Connect with us

Telecom

Social Pressure Bane of Poor QoS- Operators

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Telecommunications operators especially Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) are faced with quality of service issues. In line with our promise of offering stakeholders in the industry opportunity to be heard, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman Association of licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) explains to subscribers and other stakeholders why quality of service is not getting better.

Persistent Poor Quality of Service
The persistent poor quality of service in spite of sanctions by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) means that the factors responsible for poor service delivery have not been addressed. Unstable power supply remains the major challenge on improving service delivery. Last year a litre of diesel was sold at N80 but today a litre of diesel is sold between N140 and N170 depending on where you buy and where you are transporting it to. Today, the road networks we have in the country is worst than it was a year ago, operators need to move their things by road. This means that if an operator orders diesel in Abuja, he will have to move it to farest part of the North by road, same in West, if diesel is ordered in Lagos it has to be moved to the farest part of the West by road.
Take for instance, Lagos to Ibadan is a journey of about one hour ten minutes when the road is good, but today one spends about five hour on the same road. Operators are not operating outside the social framework of Nigeria. The fact remains that those issues we are faced with two years ago has gone worst by the day, it is convenient to come out and say ‘we blame operators for every thing,’ because operators have the least voice.
More so, blames, sanctions and discipline of operators can’t address the problem until we begin to isolate the problems one after the other, we won’t make any head way. We are concerned as an association, because today, we see more threat to issues of service of quality than we have seen in the years past. Why? Infrastructures that operators have built are now being attacked by contractors of government. Take a drive to Lekki/Epe expressway you see how many fibre cable that has been excavated that are still on the side of the road. Those are infrastructures that were built two years ago not ten or fifteen years ago. The rebuilding of those infrastructures is to be bowed by operators without recourse to the owners. Dualisation, expansion and rehabilitation of roads is going on across the country, operators have laid optic fibre to improve network backbone across the country, those infrastructure are suffering major attack due to road works by contractors of government, without regard to valid ‘right of way’ for which operators paid several millions of naira to government.
You don’t receive any notice that there will be road works all of a sudden network goes down, visit to site or location of failure, government contractors on site. We have contract from Abuja, we are going to dualise the road. To that end, you start the journey of recoil you don’t know how many points of failure. Because they are government contractors you can’t do anything, government has the power, and operators can only count their losses. It is the consumer that suffers at the end of the day.
We have been on Abuja issue for more than three years; there has not been the right number of service stations and cell sites required to cover the traffic in Abuja, not because operators are not willing to do, but authorities there will not allow operators to install cellular stations.
Telecom is terrestrial. It doesn’t work in the air, it works with physical infrastructure and you must lay the infrastructure for it to work. If government refuses to allow operators lay infrastructure in Abuja I wonder how service quality won’t be poor. It is ‘Ok’ for government to say service quality is very poor in Abuja, and can sanction operators from now till tomorrow; if those fundamentals are not addressed we cannot improve service quality.
About stakeholders forum on vandalization
We are glad that the problem is been discussed, which means that the regulator admits that there is problem in that regard. For the fact that Nigerian Communications Commission called stakeholders meeting means that it has been identified now as a problem. All the time we made representation to the government on the challenges of quality of service has been treated with a wave of the hand. They said “what are you talking about? Who is damaging your infrastructure?” Now that the issue is been discussed, it begins to draw attention of government to some of those things we’ve always spoken about that are treat and impact on quality of service. Until such a time when telecom is classified as national security infrastructure it will not deter people from damaging our infrastructure that is what we are clamouring for.
Let it be known that telecom infrastructure is national security infrastructure and we need to enact a law to support that. It is then that people will be deterred from tapering with the infrastructure. In the Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (Nitel) days, there is miscellaneous offenses decree, where people found liable of damaging Nitel and Power Holding Company infrastructure are sentence to long term imprisonment of up to 21 years. Today, nothing is protecting the service providers.
Is it normal for operators to operate their own power networks? Is also normal to operate under the kind of environment that we operate? Where people go to site and bring down infrastructure on site with impunity, stealing of diesel, generators as well as critical components on cell site. These things that are stolen are sold in the market.
Today, telecom service providers run their main core telecom networks; we run electricity network and diesel supply network and all other kinds of support services to backup the infrastructure. It is difficulty. Until these fundamentals are addressed, we will continue to talk about quality of service.
Another issue is that some states and local government have all kinds of revenue laws that service providers must comply with, failure to comply results in we not accessing our sites, our vehicles cannot move in those States, we can’t maintain existing sites and fibre networks.
Let government do its own, we will do our own. Part of responsibilities of government is to provide enabling environment and to protect operators in the environment. If you go to central Lagos area, when you land a diesel truck, there you have to pay for landing the truck, when you discharge you have to pay for discharging the truck, and when you are taking away the truck from site you have to as well pay for taking away the truck from site. It is called dispatch money; otherwise you don’t come next time. This happens in many other local governments in the country. All these are on the neck of service providers.
Who bears the cost of excavated infrastructure on roads under construction?
The cost of rebuilding the excavated telecom infrastructure is bowed by the operators whose infrastructure is affected. In some cases we have to pay to the same road contractors to allow us to build trenches on the road edges, because in most cases the design of our roads does not make provision for service infrastructure.
As an engineer, I’m worried that by the time we have to rebuild the last mile on our electrical networks all these roads we are building the power people will come and cut it again. This is likely to happen in the next three years.
Operators and sharing of fibre optic cable
Today, the industry is embracing co-sharing, and we are in full support of co-sharing. Alton has championed the issue of co-sharing, and we are glad that our members are embracing it to very large extent. Presently, we have a number of roads where fibre infrastructure is being co-shared. Our concern is not that one operator will not allow the other to co-share infrastructure, but when you co-share and there is damage to that common infrastructure the impact is more. We agree with the idea of co-sharing, we are supporting it, and encouraging our members to embrace it. After the infrastructure is co-shared, how to collectively protect the co-shared infrastructure that those brought together will not have colossal damage is an important issue.
Congestion and inexperienced technical workers
The issue of operators not using the right manpower might not be correct, what might be correct is the loss of competent manpower to other countries. Most competent manpower, trained hands have left this country because of better attraction in other countries. For instance, take a brilliant Nigerian train him on a switch that is made by a major world manufacturer, send him to best training centres across the world, you bring him back, he works here for two or three years. He becomes a specialist in that equipment, which is common equipment across the world, and he find attraction in another country, he leaves without regard to the training you gave to him. That is an issue that the industry is facing today. If you ask the people why they are leaving they complain about the social problem. One could have a good job with fat salary but the problem of social pressure is making us to loss good hands to developed markets.
The problem is high mobility of people who have being trained that is suppose to be specialist now handling core network elements here and we are losing them on account of failure of our social infrastructure.
When people talk about congestion, they are in different ways. The engineering is not something one can easily explain to one who does not have the background. Today, no network operator is working without the right ‘headroom,’ this is the tolerance you have to coup with when there is upsurge in subscriber demand or capacity demand. Operators work with suitable ‘headroom.’ What happens is that, the demand for services sometimes prove wrong of the entire world known theories on projections for ‘headroom’ and others. There are a number of issues when you come to the point of expansion of the network, for example, if you have enough headroom of about 70% the international standard is that you allow for headroom of about 15% but we allow for 70%. In no distance time it is consumed, and you have to begin a process of expansion, so from commissioning it takes a minimum of six months before it is consumed.
As a player and representative of the operators I’m saying that telecom remains the most functional infrastructure in the country today.

