MultiChoice Subscribers to Watch Live TV With DStv Now App

*John Ugbe, Multichoice Nigeria CEO

Multichoice has introduced a new App that allows its subscribers to watch Sport, movies, series and so much more anytime, anywhere.

Known as DStv Now, the new App allows Multichoice subscribers across Africa to watch Live TV, enjoy DStv Catch Up and view the TV Guide from their mobile phones and tablets. 

The mobile app is currently on offer to DStv Premium subscribers with a PVR or Explora decoder, on both iOS and Android tablets and mobile phones through 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi internet connections.

A release by the company asks subscribers to simply visit their mobile App store to download the free App.

“After logging in with your DStv Connect ID, link your Premium Smartcard to

ITU Gives Go-Ahead For G.Fast Standard

By Rommy Imah (with agency report)

A technology that lets copper telephone wires compete with fiber has finally been standardized, opening the way for affordable, interoperable equipment running at up to 1Gbps, according to a report by pcworld.com.

The technology that gives copper broadband a new lease on life is called G.fast. It offers speeds at up to 1Gbps at distances of up to 100 meters. As the distance increases, the speeds decreases to about 150Mbps over 250 meters, according to the International Telecommunication Union, which has developed the underlying standard and announced G.fast’s approval on Friday.

What performance users end up with depends on a number of factors, including the distance and the quality of the copper wires. The speeds quoted by ITU are just targets, which is far from the

Etisalat Celebrates Winners Of 2014 Innovation Prize

*CEO Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; one of the winners, 

Anthony Oniwon and Member, Board of Innovators, Etisalat 

Pan-African Prize for Innovation, Funke Opeke, at the event

Winners of the 2014 edition of the Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation, Anthony Oniwon, developer of Exammate Application, and Abdulganiyu Onabanjo, the developer of Interactive Media Interface Design, were presented with their prizes at a media reception held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, recently.

Matthew Willsher, Chief Executive Officer at Etisalat Nigeria who explained the rationale behind the innovation prize as well as the company’s continuous support for innovative platforms and initiatives stated that Etisalat was presenting its proof to the promise it made at the launch of the prize over two years ago and further reinforcing the telecom company’s uniqueness as the organisation that makes a difference in the society.

According to Willsher, “We are pleased to formally present these two gentlemen

From Airtel, lifeline for young Nigerians

By Erhumu Bayagbon

*Ogunsanya, Airtel Nigeria CEO

Erhumu Bayagbon writes that Airtel Nigeria has significantly increased its investment in youth development, providing a major lifeline for young Nigerians through a number of robust and credible platforms, including Catapult-a-Start-up, Adopt-a- School programme, Airtel Rising Stars and the One-Mic music initiative.

Whether it is a product, service, enterprise programme or Corporate Social Responsibility intervention, Airtel Nigeria has been consistent in its quest to establish solid platforms to empower young Nigerians and enable them secure a bright future. Indeed, the records speak glowingly of the leading telco that became famous for revolutionizing the GSM tariff one month after launching a new brand name in 2010. Even many cynics are becoming converts after a cursory look at the organization’s recent strides at providing a hope, a future and a lifeline for young Nigerians.

Just this week, Airtel announced a unique programme for young Nigerian entrepreneurs christened Catapult-a-Start-up. At the press conference, which held at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, described the initiative as yet another major step to empowering Nigerian youths and creating a solid platform for them to leverage on to success, saying the initiative is in line with the company’s overriding ambition of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians.

The Airtel Catapult-a-Startup programme is an entrepreneurial initiative designed to assist start-up application (app) developers to actualize their dreams of becoming

BlackBerry Launches Passport

BlackBerry Ltd's launch of its square-screened Passport device may have grabbed headlines this week, but it was the tech company's lower-profile roll out of the new Blend feature that appears to be garnering the plaudits.

Reuters reports that even as reviewers and analysts were torn on the prospects of the unconventionally shaped Passport, they were brimming with praise for Blend, which lets users seamlessly bridge messaging and content between a host of devices irrespective of operating systems.

