Premier financial services institution, the First Bank Nigeria Limited, has began a phased corporate name change of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa, reports ITREALMS.
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Friday, March 31, 2023
FirstBank changes name of subsidiaries, reiterates cross-border business opportunities - ITREALMS
Premier financial services institution, the First Bank Nigeria Limited, has began a phased corporate name change of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa, reports ITREALMS.
Huawei rolls out new enterprise products for SMEs, banks on TD Africa’s reach - ITREALMS
Leading multinational technology company, Huawei has partnered with TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest tech, solutions and lifestyle distributor to unveil a range of state-of-the-art products targeting the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) market in Nigeria and beyond, reports ITREALMS.They include the Intelligent Collaboration IdeaHub series products, next-generation networking devices and smart storage products. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
NPO to inaugurate complaints commission - ITREALMS
The Nigerian media has advanced plans to inaugurate on Monday, the nine-member board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), also known as the National Ombudsman, reports ITREALMS.The process driven by the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO) would see members of the commission drawn from the media, the bar, the academia, and civil society to be inaugurated. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Thursday, March 30, 2023
11th kidney transplant: FMC Umuahia completes exercise successfully - ITREALMS
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, has successfully completed its 11th kidney transplant in the south-eastern State of Abia, reports ITREALMS.This is coming a few days after the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, and Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, were found guilty of organ trafficking in the United Kingdom (UK) and sent to prison, while awaiting sentence on May 5. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Growth: Transcorp delivers strong performance, raises revenue by 21% - ITREALMS
Transnational Corporation Plc has released its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022, demonstrating significant improvements in its major income lines to the tune of 21 per cent previous year, reports ITREALMS.
Okowa, Uzodimma, Marwa, Ekeh, line up for Ugbechie’s book presentation, awards - ITREALMS
The Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Imo counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodimma would, among other dignitaries, headline the public presentation of Nigeria Heroes and Sheroes: Diary of a Journalist of Courage, a book authored by Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Publisher of Political Economist NG.
FGN approves N24.2bn for Internet @airports, schools, markets - ITREALMS
Arising from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Wednesday, March 29, 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) approved the sum of N24.20bn for the provision of broadband internet connection in at least 20 airports, 43 schools and six marketplaces nationwide.
chaired by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Presidency nominates Adebayo, Opeke, Walama & Fatima for USP board - ITREaLMS
The presidency has nominated some four distinguished Nigerians into the board of the Universal Service Provision (USP) in the country, reports ITREALMS.
The nominees, ITREALMS gathered include Ms. Funke Opeke, Mr. Ahmed Abubakar Walama, Mrs. Fatima and Engr. Gbenga Adebayo. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Eze to Kalu: Senate President slot not your turn - ITREALMS
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has declared that its not the not of Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Oji Uzo Kalu, to become the Senate president, reports ITREALMSEze in a press statement available to
ITREALMS said that its wrong for Senator Uzo Kalu to wake up and begin to arrogate to himself the sole right to head the leadership of the 10th Senate, which would be inaugurated in a few months. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Convicted! SIM card registration defaulters - ITREALMS
Some defaulters of the Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) card registration regulations in the country have been convicted, reports ITREALMS.
Disclosing this to ITREALMS, the Nigerian Communications Commission said the conviction was in line with the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations) 2011. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
BGFA signs two more MoU on off-grid energy service expansion - ITREALMS
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) programme has signed two more agreements with off-grid energy service companies to support the expansion and scale-up of solar-powered water pumps in Uganda and high-quality solar home systems in Zambia.
Sesan to speak @Summit for Democracy - ITREALMS
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Mary Ikoku congratulates governor-elect, Alex Otti, urges Abians to support him - ITREALMS
Top member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Mrs Mary Ikoku, has congratulated the Abia Governor-Elect, Dr. Alex Otti, on his victory in the March 18, 2023 governorship election, reports ITREALMS.In a her congratulatory message available to
ITREALMS, Ikoku said the pains of bad governance has been completely replaced by the declaration of Otti, as the man to lead the state as from May 29, 2023. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Telecom stakeholders key to development, says NCC, renews commitment - ITREALMS
Telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated commitment to stakeholders on issues affecting telecommunication services deployments and developments, reports ITREALMS.
This, NCC hinted, is in line with its culture of inclusiveness, collaboration and partnership, as predicated on its strategic focus. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
IGR: Telecom sector boosts FG coffers by 594% - ITREALMS
Telecommunications sector has increased its quarterly revenue generation to the coffers of the federal government of Nigeria by 594 per cent, reports ITREALMS.
