TechPression

Category: 5G

  • Airtel In Talks With Kenyan President On Digital Transformation

    Airtel In Talks With Kenyan President On Digital Transformation

    Airtel Africa is in talks with the Kenyan government over the expansion of its digital transformation plans for the country and the African continent.

    The Group Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya, made a courtesy visit to the President of Kenya, His Excellency Dr William Ruto, Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

    During the courtesy call to the State House in Nairobi, the conversations were centred around Airtel Africa’s initiatives to accelerate and deepen digital transformation in Kenya and throughout Africa.

    Airtel Africa prides itself as a firm believer in the potential of the telecommunications sector. 

    Airtel’s Plans For Africa

    Ogunsanya explained that the telecoms company sector possesses both the inherent potential and the opportunity to unlock economic advantages through the development of new solutions that are tailored to the ever-evolving and expanding requirements of customers. 

    They recognize the importance of working ever more closely with governments to achieve the firm’s vision for Africa. 

    Read also: Airtel Nigeria acquires 5g, 4g spectrums for $317 Million

    According to Ogunsanya, “to effectively achieve this, and in pursuit of our vision to transform Africa, we acknowledge the importance of working ever more closely with governments to deliver on our vision for Africa and promise to our customers.”

    Airtel Provides Affordable 4G Network For Nigerian Customers 

    Meanwhile, to increase digital inclusion across Nigeria and the African continent, Airtel Nigeria has partnered with a phone maker, itel, to allow customers to acquire affordable 4G smartphones.

    To enjoy the 4G experience, customers are only required to purchase the itel A60 smartphone, insert an Airtel 4G SIM card, and get 5GB data to browse the internet and connect to different social media platforms.

    “The itel A60 is specially packaged with a 5GB data, which is accessible once you purchase and activate your phone with an Airtel 4G SIM,” the Marketing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Ismail Adeshina, said at a briefing to announce the partnership between the two organisations in Lagos recently.

    “We believe in enriching the experience of our customers, and we are aware that affordability is a major challenge when it comes to enjoying a 4G service.

    “Therefore, this partnership allows us to offer our customers the opportunity to enjoy the 4G experience at a pocket-friendly price,” he added.

    Also, the Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria, Mr Adefemi Adeniran, said, “At Airtel Nigeria, we are driven by the global sustainability and business agenda of Airtel to increase digital inclusion across Nigeria and the African continent, and we believe that this partnership will help in accelerating this goal as it is focused on migrating customers on 2G and 3G to 4G.”

    On his part, the Marketing Manager of itel West Africa, Mr Oke Umurhohwo, said, “in line with the 4G for Everyone tagline, the itel A60 will bring a different dimension to how the brand’s target users surf the internet and engender an overall amazing experience for customers.”

    The entry-level Itel A60 has a number of unique features that set it apart from other phones in this category and provide the user with a unique experience while providing value.

    The device offers a 5000mAh battery for longer uptime, 6.6″HD+ waterdrop full screen for an immersive display experience, 32+2GB memory, 8MP+QVGA rear camera + 5MP FF camera+AI selfie, as well as facial recognition and fingerprint protection.

  • OpenAI introduces ChatGPT, Whisper APIs

    OpenAI introduces ChatGPT, Whisper APIs

    OpenAI has announced that, through the recently introduced Whisper API, it is now enabling third-party developers to include ChatGPT in their products and services. Using this tool will be far less expensive than using its current language models.

    The company released the open-source Whisper speech-to-text model in September 2022. The Whisper API is a hosted version of that model. According to OpenAI, Whisper is an artificial speech recognition system that costs $0.006 per minute and enables large-scale transcription in a number of languages. It accepts files in a variety of formats, including M4A, MP3, MP4, MPEG, MPGA, WAV, and WEBM.

    Whisper appears to be exceptional thanks to training on 680,000 hours of multilingual and “multitask” data gathered from the web, despite competitor tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta having created high-quality speech recognition algorithms. Greg Brockman, the president and chairman of OpenAI, claims that this gives it improved recognition capabilities, such as the ability to recognize unusual accents, background noise, and technical jargon.

    According to Brockman, the developer ecosystem did not actually build around the model we released. “The Whisper API is the same huge model that is available as open source, but we’ve optimized it to the maximum degree.” It’s incredibly convenient and much, much faster.

