Telecom
NCC Rallies Media Stakeholders to Enhance Effective Reporting of Telecoms Industry
Consistent with its strategic objective of stakeholder collaboration and partnering, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently met a section of stakeholders in the mass media industry.
The forum was a workshop, organised to keep Nigerian journalists who specialise in reporting the telecom and ICT sector, abreast of emerging developments in the telecom industry, in order to ensure the general public receives contextual, interpretive and illuminating reporting of telecom matters.
The journalists, who attended the workshop under the aegis of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), Abuja Chapter, reveled in the opportunity provided by NCC to glean emerging trends and topical regulatory issues in the telecom industry.
The workshop was part of NCC’s commitment to encouraging continuous professional development of journalists because the Commission sees good journalism as central, both to the achievement of its mandate and to the flourishing our nation’s democratic project.
The training programme featured intense sessions focused on understanding the renewal the Commission has brought to bear on many major industry issues, including International Termination Rate (ITR) for voice services, benefits of the National Identity Number/Subscriber Identity Module linkage (NIN-SIM integration), the menace of illegal use of GSM boosters, updates on Fifth Generation (5G) deployment plan, spectrum administration, as well as compliance monitoring and enforcement, and other emergent regulatory matters.
Speaking at the workshop, which also featured special focus group discussions facilitated by subject-matter experts and senior officials of the Commission from selected departments of the Commission, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said approval for the training was granted by Management as it is in tandem with the Commission’s media relations and stakeholder engagement strategy.
“Given the dynamic nature of the digital space and its impact on the economy, we believe this demands that our media partners are brought up to speed with the current requirements for maximum productivity and effective reporting of the telecom industry,” Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, asserted to justify the relevance of the workshop.
The EVC said, through capacity-building initiatives such as the workshop organised for professionals in the media industry, “we would build multually-beneficial relationships for sustained media support as we continue to discharge our mandate of regulating this dynamic sector for the benefit of Nigerians and the economy as a whole.”
Accordingly, Danbatta said NITRA is a long-standing strategic partner of the Commission and the knowledge empowerment programme through this workshop seeks to provide a platform for equipping stakeholders in the media with the knowledge and skill sets they require for effective, efficient and professional reporting.
The EVC, who commended the media stakeholders for their support over the years, said, without the support from journalists and other communication professionals, NCC would not have been able to deliver on its mandate as effectively as it is has done over the years. Accordingly, Danbatta enjoined all members of NITRA to continue to support NCC’s programmes, activities, and initiatives with the same enthusiasm with which they have been prioritising timely, adequate and accurate reportage of the nation’s telecom sector to enhance Nigeria’s growth and development.
Danbatta also stated that the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020-2025, the NCC Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024, the creation of a Digital Economy Department in the Commission, among others, underscored the policy directions of the Federal Government which the NCC is diligently driving by working with relevant industry stakeholders, including the media, to deepen commitment to a digital Nigeria.
“So, it is expected that by empowering the media as our key stakeholders, they would be willing to ensure that members of public are accurately and adequately informed and are aware of the Commission’s regulatory strides toward building a robust digital economy for our country,” the EVC said.
Speaking on behalf of members of NITRA after the training, the Chairman NITRA, Abuja Chapter, Blessing Olaifa, commended the Commission for providing a platform for sensitisation of media stakeholders on contemporary matters within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem, particularly the telecom industry and especially the initiatives of the Commission in protecting telecom’s consumers.
Olaifa, who was represented by NITRA’s Secretary-General, Emmanuel Elebeke, applauded the Commission for consistently supporting and partnering with the media organization. Olaifa stated that this demonstrates how transparent and accessible NCC has been to its stakeholders.
“We must commend NCC for its regulatory strides over the years. The success of the 5G auction in December last year easily comes to mind as one of the recent achievements of the Commission, among several others.
“So, this capacity-building programmes will help to provide a collaborative partnership for an advanced digital economy and towards boosting the fortunes of ICT for development in Nigeria. Today, we have been thoroughly enlightened as better specialists in ICT journalism,” Olaifa said.
Techeconomy, a leading digital media startup in Nigeria, has announced it will organise a special session at the forthcoming #StartupSouth8 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria on October 5-6, 2023.
The eighth edition of #StartupSouth’s annual event has as its central theme: “Deep & Bold: 5IR, Emerging Realities, Regional Economic Imperatives & The Role of Innovation ”.
Through the Session Hosting programme, Techeconomy will delve into the sub-theme: “5IR: Media Innovation for Regional and Economic Growth”.
The panellists include Peter Oluka, editor, Techeconomy; Ebere Ogwumoyi, general manager, RedCloud Technologies Nigeria; Victor Siokwu, managing director, Shimol Services Limited and Ndume Green, founder/creative director, CapitalTV.
Diekola Omolaja, a brand strategist and Head of Business at Techeconomy, will moderate the session.
Commenting on the objectives of the media session at #StartupSouth8, Oluka said the development of any innovation relies heavily on public perception which means that people’s understanding of any technology was shaped, majorly, by the media.
“The media also keeps a check on public policy by throwing a spotlight on government action. They let people voice diverse opinions on governance and reform and help build public consensus to bring about change.
“Such media help markets work better. They can facilitate trade, transmitting ideas and innovation across boundaries hence we’re thrilled to inform you about Techeconomy’s upcoming panel session at the #StartupSouth8 Conference, taking place on the 5th & 6th of October 2023, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria under the sub-theme: Media Innovation for Regional and Economic Growth.
