In this video, we will explore the evolution of telecommunication from its early beginnings to modern-day technologies.

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Firms Partner To Reduce Cyberattacks | Edtech Accelerator Program | Opportunities In 5G Technology | Agfunder Inviting Agritech Startups | Healthtech Startup Raises $1.65M Investment

Firms partner to reduce cyberattacks – Punch News

Mastercard has partnered with NowNow, a Nigerian digital payment startup to help small and medium-size enterprises to reduce the risk of cyberattacks. According to the firm, there has been a leap in cybercrimes recently.

It stated that SMEs were the main target for cybercriminals since they do not have the resources to help themselves defend against breaches. It said as part of its Start Path Global Programme, it would provide NowNow with operational support, commercial engagement, and the opportunity for strategic investment.

The Executive Vice President, Product Optimisation and Customer Advancement, Cyber and Intelligence at Mastercard, Paul Trueman, said, “As Mastercard brings the next billion people into the digital economy, it is vital that business owners feel as secure and safe from cybercrime as possible. “Our partnership with NowNow is key to achieving this. Whether large or small, businesses deserve the peace of mind to operate knowing that they are being kept safe.” Read more here

CcHUB launches a $15M edtech accelerator program to support startups – TechinAfrica

LAfrica’s biggest innovation hub, Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), has started “The Edtech Fellowship Program,” a $15 million accelerator program. A statement from the company says that it will back and help 72 startups in Nigeria and Kenya for the next three years.

The program’s goal is to increase the impact of edtech startups and help founders who use technology to improve learning in an education sector with many problems.

This report says that about 98 million children and young people don’t attend school in the sub-Saharan region. This is where most children don’t go to school. Even for people in school, the quality of education is terrible. This makes teaching a good place for edtech startups to grow in the region.

The fellowship program will focus on startups in Nigeria and Kenya, two of the continent’s biggest edtech markets. It will pay for solutions beyond tutorial apps and platforms focusing on rote learning. The program will also give startups access to $100,000 in startup capital to use during the program.

The company wants to help edtech startups by giving them access to shared resources like a product development team, government relations team, pedagogy and learning science team, portfolio management team, communication team, instructional design team, and community building team. Read more here

Exploring opportunities in 5G technology –  TheGuardian

With higher multi-Gbps maximum data speeds of up to 10 Gbps, ultra-low latency, increased reliability, massive network capacity, and increased availability, 5G will drive innovation across every sector, industry and transform everything, as we know it. What does this mean for Nigerians and how will it impact our lives, from the software developer based in Lagos to the grandma in the depths of Makurdi.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.  5G is able to accelerate the democratisation of inclusive and affordable access to quality education, thus leveling the playing field between children in remote villages and children in cities. 5G can help transform education in Nigeria, as students will be able to download learning materials faster and collaborate in real-time. Medical students are not excluded from this educational experience. They can use augmented reality (AR) to dissect cadavers and diagnose illnesses, among other things. Indeed, 5G technology will advance the educational sector in Nigeria by bringing abstracts to life and introducing a new way of seeing the world. Read more here

GROW Impact Accelerator invites applications from African agritech startups – Tech Gist Africa

The GROW Impact Accelerator is currently accepting applications from agri-tech startups based in Africa. New foodtech and agtech firms that are attempting to solve some of the world’s most pressing sustainability issues are being given a huge boost by the GROW Impact Accelerator, which is funded by AgFunder. The accelerator program intends to hasten the development of several solutions for the manner in which we produce, process, package, transport, eat, and discard our food.

GROW believes that founders should receive comprehensive support; businesses succeed when their founders have the commercial, technical, and professional assistance they require to prosper. Founders can tailor their experience within the program’s cohort-based framework by choosing from a variety of thematic “streams.”

The GROW framework questions your value proposition and business model to make sure they are robust, customer-focused, and scalable. Read more here

Healthtech startup, Envisionit Deep AI, raises $1.65M investment – Ripples News

Female-led healthtech startup, Envisionit Deep AI, has raised a $1.65 million investment from New GX Ventures. The female founder, Dr. Jaishree Naidoo, who was in charge of pediatric radiology at a South African hospital, confirmed the funding in a statement on Friday.

The funding follows closely after the startup emerged as the Southern Africa regional winner at the African Startup Awards. New GX Ventures SA is a joint venture between New GX Capital, RMB Ventures, and GIIG Africa. Read more here

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Say goodbye to buffering, lag and slow internet speeds as the future of wireless communication undergoes a revolutionary change. The arrival of 5G means faster, more reliable and secure connectivity, opening up a world of possibilities and changing how we work, live, and play. From smart cities to virtual and augmented reality experiences, the future of 5G is poised to revolutionise the world as we know it. So, buckle up and prepare for a journey into the future of 5G, where predictions and possibilities collide in a technological revolution, unlike anything we’ve seen before.

