General News
How Satellite Internet Could Weather Future Disasters

Greg Wyler, founder of the OneWeb satellite venture has said that his mission is to bring affordable Internet services to the entire globe — and that also means beefing up the connectivity for the first responders and survivors facing deadly disasters like Cyclone Pam.
That powerful storm ripped through the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu this week, leaving widespread death and destruction in its wake.
Responding to the disaster has been difficult in part because the cyclone wiped out communication links. And that’s where satellite-based connectivity could be a life-saver, said Greg Wyler, OneWeb founder and CEO.
“Communications can come with the people servicing the area,” Wyler told NBC News on Monday. “They can bring their own infrastructure. You can enable people on the ground who already have a communication device to become part of the solution.”
OneWeb is just one of several ventures that hope to start delivering Internet and mobile services via satellite sometime in the next few years. But if Wyler’s venture stays on track, it could be one of the first to make it to the marketplace. He said the current schedule calls for launches to begin in 2017, with network activation in 2019.
The initial plan calls for a constellation of about 650 small satellites to be put into orbit, providing global data services at speeds of 50 megabits per second or faster. Wyler estimated the cost for the first phase of the venture at around $2 billion.
Some of the logistics for the network still have to be worked out — but many of OneWeb’s partnerships already have been put into place:
Virgin Galactic, founded by billionaire Richard Branson, will provide launch services. Wyler said other launchers would be used as well.
Qualcomm, a leader in wireless products and services, is working on the hardware.
Honeywell Aerospace said this month that it would provide aircraft equipment and airtime services for OneWeb’s network.
Rockwell Collins announced on Monday that it would work with OneWeb on satellite communication terminals for aircraft.
Wyler foresees a time when emergency teams could bring the Internet and phone services to the scene of a disaster on their helicopters, airplanes and trucks.
“The first responders in that environment would have mobile networks running regardless of the situation,” he said. “And for users on the ground, their cellphones and smartphones would still work to the extent that it was allowed. … We can change those survivors into supporters.”
OneWeb is planning to produce multi-user Internet terminals that could be installed on the roof of a home or school, as shown in this photo. Such terminals would be solar-powered, with a price tag in the range of $250, OneWeb founder Greg Wyler says.
Emergency response is just one of the potential applications for OneWeb, Wyler said. He envisions having terminals installed on commercial jets and private airplanes, in homes and in schools — and not just for the developed world, but also for the estimated 4 billion people who don’t have Internet access today.
OneWeb’s objective is to offer multi-user satellite terminals for less than $250, and work out deals with telecom providers to bring Internet services within reach of potential users in the developing world.
“Our mission is to enable affordable access for everyone,” Wyler said.
Airline travelers could benefit as well. Today’s in-flight networks generally put limits on streaming video or other high-bandwidth services, but Wyler said OneWeb’s aircraft terminals would change the equation.
This artist’s conception shows a compact Internet terminal installed on the roof of a Beechcraft airplane.
“This will allow an [Airbus] A380 to stream Netflix anywhere in the world,” Wyler said. “We are solving a big problem for emerging markets, which is literally half the world, and the other half is connected only intermittently.”
He acknowledged that other ventures — including SpaceX and Outernet — are also planning to offer satellite Internet services. But he doesn’t see them as threats.
“It’s best not to look at things in terms of being competitive, because the market is so large,” he said. “No one will solve 100 percent of the need. We’re really just making dents in the market.”
Wyler is delivering a keynote address at the Satellite 2015 conference in Washington on Tuesday.
General News
Coscharis Technologies, Huawei Unveil IdeaHub S3 Interactive Board in Nigeria

Coscharis Technologies Limited, a leading Information Technology distribution company in the Sub-Saharan African market, in collaboration with Huawei, has officially launched the innovative Huawei IdeaHub S3 interactive board into the Nigerian market.

The unveiling ceremony, which attracted top industry stakeholders, partners, and technology enthusiasts, was held at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, in the heart of Nigeria’s commercial hub.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Coscharis Technologies Limited, Dr. Sunday Mukoro, appreciated guests for attending and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to introducing cutting-edge technologies into the Nigerian market to accelerate the country’s technological advancement.
Dr. Mukoro described the Huawei IdeaHub S3 as a next-generation smart collaboration device equipped with advanced features designed to enhance productivity, communication, and digital collaboration across businesses, educational institutions, and organizations.
To further excite participants at the launch, he announced a special one-off 20 percent discount for early bird orders placed during the event.
Representing Huawei, Charles Chen, Huawei Nigeria eKit Manager, reiterated Huawei’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions tailored to modern workplace and learning environments. He emphasized that the IdeaHub S3 reflects Huawei’s continuous innovation in smart office and collaborative technologies.
The Huawei IdeaHub S3 is available in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 86-inch variants and comes loaded with several advanced features, including ergonomic design, ultra-low latency performance, 4K dual-lens camera with 5x zoom capability, and superior image quality with zero colour cast technology.
Other notable features include a 24-microphone array with up to 15-meter sound pickup range, high-fidelity stereo sound system, 4K soft light screen, intelligent tracking with auto-crop view, Acoustic Baffle 2.0 technology, ultrasonic projection, app multiplier functionality, and enhanced BYOM/BYOD collaboration capabilities.
The event climaxed with the formal unveiling of the Huawei IdeaHub S3, led by Dr. Sunday Mukoro alongside executives from Huawei and the Coscharis Huawei team, marking another milestone in the advancement of smart collaborative technology solutions in Nigeria
General News
Nigeria is World Bank’s Third-Largest Borrower with $18.5Bn – IDA

Nigeria has retained its position as the third-largest borrower from the International Development Association (IDA), the concessional lending arm of the World Bank, despite a slight decline in its debt exposure in the first quarter of 2026.