 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Telecom

New CAMON Device Set to Redefine Mobile Content Creation

Published

on

Kindly share this post

TECNO is gearing up to launch the next CAMON series device, which promises to be the next evolution in mobile photography.

TECNO

The CAMON lineup has always been known for its innovation in capturing and sharing cherished moments. Now, TECNO is taking it to the next level with a groundbreaking camera innovation that aims to redefine what’s possible.

For years, the CAMON series has been the driving force behind countless memorable shots, empowering users to unleash their creativity and capture the world in stunning detail. With the upcoming device, TECNO promises to exceed your expectations and deliver an unparalleled photography experience that’s second to none.

The new CAMON device will feature cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance, setting a new standard for mobile photography and content creation. Imagine being ten steps ahead of the curve, armed with a device that empowers you to capture the perfect shot every time.

Stay updated on the latest news and announcements regarding the upcoming TECNO CAMON device by following TECNO on FacebookInstagram, and X(Twitter). Join TECNO on this exciting journey towards the future of mobile photography!


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

Data Protection: NIMC’s Licensees to Face More Scrutiny

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Following the reported incident of unauthorized NIN verification by expressverify.com, investigation reveals that a third-party who, among others, was originally authorized to provide verification services to citizens and genuine businesses might have allowed expressverify.com to use its NIN verification credentials to conduct verification. The circumstances surrounding this permission is still under investigation.

 

To remedy this incident, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in line with established remediation protocols, barred all forms of access to its database.

Though necessary, barring all forms of access affected all genuine and crucial verification requests. After a painstaking review, limited access has been granted to few establishments that are providing pivotal public services such as education and security.

Ongoing investigation – by relevant agencies – seeks to establish the medium through which expressverify.com obtained the credentials of bona fide third parties and to determine the liability of persons involved in line with extant laws.