    Read also: 12 Ways ChatGPT Can Make Your Business Operations Easier

    Brockman viewpoint 

    Regarding Brockman’s remark, businesses have restrictions when using voice transcription technology. The main obstacles to adopting tech like tech-to-speech are accuracy, accent- or dialect-related recognition issues, and costs, according to a 2020 Statista survey.

    One of Whisper’s limitations is “next-word prediction.” This is due to the system’s extensive data training. However, OpenAI warns that Whisper may contain non-said words in its transcriptions, possibly because it is simultaneously attempting to predict the next spoken word and transcribe the audio recording.

    In addition, Whisper’s performance varies by language, with speakers of less-represented languages in the training set having a higher mistake rate.

    According to a 2020 Stanford study, Amazon, Apple, Google, IBM, and Microsoft’s systems generated 19% fewer errors with white users than black ones.

    ChatGPT Users To Pay $42 Subscription Fee

    OpenAI’s Whisper API strategy

    OpenAI anticipates enhancing existing software, services, tools, and solutions with Whisper’s transcription capabilities. The Whisper API is currently used by the AI-powered language learning app Speak to offer a brand-new virtual speaking partner within the app.

    In addition, OpenAI’s entry into the speech-to-text business could be quite lucrative. The potential market value is projected to reach $5.4 billion by 2026, up from $2.2 billion in 2021.

    Brockman stated, “Our vision is to become an all-encompassing intellect.” “We want to be able to very flexibly accept whatever type of data you have and whatever type of work you’re attempting to complete in order to multiply your focus.”

  • NCC explains network freeze on Election Day

    NCC explains network freeze on Election Day

    MTN, the biggest mobile network in Africa, had informed its customers in advance that a “network freeze” would be necessary and would take effect on February 24, 2023.

    Following the MTN notification, many Nigerians have gone into panic mode with less than 48 hours until the eagerly awaited presidential polls. Because many people mistook this for an “outage or shutdown,” there has been some misinformation spread throughout the nation as a result of this news.

    Nonetheless, the telecom behemoth has assured the public that a “Network Freeze” does not entail a “shutdown in network service,” thus there is no need for a commotion.

    “We don’t execute improvements on their network during key times to reduce the likelihood of an outage,” claims MTN. According to the explanation, network freezing involves “keeping the network as is” and is a “standard practice in telecom.”

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) responded to this by stating that “there would not be a telecoms shutdown for the elections.” Despite fears that network services would be stopped due to the elections, it has assured Nigerians that this will not happen.

    Read also: NCC announces toll-free incident hotline for 2023 presidential election

    NCC regulates Nigeria’s telecoms

    The NCC is the independent regulatory organization for the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Its mission is to ensure that everyone has affordable, high-quality access to telecommunications services and to safeguard consumer rights.

    “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to fraudulent and misleading information circulating on some social media platforms, alleging there is a planned shutdown of all telecom networks and relevant ICT units, including online transfer facilities of the banks, effective February 23, 2023,” the NCC stated.

    All bank customers, members of the Nigerian public, and users of telecom services are urged to disregard any messages that imply intentional service interruption or network shutdown in the Nigerian telecom network.

    CSO Launches Intelligence Technology To Ensure Credible 2023 Elections In Nigeria

    MTN network freeze: when?

    The network freeze will be implemented in two phases, with the first beginning on February 24, and ending on March 1, and the second beginning on March 10 and ending on March 15.

    Any core upgrades or maintenance that would result in a network outage is suspended during a network freeze, which is different from a network shutdown. The only changes that are permitted on the network during a network freeze are those that are urgent. The network is guaranteed to be reliable and accessible during this time, according to this assurance.

    In order to enlighten Nigerian residents on the electoral process and address misinformation regarding the impending elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently launched an AI chatbot. Voters must comprehend the voting process in order to fulfill their civic obligations. You may instantly download all of the election day preparation materials on your phone due to INEC’s virtual assistant.

  • Africa gets internet connectivity boost as international subsea cable arrives Durban

    Africa gets internet connectivity boost as international subsea cable arrives Durban

    2Africa, an international subsea cable (submarine telecommunications cable) which aims to expand internet connectivity and help boost Africa’s digital economy,  has recently landed in Durban, South Africa.