Techeconomy offers its readers Content-as-a-Service (CaaS) by telling you what is new in Technology, Business and Economy; reflecting on why it matters, how it works and the benefits.
The team works round-the-clock to explore and explain the changing world around us, tilting the lenses on the emerging market.
How to participate:
To participate at the #StartupSouth8 session, register through the link here: https://bit.ly/SS8-Techeconomy
StartupSouth Enterprise Development LTD/GTE (#StartupSouth), a Startup (Digital/Creative economy) ecosystem development and advocacy organization and a Community next generation Founders building high scale ventures in Nigeria – especially out of the South-South/South-East regions.
It is a Community of Communities with affiliations spanning across 11 States in the South and beyond. #StartupSouth members are building some of the most iconic venture backed projects you probably have encountered.
YouTube on Friday announced new generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) products to usher in an era of creative expression.
Neal Mohan, YouTube’s Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) said in a statement that YouTube platform unveiled a suite of AI-powered capabilities that would help both new and established creators and artists create, edit, and share content in bold new ways.
Mohan said that since launching Shorts in 2020, Shorts had now climbed to more than 70 billion daily views from more than 2 billion logged-in users every month.
The CEO said that the new updates would help creators and artists push the boundaries of creative expression making the difficult things simple and impossible dreams possible.
He said that the update was making it easier for creators anywhere to create content.
According to him, these AI-powered tools will help unlock powerful new forms of creative expression, take the friction out of the creative process, and allow YouTube creators to reach more viewers.
“The key announcements include introduction of Dream Screen, a new generative AI feature to unlock creative expression on Shorts.
“The launch of YouTube Create is to help take the work out of video production, help anyone to create and share videos right to YouTube.
“Today the platform has launched a new mobile app called YouTube Create, which was designed to empower creators to get started with a suite of production tools to edit their Shorts, longer videos, or both.”
According to him again, the app offers video editing tools including precision editing and trimming, automatic captioning, voiceover capabilities and access to a library of filters, effects, transitions and royalty.
Mohan said it also offers free music with beat matching technology so that creators could produce their next YouTube video without relying on complex editing software.
“Here are more ways that YouTube is helping take the heavy lifting off creators and giving them more efficient tools to help them come up with new ideas and reach new audiences,” he said.
Global Head of Music, YouTube, Lyor Cohen said that ‘Bold and Responsible’ is YouTube mission, and the potential of AI was incredibly exciting.
Cohen added that as with any new technology, it had to be approached responsibly.
“What Artists, Songwriters, and Producers do is something that is uniquely human and cannot be replaced by technology,” he said.
He said that YouTube sees AI as a tool that could be used by artists to amplify and accelerate their creativity.
“YouTube is committed to working alongside the creative community within our AI Music Incubator, which has now expanded globally.
“We are also leaning into our superpower, our deep partnerships with the music industry, working back-to-back with them to achieve our collective goals of fueling creativity and driving business forward,” he further said.
YouTube creator, Cleo Abram, said AI tools could help shrink the gap between what was imagined and what one could make instead of shrinking ideas.
Abram said because AI helped shrink that gap, these tools could increase access to the conversation.
Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) have renewed a joint venture agreement in Toulouse, France, for the development of Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) to deepen the success achieved during the joint SBAS flight demonstration carried out early this year by the two organisations.
Mr. Benoit Broudy, Vice President Navigation Domain under business line Observation, Exploration & Navigation, TAS with MD/CEO, NIGCOMSAT, Tukur Lawal and Dr. Lasisi Lawal inside TAS during the signing of the Joint Venture Agreement in Cannes, Toulouse- France.
Tukur Mohammed Lawal, managing director, NIGCOMSAT Ltd, said the renewed deal has opened another chapter of business opportunity for NIGCOMSAT Ltd and called on stakeholders in the aviation and non-aviation sectors in the country and Africa at large to optimize this opportunity for growth of the continent’s economy.
Lawal recalled that NIGCOMSAT Ltd has demonstrated a flight using King 350i aircraft by Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), with ANGA (Augmented Navigation for Africa) Signal-in-Space (SIS), provided via NigComSat 1R which took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, witnessed by a contingent from Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), EC DG-DEFIS, representatives of AON, AFON, SatNAv Africa JPO, representatives from ministries, departments and agencies including Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and prominent aviation stakeholders from 54 African countries among others.
Also contributing, Dr. Lasisi Salami Lawal, project manager, SBAS, stated that with the real SBAS flight demonstration carried within Nigerian airspace, “we were able to witness a high level of precision on guiding the aircraft laterally in take-off, aligning on the takeoff track and also on initial climb and also on inbound track approached the airport for landing.”
The SBAS is an aviation-grade safety of life (SoL) satellite-based navigation, enabling reliability with integrity as well as high accuracy in positioning.
According to Dr. Lasisi, the technology is a “game changer for aviation in improving flight safety and efficiency while ensuring better user experience as a means of navigation decreasing CO2 emission with fuel consumption reduction.”
He said it will also contribute effectively in the non-aviation sector applications such as precision agriculture, land and maritime transport, inland waterways navigation, rail safety, oil and gas, drone navigation, mapping/ cadastral survey and mass market applications in location-based services (LBS).
Others are secured time transfer and synchronization in smart power transmission & distribution systems, telecommunications system networks especially 5G networks that requires precision in microseconds timing beyond what GNSS networks can offer.
Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%). Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services.
It has a combined 40 years expenditure with unique diversity of talents and cultures.
NIGCOMSAT is a Nigerian-owned company under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT)
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