The fifth generation of mobile networks, or 5G, has been in the making for years and is finally a reality. 5G represents a significant step forward in wireless communication, providing faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections than previous generations. With these advancements, 5G has the potential to transform not just the world of telecommunications but also a wide range of industries and applications.

The first 5G networks are already being rolled out, with countries worldwide competing to be the first to embrace this new technology fully. But what does the future of 5G look like, and what can we expect from this new generation of mobile networks? In this article, we’ll explore some of the predictions and possibilities for the future of 5G.

Increased Speed and Reduced Latency

One of the key benefits of 5G is increased speed and reduced latency. In simple terms, this means that 5G networks will allow for faster and more responsive connections, making it possible to transfer more data faster. This will be especially useful for real-time communication applications, such as virtual and augmented reality experiences.

The increased speed and reduced latency of 5G networks will also make it possible to transfer large amounts of data, such as high-definition video and audio, in a matter of seconds. This will have a profound impact on the way we consume media and communicate with each other. It will also open up new business opportunities, such as remote collaboration and telemedicine.

IoT and M2M Communication

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the fastest-growing technology trends of recent years, with millions of connected devices already in use worldwide. 5G networks will provide the bandwidth and low latency needed to support the many devices that will be connected in the future. This will open up new automation and data collection possibilities in various industries, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare.

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication is also set to become much more widespread with the advent of 5G. M2M refers to the direct communication between devices without the need for human intervention. This will enable automating processes and improving efficiency in various applications, such as supply chain management, smart homes, and autonomous vehicles.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) technologies are set to become much more accessible and usable with the advent of 5G. The increased speed and reduced latency of 5G networks will make it possible to run VR and AR applications in real time without the lag and delay that can be experienced with current technologies.

This will open up new gaming, entertainment, education, and training opportunities. For example, virtual reality training simulations could become a standard for industries such as medicine and the military, allowing for more realistic and interactive training experiences. Augmented reality could also become a mainstream tool for navigation, retail, and advertising, among other applications.

Smart Cities and Infrastructure

Smart cities are becoming more common, and 5G networks will play a key role in their development. With the increased speed and low latency of 5G, it will be possible to connect a broader range of devices and sensors, creating a more comprehensive and interconnected intelligent city infrastructure. This will enable the monitoring and managing city services in real-time, such as traffic flow, energy usage, and waste management.

Smart cities will also benefit from the increased speed and reliability of 5G networks, making it more efficient to run critical applications, such as emergency services and autonomous vehicles. This will help improve citizens’ quality of life and make cities more sustainable, efficient, and safe.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite the many exciting possibilities of 5G, several challenges must be addressed. One of the biggest challenges is the limited range of 5G signals. Unlike previous generations of mobile networks, 5G requires more small cell towers to be deployed, and the signals don’t travel as far as in previous generations. As a result, extensive infrastructure development will be needed to support widespread 5G deployment.

Another challenge is the cost of deploying 5G networks and the devices needed to use them. 5G devices are expected to be more expensive than current 4G devices, and the cost of upgrading to 5G networks may be substantial for both consumers and businesses.

There are also concerns about the security of 5G networks, with some experts warning that the increased speed and interconnectivity of 5G could make networks more vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks. So again, this issue will need to be addressed to ensure the safe and secure use of 5G networks.

Conclusion

5G represents a significant step forward in wireless communication and has the potential to transform a wide range of industries and applications. The increased speed, reduced latency, and improved reliability of 5G networks will make it faster to transfer more data and support the growing number of connected devices. This will open up new opportunities for businesses, governments, and consumers and could lead to the development of smart cities, virtual and augmented reality experiences, and more.

However, several challenges must be addressed, such as the limited range of 5G signals, the cost of deploying 5G networks and devices, and the security of 5G networks. Addressing these challenges will be critical to the widespread adoption and success of 5G.

In conclusion, the future of 5G is exciting and full of possibilities, but it is also full of challenges that must be addressed. Whether 5G lives up to its full potential will depend on how effectively these challenges are managed and how widely the technology is adopted. Nevertheless, the future of 5G is an exciting and rapidly-evolving area, and it will be interesting to see how it develops and impacts our lives over the next decade.

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The telephone

The telephone was developed in the mid-1800s, leading to the development of a worldwide radio and satellite communication network. On March 7, 1876, Bell was granted his telephone patent. A few days later, he made the first-ever telephone call to Watson, allegedly uttering the now-famous phrase, “Mr Watson, come here. I want you.”

