TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, professor Isa Ibrahim Pantami has assured the nation that Nigeria’s telecoms regulatory framework has been designed to address the challenges that may arrive with the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the country.

Pantami, who spoke at the twin event – Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Regulatory Roadmap for IoT Ecosystem in Nigeria, hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); and the presentation of two books authored by the Minister, declared that Nigeria has already exhibited its preparedness to harness the potentials of this new service, as demonstrated in the reduction in incidences of cybercrimes in Nigeria over the past two years.

He emphasised the need for the type of consultations and brainstorming being hosted for IoT, as the International Data Cooperation (IDC) revealed that, by 2025, there will be about 46.1 billion IoT devices that are going to be interconnected globally and through this connection, the data to be generated will be up to 79.4 zeta bites,” he stated.

At a gathering that featured presentations by local and international experts, with the Secretary General InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU), Mr Houlin Zhao, in virtual participation, Pantami said IoT is crucial to present-day emergent technologies considering its connectedness to devices in facilitating productivity, minimise waste as well as ensure a faster decision-making process where a massive amount of data can be analysed and presented for decision making.

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TECHDIGEST – African leaders have been called upon to emulate Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

This call was made by Mr Houlin Zhao, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), during the recent Public Presentation of two books authored by the Minister.

Delivering his remarks virtually at the event which held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, Nigeria, Mr Zhao while congratulating Professor Pantami for the laudable achievement, stated that “this is a unique achievement by a unique individual and I do not know many people who are as dedicated and passionate about their endeavours as he is. I call on other African policy makers to emulate him by documenting their knowledge and experiences so we can all share and benefit from it”.

READ ALSO: Pantami Unveils Books on Datafication and Cybersecurity at Emerging Technologies Forum

Houlin Zhao, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), speaking virtually during Pantami’s book presentation.

He further remarked that “Africa should not just be a continent that always requires international aid but should also provide direction to the global community in the field of ICT” adding that “I agree with the Honourable Minister that Africa should not miss out on the fourth Industrial Revolution as it is equipped with the resources to provide direction”.

He also used the opportunity to express the ITU’s gratitude to and satisfaction with the leadership and initiatives the Honourable Minister has brought to bear as the Chairman World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum as its chairman.

Recall that the Honourable Minister is currently the sitting Chairman of the Forum since his appointment in June 2022.

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TECHDIGEST – The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, will publicly unveil two of his recent books at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies, coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The Forum will take place on Thursday, the 14th of July 2022, from 8am at the Sheraton Hotel, Maryland, Lagos.

The first book is titled “Datafication of Society to Foster an Internet Economy” and the foreword was written by the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao. Mr Zhao has had a long distinguished career at the ITU and has served as the Secretary-General since 2014. The International Telecommunication Union is the oldest UN agency and is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.

The second book is titled “Cybersecurity Initiatives for Securing a Country”, with the foreword written by the President of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Professor Mike Hinchey.

Professor Hinchey is a professor of software engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland and was previously Director of the Software Engineering Laboratory at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, United States of America. He was the leading graduating student during his undergraduate studies and he had his post-graduate studies at both Oxford University and Cambridge University.

Emerging technologies are playing a vital role in the development of digital economies around the globe.

READ ALSO: Pantami Unveils Book On Digital Innovation For Economic Prosperity In Nigeria

The two books of the Honourable Minister emphasize key aspects of emerging technologies, namely datafication and cybersecurity. With respect to datafication, it shows how data- its generation, processing and use play a critical role in determining success in the digital economy.

The book on cybersecurity discusses the importance of cybersecurity in protecting data and infrastructure to secure the digital economy of countries. Mr. Zhao and Prof Hinchey, both renowned global ICT personalities will serve as special guests at the public presentation.

The presentation of the books will take place during the Annual Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies.

Professor Mike Hinchey will deliver the keynote address at the event. Other speakers include Dr. Soglo of Intel, United States of America (USA), Levin Born McCall of Regent Square Group, USA, Engr Richard Ogbuji, Chrema Technologies, Nigeria and other notable speakers.

