E-Business
Dell Expands Open Networking Initiative, Adds Midokura
Dell on Monday announced an expansion of its Open Networking initiative to include Midokura, a global company focused on network virtualization, to complement Dell’s networking and server infrastructure.
This agreement includes a joint go-to-market program, validated reference architecture and global reseller agreement.
The announcement offers Midokura’s Enterprise MidoNet software on Dell infrastructure, delivering a network virtualization overlay for OpenStack that helps enterprise customers and service providers create an agile cloud networking infrastructure based on open technologies.
As the industry increasingly moves to disaggregate hardware from software, customers require a variety of open technologies to complete this vision.
Dell’s open networking switches and industry-standard x86 servers form the foundation of many modern data centres.
What this shows is that we’re actively connecting the dots with like-minded companies to upend the traditional, black-box model of networking,” said Tom Burns, vice president and general manager, Dell Networking. “That old model is too rigid, too locked and too slow to innovate. Dell’s Open Networking initiative is about being open, flexible and software-defined to help maximise our customers’ application environments.”
“Midokura, like Dell, is committed to expanding the Open Networking initiative to meet the needs of today’s modern enterprises and help deliver an open foundation for compute, storage and networking infrastructure,” said Dan Mihai Dumitriu, CEO and Co-Founder, Midokura. “We’ve already successfully teamed up with Dell to bridge virtual and physical networks and we look forward to deepening our collaboration to create an open, converged infrastructure for enterprises to support clouds that are easy to scale and operate.”
MidoNet is a software-based, highly-distributed network virtualization system that allows service providers and enterprises to build, run and manage virtual networks with increased control and flexibility.
Leveraging industry standards and existing infrastructure, MidoNet provides network agility and scalability while helping reduce costs.
Dell and Cumulus Networks announced a partnership in January 2014. Together, they provide customers data centre networking solutions that enable affordable capacity and operational efficiency.
Now, with Dell Open Networking switches, the Cumulus® Linux® operating system and MidoNet, Dell offers comprehensive network virtualization solutions for the software-defined data centre.
As companies of all sizes shift to a software-centric operation, Cumulus Linux plays a critical role as an operating system for open networking – making it simpler and more affordable to build, manage and automate modern data centres.
The Dell, Cumulus Networks and Midokura solution enables a growing number of service providers and enterprise customers to provision scalable virtual networks to connect to physical workloads in a matter of minutes.
Midokura MidoNet leverages Dell switches to facilitate network traffic flows from virtual machines to non-virtualized, physical workloads such as high-performance databases, email servers and legacy systems at line rate.
Industry research firm Gartner, Inc. recently published a paper* titled, “The Future of Data Centre Network Switches Looks ‘Brite.’” “In this research, Gartner introduces the term ‘brite box’ (aka ‘brite label’) switching, which identifies a new form of network switching.”
Gartner explained that, “Inspired by hyperscale organisations, ‘Type A’ organisations started to express interest in white-box switching technology but were largely turned off by the substantial challenges. As a result, a new style of network switching has emerged, which Gartner is referring to as ‘brite box switching.’ This approach essentially ‘splits the difference’ between traditional and white-box switching.”
Gartner states “Network decision makers can reduce cost, improve management and enable long-term innovation using ‘brite box’ switches versus traditional switching approaches.”
Dell is driving a new open ecosystem that stimulates innovation with best-of-breed, standards-based network equipment, networking operating systems and network applications to serve customers’ unique business needs. Benefits and value of the open networking model include:
• Best-of-breed networking for workloads, application and other networking needs including orchestration, automation and monitoring;
• Consistent view across data centre resources with a common deployment and operational model; and,
• Rapid standards-based innovation and availability of abundant open source data centre solutions.
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) presents its report on .ng domain name registration and renewal statistics for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of Nigeria’s digital footprint. The data underscores a consistent and significant adoption of the nation’s Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), reinforcing its pivotal role in the burgeoning Nigerian digital economy.
During the period spanning January to March 2025, a total of 40,791 .ng domain names were recorded. This figure comprises 22,236 new registrations and 18,555 renewals, indicating a healthy balance between the acquisition of new digital identities and the sustained commitment of existing domain name holders to their online presence.
Analysis of the registration trends within the quarter reveals a notable upward trajectory, with a 13.92% increase in domain name registrations observed between February and March 2025.
This growth signifies an increasing recognition of the importance of a localized online identity by a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and larger organizations.
Notably, the .com.ng extension continues to be the dominant choice, accounting for over 60% of both new registrations and renewals. This reaffirms its status as the preferred domain name extension for Nigerian businesses seeking to establish a credible and locally relevant online brand presence while maintaining global accessibility. The sustained popularity of .com.ng underscores its perceived value among Nigerian entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to secure their digital real estate.
This upward trajectory isn’t happening by chance. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has remained intentional in its drive for digital inclusion and domain adoption. Through public education, training via the .ng Academy, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem, NiRA has consistently advocated for the importance of owning a local domain. The current standing of .ng as the second most registered ccTLD in Africa reflects the efficacy of these efforts.
Digital adoption in Nigeria is no longer just about being online—it’s about owning your digital identity. And with a .ng domain, Nigerians are better positioned to assert that identity, connect with local and international audiences, and gain better control over their digital footprints.
As we look toward the rest of 2025, the Q1 results serve as a strong signal: more people are embracing the digital future, and the .ng domain is increasingly becoming their first step.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has set in motion a machinery to checkmate the booming copyright piracy market in the country.
Copyright piracy is said to cost Nigeria an annual loss estimated at billions of naira.
Despite the absence of a coordinated or official statistics to gauge the quantum of loss, John Asein, director general, NCC, said as far back as 2019, Nigeria lost N918 trillion ($3 billion) annually to digital piracy.
The financial damages severely impact local businesses and innovation efforts.
The commission, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has started a project to develop strategies and tools to address the menace.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the WIPO project to address online copyright piracy in Nigeria, Asein said digital technologies have unlocked tremendous opportunities for the creative and innovation sectors.
The NCC boss said technology also poses serious challenges, including online piracy, which he said is growing rapidly.
He said: “Pirate sites continue to emerge rapidly, with statistics indicating a 6.7 per cent increase in user visits. A significant percentage of these users are students aged between 18 and 24, with social media and messaging platforms becoming major gateways for accessing pirated content.”
He added: “No industry is immune. The most affected sectors include television (43.6 per cent), publishing (27.5 per cent), film (12.9 per cent), music (7.0 per cent), and software (6.2 per cent).
“Far beyond mere statistics, the victims are no longer only foreign right owners. Many Nigerians in these sectors have also been bruised and their creative enterprises ruined.”
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