"While the new Passport device attracted the most attention, to us the announcement of BlackBerry Blend is more important," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Sue in a note on Thursday.

He noted that Blend is one of the key elements of a strategy aimed at adapting to the needs of large companies, where workers are pushing for flexibility to use devices of their own choice.

BlackBerry, under the leadership of new Chief Executive John Chen, has been

Nigeria Wins Country Hosting Right (Chr) For World Electronics Forum 2014

By Rommy Imah

The Board of Directors of the World Electronics Forum (WEF), through Consumer Electronics and Technologies Industry Association (CETIA) of Africa, has granted the Country Hosting Right (CHR) for the 19th World Electronics Forum 2014 to Nigeria.

WEF has also nominated Digital Africa Global Consult Limited, headed by Dr. Evans E. Woherem, as the event organizer. The 19th World Electronics Forum is therefore to be held alongside Digital Africa 2014 in Lagos, from May 20-22, 2014.

Digital Africa Global Consult is the promoter of the annual Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition, aimed at helping Africa to transit from being merely a consumer to become a major producer of ICT products, services and innovations.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, led a high-powered delegation of ICT regulatory agencies to represent the federal Government of Nigeria at the inaugural Digital Africa held April 23-25, 2013 in Abuja.

The event was chaired by Mr. Oba Otudeko, the Chairman of Honeywell Group, First Bank Holdings Plc and Airtel Nigeria Limited, and a champion of inter-African trade. The conference attracted a list

From Las Vegas to Lagos, Nigeria

By Dr. Evans Woherem

The 2014 edition of the world flagship Consumer Electronics Show had ended in Las Vegas, the United States of America about two months ago. It was Africa’s biggest and most visible participation in the age-long event.

Digital Africa Global Consult, publishers of Digital Africa Magazine had in July 2013 entered into partnership with Consumer Electronics Association, CEA of the USA. The partnership allows Digital Africa Global Consult to organize a delegation of qualified business professionals from Africa to CEA’s annual trade show- the international CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from the 7^th-10^th of January, 2014.

CES 2014 conference presented an opportunity for Africa to unveil the best of her innovations, exchange ideas with major players in the industry and witness the trends in end user expectations. This was the first time Africa will actively participate at the CES as exhibitors.  It is the premier CES destination where retailers, venture capitalists, manufacturers and other key attendee groups will find budding entrepreneurs, fledgling start-ups and home grown innovation. All Exhibitors also had the opportunity of attending the super-conferences and listening to the key-note addresses.

On the other hand, Digital Africa Global Consult is a new and innovative company that seeks to

African Development: ICT Adoption Must Be Prioritized

Photo: ajmedwards.deviantart.com

By Rommy Imah

In spite of obvious successes recorded in the adoption of ICTs in the continent, Africa has continued to be labelled a consumer continent. Indicators such as ICT access, use, skills, mobile cellular subscriptions and basic literacy rates, households with a computer, Internet users, fixed and mobile broadband Internet subscriptions and basic literacy rates show that African countries are far from adopting ICTs.

It is a global truism that ICTs are capable of acting as catalysts for effective and efficient management and administration of both public and private sector organisations in developing regions like Africa. ICTs are capable of remarkably improving the living standards of inhabitants of developing regions like Africa. In addition, it is capable of improving agricultural productivity, education, healthcare and research programmes.

To buttress Africa’s deplorable state of ICT penetration, Information Economy Report of 2012 identified low access to venture capital, piracy, poor ICT infrastructure and inadequate protection of intellectual property rights as the major setbacks to ICT development and service expansion in developing

Why Investors Must Come To Africa Now

By Rommy Imah

In what was then known as the ‘New Imperialism’ period, the scramble for or partition of Africa took the centre stage. It was a period the continent of Africa, against her will, was forcefully invaded, occupied, colonized and annexed by European powers. That was between 1881 and 1914.

