Broadcasting
Vacant TV Spectrum Targeted for Affordable Rural Wi-Fi
Parts of the wireless spectrum that have been abandoned or left unused by television (TV) broadcasters as they increasingly move to digital transmission may provide a faster and cheaper way to beam the Internet to remote rural areas and roll out a new generation of ‘super Wi-Fi’ in cities.
Technology giants such as Microsoft and Google are pushing for governments around the world to open up this ‘white space’, hoping that it will boost innovation in Internet delivery, according to William Webb, the chief technology officer at one such start-up offering the necessary technology, Neul, in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
A recent example is a pilot initiative in Kenya that aims to boost Internet access in rural areas.
The Mawingu project ? named after the Swahili word for cloud ? is part of an initiative by Microsoft and a global telecommunications provider, Indigo Telecom, designed to provide affordable, high-speed wireless Internet access using former TV frequencies, old-fashioned antennas and solar-powered base stations.
Affordable rural coverage
Peter Henderson, Indigo Telecom’s chairman, told SciDev.Net that Kenya will be the first African country to benefit from the Wi-Fi initiative, which aims to deliver affordable coverage to its 30 million rural inhabitants.
“For example, a person will pay US$1.20 a week to access the Internet, thus allowing rural Kenyans to maximise their collective learning potential in a sustainable, socially responsible manner,” he says.
As part of the project, smart phones and computers with Microsoft programmes will also be donated by Microsoft and non-governmental to schools, hospitals and other social centers and Indigo Telecom will train and equip field personnel and organise workshops to help roll it out to the communities.
Shem Ochuodho, a Kenyan information and communications technology expert who is currently advising the South Sudanese government, said: “Reusing released frequencies as a national resource where justified is a commendable feat”.
But he says that the Kenyan government and regulatory authority the Communications Commission of Kenya, need to come up with a comprehensive plan to reassign unused frequencies.
If successful, Ochuodho explains, the project will benefit smartphone users including tourists who may want to access broadband in areas still not yet served by mobile broadband.
Webb said: “TV white space has been talked about for about a decade now. And there have been many people suggesting many different kinds of applications for it.”
The main uses suggested are extending rural internet access and setting up city-wide wireless networks — wireless signals sent through these frequency bands would go much further than existing wifi, potentially covering a whole city.
The concept of using this part of the spectrum has moved from discussion at US universities and think-tanks to big companies, which have been lobbying around the world for national regulators to open it up, he says.
Cheaper system
The key advantage is that the TV spectrum tends to be at lower frequencies than other existing available frequencies and these travel further than those used for conventional Wi-Fi or cellular mobile phone networks, meaning that fewer base stations are needed.
“That just helps with the economics,” Webb says. To provide Wi-Fi to rural areas requires a base station to send out signals and some kind of radio device in each home, he says.
“Using TV white space is not a paradigm shift; it just improves the economics a bit compared with other systems, [but] maybe that improvement is enough to tip the balance in a number of different areas,” Webb says.
Instead of the frequencies between 400 and 800 megahertz being reserved for TV broadcasters that pay a lot of money for exclusive use, companies are pushing for them to be unlicensed, he says. Examples of unlicensed frequencies are the WiFi and Bluetooth; they are free but you have to share them with other users.
TV white space is “the biggest game in town at the moment in the unlicensed area”, Webb says, and some companies believe this is where a lot of innovation could be unleashed.
Some governments, such as the United States, have already opened up their white space, with others, such as Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom, considering doing so, he said.
“There’s a lot of interest in the Asia-Pacific region — Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand — those kinds of countries have all agreed to trials,” Webb said.
Spread of ideas
Access to white space may follow what happened with mobile phone frequencies, he says, which started off in a few European countries and rapidly spread around the world as other regulators saw what was happening.
Webb estimated that, by 2016, the vast majority of countries will allow some form of access to white space frequencies to Internet providers.
White space may also benefit urban Internet users by offering an alternative to 3G and 4G mobile broadband networks.
Big Internet companies are likely to “be looking to see if they can have broadband systems for cities that can compete with or be an alternative to the 3G and 4G systems as to some degree Wi-Fi already is”, Webb says.
“If you can find a Wi-Fi signal in a coffee shop, you’ll tend to use that rather than 3G or 4G,” he says. White space may enable that Wi-Fi to be expanded to cover entire cities.
The main barrier to opening up white space is concern about interference with TV signals and, given that there is no immediate benefit to broadcasters, they are “naturally going to be very cautious and inclined to oppose”, he said.
Multichoice Nigeria, leading pay TV operator, has again increased the subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages by at least 25 per cent .
ohn Ugbe,
Multichoice announced the increase in tarrifs in a message sent to subscribers on Wednesday and said that the new regime will be effective May 1.
The company stated this in the statement signed by John Ugbe, chief executive officer was titled, ‘Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv Packages.’
The pay-TV firm cited the rise in the cost of business operations as the rationale behind the price increase.
The company said, “We understand the impact this change may have on you – our valued customer, but the rise in the cost of business operations, has led us to make this difficult decision.
“It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you and are committed to continue to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service. So, from Wednesday, 1 May 2024, the price adjustment will take effect.”
With the review, customers on the DStv Premium package will see their monthly subscription fee increase to N37,000 starting from May 1, marking a 25.4% rise from the current N29,500.
Also, price of the Compact+ bouquet has been raised to N25,000 from N19,800 per month, reflecting a 26.2% increment.
DStv has also announced that subscribers on its Compact bouquet will now pay N15,700, up from the current N12,500, representing a 25.6% increase.
Meanwhile, those on the Confam package will face a 25.6% hike as their monthly subscription rises to N9,300 from N7,400.