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TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami bringing a great and positive light to Nigeria was appointed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the Chairman of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) forum 2022.

The WSIS Forum 2022 began in a virtual format on 15 March, while the final week was held physically with augmented remote participation from 30 May to 3 June 2022 at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme of ICTs for Well-Being, Inclusion, and Resilience.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2022 (WTISD-22) puts the spotlight on “Digital technologies for older persons and healthy aging”, also called digital ageism, reflecting a defining demographic trend of the 21st century.

Digital ageism plays a significant role in the perception that older adults are less mentally and physically competent, and incapable of adapting to new technologies that could otherwise improve their overall health and well-being.

According to ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, “Digital technologies are a crucial factor for everyone’s healthy ageing”.

Technology has fueled a slew of societal, medical, and technological trends that have become ingrained in people’s daily lives. There is no doubt that technology improves and fills gaps in the healthcare delivery system.

However, there are still barriers to older adults using technology that must be considered and addressed. Several older adults are skeptical and intimidated by technological change. This mindset is frequently accompanied by self-doubt and anxiety, which prevents them from experimenting with new technology.

The internet has negative consequences. Its vast amount of information empowers users. But, for older people who are just getting started with the internet, information overload can be frightening. When seniors gain access to the internet, going online becomes a part of their daily routine.

About 75 percent of older adults with internet access say they use it daily. The advancement of new technologies will benefit healthy ageing and longevity by allowing people of all ages to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

A few technological innovations have been used to keep people physically active, enable independent living by detecting falls, smart home technology, early detection of diseases and management of disease conditions, maintenance of social connections by reducing social isolation, and continued participation in the workforce.

The coronavirus pandemic exemplifies how quickly seniors learned the ins and outs of new technologies to stay connected with loved ones by using FaceTime, hosting meetings on Zoom, and participating in telemedicine calls with physicians.

It is noteworthy that with a little guidance and practice, older persons will be able to master any technology they desire.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also demonstrated that older adults require a comfortable relationship with technology, as evidenced by the difficulty many have had in registering for vaccines online and the way technology has helped mitigate loneliness during a difficult time.

The development of home-based technologies to make life easier, safer, and more interesting for older adults is a major focus for psychologists in the area.

So, many IT firms are at the forefront of this research, bringing together faculty and students from community health, psychology, engineering, architecture, public health, and other fields to design and research technologies for successful ageing.

Technology has the enormous potential to improve people’s lives. Potentially, using technology helps you save money and time while also allowing you to easily connect with loved ones to revisit the past.

Although people of different ages may find different uses for technology, senior citizens, like other demographics, can benefit from technological advancements. Consider how much good you can do by teaching seniors about technology.

The advantages extend beyond just lessons to demonstrating your love for them. And the seniors will appreciate your efforts to teach them about technology.

Fom Gyem
Wuye District, Abuja

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TECHDIGEST – First multi-stakeholder initiative to address global mobile internet access gap has been launched by Vodafone Group and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as co-chairs via a dedicated Working Group under the auspices of the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.

A major new initiative has been launched by Vodafone Group Plc and ITU, the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies, to address the global digital divide, with the aim that an additional 3.4 billion people could have the ability to access and use the internet through a smartphone by 2030.

With mobile broadband (4G) networks now covering 82% of the population of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), the mobile usage gap is 6x larger than the mobile coverage gap.

In line with the Broadband Commission Global Targets 2025 on affordability and connectivity, the new Working Group will identify policy, commercial and circular-economy interventions to increase smartphone access.

Co-chaired by Nick Read, Vodafone Group CEO, and Houlin Zhao, ITU secretary-general the Group’s launch partners also include: the Alliance for Affordable Internet; GSMA; the government of Ghana; Safaricom; Smart Africa; Vodacom Group; and the World Wide Web Foundation.

Mobile accounts for 86% of connections to the internet in LMICs, emphasising the importance of mobile in addressing this issue. Yet billions of people continue to use ‘dumb’ feature phones, without an internet connection, and the 2G market continues to grow.

