Incredible! Fewer Women Online Than Men- UN Study

A recent UN report shows that there are currently 200 million fewer women online than men, and the gap could grow to 350 million within the next three years if action is not taken.

According to a report released by the UN Broadband Commission Working Group on Broadband and Gender, around the world, women are coming online later and more slowly than men. Of the world’s 2.8 billion internet users, 1.3 billion are women, compared with 1.5 billion men.

While the gap between male and female users is relatively small in OECD nations, it widens rapidly in the developing world, where expensive, ‘high status’ ICTs like computers are often reserved for use by men. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the report’s authors estimate that there is only half the number of women connected as men.

Worldwide, women are also on average 21 percent less likely to own a mobile phone – representing a mobile gender gap of 300 million, equating to USD 13 billion in potential

Airtel Calls for Speedy Implementation of National Broadband Plan

CEO/MD, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya and Governor of Osun State, 

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the event in Lagos

Airtel Nigeria has thrown its full weight behind the immediate implementation of the recently approved National Broadband Plan (NNBP), saying speedy execution of the strategy document can contribute about N190bn to the country’s GDP in 2015.

Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria made this call today in Lagos, while speaking at the Nigerian Telecoms Development Lecture (NITDEL).

Ogunsanya said Airtel is committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver excellent broadband services and also develop the Nigerian economy.

He described the issuance of the Broadband Plan as a right step in the right direction and assured of Airtel’s deep commitment to partnering with the Government to implement the plan and facilitate Broadband realization for Nigeria, in support of the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

Beyond policy direction, Ogunsanya also called on the Government to focus on driving broadband adoption and utilization, noting that Government’s patronage of readily available local applications and solutions will be a great boost just as partnerships with telecoms operators, ICT players and development partners will also help drive utilization.

“As it concerns broadband adoption and utilization, there should be Government’s affirmative action targeting the delivery of social and public services over broadband. The zeal applied by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Government in E-Payment and Cashless Policy initiatives should also be replicated in driving adoption and utilization by the populace,” he said.

Ogunsanya also noted that the implementation requires long-term commitment and significant

Etisalat Proffers Strategies For Quality of Service Improvement

Director, Network Engineering, Etisalat Nigeria, Temi Ogunbambi; 

Head Competition & Tariff,  NCC, Inatimi Spiff and Director, 

Government and Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, 

at the Etisalat sponsored NigeriaCom 2013 held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos

Etisalat Nigeria had at this year’s NigeriaCom Conference and Exhibition, highlighted strategies for improving quality of service in the industry.

Speaking at the Conference held recently at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, the company’s Director Network Engineering, Temi Ogunbambi stated that Etisalat takes quality of service seriously and as such works tirelessly to ensure that this is maintained across the country, knowing that it is the only way customers can enjoy value for their money. 

In his contribution to a panel debate on the topic “Quality of Service on the Network: Challenges & Opportunities for Telecoms Operators in Nigeria,” Ogunbambi who was the keynote speaker on the first day of the conference said Nigeria

Digital Africa Partners CEA for CES 2014

*Dr. Evans Woherem
Chairman, Digital Africa Global Consult

Digital Africa Global Consult (DAGC), organisers of Digital Africa Conference & Exhibitions (DACE) have entered into partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association, CEA of the United States of America to mobilize African innovators and investors for the 2014 edition Consumer Electronics Show.

DACE is a flagship annual assembly of the leading companies and government agencies involved in promoting and developing the Information and Communication Technology(ICT) sector throughout Africa. The maiden edition of the annual conference and exhibitions took place at the prestigious Abuja NICON Luxury in April, this year.

Under the partnership with CEA, DAGC is additionally authorized to organize a delegation of qualified business professionals from Africa to CEA’s annual tradeshow, namely- the 2014 International CES to be held from January 7^th-9^th, 2014 in Las Vegas, USA. This will be the first time Africa will be exhibiting at the event.

In a letter to DAGC,CEA noted that “the International Consumer Electronics Show –CES, is the world’s largest annual trade show for the broad-based consumer electronics market. This premier event brings together consumer electronics product manufacturers and service suppliers with the highest concentration of buyers, press and decision-makers in the retail distribution channel.”

Signed by John T. Kelley, Director, International Programs of USA-based Consumer Electronics Association, the letter further noted that the purpose of the International CES is for industry affiliates to meet with manufacturers of consumer electronics products for potential business opportunities.

According to Kelley, “We value our relationship with Digital Africa and understand the value they bring by promoting CES within the African business community.”

While acknowledging the letter of partnership, Dr. Evans Woherem, chairman ofDAGC, expressed delight with the partnership and assured CEA of Digital Africa’s readiness to

BBM Available In Android From September 21

Blackberry Messenger, the iconic mobile social network will be live on Android and iPhone customers around the world from September 21, according to a statement by Blackberry.

Previously exclusive to BlackBerry smartphones, BBM will be available as a free download in Google Play and the App Store. Customers will also be able to download BBM by visiting www.BBM.com from their smartphone browser.

BBM gives you a private social network for active, real conversations. 

“BBM is a very engaging messaging service that is simple to use, easy to personalize and has an immediacy that is necessary for mobile communications,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President for BBM at BlackBerry.

He added, “With more than a billion Android, iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones

CWG Picks U.S. International Partner Awards

U.S. Consul General Lagos, Jeffrey J. Hawkins (L) presenting an
award plaque tothe Associate VP, CWG, Dayo Abegunde at the event...

Computer Warehouse Group has received the International award for outstanding achievement in supporting American-Nigerian trade. This was announced at the recent United States International partner Forum and Awards held in Lagos.

The U.S. International Partner Forum and Awards is an annual event organized by the United States Commercial Service (CS), the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration with an objective to honour Nigerian business people who promote U.S. products and services and who have contributed significantly to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the U.S. Commercial Service Nigeria (CS Nigeria). 

CWG was identified as the foremost Information and Technology Company in Nigeria in the first award category at this year’s International Partner Award. It was confirmed that the founder and Group Chief Executive of CWG, Mr Austin Okere is one of the most proactive promoters of U.S. exports and commercial interests in Nigeria. He was one of the pioneers of the NUSA (Networking with the United States of America) program.

CWG being an aggregate ICT company enables businesses using the three facets of ICT; Hardware, communication and Software. Consequently, CWG has three divisions; CWL Systems, DCC Networks and ExpertEdge respectively handling the business needs of the

Dell Networking Introduces S6000 Data Centre Switching Platform

Michael Dell, CEO, Dell Group

Dell Networking has expanded its S-series portfolio with the new S6000, the industry’s highest-density 1RU 10/40GbE switching platform for highly-virtualized data centres.  

A fixed form factor design, the S6000 doubles the density and through-put while consuming up to 50 percent less power than previous generation top-of-rack switches.

Built-in advanced virtualization and automation features help customers scale larger virtual deployments in a smaller physical footprint, and helps solve the challenge of bridging virtualized and non-virtualized aspects of the infrastructure.

According to Tom Burns, vice president and general manager, Dell Networking, “Virtual environments are expanding while physical footprints remain constant, resulting in massive density increases in servers and storage. Networks need to keep up. That’s what inspired the S6000.”

“The S6000 platform can help customers unify virtualized and non-virtualized IT elements, providing a gateway to a software-defined enterprise,” he added

Bob Laliberte, senior analyst, Enterprise