“On February 12, 1877, Bell made the first long-distance phone call from the Lyceum in Salem to Watson at the Boston Globe in Boston. The phone Bell was using in his demonstration was what he called his ‘Long Distance’ telephone. It was a wooden box about ten inches-by-ten-by-eight with a hole in the front.

The first transatlantic radio message

The first transatlantic radio message was sent in 1901. Guglielmo Marconi sent the message from Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, Canada. He did this with the help of his assistant Charles Samuel Franklin and two assistants from Newfoundland. This achievement, the first reception of transatlantic radio signals, led to considerable scientific and technological advances.

Radio has advanced a lot since then!

The Apollo transponder

In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were the first three people to walk on the moon in 1969. They were part of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. The Apollo Unified S-Band Transponder, designed and built by General Dynamics, was the only communications link the Apollo 11 Astronauts had to NASA’s mission control and millions of people watching on Earth, approximately 30,000 miles away.

The first mobile phones

The first mobile phones were called car phones because they were large enough to mount in the back seat of a car. They were also expensive, with monthly rates exceeding $100 per month in 1973 dollars (more than $650 today). Most people used them only for talking to others in the same car (or at least within earshot), so it’s safe to say that most weren’t using our cell phones for long-distance communication.

The GPS

The global positioning system, a network of satellites used for navigation and locating things on earth, was launched by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1989.

As documented by WIRED, the first of 24 satellites that will make up the global positioning system was put into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1989. GPS revolutionised navigation at sea and land by providing position reports with unprecedented, pinpoint accuracy. Each satellite is placed in a specific orbit at a particular altitude to ensure that four or five satellites are always within range from any point on the planet. A GPS receiver picks up satellite signals and trilaterates the data to fix the position. Besides navigation, GPS has applications in mapmaking, land-surveying and the accurate telling of time. The U.S. Department of Defense has maintained the GPS and has been available since 1993 without charge to anyone, anywhere on Earth.

Internet usage explodes

As reported by Encyclopedia.com, by 1996, the Internet had exploded, with more than 10 million hosts online worldwide. Approximately 40 million people were “surfing the net,” and e-commerce (the transaction of business over the Web) was booming, with more than $1 billion being spent annually on Internet shopping.

But even with all of these concerns, the Internet continued to grow. Each year brought innovations and new ways of navigating and using the Net. All over the world, people realised the potential of the Internet. Many employees no longer had to drive to work; telecommuting allowed them direct access to the office while working from home. Students and researchers could access vast quantities of information from universities, libraries, and scientific institutions with the click of a mouse.

By 1998 the two-millionth domain name had been registered. The Internet had become a multibillion-dollar industry, with consumers gaining the confidence to shop for everything from books to boats online. Projections at the end of 1999 predicted sales to jump into the trillions of dollars in the twenty-first century.

The power of the Internet and the World Wide Web cannot be ignored. No other technology has made information accessible and changed the scope of business, entertainment, and society. It has absorbed print, moving images, and sound to create a multimedia explosion that stretches around the globe.

More benefits

Advances in telecommunication led to some pretty cool things, like GPS and being able to get a pizza delivered to space!

Since telecommunication is a broad term describing the transmission of information over long distances by electronic means, it’s not surprising that it has led to many advances in technology and business. Before telecommunication, you couldn’t order a pizza from space or find out where your friends were at any given moment. These days, there are even more uses for telecommunication than ever before: you can use your phone to talk to people who aren’t nearby; you can call up an auto mechanic and ask them how much they charge per hour; you could get directions from Google Maps; you can check the weather forecast for tomorrow…and so on! It’s safe to say that these things wouldn’t be possible without advancements in telecommunication.

Telecommunications also led directly (or indirectly) to many businesses being created, making money through their services or products related to telecommunications. For example, cell phone companies like Verizon Wireless provide services like voice calls over wireless channels using cellular networks; internet service providers such as Comcast Cable Communications offer broadband connections via cable television lines; satellite TV providers Dish Network Corp., DirecTV Group Inc., AT&T Inc.’s U-verse service all broadcast television programming via satellite dishes connected directly into users’ homes; companies like Amazon Web Services provide cloud computing platforms on which anyone online may rent virtual servers.

So tell me this: Would our lives be any different if we hadn’t made those giant leaps forward regarding how quickly we could communicate with each other over long distances via electronic means (i.e., telecommunication)?