Perhaps, as a panacea for the political and economic rivalries among the European empires, in the last quarter of the 19^th century, the partitioning of Africa forestalled the Europeans warring amongst themselves over Africa.

No doubt Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. At about 30.2 million km² (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers six percent of the Earth’s total surface area and 20.4 percent of the total land area. With 1billion people (as of 2009), Africa accounts for about 15% of the world's human population.

During the colonial era, almost the entire African continent was at the mercy of European colonialists who saw in Africa, a profitable continent to explore. So as the century moved on, it was obvious that the objective of the European explorers changed, and rather than travelling out of pure curiosity, they started recording details of markets, goods, and resources for the wealthy philanthropists who

Facebook Acquires WhatsApp in $19billion Deal

In what is unarguably a consolidation of its dominance of the social media platform, Facebook has announced the purchase of the mobile messaging service, WhatsApp in a $19bn deal that represents the social media company’s biggest acquisition yet.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, described five-year-old WhatsApp as an “incredibly valuable” service that was well on its way to connecting 1 billion people around the world.

Bloomberg is reporting that the agreement includes $12 billion in stock, $4 billion in cash and $3 billion in restricted shares, according to a statement by Facebook yesterday.

The acquisition is the largest Internet deal since Time Warner’s $124 billion merger with AOL in 2001, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. WhatsApp has more than 450 million members, with 1 million users being added daily.

WhatsApp has more than 400m users around the world and claims it is adding more than 1 million new registered users a day. It allows unlimited free text-messaging and picture sending between

Unknown Bitflux Beats Globacom to 2.3GHz Spectrum Auction

*L-R: Itanyi, Juwah & Uduma, all NCC officials at one of the Commission's events

In what will go down in history as one of the biggest upsets in telecommunications transactions in Nigeria, little unknown Bitflux Communications has surprised telecommunication pundits by defeating giants, Globacom to emerge as winners of the 2.3GHz spectrum auction held in Abuja, FCT yesterday.

The electronic auction which took place at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, was witnessed by executive commissioners of the NCC and other stakeholders in the telecommunications industry including a representative of the State Security Services (SSS).

However, Bitflux according to the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has 14 business days to pay the bid price of $23, 251,000 and another 30 days to pay N155 million for Unified Access Service Licence, which will allow it to operate as wholesale wireless broadband services provider.

Its inability to meet up with the requirements within the stipulated time will see Globacom carting away the prized trophy.

Dr Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the regulatory body said the process which was electronically done, went through two rounds. While the first round which had set $23million in addition to another 15 per cent which made total to stand at $26.450million had produced no winner, the machine immediately switched to “tie breakers’ indicating that

Globacom’s Bid For 2.3GHz Spectrum License Will Enhance Telecom Service - Jameel

*Jameel, Globacom Group COO

Globacom has stated that it is bidding for the 2.3GHz broadband spectrum licence being auctioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as part of its aggressive investment strategy to give Nigerians the best-in-class telecom services. 

The license, the company further explained, would ultimately improve the quality of service available to all telecom subscribers nationwide.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the leadership of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), Globacom Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mohamed Jameel, said the company remains committed to its aggressive investment drive, adding that obtaining the broadband spectrum license on offer would enable the company to mobilize necessary infrastructure to move telecommunications to its next phase of development in Nigeria.

NCC plans that the winner of the single 2.3 GHz spectrum will become the sole wholesaler of broadband services to other service providers in the Nigerian market, explaining

Microsoft Welcomes Youth to 4Afrika Advisory Council

*Satya Nadella, Microsoft Corp new CEO

Microsoft Corp. has introduced the first four youth members to the 4Afrika Advisory Council to ensure the critical voices of Africa’s large youth demographic are heard.

The Microsoft 4Afrika Advisory Council, announced last October, is an external board of advisers tasked with guiding strategic investments undertaken by the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative.

