1. Nigeria:
Defence Minister urges ICT stakeholders to develop software solution for
national challenges
The Defence Minister, Dr. Bello Mohammed has
called on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts to develop
software solution that will urgently tackle insecurity in Nigeria.He made this known at a Defense Sector ICT Forum organized recently by Ministry of Communications Technology and Galaxy Backbone. The minister described the current national challenges facing the country in the area of security, as a call for all ICT stakeholders to task themselves to come up with realistic solutions.
The forum tagged: "Integrated ICT Framework for the Defense Sector: An Imperative for National Security" could not have come at a better time in the history of our country, the minister asserted.
Dr. Bella Mohammed stated: "We are at a watershed in the history of our nation. When a nation is at a crossroads, it is time to break barriers and leap to higher grounds. The reason is because every nation is a bundle of talent, intellect and creativity. These inner resources are hardly exploited or harnessed to the full except there are challenges".
He however pointed out that all stakeholders must work together to evolve new ways of doing things and build capacity in modern information and communications technology.
The minister assured the people that the ministry of defense would support policy initiatives that could help the country benefit from a pool of ICT resources, information, knowledge, intelligence and technologies.
2. Tech experts to converge at 2nd edition of Ghana’s ONLINE 2012 Fair
Event organisers PopOut, are ready to kick off the second edition of the Online conference and fair set to hold in Ghanaian capital Accra, April 5, 2012.
This event themed “Connecting Businesses with Innovative Ideas” will be a convergence of Technology expert with the aim of growing the business of technology in Ghana, Africa and beyond.
It will feature guest speakers who will share their expertise on carefully-selected and locally-relevant industry themes to update participantson current developments in the industry.
Speakers at the event include Mr Roy Singham, founder and chairman of UK-based ThoughtWorks Incorporated; Mr Herman Chinery–Hesse, a man described by many as the Bill Gates of Africa; Mr Kris Senanu, Managing Director of Access Kenya Group; Mr Bright Simons, Managing Director m-Pedigree and Mr Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, CEO of the Ghana Telecommunication Chamber.
According to Mr Maximus Ametorgoh, PopOut MD, Information Communication and Technology is a fast growing industry in Ghana. It is however necessary to guide the growing industry by engaging government, stakeholders, partners and practitioners collectively to deliberate on how to push forward this frontier.
Online 2012 will feature localized content, showcase global technologies, and engage experts in the industry.
3. Netpage Selects Airspan Networks for First 4G Network Deployment in Gambia
Airspan Networks Inc. has announced that Net page, a large Gambian ISP, has selected its 4G solutions to provide the first 4G network in Gambia. This is to fulfill their objective of providing high-speed broadband connectivity to local residents and businesses.
The network operates in the 2.3 GHz frequency band and leverages Airspan’s flagship macro base station, Air4G.
Air4G allows Netpage to offer customers a high-level connectivity experience with unique features like MIMO and advanced antenna techniques. Expansion plans are already in place for full nationwide coverage.
Despite the competition, Netpage maintains a strong foothold as one of the five main Internet Service Providers in the country. This new 4G deployment, the first of its kind in Gambia, is allowing Netpage to expand their business offering with wider coverage, higher-speed connections and mobility.
“Gambia has been very fortunate to avoid much of the economic turmoil experienced by the rest of the world, this stability has enabled us to leverage the economic situation and help deliver faster and more dependable Internet connectivity to our country,” stated Simon Abraham, CEO of Netpage. “We are extremely proud to be the first 4G network providers in the country and are very pleased with the performance and expertise delivered by Airspan Networks.”
Netpage is providing customers with a variety of user devices like small indoor, desktop, self-install units as well as outdoor units mounted by professionals to maximize range.
4. MainOne Cable company has transformed Ghana ICT
MainOne Cable Company, a provider of broadband Internet services revealed that it has transformed the dynamics of the entire Ghana ICT industry. This statement was made at a forum it hosted recently to show appreciation to its customers and other enterprises in Ghana..
Mr Joseph Odoi , Country Manager for MainOne, said the forum was an avenue to express appreciation to MainOne customers who have helped in numerous ways to deepen broadband penetration in Ghana.
He said, Internet penetration in the country had increased five per cent from 5.2 per cent in 2010 to about 10 per cent in 2011. “This is largely due to the efforts of our partners who have contributed immensely to the growth of MainOne in our almost two years of operations. No matter how innovative a company might be or how affordable its products and services are, without the pivotal support and cooperation of customers, the survival of such company would be threatened,” Mr Odoi revealed.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Zipnet Broadband Wireless Services, Mr Ernest Brown, said: “MainOne is doing a good job in terms of costumer connectivity. With our last providers, we constantly had to chase them before we could discuss technical issues that affected us. With MainOne, they are the ones doing the chasing, and they ensure that they engage us at least once every month to address our challenges.”
They also pointed out that prior to connection to MainOne Cable, the company experienced challenges bordering on quality, pricing and frequent outage but steps were taken to resolve it.
5. Stakeholders should implement e-libraries in Ghana -Tema Librarian
Tema Metropolitan Librarian, Mr Winfred Monu has called on stakeholders in the education industry to help implemement e-libraries in the 53 public libraries across Ghana. in the country to acquire the needed logistics for the implementation of e-libraries.
He said the stakeholder need to acquire the needed logistics to achieve this as benefits of e-libraries cannot be underestimated. The e-library would be beneficial to on-line students, since all the information they need for research would be available, making it less time-consuming.
Mr Monu said it is about time Ghana gets e-library facilities, to allow the public libraries to acquire latest editions of reference books and magazines. This would cut down on the cost of acquiring books by the Ghana Library Authority (GLA).
The Librarian said he solicited funds from some companies in the metropolis to put up a 30-seater internet café to encourage students to learn how to extract information from the World Wide Web.
He revealed that his outfit is planning to educate Information Communication Technology (ICT) teachers in the metropolis. The facility would also be made available to schools that lack the needed equipment for their ICT training.
He, therefore, appealed to philanthropists and other public-spirited organisations to provide more computers and internet connectivity devices to the metropolitan Library to make the dream a reality.
He however lamented that his outfit faced challenges like the lack of fence wall, which has opened the premises to the nefarious activities of hooligans, while stray animals also disturb clients who patronise the library.
