, Visafone.

No sooner than the company rolled out service that about 13 banks gave their support with a syndicated facility of $200m in support of the new mobile phone company,

The emergence of Visafone has also brought new zest to the CDMA market space, especially with its introduction of open market selling strategy. This strategy which was first used by Starcomms in 2007 to drive its market penetration has now been deployed effectively by Visafone to the admiration of the purchasing customers.

Mr. Thomas explained that the operator’s strategy allows Visafone to act as a springboard for the country’s economic growth and development. And to achieve this, he pointed out that the telco would assist in fast tracking that growth and development through the provision of cutting edge communications infrastructure as well as seamless and efficient services that will ensure excellent customer service, unequalled clarity, the widest coverage and seamless connectivity.

According to Ninan Thomas, managing director, Visafone, the company promises an exciting bouquet of superior services that include the very best of Voice, High Speed Data 3G (EVDO) internet and other innovative Value Added Services (VAS) to individual subscribers while also providing unparallelled business solutions to large corporate as well as the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country.

Prestel another unified access license operator, has its footprint strong in Niger Delta region and has not done much to show that it wants to play in the big circle so it is classified as underdog in this battle for supremacy.

Another underdog in this race that was first in the CDMA space is Intercellular. Since the company secured unified license it looks as if thing started working against the company. It has made several attempt at securing technical partner which didn’t work out until last year when Sudanese operator Sudatel bought into the company but is yet to operate the network raising doubt on the ability of the Arab operator to muster the required financial muscle to play in the big players circle.

Minor players includes MTSfirst wireless, Rainbownet among others are yet to register their names in the space as national operators.

According to figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) the total installed capacity for CDMA mobile stood at 3,170,000 million by end of April 2008 and another 5,670,377 for fixed wireless & wired operators. Introduction of Universal Access Operations Licence by the NCC also means that the CDMA operators now have a broader base to accessing market options.

The NCC figures, however, make contrasting reading with the CDMA operators’ claim of their subscriber base. Whereas, new market inroads mean their operations now appear to be expanding very rapidly with three of them – Starcomms, Zoom Mobile and Multi-Links Telkoms already claiming subscriber base in excess of one million each. A fourth operator, Visafone, which is fast gaining grounds and exciting customers with fresh innovations also claims to be close to the one million mark.

Mr Wakili Shehu, a telecommunications consultant said that the technology also provides the capacity for quicker transmission of data and Internet, unlike the GSM which has limited capacity. But he warned that the use of the CDMA technology in the country was also fraught with challenges, such as limited coverage of cities and towns, unlike the GSM.

As operators in the CDMA space are racing for leadership with claims and counter claims of one having higher subscriber base than the other, they should make sure that effort are made to increase capacity in order not to experience the problem of poor quality of service that bedeviled GSM operators that made NCC to slam them with the ban on plans to deliberately increase their subscriber base.


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New CAMON Device Set to Redefine Mobile Content Creation

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TECNO is gearing up to launch the next CAMON series device, which promises to be the next evolution in mobile photography.

TECNO

The CAMON lineup has always been known for its innovation in capturing and sharing cherished moments. Now, TECNO is taking it to the next level with a groundbreaking camera innovation that aims to redefine what’s possible.

For years, the CAMON series has been the driving force behind countless memorable shots, empowering users to unleash their creativity and capture the world in stunning detail. With the upcoming device, TECNO promises to exceed your expectations and deliver an unparalleled photography experience that’s second to none.

The new CAMON device will feature cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance, setting a new standard for mobile photography and content creation. Imagine being ten steps ahead of the curve, armed with a device that empowers you to capture the perfect shot every time.

Stay updated on the latest news and announcements regarding the upcoming TECNO CAMON device by following TECNO on FacebookInstagram, and X(Twitter). Join TECNO on this exciting journey towards the future of mobile photography!


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Data Protection: NIMC’s Licensees to Face More Scrutiny

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Following the reported incident of unauthorized NIN verification by expressverify.com, investigation reveals that a third-party who, among others, was originally authorized to provide verification services to citizens and genuine businesses might have allowed expressverify.com to use its NIN verification credentials to conduct verification. The circumstances surrounding this permission is still under investigation.

 

To remedy this incident, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in line with established remediation protocols, barred all forms of access to its database.

Though necessary, barring all forms of access affected all genuine and crucial verification requests. After a painstaking review, limited access has been granted to few establishments that are providing pivotal public services such as education and security.

Ongoing investigation – by relevant agencies – seeks to establish the medium through which expressverify.com obtained the credentials of bona fide third parties and to determine the liability of persons involved in line with extant laws.

At the moment, data processing by licensees generally are to be scrutinized and only those that are cleared based on credible evidence of regulatory compliance will be permitted to carry out NIN verification going forward.

Furthermore, series of intensive trainings will be conducted in order to ensure that personnel and licensees are abreast of the duty of care and the standard of care mandated by the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NIMC’s Privacy Policy and other relevant regulatory protocols.

In the meantime, NDPC calls on members of the public to see NIN as an essential data for sustainable development. While existing technical and organizational measures are being strengthened to ensure the protection of this data, it is important for citizens to ensure that they are not left unidentified in various frameworks for development. It is equally important to be vigilant when sharing personal information on various online platforms.


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5 Common Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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Are you confident that your valuable data is protected from unexpected disasters or cyber threats? Consider this: 1 in 10 computers fall victim to viruses, and a staggering 113 phones are stolen every minute every day[1].

With data loss being a sudden and potentially irretrievable nightmare, ensuring reliable backups is non-negotiable. March 31st, celebrated as World Backup Day, is a poignant reminder of this essential task. Let’s delve into the common backup mistakes people make and how to steer clear of those.

1. Skipping regular backups:

The most common mistake is forgetting to back up data regularly. Whether personal files or crucial business documents, not establishing a consistent backup routine leaves you vulnerable to data loss.

Unexpected system crashes or malware attacks can happen anytime, making your precious data inaccessible or permanently lost. But you can help avoid such a situation by setting up automatic backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
2. Putting all faith in a single backup device:

A device can get damaged or stolen, putting your backups at risk, so depending entirely on one storage medium is playing a dangerous game with your data’s safety.

 Instead, diversify your backup storage solutions with a combination of external HDDs, NAS, and cloud storage.

Portable HDDs like those from WD like Western Digital’s My Passport offer up to 5TB for simple, cost-effective backups. For smartphones, 2-in-1 flash drives such as SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C and SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe are convenient options.

These drives, compatible with USB Type-C devices, automatically back up photos, videos, and more. Just plug and play for seamless data transfer across devices.

If you need a device to store huge amounts of data, then the desktop drive called My Book  from WD is just the product for you, with up to 22TB of storage capacity.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
storage device

3. Forgetting version control:

Overlooking version control during backups is another blunder. Not keeping multiple versions of files increases the chance of saving corrupted or wrong data over previous versions.

Without a proper versioning system, fixing mistakes or retrieving older versions can become a challenge. To prevent forgetting version control, establish a system that tracks changes to your files over time.

This ensures that you can always revert to earlier versions if needed, helping protect against accidental data loss or corruption.

Regularly maintaining this system will help you stay organized and prepared for any unforeseen issues.

Additionally, it’s crucial to verify the version you’re backing up to ensure it’s the correct one.

This simple step can help prevent accidental overwriting of important data with potentially corrupted or incorrect versions.

Double-checking ensures that you’re safeguarding the most up-to-date and accurate information, minimizing the risk of errors during backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
4. Ignoring off-site backup solutions:

Many people overlook off-site backup solutions, assuming local backups are foolproof. However, relying solely on local backups makes you vulnerable to site-specific disasters like fires or theft.

Using off-site backups means keeping copies of your data in different places so that if something bad happens in one area, your data stays safe.

As an alternative, you could use cloud storage. Cloud backup devices are popular for remote data storage accessible via the internet. Various online cloud services offer features like file synchronization, sharing, and encryption for secure data storage.

5. Underestimating encryption:

Not prioritizing encryption in backups can be a costly mistake. Storing unencrypted backups makes your sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access or breaches.

Implementing strong encryption ensures even if your backups fall into the wrong hands, the data remains protected.

However, it is equally important to remember not to opt for out-of-the-box encryption solutions, as they might make it difficult for you to retrieve the backed-up information later.

My Passport HDD and My Book from WD come equipped with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection that helps keep content secure.

Additionally, maintaining proper key management practices is essential to ensure smooth decryption and access to your data when needed.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
Monitor and storage device

This World Backup Day, Western Digital urges you to back up your data safely, and at the same time, prepare for the unexpected by having a contingency plan in place for device mishaps like crashes, theft, or damage.

Worrying about losing data isn’t something you have to lose sleep over if you have an active data backup strategy.

A common rule of thumb for keeping important data from disappearing forever is the 3-2-1 Rule. It dictates that you should:

3. Have THREE copies of your data. One is a primary backup and two are copies.

   2. Save copies of your backups on TWO different types of media or devices.

   1. ONE backup copy should be kept offsite in case of disaster.

Determine where and how you’ll store backup files and identify support contacts for swift assistance.

These proactive measures ensure quick data recovery and safeguard your cherished memories for the long haul.


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