At the moment, data processing by licensees generally are to be scrutinized and only those that are cleared based on credible evidence of regulatory compliance will be permitted to carry out NIN verification going forward.

Furthermore, series of intensive trainings will be conducted in order to ensure that personnel and licensees are abreast of the duty of care and the standard of care mandated by the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NIMC’s Privacy Policy and other relevant regulatory protocols.

In the meantime, NDPC calls on members of the public to see NIN as an essential data for sustainable development. While existing technical and organizational measures are being strengthened to ensure the protection of this data, it is important for citizens to ensure that they are not left unidentified in various frameworks for development. It is equally important to be vigilant when sharing personal information on various online platforms.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Telecom

5 Common Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Are you confident that your valuable data is protected from unexpected disasters or cyber threats? Consider this: 1 in 10 computers fall victim to viruses, and a staggering 113 phones are stolen every minute every day[1].

With data loss being a sudden and potentially irretrievable nightmare, ensuring reliable backups is non-negotiable. March 31st, celebrated as World Backup Day, is a poignant reminder of this essential task. Let’s delve into the common backup mistakes people make and how to steer clear of those.

1. Skipping regular backups:

The most common mistake is forgetting to back up data regularly. Whether personal files or crucial business documents, not establishing a consistent backup routine leaves you vulnerable to data loss.

Unexpected system crashes or malware attacks can happen anytime, making your precious data inaccessible or permanently lost. But you can help avoid such a situation by setting up automatic backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
2. Putting all faith in a single backup device:

A device can get damaged or stolen, putting your backups at risk, so depending entirely on one storage medium is playing a dangerous game with your data’s safety.

 Instead, diversify your backup storage solutions with a combination of external HDDs, NAS, and cloud storage.

Portable HDDs like those from WD like Western Digital’s My Passport offer up to 5TB for simple, cost-effective backups. For smartphones, 2-in-1 flash drives such as SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C and SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe are convenient options.

These drives, compatible with USB Type-C devices, automatically back up photos, videos, and more. Just plug and play for seamless data transfer across devices.

If you need a device to store huge amounts of data, then the desktop drive called My Book  from WD is just the product for you, with up to 22TB of storage capacity.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
storage device

3. Forgetting version control:

Overlooking version control during backups is another blunder. Not keeping multiple versions of files increases the chance of saving corrupted or wrong data over previous versions.

Without a proper versioning system, fixing mistakes or retrieving older versions can become a challenge. To prevent forgetting version control, establish a system that tracks changes to your files over time.

This ensures that you can always revert to earlier versions if needed, helping protect against accidental data loss or corruption.

Regularly maintaining this system will help you stay organized and prepared for any unforeseen issues.

Additionally, it’s crucial to verify the version you’re backing up to ensure it’s the correct one.

This simple step can help prevent accidental overwriting of important data with potentially corrupted or incorrect versions.

Double-checking ensures that you’re safeguarding the most up-to-date and accurate information, minimizing the risk of errors during backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
4. Ignoring off-site backup solutions:

Many people overlook off-site backup solutions, assuming local backups are foolproof. However, relying solely on local backups makes you vulnerable to site-specific disasters like fires or theft.

Using off-site backups means keeping copies of your data in different places so that if something bad happens in one area, your data stays safe.

As an alternative, you could use cloud storage. Cloud backup devices are popular for remote data storage accessible via the internet. Various online cloud services offer features like file synchronization, sharing, and encryption for secure data storage.

5. Underestimating encryption:

Not prioritizing encryption in backups can be a costly mistake. Storing unencrypted backups makes your sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access or breaches.

Implementing strong encryption ensures even if your backups fall into the wrong hands, the data remains protected.

However, it is equally important to remember not to opt for out-of-the-box encryption solutions, as they might make it difficult for you to retrieve the backed-up information later.

My Passport HDD and My Book from WD come equipped with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection that helps keep content secure.

Additionally, maintaining proper key management practices is essential to ensure smooth decryption and access to your data when needed.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
Monitor and storage device

This World Backup Day, Western Digital urges you to back up your data safely, and at the same time, prepare for the unexpected by having a contingency plan in place for device mishaps like crashes, theft, or damage.

Worrying about losing data isn’t something you have to lose sleep over if you have an active data backup strategy.

A common rule of thumb for keeping important data from disappearing forever is the 3-2-1 Rule. It dictates that you should:

3. Have THREE copies of your data. One is a primary backup and two are copies.

   2. Save copies of your backups on TWO different types of media or devices.

   1. ONE backup copy should be kept offsite in case of disaster.

Determine where and how you’ll store backup files and identify support contacts for swift assistance.

These proactive measures ensure quick data recovery and safeguard your cherished memories for the long haul.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending