Telecom
Better Connected, Smarter Cities Attract more Investment
Blurb: With more than 40 percent of Africa’s population living in urban areas, Africa is embracing urbanization and the opportunities and challenges that come with it. Smarter cities are more capable of attracting FDI. For a country and its cells, “Cities”, there is also Maslow-like hierarchy of digital needs. Security assurance is the basic needs.
ICT has an important role to play in attracting capital and investment by increasing efficiency and cutting costs, not only for a country but also at a city-level. However, how closely is ICT and investment correlated to each other and what is the implications for Africa, home to most of the hundreds of millions of new city dwellers expected by 2050?
A report launched recently by UN Habitat (‘The State of African Cities 2018: The geography of African Investment’) explains how African cities can replicate those of East Asia and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in order to develop sustainably.
The report shows Africa needs to seize a more prominent position in the world economy by enhancing its accessibility, connectivity, markets and urban attractiveness. It finds “reliable mobile networks and internet access attract knowledge-based FDI”.
As a leading company in the ICT industry, Huawei fully agrees with many of the report findings include that firstly, improving ICT infrastructure is critical to attracting FDI, whilst secondly, the ICT industry itself is also a crucial sector for FDI. For the latter finding, the report highlights that ICT sector FDI offers the highest growth rates and highest number of direct jobs along with manufacturing, and that the two are closely linked.
Connectivity provided by communications network and internet has become as important as water and electricity. The State of African Cities Report notes inward FDI into Africa correlates positively with large urban populations (markets), mobile phone subscriptions, internet bandwidth and full electricity supply, “These factors combined with high-quality ICT and lower transaction costs enhance FDI attraction for multinationals.” This parallels Huawei’s own experiences in Africa over the last twenty years.
A better ICT environment can better attract knowledge-based FDI. It starts with having reliable mobile networks and internet access. Internet access itself is not enough though. Huawei believes that in Africa connectivity brought by the network of communication towers and fibre is like the “soil”, which provides the fertile ground for important value-adding crops, which in this case are services including Safe City, E-government, E-education, E-health, E-agriculture and so on that enhance public social services delivery and better allocation of resources. We must keep improving the soil fertility, or the quality, access and speed of the connectivity, so the “crops” can grow successfully improving the ease of doing business and livelihoods.
With more than 40 percent of Africa’s population living in urban areas, Africa is embracing urbanization and the opportunities and challenges that come with it. On the one hand, African countries are gaining agglomeration and economy of scale benefits, but on the other hand they must manage “big city diseases” e.g. congestion, pollution, and even some non-traditional security threats such as financial security and terrorism.
The “smart city” concept is a new critical phenomenon in urban development, especially when cities want to expand their global reach. Smarter cities, according to the report’s studies, are more capable of attracting FDI from more and further destinations. City administrations can therefore set up Smart Procurement Agencies and Competition Commissions, for branding their city as an attractive “smart” investment destination.
How to make a city smarter?
First, construction of smart cities is a giant system that interacts across systems and is a “system of systems”. It requires coordination of cross-domain coordination through the top-level design, including setting goals, priorities, and implementation paths. The top-level design is also essential rather than optional given that cities are paying more attention to civic experiences, technological frameworks, new technology references, and construction models, In addition to projects and investments.
Second, taking a two-step approach starting with Safe City and then moving to Smart City. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, safety and security together with food and water are basic needs for all human beings. For a country and its cells, “Cities”, there is also Maslow-like hierarchy of digital needs. Similarly, security assurance is the basic needs for a country or a city. It lays a solid foundation for a competitive nation and a dynamic city.
Third, to grow the nerve system inside and outside the body. Huawei sees a city as a living organism, which is powered by a nervous system comprises a “brain” (the control center) and “nerves” (the network and sensors). Leveraging leading new ICT such as cloud computing, IoT and AI, Huawei is committed to creating a strong nervous system that powers Smart Cities. More importantly, as the report finds, to establish a national, regional and international network of dedicated smart cities that collaborate and share beneficial information and data.
The report is well-timed and chimes with Huawei’s own experiences from our work across the world, including in African countries. With Huawei’s vision to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world, we fully support the recommendations in the report that local policy makers should embrace the digital revolution, develop ICT skills and invest more in regional infrastructure, both physical and ICT, to make our cities safer, our lives better and our future smarter.
In a recent revelation from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Airtel Nigeria has emerged as a standout performer in the country’s telecommunications sector, marking significant gains in market share over the past year.
According to the NCC data, by the end of March 2024, Airtel Nigeria has grown its market share over the last year into a remarkable 29%, solidifying its position as a leading telecom provider in the region.
In stark contrast, other mobile network operators such as MTN and 9mobile have faced considerable setbacks, with MTN witnessing a notable 3.19% decline in market share and 9mobile experiencing a 0.5% decrease.
Even Glo, a prominent player in the market, saw a decline, albeit less pronounced, with a 0.58% drop in its share of internet subscribers.
Airtel Nigeria’s success story goes beyond market share gains. The company has also witnessed a substantial surge in its share of internet subscribers, boasting an impressive 165% basis points increase.