    The massive subsea cable, which landed in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal,  is the latest after landing in December and January, at other locations in the country:  Vodacom network facility in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape,  Yzerfontein and Duynefontein, Western Cape.

    At 45,000 kilometres, the 2Africa cable system becomes the longest subsea cable system in the world connecting 3 continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.

    The cable will connect 33 locations at 46 locations across Africa, Europe, and Asia once it’s complete. Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) will manufacture and deploy the 180Tbps cable, due for completion in 2024.

    Enabling communication speed up with a carrying capacity of 180 TBps (terabytes per second), West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), the company in charge of the project, said the project is aimed to connect the African continent, enabling its communication speed up.

    The company’s group chief operating officer Ryan Sher said: “It enables communication, speeds it up and adds volume to the amount of communication that Africa has. Ultimately, it enables industry and builds the economy.”

    WIOCC Group CEO, Chris Wood, said: “This latest major international cable landing is another example of WIOCC Group playing a key role in building Africa’s digital infrastructure and accelerating the continent’s digital transformation through the delivery of converged open digital infrastructure.”

    Read also: Google Subsea Cable to Bring Better Internet Connectivity to Nigeria

    The international subsea cable to provide economic and social benefits

    With a good internet speed, the project comes with enormous benefits from education to health care and businesses, providing economic and social benefits with increased connectivity.

    First announced in May 2020, 2Africa planned to bring seamless international connectivity to billions of people. WIOCC said the cable would help industries come together in an ecosystem that would benefit Africans.

    “This is the foundation of the digital economy and helps move us forward as a continent. A country cannot be without the internet for weeks, so what’s needed are multiple cables to … create a rich, always-on ecosystem.” Ryan Sher, WIOCC COO said.

    He said the new-generation cables are open-access and – unlike the older cables that ran in monopoly landing stations – are not restricted to interconnect costs. He said cable was not limited to one operator in each country.

    Once the system has been fully deployed, businesses and consumers in Africa will benefit from improved quality, reliability and lower latency for internet services.

    With more capacity there’d be  lower prices and increased speeds. Having more capacity enables more applications, cloud services, streaming services and a world of creative applications on the internet.

    It will potentially increase regional job creation in sectors that rely on direct international connectivity, such as data centres, call centres and software development. 

    “We are pleased to be working with our partners in the 2Africa project, bringing faster, more reliable internet to local businesses and consumers, and making an enduring contribution to communications in Africa. The subsea cable system is enabling more communities to access transformative online resources, from education and healthcare to jobs and financial services, and experience the economic and social benefits of seamless connectivity.” Chris Wood, WIOCC CEO said.

    Internet access in Sub-Saharan African cities

    Connecting over 3 billion people

    The 2Africa consortium, comprising of China Mobile International, Meta (Facebook), MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, STC, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC, is estimated upon completion to connect over 3 billion people of the world’s population when it goes live this year.

    The undersea cable connection also has landing locations in Oman (Barka), UAE (Abu Dhabi and Kalba), Qatar (Doha), Bahrain (Manama), Kuwait (Kuwait), Iraq (Al-Faw), Pakistan (Karachi), India (Mumbai) and Saudi Arabia (Al Khobar).

  • Accessing 5G Network in Nigeria

    Accessing 5G Network in Nigeria

    Most recent smartphones in Nigeria, including those made by Samsung, iPhone, Redmi, Xiaomi, Nokia, and Huawei, are 5G network compatible.

    Nigerians using 4G sims can access 5G Network as they are 5G enabled. Basically, using a 5G router or a phone that is both 5G compatible and 5G enabled is the surest way to get access to the 5th generation network.

    A 5G router provides unrestricted access to 5G in Nigeria for everyone, while any device from any 5G operator can connect to the 5G network once present.

    MTN and Mafab recently launched a 5G network in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. 

    The telecom companies both won the 5G License in December 2021, and the companies were expected to roll out 5G services at least 12 months from the date of the license.

    On their launch of the 5G network, the Lagos State government applauded them for advancing the state bringing it closer to its smart city dream.

    The Governor said the historic launch of the 5G Network in the state marks another important milestone in the country’s technology and telecommunications journey as a whole.

    “For us in the Lagos State government, this launch will bring us even closer to realizing our dream of becoming a smart city.

    Read also: Nigerians now have access to MTN 5G across 190 sites

    The Telecoms facilitate more jobs and revenue

    The state government also commended the telecommunications companies for generating huge revenue for the state and creating jobs for its residents.

    “The telecommunications industry has been a significant economic driver for Lagos State in particular and Nigeria as a whole, contributing more than $70 billion and helping to create over half a million jobs. 

    “The prospects of what we can accomplish with the 5G network, which is next level technology, fills me with high hopes for the future of the different sectors of our economy, most especially the security sector.

    The governor commended the telecom operators for working hard to deliver this next level technology that outguns the 4G network by a very wide margin, and as such, its capabilities exceed expectations.

    What to expect from the 5G network

    With MTN and Mafab’s roll-out of the 5G network, Nigeria joins a host of African countries like Botswana, Egypt, Gabon, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Kenya, and Ethiopia in the quest for mainstream 5G adoption. 

    The 5G network is 50 times faster than the 4G network, has a lower latency of fewer than five milliseconds, and enables advanced healthcare (telemedicine), more realistic gaming (AR and VR), real-life collaboration, and speed.

    It will unlock the true potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart Cities and Immersive Communication over  Augmented (AR) and Virtual reality (VR),  which will empower millions of consumers and enterprises with innovative 5G applications millions in the country.

     

    Mohammed Rufai, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria, said: “5G will revolutionize the way we live and communicate across industries. With the speeds 5G offers, we will be able to experience the internet with low latency, which means no lag, making our virtual interactions more real. At MTN, we will continue to pursue the rollout of 5G technology to revolutionize internet access across the continent.”

    The Chairman of Mafab Communications, Dr Mushabu Bashir also pointed out that many business opportunities will emerge as a result of the 5G network. 

    “The 5G network will usher into this country a wide array of business opportunities, wherein various business outfits will expand their frontiers with operational ease and speed, especially in the fields of education, medical sciences, engineering, security, businesses like the banking sector, SMEs, smart cities, transportation, entertainment etc., and allow Nigerians meet the long-term goal of ensuring that everybody is connected,” he said.

    5G: Huawei Aims to Increase Demand in Nigeria

    The 5G Network Future plan

    Mafab Communication has also said Nigerians should expect its presence in four more cities, asides from Lagos and Abuja. The company had flagged off the launch in Abuja just 48 hours before the Lagos launch. According to them, Nigerians should expect the network to launch in four other cities in the near future; Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

    For MTN,  the company promised to launch the network in six other cities soon: Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri. 

  • Airtel acquires 5G spectrum, launches embedded SIM 

    Airtel acquires 5G spectrum, launches embedded SIM 

    Airtel Nigeria has recently acquired the 5G spectrum, and the company has announced that it has launched an embedded SIM, also known as an eSIM. 

    An embedded SIM is a digital SIM card that has the same capabilities as a physical SIM card. Yesterday, the telecommunications company made the announcement about the eSIM service being now active across its network through a press statement.

    Femi Oshinlaja, who is acting as the Chief Commercial Officer for Telco, stated once again that the business is committed to expanding digital inclusion and making its customers’ day-to-day lives easier.

    “Airtel Nigeria is constantly in the forefront when it comes to championing technology advancement and creating creative platforms and possibilities that will make life better, more exciting, and more joyful for all those who are a part of our stakeholder value chain.”

    “By providing our clients with eSIM, we are not only delivering the most up-to-date technology at their fingertips, but we are also focusing on our Sustainability goals of digital inclusion and environmental best practices as there is no plastic involved with eSIM.”

    Read also: Google Sets To Switch from Sim Card to eSim with Android 13

    About the eSIM

    An electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) is a digital chip that functions purely in software and is capable of substituting for a physical SIM card in many current devices. Customers are able to activate their mobile service remotely through the use of eSIM technology, which eliminates the requirement for a physical SIM card.

    Because it does not require any plastic or produce any carbon emissions, an electronic subscriber identity module, or eSIM, allows you to use two different phone numbers on a single phone or handset. Additionally, it is easier to set up online than traditional SIM cards.

    Electronic Subscriber Identification Modules (eSIMs), in contrast to traditional SIM cards, cannot be lost unless the entire device is lost. You are able to deactivate your profiles and then reactivate them on a new device in the event that your old device is lost or stolen.

    It is important to note that the eSIM chip can only be used in smartphones that are considered to be high-end or luxury models. Some examples of these devices are iPhone XS and later versions manufactured by Apple, The Samsung Galaxy S series, beginning with the S20, Beginning with the Note20, the Samsung Galaxy Note series, Google Pixel 2 and later models, gadgets referred to as the Samsung Galaxy Z and Galaxy Fold.

    The launch of this service by Airtel places the company in direct competition with MTN and 9mobile, which were the first to join the Nigerian market.

    If you are a user of Airtel and you want to switch to an eSIM, you will need to make sure that you have a device that is compatible with the eSIM (dial *#06#), get the necessary QR code, and then follow the instructions provided by a service representative from Airtel. If you are an Airtel user, dial *#06#.

    The impact of eSIM on banking

    Airtel asserts that it has perfected a straightforward procedure for activating the eSIM service for all of its customers, and the company also maintains that the digital SIM will significantly increase the productivity of Nigerians, which will assist the company’s stakeholders in achieving their own personal and professional goals. Airtel claims that it has perfected the procedure for activating the eSIM service, and that it has perfected the procedure for activating the service for all of its customers.

  • Airtel Nigeria acquires 5g, 4g spectrums for $317 Million

    Airtel Nigeria acquires 5g, 4g spectrums for $317 Million

    Airtel Nigeria announced on January 9, 2023, that it had completed the purchase of 5G spectrum as well as an additional spectrum for its 4G network for 316.7 million dollars.

    According to a statement released by the Nigerian branch of Airtel Africa, the decision was made as part of the company’s commitment to enhance the level of higher-speed connectivity that is available in Nigeria by utilising 5G cellular technology.

    According to Airtel, it paid the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) a total of $316.7 million in Nigerian naira to purchase 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3500MHz band and 2×5 MHz of spectrum in the 2600MHz band. Both of these amounts are expressed as a gross consideration.

    Read also: Airtel wins the sole bidder license in Nigeria’s second 5G spectrum round

    The Impact of Airtel’s Purchase

    The purchase of additional spectrum increases Airtel Nigeria’s current capacity in preparation for the introduction of 5G technology. This purchase is a strategic component of a larger plan to strengthen Airtel Nigeria’s mobile data network as well as the capacity of its fixed wireless home broadband service.

    This is Africa’s largest telecom market, and two early birds have already won operational licences for 2021. The company’s goal is to earn itself a good place in the fifth-generation technology segment of this market, and they want to gain the timely traction necessary to do so.

    The document reads, “The acquisition of 5G spectrum will underpin our growth strategy by enabling the launch of higher speed connectivity to enhance customer service and accelerate digitalisation for consumers, enterprises and the public sector.” 

    Airtel Nigeria lost an early opportunity to operate 5G technology in Nigeria when, in December 2021, big rival MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications snapped up the two available permits at the premier auction arranged by the NCC. This caused Airtel Nigeria to miss out on the opportunity to run 5G technology in Nigeria.

    While MTN kicked off its activities in August, Mafab asked the regulator for a five-month delay on the debut date of its own business, which is scheduled this month.

    Both Airtel Africa and the MTN Group consider Nigeria to be their most important market.

    MTN, Airtel, others compete In second 5G license auction in Nigeria

    Events That Followed Airtel’s Purchase 

    After the announcement hit the market on the same day, shares in Airtel Africa increased by 5.2 percent to N1,630 per unit on Lagos’ Customs Street at 13:28 WAT. This pushed the company’s market value above N6.1 trillion, making it the largest of any publicly traded company in the country.

    Airtel Nigeria has given its customers assurances that the expansion effort will make connectivity easier at a faster rate, which will allow for greater customer service delivery and a faster pathway to digitalization for consumers, enterprises, and the public sector.

    The company is considering “the (shallow) penetration of data users in Nigeria,” a country in which the Alliance for Affordable Internet estimates that less than 44 percent of the population has access to cellphones, and which the company views as a potential opportunity for expansion.

    Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa remarks, “Nigeria is a market with enormous potential for future growth in mobile services.”  