Monday, March 27, 2023
NiRA signs MoU with EFCC to train personnel on cyber security - ITREALMS
Registry for .ng internet domain names, the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NIRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to provide cyber security trainings for the personnel of the commission, reports ITREALMS.As registry, NIRA is responsible for maintaining the database of names registered in the .ng country code Top Level Domain (TLD). Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Abajue Nneoma Paracleta breaks academic medical records @NAUTH
A female medical graduand, Dr Abajue Nneoma Paracleta, has broken the academic medical records at the 50th induction ceremony of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, (NAUTH), Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, held at the weekend, reports ITREALMS. Nneoma, whose father, Mr. Chidi Abajue, is a Lagos-based media practitioner, broke the records in some five fronts during the graduation ceremony to include the overall best student; best student in 50th Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery also known as MBBS; Chief Cletus Ibeto’s prize for best student in Pediatrics; Eche Adinma’s prize for best student in community medicine and Eche Adinma’s prize for best female student. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
'NIMC's Public Procurement Act needs urgent amendment' - ITREALMS
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz Abubakar has charged members of the management of the Commission to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the country’s Public Procurement Act, reports ITREALMS.He gave this charge in Lagos on Monday, while delivering his remarks at a 3-day Interactive Workshop on Procurement and understanding of the World Bank procurement process, procedures, and Ecosystem Enrolment readiness, organized by the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, in collaboration with NIMC. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
UK plans international tech superpower by 2030 - ITREALMS
The United Kingdom (UK) has published a roadmap for reaching technology superpower status by 2030 through a new International Technology Strategy, reports ITREALMS.
Boko Haram now uses drones - ITREALMS
Boko Haram, a Nigerian-based dominant terrorist group, is now using drones in its violence attacks, reports ITREALMS.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
NCC-CSIRT: Beware of pirated YouTube software-related Malware - ITREALMS
The Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned those looking to acquire pirated software and resources that they risk becoming victims of cybercriminal gangs that are using AI-generated YouTube videos to distribute malware, reports ITREALMS.Also, NCC-CSIRT warned in its advisory that the consequences of falling victim can be significant for individuals and organizations, resulting in critical damage like data theft, financial loss, identity theft, system damage, and reputation damage. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
If I were Tinubu 3: Setting a Tinubunomic agenda – Part 1 - ITREALMS
To say things are tough in Nigeria will be an understatement, with fuel scarcity, naira redesign crisis, bad roads, poor power supply, joblessness among others things that make life miserable for citizens.‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.’
Friday, March 24, 2023
Confirmed! Nigerian banks must open @weekends, says CBN, evacuates notes to ease circulation - ITREALMS
As part of a coordinated effort to ease the circulation of banknotes of various denominations, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country, reports ITREALMS. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, Google collabo for women start ups, dangles N1.3bn - ITREALMS
The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, a pillar of the UK government's broader Digital Access Program (DAP), has collaborated with Google for Startups in Africa, especially women funders, dangling the sum of $3million, about N1,381,440,000.00 billion, reports ITREALMS.The two entities, ITREALMS gathered will award $3 million in Google Cloud credits to women founders in Nigeria, thereby subsidising cloud technology-related costs for startups, and allowing them to focus on innovation, customer acquisition, and growth. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
5G offering: Samsung unveils Galaxy A54, A34 devices in Nigeria - ITREALMS
Samsung Electronics has unveiled a suite of its Fifth Generation (5G) series, namely the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G, into the Nigerian telecom markets, reports ITREALMS.The two innovative smartphones, ITREALMS gathered tend to advance Samsung Galaxy’s commitment to designing awesome mobile experiences, and promises Samsung's brighter display, more advanced cameras and longer battery life than previous models, even as the new Galaxy A series delivers outstanding mobile technology for all. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Thursday, March 23, 2023
IWD 2023: Emefiele harps on gender parity - ITREALMS
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has felicitated Nigerian women and called for more engaging conversations on how women could leverage technology and innovation to bridge the digital gender gap, reports ITREALMS.In a keynote address at the CBN IWD webinar in commemoration of the International Women’s Day Celebration on March 23, 2023, Emefiele noted that digital financial services had become a critical dependency in the economy, providing vast opportunities to bridge the digital gender gap, drive financial inclusion and increase employment and economic opportunities for women. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Nigeria records 3.8m cyber attacks over governorship elections - ITREALMS
Nigeria has recorded a total of 3,834,244 attacks originating from both within and outside the country during the governorship and state assembly elections at the weekend, reports ITREALMS.The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, gave the break down as that on Friday 17th March, 2023 recorded 1,046,896; Saturday 18th March, 2023 had 1,481,847; Sunday 19th March, 2023 witnessed 327,718 and Monday 20th March, 2023 saw to 977,783. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
NLNG joins OGMP 2.0 to reduce methane emissions - ITREALMS
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has joined the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), a partnership coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to reduce methane emissions and improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
FirstBank's FMAP 3rd application round closes today - ITREALMS
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider has confirmed that its call for participation in the third season of its FirstBank Management Associate Programme (FMAP) would close today, Thursday, March 23, 2023, reports ITREALMS.