That means the digital divide is widening as the global pandemic has accelerated the emergence of digital societies and smartphones are increasingly an essential gateway to access public services – including education and medical support – financial services, jobs and to run businesses.

Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone Group, said: “Vodafone is honoured to be part of this monumental global initiative with the UN, to improve the lives of billions of people through smartphone access. As our societies become more digital, everyone should have the ability to find jobs, be able to get public services, financial services and critical information that are increasingly only available through the internet. This is such a complex challenge that no network operator, device manufacturer, financial services provider or national government can solve on their own – but working together we can break through the barriers.”

Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group said: “We are aware of the many different socio-economic complexities and dynamics which continue to prevent universal digital access in modern society, which should be a right and not a privilege. The pledge by the United Nations, Vodafone Group Plc and the ITU to increase smartphone access for 3.4 billion people around the world is timely and important. As Vodacom works to connect the next 100 million African people through its Africa.Connected campaign, we look forward to supporting Vodafone’s ambition to ensure that no one is excluded from the global digital economy, and may enjoy access to education, jobs, public and financial services.”

Houlin Zhao, Secretary General of the ITU, said: “Achieving the Broadband Commission Global Targets requires a multi-stakeholder approach. I am pleased to co-chair this newly established Working Group, which will also help address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that we put smart devices in the hands of those who are left behind.”

Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, said: “The UN Secretary General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation aims to achieve universal connectivity by 2030.

Smartphone access is a key element of this in low- and middle-income countries where mobile is the principal route to the internet. As such, this working group can have an important role in ensuring that the shift to digital technology is beneficial and makes our societies more equal and not less.”

The Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ghana, said: “While Ghana and other countries have made great strides in the development of mobile infrastructure and the usage of digital services such as mobile money, it is noticeable that 45% of people in West Africa are covered by mobile broadband networks but do not use the internet. Addressing the mobile internet usage gap is vital for the long-term economic development of my country and many others across the world and will require new partnerships and focused action from a range of organisations.”

The Broadband Commission Working Group will produce a report and set of concrete recommendations including:

original analysis and data on the smartphone access gap;
quantification of the social and economic impact of providing everyone with smartphone access by 2030, including assessment of moving users from 2G feature phones to 4G smartphones; and
analysis of initiatives or pilots designed to increase smartphone access. Vodafone Group has committed to launch two pilot projects on device affordability as part of this process.

“This partnership is key to expand access to the internet,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “I am confident that the outcome report will provide guidance to all our stakeholders as we prepare for the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2022 to build a world where no one is left off-line.”

To coincide with the creation of the new Working Group, Vodafone, Vodacom and Safaricom have also published the second ‘Africa.Connected’ report today on accelerating 4G for sub-Saharan Africa.

The report, by independent consultancy Caribou Digital, suggests a multi-stakeholder approach with four key steps to enhancing digital inclusion across African nations, where the mobile usage gap is the largest in the world:

Making 4G devices more accessible – Nearly 2.5 billion people live in countries where the cost of the cheapest available smartphone is unaffordable. Expanding device financing schemes for those with poor or no credit history; reducing the amount of tax on 4G smartphone imports and increasing local manufacturing of devices within Africa are suggested as ways to address this issue.

Invest in the demand for 4G services – 375 million young Africans are expected to enter the labour market by 2030 and will need the skills to excel in a digital economy. The report suggests increasing financing and support for digital start-ups and that device manufacturers could create more inclusive products.

Providing targeted financing for underserved demographics – Programmes need to take account of, and target, the large gender gap and rural-urban gap that exist in respect of device ownership in sub-Saharan Africa.

Re-farming 2G spectrum – Repurposing mobile spectrum currently used for 2G devices would enable more people to use 4G.

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TECH DIGEST – The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has expressed worry over what it described as Internet connectivity gaps, which has persist in rural areas, particularly in least developed countries (LDCs).

Referring to a new report titled ‘Measuring Digital Development: facts and Figures 2020’, the ITU noted that despite virtually all urban areas in the world covered by a mobile-broadband network, 17 per cent of the rural population live in areas with no mobile coverage at all, and 19 per cent of the rural population is covered by only a 2G network.