It was launched one year ago to facilitate Microsoft’s active engagement in Africa’s economic development. The four youth ambassadors will represent the issues facing Africa’s rural and urban youth, including unemployment, education and access to technology.
“The information and communications technology (ICT) field is not only redefining how we conduct our major businesses on the continent, it is increasingly improving the efficiency of critical support services, such as education, health, and disaster mitigation and management. The young demographic is playing a big role in integrating new solutions to these services, and this has helped create new industries and employment opportunities,” said H.E. Benjamin Mkapa, chairman, Microsoft 4Afrika Advisory Council.

“The Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative will be critical in defining a framework that other global and indigenous organizations in the ICT space can adopt to leverage this emerging space

Nokia Celebrates Launch of First 6-inch Smartphones

L-R: Retail Customer Marketing Manager, Nokia West & Central Africa, Olajide Adeyemi; Head of Marketing, Nokia West & Central Africa, Debbie Shepard; Consumer Engagement Manager, Nokia West & Central Africa, Mayor Esiaba at the event 

Nokia had at an event to showcase its flagship brands, Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320, partnered with MAGGI to host customers to a special night of food and photography tagged EAT. SHOOT. REPEAT.

The event held during the 2014 social media week at Terra Kulture with guests feasted to a classic cocktail along with mouth watering intercontinental dishes provided by MAGGI.

Kola Osinowo, Head, Nokia Care, West and Central Africa explained that the event was organised for customers to have fun, savour exquisite food and share their experience through photography with friends.

Guy Kellaway, Category Business Manager, Culinary Nestle Nigeria said “MAGGI, Nigeria’s leading cooking brand is synonymous with good food, good food means great memories, and of course great stories which is why we are creating and capturing good food-moments is the essence of the MAGGI Brand. It was for this reason that MAGGI was able to associate strongly with Nokia for this event”.

While explaining the features of the devices, Osinowo stated that the Lumia 1520, Nokia’s top of the range Windows Phone is packed with a 6-inch 1080p Full HD screen, 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and most importantly, the Story teller application which allows people tell stories of places they’ve visited using pictures. 

The application brings stories to live seamlessly and merges two Lumia signature experiences: PureView Imaging and HERE maps, which allow users to relive their photos in a new, dynamic and interactive way.       

Olumide Balogun, Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa, noted

Digital Africa Canvasses Government Support For Tech Start-Ups

*Hon. Minister of CommTech, Mrs. Omobola Johnson (middle), flanked by the Chairman of Digital Africa, Dr. Evans Woherem (right), and Director of Digital Africa, Dr. Amstrong Takang (left) during the visit

The Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult Limited, Dr. Evans Woherem, has canvassed a strong government support for Nigerian technology start-ups to bring them to national and global limelight during the forthcoming Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition, slated for May 20-22, 2014 in Lagos.

Dr. Woherem said this last weekend in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, to formally present to her the Country Hosting Right (CHR) recently awarded to Nigeria for the forthcoming 19^th World Electronics Forum (WEF). The 19^th WEF will be held alongside Digital Africa 2014.

During the visit Woherem explained that, “Hosting the 19^th WEF in Nigeria, the first time such an event will be held on African soil, is a clear endorsement of the global consumer electronics industry of the importance of the Nigerian market.”

According to him, Digital Africa 2014 and the 19^th WEF represent a great opportunity for Nigeria’s leading ICT companies as well as the country’s hundreds of ICT start-ups the opportunity to showcase themselves to the global technology community.

The Communication Minister, Mrs. Johnson, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the inaugural Digital Africa 2013, commended the organizers once again on their efforts at promoting the ICT sector not only in Nigeria, but throughout the African continent.

Building on its successful inaugural edition held in 2013, Digital Africa 2014 is expected to draw participants and exhibitors from Nigeria, the rest of Africa and leading economies of the world. The conference aims to help Africa to transit from being largely a

Nigeria Wins Country Hosting Right (CHR) For World Electronics Forum 2014

*Dr. Evans E. Woherem

The Board of Directors of the World Electronics Forum (WEF), through Consumer Electronics and Technologies Industry Association (CETIA) of Africa, has granted the Country Hosting Right (CHR) for the 19th World Electronics Forum 2014 to Nigeria.