    “Investment in new technologies and local infrastructure to enable this growth is a strategic priority for the group and will ensure we are able to provide reliable and affordable services to local communities across the country,” he included.

  • By 2028, 270 million MENA subscribers will have access to 5G

    By 2028, 270 million MENA subscribers will have access to 5G

    Ericsson telecommunications company, a leading provider of 5G networks, has projected that by the end of 2028, there will be around 270 million 5G subscriptions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, accounting for 31% of total mobile subscriptions.

    The company stated this in its latest Ericsson Mobility Report, published recently.

    According to the report, 5G is forecasted to be the strongest-growing segment as service providers explore various service offerings requiring high bandwidth and low latency.

    The company is optimistic that the availability of a wide range of 5G devices at attractive price points will drive uptake of 5G subscriptions as service providers are migrating their subscribers from legacy networks, and the growth in 4G and 5G will continue at pace.

    Read also: Telkom launches 5G Internet Data Plans in South Africa

    5G network in sub-saharan Africa

    In sub-Saharan Africa, Ericsson believes 5G subscriptions will grow from the recorded 7 million in 2022 to 150 million by the end of 2028, making up about 14% of total connections in the region in five years’ time.

    According to the company projection, 2G connections will continue to decline over the coming years as subscribers migrate to 4G and 5G networks.

     At the moment, the company says 4G represents 29% of mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa, with 4G subscriptions expected to rise from 260 million in 2022 to 600 million in 2028.

    “4G will be the main contributor to new connections up to 2028, accounting for more than half of all mobile subscriptions at that time,” the report read.

    “Despite economic challenges, the Sub-Saharan Africa region’s economy is projected to be one of the fastest growing regions globally, sustaining growth in the telecom industry,” 

    “With the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a lesser concern, network investments are shifting focus from reliable connectivity for social and economic sustenance to increasing coverage and capacity, especially for mobile broadband connections,” the report added.

    5G Network In Africa

    Global Fixed Wireless Access

    The report also projected that global fixed wireless access (FWA) connections would grow faster than previously expected. It is forecasted to grow at 19% year-on-year globally from 2022 through 2028 and top 300 million connections by the end of 2028.

    A wireless alternative to wireline broadband, FWA is one of the major early 5G use cases, particularly in regions with unserved or underserved broadband markets.

    In Africa, 5G FWA has arrived in populous countries such as South Africa and Nigeria, as well as other emerging markets outside the continent like Mexico and the Philippines.

    5G global outlook

    The report projects that 5G subscriptions globally will reach 5 billion by the end of 2028. Despite current and emerging economic challenges in many parts of the world, 5G network subscribers will surpass one billion by the end of 2022.

  • The Remarkable Growth of Nigeria’s ICT Sector

    The Remarkable Growth of Nigeria’s ICT Sector

    In recent years, the information and communication technology (ICT) industry in Nigeria has grown and changed a lot. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the industry contributed 18.44% of the country’s GDP in the second quarter of 2022.

    The government has put a lot of work into fostering the growth of the ICT industry and expanding access to ICT services and infrastructure. Initiatives like the National Broadband Plan and the National eGovernment Master Plan, which seek to increase the use of ICT in government operations and services, have been a part of this.

    The Nigerian ICT sector does face a number of problems, such as a lack of cheap and reliable electricity, a lot of tax and regulation problems, limited access to ICT infrastructure in rural areas, and a lack of qualified ICT experts. Even with these problems, the industry has continued to grow, and it has the potential to be a key part of the nation’s economic growth.

    Read also: How Technology Improves Healthcare in Africa

    ICT trends for 2023 include these

    Cloud computing adoption

    Nigerian companies will use cloud computing to store and analyze data. This will help them save money and work more efficiently. Rack Centre, Cloudflex Computing Services Limited, Layer3Cloud, and others are growing in this field.

    Growth of the e-commerce sector

    E-commerce has become easier. Nigeria has a large population that is growing quickly; more people have mobile phones, and more people have access to the internet. With improvements in electronic payments and logistics, the trend of growth is likely to continue in the coming years. Jumia, Konga, and Jiji continue to demonstrate what is feasible in this market.

    Broadband mobile usage growth

    Mobile broadband is expected to keep growing in Nigeria because more people want to use data services, and more 4G and 5G networks are being built. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gave 5G licenses to MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications in 2021. Airtel joined the party in December.

