The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), representing Mobile Network Operators and telecommunication companies in Nigeria, are calling upon the government to take decisive action in addressing the numerous challenges confronting the telecommunications industry.

In a statement jointly signed by Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON and Engr. Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, ATCON President, the associations underscored the urgent need for collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors to overcome obstacles hindering the sector’s growth and development.

Infrastructure Deficits: ALTON & ATCON members still lack access to essential telecommunication services due to a myriad of challenges, including multiple taxation and regulations and prohibitive Right of Way (RoW) charges, inadequate electric power supply and vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.

 Protection of Assets and Network Infrastructure: Advocating for legislation that

designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (“CNI”): Both Associations expressed deep concern over the escalating security threats facing telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria.

Telecommunications infrastructure undisputedly plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s national security and socioeconomic growth, especially as the country currently contends with multiple security challenges that require urgent and immediate actions in response to these threats.

Attacks on cell towers, fibre optic cables, and other critical assets disrupt telecommunications services and result in significant financial losses for operators.

The associations urge the government to prioritize the security of telecommunications infrastructure and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to enhance protection measures and combat vandalism and sabotage effectively.

Cost-Reflective Tariff of Services: ALTON and ATCON respectfully reiterate that telecommunications infrastructure development requires substantial investments in network expansion, maintenance, and technology upgrades.

Despite the adverse economic headwinds, the telecommunications industry remains the only industry yet to review its general service pricing framework upward in the last (11) years, primarily due to regulatory constraints.

For a fully liberalized and deregulated sector, the current price control mechanism, which is not aligned with economic realities, threatens the industry’s sustainability and can erode investors’ confidence.

ATCON and ALTON call upon the government to facilitate a constructive dialogue with industry stakeholders to address pricing challenges and establish a framework that balances consumers’ affordability with operators’ financial viability.

Regulatory Independence: ALTON & ATCON advocates for the sustenance of a culture of independence in the regulatory landscape to safeguard against undue influence and unwholesome incursion into the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) or (Commission) domain, which will inspire trust in the telecommunications sector and encourage investment.

Regulatory neutrality and independence are crucial to ensuring a thriving telecommunications sector. Statutory provisions lend credence to this notion, as a lack of an impartial regulator will lead to a failure to maintain public confidence in the objectivity and independence of its decisions.

ALTON and ATCON reaffirms its commitment to working collaboratively with the government to address the challenges facing the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

By fostering a conducive regulatory environment, prioritizing infrastructure development, enhancing security measures, and facilitating pricing adjustments, the government can unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, driving economic growth and societal development.

Qualcomm Incorporated today announced the shortlisted startups for Qualcomm Make in Africa 2024, as well as the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund.

The Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, now in its second year, aims to work with and support the development of Africa’s emerging technology ecosystem by providing mentorship, education, and training programs with a focus on 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT. This year, Qualcomm received an overwhelming response, with approximately 250 applications from 30 countries.

Highlights: 

• Startup cohort announced for 2024 Qualcomm Make in Africa startup incubation program featuring technologies.
• Announcement of the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, supporting startups in scaling their societal and market impact.
• Development of L2Pro Africa website content nears completion, providing free online training on intellectual property protection.

As the first initiative of its kind in Africa, Qualcomm Make in Africa is an equity-free mentorship program that identifies promising early-stage startups keen on applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies such as 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware.

These startups have demonstrated exceptional potential in applying advanced connectivity and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions.

The selected startups will receive free mentorship, business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting intellectual property. The 2024 cohort includes the following startups (listed in alphabetical order):

• Aurora Health from Kenya provides AI-based cardiovascular health care tools
• CropScan from Kenya uses solar-powered smart farming IoT devices
• Cure Bionics from Tunisia makes smart 3D printed prosthetic arms
• DevisionX from Egypt provides AI-based low-code computer vision tools
• Kalio from Cameroon is building AI tools for Agricultural IoT
• Kitovu from Nigeria provides tools and software for smart agricultural warehouse management
• NextAI Studios from Kenya builds AI-based emotion detection into toys for children’s mental healthcare
• RIM Nextgen from Kenya, uses smart tools for monitoring propane consumption
• Sparcx from South Africa uses AI for enhancing radar signal processing
• Vizmerald from Tunisia, is working on AI-based textile industry inspection

Qualcomm is also proud to announce the awardee of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. This fund, provided by Qualcomm through its Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™ Initiative, aims to support startups in scaling their societal and market impact.