“How much longer can we tolerate the significant gap in household connectivity between urban and rural areas,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

He argued that in the age of Covid-19, where so many are working and studying from home, this edition of Measuring Digital Development: Facts and figures sends the clear message that accelerating infrastructure roll-out is one of the most urgent and defining issues of our time.

A 2019 data had revealed that, globally about 72 per cent of households in urban areas has access to the Internet at home, almost twice as much as in rural areas (38 per cent).

Meanwhile, the report has disclosed that not surprisingly, Internet use is consistently more widespread among young people, irrespective of region or level of development. Whereas just over half of the total global population is using the Internet, the proportion of Internet use increases to almost 70 per cent among young people aged 15-24 years.

In LDCs, 38 per cent of youth are using the Internet, whereas the overall share of people using it, including youth, stands at 19 per cent. In developed countries, virtually all young persons are using the Internet, while the highest youth/overall ratio is present in Asia and the Pacific.

The report also revealed that roll-out of infrastructure to aid mobile broadband networks has been slowed in 2020. Between 2015 and 2020, 4G network coverage doubled globally and almost 85 per cent of the global population will be covered by a 4G network at the end of 2020.

Yet, annual growth has been slowing down gradually since 2017, and 2020 coverage is only 1.3 percentage points higher than 2019.

In addition to infrastructure roll-out, the digital gender divide, lack of digital skills and affordability continue to be major barriers to meaningful participation in a digital society, especially in the developing world where mobile telephony and Internet access remain too expensive for many.

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TECH DIGEST – Two Nigerians, Ikechukwu Umezurumba and Dominic Nwaogu, are among the 20 winners of the 2020 International Telecommunication Union’s Innovation Challenge.

A statement from the union said they were honoured at the 2020 edition of the ITU Global Innovation Forum held virtually.

The statement titled ‘ITU 2020 Global Innovation Forum highlights the importance of entrepreneurship-driven innovation in the context of a global pandemic’ said seven winning projects from the winners were pitched to a global audience of experts.

It stated that 12 women and eight men received awards across three challenge categories: the digital change-maker, ecosystem best practice, and women in tech.

Tafadzwa Chikwereti (Zimbabwe), Carlos Reyes (United States), Mojca Rehar (France), Ikechukwu Umezurumba (Nigeria), James Gachara Kiruri (Kenya), and Thomas Müller (South Africa) won the digital change-maker challenge category.

In the category of the ecosystem best practice challenge, the following contenders won: Dominic Nwaogu (Nigeria), Diana Artiom (Moldova), Nahel Amirah (Egypt), Ivana Kostic (Serbia), Galina Dremova (Russia), Wilda Romadona (Indonesia), Laila Al Hadhrami (Oman), Zainab Khan (Pakistan), and Franca Vinci (Italy).

The winners of the women in tech challenge category are: Nindya Pasaribu (Indonesia), Calister Simba (Tanzania), Achia Nila (Bangladesh), Rani Mutiarawati (Indonesia), and Nabuyuni Sankan (Kenya).

Speaking at the forum, the ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, noted that supporting entrepreneurship-driven innovation had never been more important as innovation pushes the boundaries of what was possible.

He said, “It creates jobs, economic growth, and new ways to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. ICT innovators need access to the resources to take their ideas to market and access to a well-developed broadband infrastructure.”

The telecoms union noted that while digital technologies had the potential to change lives and significantly accelerate sustainable development, many communities lacked access to an enabling environment.

This, according to the ITU, is because key stakeholders often fail to understand, develop and renew the competitive practices that fuel digital transformation.

The union stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had created additional challenges for countries’ transition to a digital economy by negatively affecting socio-economic conditions worldwide.

During the event, about 175 experts in innovation, entrepreneurship and technology discussed how to accelerate digital transformation in their communities, mainstream entrepreneurship and find resources required for digital innovation, and bring resource, problem and solution owners together.

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