This surge correlates with the launch of Airtel 5G, which the company began rolling out in June 2023 and underscores the telco’s continued push to grow its customer base nationwide.
Airtel Nigeria’s ascendancy in the telecom market comes at a pivotal moment when mobile network operators face challenges of rising operations cost and exchange rates volatility. The company’s recent results solidify its position as a frontrunner in Nigeria’s telecom landscape.
Google Developer Groups Lagos (GDGLagos) has announced a regional edition of the global #BuildWithAI hackathon, in partnership with SeerBit, Africa’s most trusted payment solutions provider and GOMYCODE.
This hackathon, taking place on Saturday, April 27th and Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, will empower participants to explore Google’s AI tools, Gemini and Vertex AI and develop innovative solutions for real-world challenges.
“We are excited to partner with Seerbit and GoMyCode to bring the #BuildWithAI hackathon to Lagos,” says Co-Organizer, GDGLagos, Femi Taiwo. “This event fosters innovation and empowers individuals to use AI to solve real-world problems. We encourage everyone interested in AI to join us for this inspiring event.”
Founder & CEO of SeerBit, Omoniyi Kolade articulated the profound impact of this collaboration, stating, “At SeerBit, we are committed to pioneering innovative solutions that enhance financial security and foster trust in digital transactions. Collaborating with GDG Lagos amplifies our quest to combat fraud effectively. Together, we aim to empower developers to harness the power of technology for the greater good, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.”
“At GOMYCODE, we are committed to unlocking the potential of innovators across Nigeria and beyond through accessible technology education. The ‘Build With AI’ hackathon with Google Developer Groups Lagos offers a hands-on chance for innovators to use AI for real-world solutions. We’re excited to create a space where technology meets creativity, empowering participants to actively shape the future,” Country Head, GOMYCODE Nigeria, Babatunde Olaifa said.
The #BuildWithAI hackathon aligns with Google’s global initiative to democratize access to AI technology. This regional event in Lagos offers a unique opportunity for developers, data scientists, designers, students, and anyone curious about AI to:
- Gain hands-on experience with Google’s cutting-edge AI tools, Gemini and Vertex AI.
- Tackle real-world challenges across various sectors like sustainability, finance, education, healthcare, and social good.
- Leverage SeerBit’s expertise in digital payments to create solutions with tangible applications.
- Develop in-demand skills with the support of GoMyCode’s training resources.
- Collaborate in teams and network with fellow AI enthusiasts.
- Compete for a chance to win a cash prize of NGN 1,000,000, office space to further develop their winning solution, and the opportunity to partner with SeerBit, with NGN 500,000 and NGN 250,000 for second and third place respectively.
The GDGLagos #BuildWithAI hackathon serves as a springboard for the global Google AI Hackathon, taking place online. This international event focuses on pushing the boundaries of what Generative AI apps can do with Gemini. Participants in the Lagos event are highly encouraged to consider entering the global competition as well.
GDGLagos will provide ongoing support and guidance to the regional winner as they prepare to compete on the global stage. This includes access to mentorship, resources and technical expertise to help them refine their solution and showcase their talent to a worldwide audience.
Startup founders, experienced developers, data scientists and expert resources and designated mentors will be available during the hackathon to provide guidance, refine ideas, answer questions and offer technical support to participants. This ensures they receive the necessary guidance to tackle the challenges and bring their innovative ideas to life.
Telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria has collaborated with the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to provide with unlimited internet access at the institute’s inaugural edition of the Nigeria Public Relations Week.
The trailblazing event themed ‘Leveraging Public Relations as a Critical Asset for Nigeria’s Economic and Reputation Renaissance’ is set to run from Monday, April 22nd to Friday, April 26th, 2024, and will welcome thousands of delegates across Nigeria to the prestigious June 12 Cultural Centre, nestled in the heart of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Speaking on the strategic collaboration, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Airtel is proud to support the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations in its endeavor to advance the field of public relations.
“The relevance of public relations practice in Nigeria cannot be overstated, as it plays a vital role in shaping perceptions, managing reputations, and influencing public opinion. Hence, our support is a demonstration of our commitment to empowering individuals and organizations with innovative solutions that drive progress and create an enabling society.”
According to NIPR, through the PRWeek Organizing \Committee Chairman, Mr Yomi Badejo Okusanya, the NPRW will gather over 2,000 experts in the fields of economics, PR, and nation-building to discuss strategies for effectively communicating government policies and initiatives to the public.
Other activities at the NPRW will include conferences, the annual general meeting, workshops, induction of new members, breakout sessions with students as well as traditional rulers and a tour of some legacy projects in Ogun state.
With Airtel’s provision of onsite unlimited data connection, attendees and participants can enjoy unparalleled access to online resources, real-time updates, and interactive engagements throughout the duration of the event. This will significantly support the exchange of ideas, foster networking opportunities, and elevate the overall experience for all stakeholders involved.
Airtel Nigeria remains committed to offering unwavering support for initiatives aimed at driving innovation, collaboration, and nation-building.
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