Interested participants, ITREALMS gathered, are required to submit their application. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Chinedu Lagos: Connecting the dots – ITREALMS
Features, TelecomsClinic@ITREALMS ... making leadership
SENSE with digital news!
Despite threats to lives and properties in Lagos during the 2023 general elections, ITREALMS' REMMY NWEKE highlights the missing links worthy of leveraging by peace-loving Nigerians, arguing that we are deeply connected than could be imagined.
How Tayo connected the dots:
Just before the commencement of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the apex
regulator of banks in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) began
another phase of its cashless policy and introduction of the redesigned new
Naira note.
That weekend, I had a few things to fix in one of the vehicles, and the best
bet was a reference at the popular Ladipo Spareparts Market in Mushin. The
reference was a young man named Tayo, who specialises in using scanner to detect
certain faults and fixing same.
Courtesy of Iya POS:
After Tayo finished, efforts to pay him via the USSD could not work out as my
bank kept returning with an error message that the transaction could not be
processed. I switched to the mobile application of the bank, aka 'mobile app'
basically for online banking and was told the transaction could not be
completed that I should contact my bank.
Relying on using the various wallets to sort out
any transaction with obvious scarcity of cash, I inquired about any Point of
Sale (POS) agent around the park, as I collected Tayo’s bank details of which
he promptly pointed at one POS outlet. So, both of us approached the shop. The
operator, Iya Kola who had stepped out to give POS service to some folks in a
nearby 'refined' restaurant known as Iya Amala for their assorted Nigerian
local dishes.
USSD is the Unstructured Supplementary Service
Data introduced as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol
that is used to send text messages and could also be used to make mobile
transfers.
On the other hand, POS is Point-of-Sale handy device that affords a customer to
execute given payment for goods or services and where sales taxes, bills may be
paid through.
On inquiry, I was told that Iya Amala, now a landlady in a Lagos suburb, has
grown her business, that she has been cooking for both Yoruba and Igbo clients
as well as other ethnic groups in the market for over five years. So, Iya Kola
managed to know why her attention was being called, just a stone throw from her
shop by her son, and there, we were, standing to be attended to.
Few minutes later, she joined us and the transaction was done. And because I
would not like to just pay for parking space of N1000 for a day, I inquired
where to get a good mechanic to change my car oil since I was inside the market
and could easily locate kind of motor oil for servicing. A young man in his
late 40s was called. "Doctor, doctor" were the shouts that followed.
Informed that he was a ‘Motor Doctor,’ while his real name was Adekunle, I was relaxed to ask for his mobile number and by putting a call across, was directed to a nearby workshop to meet him.
Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gsWednesday, March 22, 2023
ITU goes to New Delhi with Innovation Centre - ITREALMS
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has opened the ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre today in New Delhi, India, reports ITREALMS.The new office in India’s capital includes ITU’s first centre for innovation, positioning it as a hub for promoting advanced technologies within the region and beyond. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
ISOC decries Canadian News Act, says 'It'll restrict innovation & growth in digital space' - ITREALMS
The Internet Society (ISOC) has decried the Canadian News Act, describing it as instrument to stifle freedom of expression, restrict innovation and growth of digital economy, reports ITREALMS.