    MTN claims to have launched services in a few cities. More 5G service rollouts and better access are expected in 2023.

    Rise of fintech

    In recent years, the fintech business in Nigeria has grown a lot. This is because more people are using digital financial services. According to reports, over 200 fintech companies are working quickly to close the financial inclusion gap in Nigeria. In the fintech ecosystem, there are businesses that deal with mobile payments, digital banking, merchant solutions, and personal finance.

    Interswitch, Flutterwave, Paystack, PiggyVest, Paga, and E-tranzact are a few of the most important companies in this market.

    Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) more frequently

    In Nigeria, where the goal is to use technology to solve problems and improve services, AI is expected to be used more in a number of fields, such as healthcare, education, and agriculture. IoT Africa Networks Limited, Kobo360, and the Data Scientists Network are some of the early participants.

    How To Start A Fintech

    Growth of the outsourcing sector

    Nigeria is a good place to outsource to because it has a highly educated workforce and low labour costs. This trend is likely to continue as long as businesses try to outsource certain business tasks to cut costs, boost productivity, and make more money. Leading companies in this field include Workforce Group, Philip Outsourcing, and Renda.

    Digitization

    Digital skills will be in demand as ICT increases. This tendency will certainly spur training programs to help people learn the requisite skills. In this area, governments are working hard.

    The National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is training one million Python developers for machine learning and data science. The Second Phase of Eko Digital, which aims to teach one million young people in Lagos about cybersecurity, has already begun. Private sector initiatives abound.

    ICT will still dominate the economy. In 2023, human capacity and infrastructure deployment will dominate ICT.

  • Nigerian telcos may drop USSD due to $80 billion in bank debt

    Nigerian telcos may drop USSD due to $80 billion in bank debt

    Customers of Nigerian banks may be unable to conduct transactions using the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) service if the banks fail to settle the accrued debts owed to telecommunication service providers.

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said that the aggregate debt owed by banks for USSD had reached N80 billion as of November 2022.

    Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman of ATCON, stressed the urgency of finding a solution while threatening that telecommunications providers will soon be forced to stop providing their services as a result of banks’ refusal to pay.

    “When we started the argument in 2019, it was N32 billion, and they continue to maintain that they are not owing.” Our analysis showed that they still employ USSD to provide financial services. However, they are not paying USSD platform owners. 

    “Time will soon come when we will be forced to withdraw the service, and many bank clients that depend on the USSD service will suffer, and it will impact the economy.” “It’s honorable to pay their debts,” Adebayo remarked.

    Read also: Telcos Propose 40% Increase in Calls, SMS, and Data Charges In Nigeria

    The ATCON chairman further outlined how the effort to create a paperless society would be jeopardized by the banks’ refusal to pay the telcos. He begged the Nigerian Central Bank to beg banks to pay their obligations.

    “We warn that the banks’ refusal to pay their loan will harm the CBN’s cashless economy vision for the country. It threatens a cashless economy. Thus, CBN should instruct money deposit banks to repay debts.

    Telcos and banks have argued over USSD costs since 2019

    The USSD service has enabled more than 40 million Nigerian bank customers to access their accounts without ATMs or mobile applications. Transfers, recharging airtime, and several other tasks are accomplished with a few taps on their mobile devices.

    Feature phone users, especially those in underserved areas without banks or banking agents, use USSD services. Free USSD usage increased. USSD transactions increased by 80% to 762 million in 2020.

    The telecommunications companies stated they could no longer offer free services in 2019. Customers’ bank charges would be reduced by N4.50k every 20 seconds.

    Nigeria’s Telecom Sector Hits $57.79 million In Foreign Direct Investment

    The banks argued that it would increase costs by 450 percent. 

    Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, stopped telecom providers from suspending USSD service on March 12, 2021, with over N42 billion in bank debt.

    Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami wrote to CBN Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele about the disagreement and the necessity for banks to settle the loan or risk USSD code suspension. 

    Mobile network operators (MNOs) and deposit money banks (DMBs) agreed to charge N6.98 for each USSD transaction in a minister-led meeting on March 16, 2021.

    To find a solution, it could be necessary to consult regulators like the minister and the Central Bank of Nigeria. However, a deal must be reached between all parties to maintain client access to the USSD service.