WEF has also nominated Digital Africa Global Consult Limited, headed by Dr. Evans E. Woherem, as the event organizer. The 19th World Electronics Forum is therefore to be held alongside Digital Africa 2014 in Lagos, from May 20-22, 2014.

Digital Africa Global Consult is the promoter of the annual Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition, aimed at helping Africa to transit from being merely a consumer to become a major producer of ICT products, services and innovations.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, led a high-powered delegation of ICT regulatory agencies to represent the federal Government of Nigeria at the inaugural Digital Africa held April 23-25, 2013 in Abuja.

The event was chaired by Mr. Oba Otudeko, the Chairman of Honeywell Group, First Bank Holdings Plc and Airtel Nigeria Limited, and a champion of inter-African trade. The conference attracted a list of distinguished speakers from Nigeria, USA, Germany, UK, Cameroon and Kenya.

President of WEF, Mr. Tony Smith, said “We look forward to bringing the decision makers of the world ICT and consumer electronics industry to Nigeria this year, and we believe that this is a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria and the rest of Africa”.

He added, “Nigeria has demonstrated its vast investment potentials by becoming the largest telecom market in Africa and the Middle East. The major goal of the 19th World Electronics Forum is therefore, to engage the African telecommunications and IT markets, using Nigeria as the window”.

Adenuga Promises Transformed Data Services Across West Africa

*Adenuga

Globacom has indicated that more West Africans will enjoy fast data services and better voice quality as the network continues to extend its fibre optic coverage and pushes the last mile connections of its submarine cable further hinterland in the countries where the Glo 1 cable has landings.

At the 2013 edition of the Glo CAF Awards held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos recently, Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga jr. said that the company has made arrangements to deploy the best telecommunications technology to sustain a robust network that will continuously offer customers world-class mobile and data services. 

He said subscribers in the West African sub region through the Glo 1 armoured submarine cable and roaming facilities are guaranteed seamless communications in Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world. 

“We want to assure you that we will continue to invest huge resources in developing and maintaining a communications technology that is second to none in Africa, just as we will not relent in our vision to support African football in the global football space.” 

It could be recalled that Globacom’s intervention in the telecommunications sector in Africa has deepened broadband penetration and telecommunications infrastructure, putting affordable voice and data communications at the fingertips of millions who otherwise would not have had quality connections.

Airtel CEO Counsels Leaders on Sustenance of Development

*Segun Ogunsanya

Leaders and people in positions of authority have been urged to strive at discovering, nurturing and developing talents in order to sustain development and growth in Nigeria as well as other African countries,

Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya, during the weekend in Lagos, gave this advice at the monthly Role Model Forum of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), where in his role as guest speaker, he shared his life story and experience with some young people who were participants at the event.

According to him, “If Nigeria and other countries in Africa are to develop; we must start developing our people. For development to be sustainable we must develop African talents. Leaders are created and those who are leaders today must create the next leaders.”

He shared some of his nuggets of success with the young men and women at the forum, saying they must focus on goals they desire to achieve and watch against being arrogant because there is a thin line between confidence and arrogance.

Speaking further, Ogunsanya inspired the young audience to be prepared and not miss any opportunity to shine in their career. He encouraged them to always ensure they are prepared for opportunities that may come their way.

As a piece of advice to some of the participants who are employees, the Airtel boss urged them to be result-oriented because employers reward results not efforts.

“So, be focused on what is truly measured, the result. That is the only thing that will guarantee you success. Mark my words: nobody pays for efforts any more. Efforts are important but you are only and truly rewarded for the results you put on the table when you get to certain levels. Of course we talk about values, they are as important as producing results. When you have values just make sure the values lead to the results. The results are the only true measurement of your success,” Ogunsanya said.

The CVL Role Model Forum is a monthly interactive programme where individuals who have excelled in various field of endeavour share their life experiences and stories with participants in order to impart values, leadership qualities and motivate them towards becoming great leaders.