TECHDIGEST – Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner (NC) of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), has said that with the exponential rise in the processing of data online through satellite communications, appropriate mechanisms must be put in place to ensure adequate security, effective protection and regulated data processing in line with laid down legislations in Nigeria.

The National Commissioner who made this assertion during a working visit to Dr. Abimbola Alale, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), and her management team at the Space Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja noted that best practices that meet global standards in the protection of data must be adopted in satellite communications.

Olatunji said that with the redesignation of the supervisory Ministry to include Digital Economy and with the launch of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), relevant laws must be put in place to guarantee protection of data.

“The NDEPS is the roadmap for the digitization of the country and appropriate laws and regulations must be put in place to ensure protection of data in line with global standards bearing in mind local and international regulations to safeguard data of citizens”, he stated.

While commending the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Pantami for the giant stride he took in the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulations (NDPR), Olatunji disclosed that the industry is now worth over 4 billion naira with about 8000 people gainfully employed.

He added that the role of the Bureau is to ensure that data of Nigerians wherever they are is adequately protected and to ensure that all organizations in Nigeria comply with the provisions of the NDPR.

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Olatunji further mentioned that the Bureau was established to ensure the implementation of the NDPR to safeguard the rights, freedom and privacy of citizens as well as ensure that the country has a principal legislation in that regard.

The NDPB boss however noted that the Bureau was not out for sanctions but rather encourage organizations to comply with the provisions of the NDPR and make it a culture by default.

“We are out to create awareness on data protection for all data processors and data controllers to adopt and see as a norm so that the global community will see us as being serious when it comes to issue of data privacy and protection”, he averred.

Emphasizing on the importance of the awareness being created by the Bureau, he emphatically stated that data subjects need to know their rights in terms of consent, security, storage and cross border transfer of their data while at the same time enlightening data controllers on their obligations to data subjects.

“It is highly important that those in charge of data processing in organizations are sound enough to know what to do, how to do and the kind of measures they need to put in place in terms of organizational and technical measures to ensure the safety of data of their subjects”, he mentioned.

He then gave assurances of the Bureau’s support in terms of trainings, peer reviews and guidelines to NIGCOMSAT and urged them to comply with the provisions of the NDPR by annually filing their audit reports with NDPB.

Alale in her remark applauded the National Commissioner and his team for their proactive initiatives in ensuring the security of data in the country.

Affirming her support to the Bureau, Alale stated that NIGCOMSAT is already working on their data privacy audit report for the year which will be filed with the Bureau and promised to share the guidelines with their partners who in turn can be independently monitored by the Bureau.

“As we push forward the digital agenda of Nigeria, we should support one another and we at NIGCOMSAT pledge our support to you”, she said.

Source : Tech economy.ng

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TECHDIGEST – As Nigeria plans to launch a second satellite (Sat 2) into orbit to boost the nation’s satellite communication capacity, the federal government has charged the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) to inject more innovative ideas into its operations.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, who gave the advice during a one-day working visit to NIGCOMSAT in Lugbe Abuja, told the staff of the company that the innovation in the agency is not enough and needs to be improved upon.

Pantami charged them to turn the institution around in order to justify the suspension of the proposed privatization plan.

He said: ‘‘Core values should be the guiding principle that must be adopted without compromise, to ensure that any institution is successful.  You need to be customer-centric, discover the failure of services before they realize it, fix the problem and come up with innovative ideas. The innovation in the agency is not enough and needs to be improved upon

“You need to change your perception because you are not part of core civil servants, you are a company and should by far be above civil servants. One of the reasons our civil service has been failing is that feeling that we are government employees, we have nothing to lose and whatever happens, we will be paid our salaries.

‘‘There are other companies that are ready to come up and start providing similar services with you. The efforts made to stop privatization of NIGCOMSAT is for the good of the company and for the good of the country.’’

‘‘You need to turn things around through the unique and effective service you are able to provide and revenue you generate for government. It is a difficult task to revive an institution and make it very successful, that you must make. The challenge of reviving NIGCOMSAT is not just a necessity but an obligation for all the staff,’’ Pantami added.

On the planned launch of Nigeria’s second satellite, the Minister said, ‘‘since 2019, I have been so passionate about the success of NIGCOMSAT. Starting with the suspension of the privatization of NIGCOMSAT. As a matter of fact, I have secured the approval of Mr. President for purchasing another Satellite.

The Minister added that he had approved the establishment of some subsidiaries under NIGCOMSAT, as part of the ongoing effort to revive the institution back to the part of progress and productivity.
Speaking on the revolution in NITDA, Pantami said through innovative policies and implementation, he succeeded in raising NITDA revenue from N7 billion to N19 billion annually, an agency that was supposed to be scrapped according to Orosanaya Report.

‘‘We revived NITDA and the agency has become a reference point for any IT project.’’

On NIMC, he said they had also secured the approval of N25 billion for the agency infrastructure upgrade.

‘‘Look at NIMC and what we have achieved, the NIN environment since the inception of National Identity Card to 2020 when I assumed supervision of the commission even after billions have been spent was below 30 million, and this is direct enrollment without leveraging on any database.

‘‘Before I assumed supervision, the annual enrollment used to be around 1.5 to 2million but between October 2020 and December 2021, we increased the NIN environment by 30 million in using the obsolete infrastructure.

“Mr President has approved N25 billion for the infrastructure but till today, no money has been released from October 2020 to date but we are still doing the work. That is why thinking outside the box is necessary.