Ecorich Solutions Limited, a female-founded organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, will be awarded funding to help scale the impact of their smart organic food composter.

Wireless Reach funding will support Ecorich to address the dual challenge of organic waste management and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, with the goal of reducing environmental pollution, improving crop yields for farmers, and mitigating waste-related health risks for communities.

The other nine startups from the 2023 cohort will also receive valuable stipends to continue fueling their growth. These startups have showcased innovative uses of wireless technology to address pressing needs in their communities.

In addition, Qualcomm is excited to highlight the progress of the L2Pro Africa IP e-learning Platform, a free online training program designed to empower startups, SMEs, and researchers in Africa to protect, secure, and maximize their innovations. This program has been created in collaboration with Adams and Adams, Africa’s leading intellectual property (IP) law firm.

The education content has been updated with individual filing procedures for patents, industrial designs, and trademarks in the countries of Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda and within the two African patent organizations, ARIPO and OAPI.

These step-by-step descriptions of per-country filing requirements empower inventors to interact effectively with IP professionals such as an IP attorney and their respective IP offices.

“I am thrilled with the overwhelming response to the Africa Innovation Platform this year,” said Alex Rogers, President, QTL & Global Affairs, Qualcomm Incorporated.

“The quality and diversity of the applications received reflect the immense talent and potential within Africa’s technology ecosystem.

“We are excited to work with the shortlisted startups and provide them with the necessary resources and support to drive innovation and create a positive impact in their communities.”

“We applaud Qualcomm for launching the second year of its Innovate in Africa Platform, which not only equips the upcoming generation of African entrepreneurs with expertise in pivotal areas like AI/ML, healthcare, agri-tech, smart cities, and communications but also empowers them to safeguard their intellectual property through the complimentary L2ProAfrica program.”, said John Omo, secretary general, African Telecommunications Union (ATU).

Mr. Omo also emphasized that the ATU remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. “Our youth innovation program, among other initiatives, plays a crucial role in cultivating the talents and aspirations of Africa’s young visionaries,” he affirmed. “We are ready to collaborate with additional partners to realize this objective.”

9mobile, telecommunications company, recently partnered with tech giant, Microsoft to host a capacity-building session for journalists aimed at empowering them with innovative tools to improve their skills for maximum performance in their field.

The learning session held at Microsoft Africa Development Center had in attendance media partners from print and online platforms and publications.

The training session provided a platform to introduce journalists to the benefits of Microsoft Copilot and its potential to revolutionize the profession.

Microsoft Copilot is an advanced AI-powered tool which offers a wide array of functionalities designed to streamline workflow, enhance productivity, and elevate the quality of their output.

Through this partnership, 9mobile and Microsoft sought to equip journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to leverage Copilot effectively in their day-to-day work.

Speaking at the training session, Chineze Amanfo, PR Lead, 9mobile, expressed her enthusiasm and satisfaction with the session, emphasizing the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowerment within the media industry.

She stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Microsoft in providing this invaluable training opportunity for journalists. At 9mobile, we recognize the pivotal role that the media plays in shaping public discourse and driving societal change.

Therefore, equipping them with the requisite knowledge and tools such as the Microsoft Copilot, will enhance their capability to deliver on their respective assignments efficiently by disseminating accurate and impactful information to the public.”

“We prioritize our relationship with the media hence, the need for the periodic capacity building session for journalists. With this training, we have clearly demonstrated our unwavering commitment to sustaining the initiative.

“We will continue to explore new avenues for collaboration and innovation, ensuring that our partners in the media industry have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive, Amanfo added.”

Yemi Orimolade, The Senior Business Programme Manager, Marketing Communications, Microsoft Africa Development Center, appreciated the participants for their contributions in making the session an engaging experience and enjoined them to champion the message of AI responsibility.

He said, “Microsoft’s Copilot is poised to be a game-changer for journalists. It is a reliable tool for generating and optimising content, staying informed, and enhancing productivity. Our commitment is to harness the transformative potential of AI for societal betterment. Welcome to the future of journalism, working smarter with Microsoft Copilot.”

The capacity-building session received an overwhelmingly positive response from participants, who lauded the practical insights and demos provided.

Attendees expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a tool as powerful and versatile as Microsoft Copilot, acknowledging its potential to revolutionize their workflow and enhance their journalistic endeavors.

With the successful hosting of the capacity-building session, 9mobile and Microsoft look forward to more areas of sustained collaboration to drive positive change and innovation within media ecosystem in Nigeria.