Telecom
Huawei, Ovum Whitepaper Justifies HCC Summit Recommendations
Huawei and Ovum, a leading global technology research and advisory firm, jointly released a Quality Mobile Broadband Network whitepaper.
Focused on achieving quality network, the paper highlights the requirements for mobile network operators to attract and retain subscribers.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek recalled that at the recent Huawei Cloud Computing Summit in West Africa, held in Lagos, recommendations were made on how developing economies like Nigeria can leverage opportunities and technologies in deepening the broadband access.
In the whitepaper so released, it shows that network quality provides a true competitive differentiator, and investment has commercial benefits for mobile network operators.
Consumers are quick to identify a good-quality network and satisfaction, from personal experience or third-party feedback, plays a huge part in choosing a provider.
An Ovum Global Consumer Survey, published in October 2014, identified the elements that define a good-quality network.
Those metrics include network speed or capacity, consistent performance, responsiveness and footprint. In the whitepaper, Ovum outlines recommended steps a mobile operator should take to improve network quality.
“We believe that quality is the most important element of a mobile broadband network as it gives an operator a true point of differentiation and a clear competitive advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining subscribers. In this paper, we have provided our recommendations for players to improve their network quality.” Said Daryl Schoolar, Principal Analyst, Ovum.
Although at HCC, Huawei’s Global Connectivity Index ranked Nigeria third on the emerging broadband nations, however, the whitepaper released in collaboration with Ovum pointed at the recommendations made by Mr. Peng Song, president of Huawei Western Africa Region.
For instance, the first recommendation is planning. Operators should start by setting clear goals and definitions to improve the performance quality from the customers’ perspective. An assessment of the current performance will help operators identify the key areas of focus and challenges.
A well-defined plan, aligned with business goals, will help operators manage the process and maximize the results. Building in key performance indicators (KPIs) and key quality indicators (KQIs) specific to the network operators’ competitive situation, will provide quantifiable metrics for measuring the network performance.
The second stage is continuous assessment. Operators should continually assess the network performance, competitive situation and challenges during the improvement process. Network quality is not a fixed thing.
While everyday events may not pose a challenge to networks, major events could strain the network, making it unusable. Planning for peaks in demand will help eliminate negative consumer experiences.
In addition, new services put additional requirements on the network, for example voice services, video streaming, or online gaming.
The third stage is looking to large-scale partners to help scope out and manage the network transformation process.
The capabilities and features of a strong partner are outlined in the whitepaper as: a history of performing network transformations; the ability to support revenue opportunities; ongoing investment in customer experience management; and a deep understanding of the technologies that make a good-quality network.
“Huawei has been a long-standing partner to many mobile network providers. Through our key capabilities including service quality modeling, precise service quality demarcation, and multi-vendor and multi-network optimization, we continue support operators with improving their networks. This whitepaper is a must-read for all mobile network operators who are focused on achieving a good-quality network.” said Weibing, Head of Marketing, Global Technical Service Department, Huawei.
Likewise, Song while presenting the GCI in Lagos, said, “Overall, the 2015 GCI shows that 20 per cent growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investment will increase a country’s GDP by 1 per cent. It also identifies five enablers of digital transformation – Data Centres, Cloud Services, Big Data, Broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoTs). These technologies represent the targets that stakeholders should focus their investments on in order to most efficiently transform their economies for the digital age.”
According to him and based on the GCI findings, Huawei came up with three commendations for a better connected West Africa, to include increasing data centre investment, developing economies need to moving from investing in supply to building demand and learning from developing countries’ success, to become leaders in GCI.
“The Global Connectivity Index is not merely a ranking of countries. We see it as a platform to partner with policymakers and enterprise leaders to identify, harness, and create new digital economy opportunities with the aim of building a better connected West Africa,” he said.
Huawei forecasts that by 2025, as many as 100 billion connections will be generated globally, 90 per cent of which will come from intelligent sensors. This increase will be attributed to enterprises becoming enabled by the internet.
Huawei explained that leveraging connectivity to streamline business processes, would not only reduce costs and improve efficiency, but would also enable enterprises to drive innovation and move the focus from a consumer driven internet to an industrial one.
On the hand, the Huawei SmartCare® Network & Service Quality Improvement solution helps operators improve their network quality by offering a superior service experience to end users through optimum delivery of voice, web and streaming services.
As at the end of 2014, Huawei has provided optimization services to over 100 network providers, improving service quality and supporting the development of building a good-quality mobile network.
News
NITDA Communications Director Hadiza Umar Named in 2026 PR Power List, Graces Glazia Magazine Cover
Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of the Corporate Communications and Media Relations Department at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has been officially recognised as one of Nigeria’s top public relations professionals in the prestigious 2026 PR Power List.
The definitive annual list, compiled by GLG Communications in partnership with The Guardian, was unveiled to commemorate World PR Day.
It celebrates 50 outstanding professionals within Nigeria and the diaspora whose strategic communication strategies have significantly shaped organisations, influenced public discourse, and advanced the profession over the past 12 months.
Adding to the momentous milestone, Mrs. Umar was hit with a major surprise at the exclusive PR Power List Soirée and Awards ceremony held at the Alliance Française in Ikoyi, Lagos, where she was unveiled as a front-cover personality for the Glazia Magazine PR Power List Special Issue.
The double recognition highlights her exceptional distinction and impact in public sector communications and narrative management.