‘‘The achievement of this one year has been better than the previous 10 years and within that 10 years there was a time N100 billion was released but this one no single Kobo was released to us. As the DG of NITDA, I increased the revenue generation of NITDA from N7 billion annually to N19 billion. Leverage the opportunity and turn things around.

‘‘Before I became the Minister, there was an Orunsanye report that recommended that NITDA should be scrapped and that the IT clearance should be given to Galaxy Backbone but today nobody is talking about the scrapping of NITDA because the institution has turned things around.

‘‘If you turn things around, you will go back and sleep but if you fail, you will be struggling So the challenge is on your table, the earlier you use 2022 and make NIGCOMSAT better the better for all of you but if you fail to do that, many people are there waiting for me to go so that they can execute their agenda.
‘‘2022 is the best year for you to turn things around but if you fail to do that, it will be the worst year for you I don’t pray for that, I pray for the best for you but you must get your priority right,’’ he said.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Dr Abimbola Alale said the coming of the Minister has raised the hope and confidence of the staff and management of the agency through his unprecedented support and increase in yearly budgetary allocation.

She expressed delight for the support being given to the agency by the Minister and assured him that her staff would take up the new challenge and ensure that they deliver on the mandate given by the Minister.

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TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has set new Key Performance Index (KPI) for the management and staff of NigComSat Limited, stressing that such KPI when met, are capable of transforming the agency into an opportunity-driven entity capable of taking on risks in the fast-growing Nigerian ICT sector.

The Managing Director of NigComSat Limited, Dr. Abimbola Alale, disclosed this while unveiling two new subsidiary companies created within NigComSat, to stakeholders and channel partners, at the just concluded NigComSat Stakeholders’ Forum, with the theme, ‘NigComSat Limited: The Present and The Future.’

According to Dr. Abimbola, the KPI set by Minister has made NigComSat to be strategically positioned for potential opportunities and risks, hence the creation of operational structures to facilitate its business aspirations.

“As we strive to achieve our vision to be the leading satellite communication solutions provider in Nigeria and Africa, NigComSat in 2020, obtained approval to form two subsidiary companies (SUBCOs). Firstly is the Satellite Infrastructure Company (SIC) which, should provide satellite upstream services such as Transponder Leasing and In-orbit-Testing (IOT) services, Carrier Spectrum Management (CSM) services. Secondly, the Satellite Broadband and Broadcasting Company (SBBC) set to provide satellite downstream services such as broadband internet services, Broadcasting (DTH) services, amongst others,” she explained.

The Stakeholders’ Forum that held in Lagos gave NigComSat an opportunity to take stock of its achievements in the preceding years. It was also the perfect avenue for channel partners and stakeholders in the telecoms industry to review NIGCOMSAT’s performance and operations.

NigComSat is a key player in the Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP 2020-2025) as published by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari. The forum, thus, highlighted the contributions of NigComSat Limited as a national digital economy service infrastructure providing satellite communication solutions to an array of customers.

Speaking on the modest contributions of NigComSat Limited in the past years, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo extol the operations of the company and urged its debtors to endeavour to pay up within the stipulated time for services rendered.

“Satellite operations are key to telecommunications growth in the country, so NIGCOMSAT Ltd should be guided to succeed by all stakeholders,” said Engr. Adebayo.

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TECH DIGEST – The Nigerian Communications Commission is awaiting the Federal Government’s final decision on the deployment of the 5th Generation (5G) mobile network.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), made this known at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) on clearing of C-band for the deployment of 5G services on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that all the issues associated with the safety of the technology had been adequately addressed in the country.

“First of all, issues associated with the safety of this technology have been adequately addressed. Nigerians have been sensitised on the safety of this technology with regards to health the security dimension.

“We have gone to the government and very soon they will come up with a statement on the date for the deployment of 5G services because the policy is equally ready.

“So the information of the state of readiness as we can see is satisfactory. We have the policy, we have the resource for the deployment of 5G services in the country.

“We have mobile network operators that are willing to bid for the available spectrum that will be used for the deployment of this subs to Nigerians. So our state of readiness is really high indeed,” he said.

The EVC intimated that the next step was for the spectrum to be allocated to the NCC by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC), assuring that government would give approval for the utilisation of the spectrum to deploy 5G services in the country.

“Well, the next step is for the spectrum in question to be allocated to the NCC by the National Frequency Management Council which has the honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy as chair.

“The minister is aware about this signing of the MOU, he has given his blessing and therefore we are not envisaging any problem at the level of the national frequency Management Council.

“We are assured of getting the approval for the utilisation of the spectrum to deploy 5G services in the country,” he said.

Speaking further, he said that the 5G, would build on this momentum, bringing substantial network improvements, including higher connection speeds, mobility and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities.

“We are glad that the Management of NigComSat and NCC have taken a bold step in the right direction to release contagious quantum of Spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for early deployment of 5G.

Danbatta, however, said that the 3.4 GHz -3.9GHz arel the best frequency allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

He said that the C-band was most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70 per cent of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band.

He said this was the importance of the spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria and it cannot be over-emphasized.

According to him, amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity.
The two agencies have been in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of Satellite service offering because end user terminal are cheaper there,

While leaving the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz–9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use.

The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G Spectrum.”

“For optimal 5G service performance, an average of contiguous 100 MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an Operator.

“However in Nigeria, only 120 MHz of the band (3.4 – 3.52) GHz is available for mobile services while the remaining 680 MHz (3.52 – 4.2) GHz of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites”.

Dr Abimbola Alale, Director/General, NIGCOMSAT, appreciated all stakeholders that made the MoU a reality and added that she cannot thank them enough for their efforts. (NAN)

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