According to the IDA’s March 2026 financial statements, Nigeria’s exposure stood at $18.5 billion as of March 31, 2026, down marginally from $18.7 billion recorded at the end of December 2025.
The $200 million decline represents a 1.1 per cent reduction over the three-month period.
However, on a year-on-year basis, Nigeria’s debt exposure increased significantly by $1.2 billion, or 6.9 per cent, from $17.3 billion recorded in March 2025.
The latest ranking places Nigeria behind Bangladesh and Pakistan among the World Bank’s largest IDA borrowers.
Data from the report showed that Bangladesh remained the largest borrower with an exposure of $22.7 billion, followed by Pakistan with $19.2 billion, while Nigeria ranked third with $18.5 billion.
Other major African borrowers include Ethiopia with $14.4 billion, Tanzania with $14.3 billion, and Kenya with $13.2 billion in outstanding exposure.
The report also revealed that the IDA’s total loans outstanding stood at $230.8 billion as of March 31, 2026, slightly below the $231.1 billion recorded at the end of December 2025, reflecting a mild moderation in the institution’s lending portfolio.
According to the IDA, loans classified under non-accrual status represented only 0.4 per cent of the total portfolio, while provisions for potential loan losses amounted to $6.3 billion, equivalent to about 2.0 per cent of underlying exposures.
Nigeria’s exposure accounted for roughly eight per cent of the IDA’s total loan portfolio and approximately 13.3 per cent of the combined exposure represented by the institution’s ten largest borrowing countries.
The IDA noted that its ten largest country exposures collectively accounted for about 60 per cent of total portfolio exposure as of March 2026, highlighting the concentration of concessional lending among a relatively small number of developing economies.
Despite the slight quarter-on-quarter decline, Nigeria’s debt profile with the World Bank continues to trend upward over the longer term.
The report showed that Nigeria’s exposure rose from $17.3 billion in March 2025 to $18.5 billion in March 2026, underscoring the country’s increasing reliance on concessional financing to support development priorities and economic reforms.
Similarly, Ethiopia’s exposure increased from $13.2 billion to $14.4 billion over the same period, while Tanzania’s exposure rose from $12.6 billion to $14.3 billion.
Bangladesh’s debt exposure climbed from $21.2 billion to $22.7 billion, while Pakistan’s increased from $18.3 billion to $19.2 billion.
Ghana also recorded an increase from $7.1 billion to $7.4 billion.
Nigeria’s position among the top borrowers reflects the scale of its infrastructure, social investment, and reform financing needs under the World Bank’s concessional lending framework.
The Federal Government is also currently engaging the World Bank for additional financing support.
General News
NCAA Suspends ‘No Pay, No Service’ Policy Against Indebted Airlines

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has suspended plans to enforce its proposed “no pay, no service” policy against domestic airlines owing statutory charges, following consultations with operators and concerns over rising operational costs in the aviation sector.

Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, said the decision followed a review of prevailing challenges facing airlines, particularly the rising cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel.
The NCAA had earlier issued a memo on May 22 placing at least 11 domestic carriers on a “no pay, no service” list over outstanding debts owed to aviation agencies.
Affected airlines reportedly included Air Peace, Ibom Air, Overland Airways, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Max Air and Caverton Helicopters.
Industry sources said airlines immediately began discussions with the regulator after the directive was announced, leading to the temporary suspension of enforcement.
The NCAA clarified that the suspension did not amount to a cancellation or waiver of the debts, adding that all affected airlines remained responsible for settling their statutory obligations.
According to the authority, engagements with operators would continue to ensure compliance while avoiding disruptions to flight operations and passenger services.
The regulator also referenced earlier intervention measures approved by President Bola Tinubu, including a 30 per cent discount on outstanding charges owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies.
The measure, it said, was introduced to cushion the impact of high aviation fuel costs and stabilise the sector.
The NCAA defended the five per cent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charge imposed on airlines, describing it as a statutory levy established under Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Act.
“The charge is not part of airline revenue or operating profit and should not be treated as such,” the authority stated.
It added that the agency operates largely on a cost-recovery basis and depends on remittances from operators to sustain regulatory oversight and aviation safety functions.
According to the NCAA, suspending the enforcement action was intended to balance regulatory compliance with the need to maintain operational stability in the aviation industry.
The authority reaffirmed its commitment to recovering all outstanding debts while supporting the long-term sustainability of domestic airline operations.
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