Speaking on the dual achievement, Mrs. Umar expressed profound gratitude for the honours, describing the magazine cover appearance as a breathtaking surprise.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be recognized on the 2026 PR Power List and to feature on the cover of Glazia Magazine alongside other exceptional industry titans,” Umar said.
“This milestone is a testament to the enabling environment and visionary leadership of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, which has allowed us to strategically drive the narrative of Nigeria’s digital economy and technological innovation.”
Mrs. Umar, a highly respected corporate communications strategist, holds professional fellowships in the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Chartered), the African Public Relations Association (APRA), and the Institute of Corporate Administration (CICA).
Under her supervisory role, NITDA’s media relations have consistently projected national information technology frameworks, start-up support frameworks, and digital literacy initiatives, to position Nigeria competitively on the global stage.
The 2026 PR Power List selection process involved a rigorous, independent evaluation led by a distinguished international jury.
The organisers noted that the class of 2026 represents professionals raising the standard of strategic communications and introducing new ideas to the industry.
The need for Nigeria to think outside the box in its need to drive towards global relevance with innovations and scientific developments will be on the front burner at the NITRA Innovative & Scientific Conference scheduled to hold on Thursday July 23, 2026 in Ikeja, Lagos.
NITRA
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will lead other delegates to discuss and take far-reaching decisions at the event, which has its theme as “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation”.
Other companies that have indicated interest in partnering with NITRA include mobile communications company, Tecno; Africa’s premier end-to-end AI solutions company, Hyperspace; and telecommunications data infrastructure company, Digital Realty.
Speaking on the proposed event, the Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Chike Onwuegbuchi noted that the event will seek to create a platform for government and private organisations to deliberate on policies around scientific innovations in Nigeria, challenges, place of indigenous and foreign collaboration, roles of each stakeholder, and grassroots development in that regard, among others.
According to him: “The Federal government, with series of programmes and partnerships, has established the urgent need to create an ecosystem that thrives on scientific innovation, breeding institutions and individuals with a target of placing the country at the fore-front of Next-Gen development.
It is a known fact that digital and scientific innovations are crucial, not only to the survivability of a nation, but also to the sustainability of its growth and development, with significant effect on economic strength, global image, defense and security, government capabilities to function, and public health and safety, communication and digital footprint, among others.
The federal government is actively driving scientific innovation to foster economic diversification and build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Efforts are heavily focused on commercializing research, establishing massive research funds, and funding strategic infrastructure, particularly in technology, biotechnology, and healthcare. Core government initiatives and policies include the newly instituted National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which aims to mobilize about $500 million annually to support research and the commercialization of scientific outputs; and the Nigeria Genomic City, a multi-ministerial initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a leading hub for genomics, precision medicine, and biotechnology. It is designed to protect indigenous data, stimulate artificial intelligence in health, and develop a highly skilled scientific workforce.
According to the General Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, the forum will also be a vehicle to propagating the views of decision makers to the public, thereby furthering the cause of public awareness and information dissemination on the topic.
The focus, he said will be on how Nigeria can sustain digital innovative growth and scientific development in Nigeria
The board of global payments company, PayPal, says a 53 billion dollars takeover offer from financial technology firm, Stripe, and private equity company, Advent International, does not adequately reflect the company’s long-term value.
PayPal
According to reports, the proposed acquisition, valued at 60.50 dollars per share, remains under consideration, with the board yet to formally respond to the offer.
The directors are said to be evaluating not only the financial value of the proposal but also the structure of the financing, the timeline for completing the transaction and the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approvals.
They are also considering the possibility of competing bids emerging.
Although the offer represents a premium of about 28 per cent above PayPal’s recent share price, the board believes the company could deliver greater value to shareholders if its ongoing turnaround strategy succeeds.
Following reports of the bid, PayPal shares gained about two per cent to close at 56.73 dollars.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Stripe and Advent have secured approximately 50 billion dollars in debt financing from JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, while both firms would jointly contribute 17 billion dollars in equity.
Under the proposal, the two companies would jointly own PayPal instead of dividing its operations.
PayPal, Stripe, Advent International, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have all declined to comment on the proposed transaction.
The discussions come as PayPal seeks to strengthen its business after years of increasing competition from rivals including Apple Pay, Google Pay and emerging financial technology firms.
The company, which was valued at about 360 billion dollars in 2021, now has a market capitalisation of approximately 36 billion dollars.
Since assuming office as Chief Executive Officer in March 2026, Enrique Lores has embarked on a restructuring programme aimed at improving operational efficiency and restoring growth.
The restructuring includes the creation of three business divisions comprising Checkout, Venmo and Consumer Financial Services, and Payments and Crypto.
The company is also targeting 1.5 billion dollars in cost savings through the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
PayPal’s latest financial results indicated signs of recovery, with first-quarter revenue rising seven per cent year-on-year to 8.35 billion dollars, while total payment volume increased by eight per cent to 464 billion dollars.
If approved, the transaction would combine two of the world’s largest digital payments companies.
The combined business would process an estimated 3.7 trillion dollars in annual payment volume, significantly strengthening its position in the global online payments market.
However, analysts expect the proposed acquisition to face intense regulatory scrutiny because of the companies’ combined market share in merchant payment services.
To address possible antitrust concerns, the bidders have reportedly considered options, including separating PayPal’s Braintree business or other assets if required by regulators.
Sources said Stripe and Advent remain interested in pursuing the acquisition despite the board’s reservations, although negotiations are expected to continue.
Market observers are also awaiting PayPal’s earnings report scheduled for July 28 for further indications of the company’s financial recovery and future growth prospects.
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