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”.