Tinubu heads to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj - ITREALMS
The All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the 2023 controversial election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has headed out to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, which is the lesser hajj, reports ITREALMS.A press statement from his media office by Tunde Rahman, and made available to
ITREALMS, he said that after a very exhaustive campaign and election season, that Tinubu, has travelled abroad to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of May 29, 2023 inauguration. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Ramadan: Konga bullish for nourishment, personal care needs - ITREALMS
Alex Otti of LP emerges winner of Abia State governorship election - ITREALMS
After days of undecided, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday afternoon declared the governorship election results for Abia State, with the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Dr. Alex Otti, emerging as a winner, reports ITREALMS.According to INEC State Returning Officer, Prof. (Mrs) Nnenna Oti, said that the Labour Party candidate scored a total of 175,467 votes to beat his closest rival, Okey Ahiwe of PDP, who got a total of 88,529 votes. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
FGN removes 5% excise duty for telecoms services - ITREALMS
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has removed the five per cent excise duty for telecom sub-sector in the country, reports ITREALMS.
This, FG said is in line with the recommendations of the Committee it constituted to review the applicability of the duty to the telecom sector which is considered already overburdened with taxation and sundry levies.
Disclosing this, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said in Abuja at a press briefing organised to provide updates on the status of the 5 per cent excise duty, whose applicability to the telecom sector was objected by the Minister in August 2022.
ITREALMS recalled that following the objection, the President, General Muhammadu Buhari, retired, suspended its application to the telecom sector and set up a Presidential Review Committee on excise duty in the digital economy sector.
Pantami, who is the Chairman of the Committee, specifically set up for the purpose of reviewing the proposed excise duty in the telecom sector, said the Committee had carried out its national assignment and accordingly submitted report to the President, justifying why the sector should be exempted.
As said by Pantami, the Committee’s submissions could be summed up in three arguments put forward to justify why additional burden in form of taxes or any levy should not be imposed on the telecom sector to prevent a reversal of the important contribution the sector is making to the growth of the Nigerian economy.
“Our justifications are based on three premises: First, is the fact that operators in the telecoms sub-sector of the digital economy industry currently pay no fewer than 41 different categories of taxes, levies and charges; secondly, that telecoms has continued to be a major contributor to Nigerian economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product Contribution (GDP).
“The third ground for contesting the Excise Duty in telecom sector is the fact that, despite increase in the cost of all factors of production across sector, and naturally leading to increase in costs of products and services, telecom sector is the only sector where cost of service has been stable and in many cases continued to go down over the past years and therefore, adding more burden will destroy the sector,” the Minister said.
Also, the Minister said, that the President, having looked into the arguments put forward by the Committee and relying on the provision of the Section 5 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, has therefore, exempted telecom sector from the list of sectors to pay the excise duty as stated in Finance Act of 2021 and other subsidiary legislations, all of which are not as superior as the Constitution which permits the President to grant such waiver.
“I am happy to report to you that President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the exemption of the digital economy sector from the five percent excise duty to be paid and this is because of the strength of the argument presented to him by the Committee that additional burden on telecom sector will increase the sufferings of Nigerians and that other sectors that are not making as much contribution to the economy should be challenged to do more and pay the 5 per cent excise duty,” Pantami said in a press statement available to ITREALMS by Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Reuben Muoka.
The minister equally assured Nigerians, who are telecom consumers, that the presidential exemption given to the telecom sector shall be sustained by the incoming administration as “the decision by the President is not about any political party or any administration but about Nigeria and welfare of Nigerian citizens."
Further, he noted that the digital economy sector has continued to contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy, having contributed 14.07 per cent to the GDP in the first quarter of 2020; 17.79 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; and 18.44 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.
He said the sector has also increased its quarterly revenue generation for government from N51 billion to over N480 billion, representing a growth of 594 per cent; while the cost of buying data has also reduced from N1,200 in 2019 to N350 presently, despite the increase in the cost of operations, including the energy challenge that has caused mobile network operators to power base stations with over 32,000 power generating to provide seamless services to their teeming consumers. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Energy security: Mbasogo, Biya in a bilateral treaty - ITREALMS
Akande unveils NCC's TELCARE centre @Terminal C Abuja Airport - ITREALMS
The Chairman, Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, at the weekend, lead guests to unveil the Telecom Consumer Assistance, Resolution and Enquires (TELCARE) Centre at the Terminal C of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, reports ITREALMS.