Under the new pricing structure, viewers on the DStv Yanga bouquet will be charged N5,100 for their monthly subscription, marking a 21.43% increase over the current N4,200 fee.
Multichoice has announced price increases across its GOtv packages. Customers on the Supa Plus package will now pay N15,700, marking a 25.6% rise from the current price of N12,500. Similarly, the Supa bouquet will see its price increase to N9,600 from the current N7,600.
For the GOtv Max subscription, the new price is N7,200, up from N5,700, while the Jolli package will now cost N4,850, compared to the current price of N3,950. Multichoice has also adjusted the price of its lowest GOtv package, Jinja, which will now be N3,300 monthly instead of the current N2,700.
Broadcasting
Alleged $500m wasteful investments: I stand by my words, Heineken Lokpobiri dares Wabote
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Hon Minister Of State For Petroleum Resources have reiterated that he stands by his statement at The Petroleum Club’s quarterly event in Lagos, that NCDMB wasted over $500 million of the industry’s fund in equity investments in private establishments and in loans that are now non-performing.
The minster while reacting to recent media statement by SIMBI Wabote, former executive secretary to the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board, NCDMB, dismissed as blatant lies from the pit of hell, claims that his office requested for increase on NCDMB budget by N30 billion for the office of the Minister.
In a statement signed by the Nneamaka Okafor ,SA Media and Communication, Minister Of State For Petroleum Resources(Oil),the minister noted that ‘’Our position is that he who alleges must prove same. So, if Mr. Wabote has proof of such conversation, he is challenged to provide same.
‘’Secondly the Minister has no aide called Blackson. All his aides were duly selected in line with extant laws and have documents to that effect.
According to the statement ‘’The Minister in his capacity as chairman of the Governing Council stands by his statement at The Petroleum Club’s quarterly event in Lagos, and as journalists I welcome you to visit the places mentioned to verify the allegations for yourself.
‘’Thirdly, the said Atlantic Refinery was supposed to be built in Mr Wabote’s home town, he should show Nigerians where that refinery is.
‘’Fourthly, the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical company was also paid for, you are welcomed to also visit the site to verify the facts for yourself.
The statement noted that Investigations are ongoing and the truth will surely come to light and monies belonging to the generality of Nigerians will be recovered for Nigerians.
‘’Let me add that these revelations are not new, they were first made during an investigative hearing of the House of representative committee on local content. Again the records are there and you are welcome to verify these facts.
‘’The Minister has never been part of any budgeting process of any parastatal under the Ministry, you are welcomed to visit these agencies to verify for yourself.
‘’Finally, the Minister’s office is run with a budget superintended by the permanent secretary and so one will wonder, how the Minister will ask another entity to make provisions for the budget of his Office. The Minister has an impeccable record from his time as Minister of Agric and will continue to stand for the truth.
The Minister and Indeed the Chairman of the Governing Council of the NCDMB will not abdicate his responsibility to please anyone. He has a responsibility to ensure that, that which belongs to Nigerians is judiciously used for Nigerians
‘’I have had course to read Mr Wabote’s release and every one can see that he is still nursing the wounds of being replaced even after spending seven years at the Board. At best, this is a clear case of when you fight corruption, corruption will fight back.
It would be recalled that the Minister at at an event in vowed to recoup alleged investments worth over $500m made by the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCDMB).
However, The erstwhile Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr.Simbi Wabote had earlier debunked the Minister’s statement describing it as reckless.
Wabote challenged the Minister to visit the sites of the projects the agency invested in while accusing the Minister of playing politics.
“The HMSPR-Oil is implored to visit the construction sites to avail himself of facts on ground. He should also check the MPR archives of the strategic plan to diversify oil and gas development clusters in the Niger Delta using Bonny Island, Brass Island, Onne, Ogidigben, Ibom, etc. Perhaps, this will cure his aversion to any developmental initiative in Brass Island and the Niger Delta in general.” Wabote said.
Broadcasting
Techy Accountants in partnership with ACCA Host AccounTech Summit to Empower Finance Professionals
The AccounTech Summit, hosted by The Techy Accountant in partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), is a groundbreaking event designed to navigate the evolving landscape of the finance industry in the digital era.
Recognizing the critical need for finance professionals to adapt to technological advancements and emerging trends, this summit is a driving force for innovation, transformation, and progress.
The event is set to take place as follows:
Date: August 15th, 2024,
Location: Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel in Lagos, Victoria Island, Nigeria.
Time: 9:00 A.M
The summit aims to celebrate achievements in the finance sector, support entrepreneurship ventures, and enlighten participants on industry challenges and opportunities. With a focus on bridging the employability gap and promoting high-quality skill development in finance, the summit aims to address the evolving landscape of the industry in the digital age.
Over the past six years, The Techy Accountant has graduated over 1000 finance professionals and trained more than 5000 individuals worldwide.
Event Highlights
The one-day event will bring together over 200 attendees, including finance professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics, and Techies.
Attendees can expect a day of immersive learning and collaboration, culminating in an award and grant ceremony. Event Highlights include keynote sessions, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all centred around the theme “Emerging Tech in Accounting & Finance – A Game Changer.”
Commenting on the summit, Mrs. Toyin Olufon, Founder of The Techy Accountant stated, “We believe in equipping finance professionals with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing industry”.
Commenting on the collaboration, Mopelola Jatto, CFA, Regional Head, ACCA Nigeria remarked, “Partnering with The Techy Accountant underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and driving excellence in the finance profession. Together, we aim to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in the digital age.”
TO REGISTER, VISIT: https://thetechyaccountant.org/event/the-techy-accountants-account-tech-summit-2024
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