TELCARE, ITREALMS gathered, is the beginning of the helpdesk project expected to adorn some airports and other similar public locations across the country. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Monday, March 20, 2023
Niger Delta people: Lagos election, declaration of war against our people - ITREALMS
The Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND) has declared that the level of harassment and intimidation, and threat to lives of Ndigbo in Lagos is a declaration of war against their people, warning Yoruba warmongers that their peaceful nature and hospitality should not be taken for cowardice, reports ITREALMS.President General, Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND), Tiemo Pumokumo made this known and warned the definition of the Ndigbo in those attacks were targeted at non-indigenes of both South-East and South South among citizens from other parts of the country outside Yoruba land. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Wanted! Accurate education statistics in Nigeria - ITREALMS
Education data typically involves data compiled from schools on graduation rates, drop-out rates, test score averages, and the most vital – external examination performances.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Lagos ACOMIN holds dissemination meeting, reiterates focus on GC7 - ITREALMS
The Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has held its state dissemination meeting in Lagos with focus on the Grant Cycle 7 (GC7), reports ITREALMS.ACOMIN is the national network of civil society organizations working on the prevention, treatment and mitigation of the impact of malaria, and the promotion of immunization and better nutrition in Nigeria. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Tech leaders unveil non-partisan live-result viewing platform for gubernatorial elections - ITREALMS
Two Nigerian technology executives, Messrs Oo Nwoye, and Ozo Omosigho have launched Collate, an open and crowdsourced online result collation and viewing platform (ReV) built to aid transparency in the coming gubernatorial elections in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.
In the wake of the controversies that marked the result of Nigeria’s last presidential election, Collate aims to have a robust, documented and centralized data of all polling unit results in all states in real time. To achieve this, at least one electorate from all 176,846 polling units across the federation is required to pre-register on the platform before Saturday and upload election results at their polling unit in real time. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Exposed! Lagos school attempts cover up for suspending Ms Marvelous Barinada, over Peter Obi wrap - ITREALMS+video
Friday, March 17, 2023
Reno8 T Series debuts in Nigeria, as OPPO promises leveled-up experience - ITREALMS
OPPO Nigeria has launched the highly anticipated 'Portrait Expert,' the Reno8 T Series into the nation's telecoms market, reports ITREALMS.The virtual launch event which was streamed live on YouTube, was hosted by sensational host Jimmie Akinsola and featured Nollywood star Bimbo Ademoye and notable industry personalities – popular Tech YouTuber Eric Okafor and fast rising photographer August Udoh. Short URLs: goo.gl, mcaf.ee, cli.gs
Why 'GSM' deserves second term - ITREALMS
Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM) of Oyo State has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the state since assuming office on May 29th, 2019.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
5G networks are energy efficient says EVC Danbatta – ITREALMS
The Fifth Generation (5G) spectrum networks has been described as energy efficient, according to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, reports ITREALMS.
The EVC who was speaking at the 2023 commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day with the theme: “Empowering Consumers through Clean Energy Transition” in Abuja, said that NCC in keeping to its tradition, is poised to realising the theme for this year.
The theme, he said, is very relevant given that Nigeria's recent licensing of the 5G spectrum network, which Danbatta noted consumes twice as much energy as 4Gs, “although they are more energy-efficient per gigabyte.”
The EVC pointed out that with the recent licensing of the Fifth Generation (5G) spectrum, Nigeria will witness an increased deployment of telecom infrastructure to satisfy the wireless service coverage requirement for 5G services.
This anticipated growth in the number of 5G coverage, he said, will trigger high demand for data services which will result in increased energy consumption for the network infrastructure, especially the Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), Internet of Things (IoT), 5G Customer Premise Equipment (CPEs) and mobile devices for example.
“This requires the industry to look for green and sustainable power solutions required for the connectivity of IoT devices and network optimisation,” he said.
All over the globe, Prof. Danbatta explained that telecom companies are among the biggest energy users, as a result of the stiff industry competition which causes them to try to satisfy their consumers by providing higher-speed networks.
“With the rising utility costs, it is critical for companies to reconsider the sustainability of their operations by lowering the operational impact on the environment. This is more so because it has been found that implementing energy efficiency measures could potentially reduce the operating costs of telcos by up to 20 per cent,” he said.
Some of these energy-efficiency measures, he outlined to include the redesign of the Radio Access Networks (RAN) of Base Stations which were initially built to maximise connectivity, not energy efficiency.
“More than 75 per cent of the time, the radio base station resources remain unused because of the hardware components activated at all times to transmit system information and synchronisation and reference signals,” he said.
Stressing that to avoid waste heat, some of 5G’s newest RAN is equipped with an energy-saving measure allowing for the automatic switching of components.
He underscored the fact that some other energy efficiency measures could also include the use of renewable energy sources (hydrogen, wind, solar etc.) to supply the energy needed.