Conclusion

Advances in telecommunication have made our world smaller, allowing us to communicate with people on other continents and even reach out into space. The future of telecommunication looks bright; with more innovations like cloud computing, virtual reality and augmented reality, the 5G network and WiFi 6 will boost data transfer speed and range and connect more devices. AI technology will provide new ways to enhance network maintenance and predictive maintenance. Internet of Things is enabling communication between people and devices. And many more.

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The Nigerian transport, distribution and logistics industry has grown very slowly for so many years. However, it is expected to experience a 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) growth. The slow growth that the industry has experienced in the past few years is mainly due to poor infrastructure and logistical issues. There are also issues relating to congestion on roads and delay in customs procedures.

As a result, in 2018, the country ranked 145 of 190 countries in the ease of doing business index and 112 in the 2018 Logistics Performance Index. The recent growth in the Nigerian logistics industry is sparked by significant infrastructural developments in Airways and Railways, growth in the e-commerce sector, developing export and manufacturing sector and improvement in ties with other countries.

Examples of the use of technology

There has been a steady rise in Nigeria’s logistics companies and ride-hailing apps. This rise is primarily related to the technologically induced growth that the e-commerce sector has experienced. It is now possible to track the location of goods on the move on mobile devices.

Different components of data warehousing, data mining, e-retailing and e-commerce, all essential operational elements for the logistics industry, are actively redefined by technology.

Benefits of technological development

Despite still being in its developmental stage in Nigeria, the logistics industry remains one of its fastest-growing industries. As of 2018, the Nigerian logistics sector was valued at 250 billion naira, which is a 50 billion naira rise from its value in 2017. The rapid growth can be attributed to technological innovations of the past decades and how they have opened the industry for growth.

Also, in the last decade, online shopping has become a part of Nigeria and has changed how Nigerians shop. Platform providers for online shopping have provided Nigerians with seamless and easy access to international and local items, including food, books, clothes, toiletries, furniture and electronics. Online shopping alone in 2019 generated $4.88 million in revenue with 20.5% CAGR expected growth for 2019-2023; this would result in a $10.2 million market volume by 2023.

The trends of online shopping in 2019 showed the fashion industry to be the leading arm with user penetration of 52.2% and $1,76 million in transaction volume. This is, however, expected by 2023 to reach 75.2%. Thanks to technology and ease of payments via electronic wallets, debit cards, mobile money and other modes of payment, it is expected that internet penetration is going to help the sector further grow and, in turn, increase the logistics industry.

Technological challenges

Due to the technological deficit facing the Nigerian logistics industry, a significant challenge faced is the inefficiency of customs and seaports services at the ports. The process of customs clearance is manual and slow. This lengthy process increases the time goods stay at ports to pass through inspection, thus increasing operational costs. This is a problem that would not have existed with cargo management systems.

Other significant challenges facing the logistics industry are a huge deficit in infrastructure, unstable electricity and a poor road network. These challenges have led to the inability of the logistics industry to reach its full potential.

Suggested solutions

Some of the upcoming technologies that can be introduced to address the technical deficit and close the gap existing in the Nigerian logistics and transportation industry include:

1. Control towers and GPS tracking.
2. Warehousing management systems.
3. Real-time fuel management systems.
4. Cargo management systems.
5. Information and communication systems like electronic data interchange (EDI).

How investors can get involved

Infrastructure is essential to the development of the logistics industry. The cost, reliability, cycle time and access are directly impacted by the level of integration and the health of the available infrastructure. To maintain a competitive logistics ecosystem, a strategic and constant upgrade of the infrastructure is needed. The financing for the much-needed infrastructure is where investors can get involved.

For example, the Nigeria Special Economic Zones Investment company is raising a capital of $250 million from different lenders to develop free trade zones in Lagos, Abia and Katsina states. Also, Nigeria is expected to build the Lekki Lagos Airport on a 3,000-hectare plot. Underway is the Lekki Deep Sea Port Project, with a budget of $1.5 billion. Investments in infrastructure are essential for the growth of the logistics sector.

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One aspect of this technology is “mConsulting”: mobile phone consultation with healthcare providers. mConsulting has been found to improve management of chronic and non-chronic communicable diseases. Other research shows that it increases use of maternal and neonatal services and expands vaccination coverage among hard to reach communities.

We conducted a study to explore whether mConsulting has the potential to improve healthcare in Nigeria, where the use of mobile communication technology has expanded rapidly. We looked at what’s already available and how users and providers perceive this mode of healthcare consulting. We interviewed mobile consulting providers, policy makers, users of mobile health and other stakeholders. The study explored perceptions, availability and operations of mConsulting services in Nigeria.

We found that mConsulting is likely to improve accessibility to healthcare. But it was introduced into Nigeria without a policy and regulatory framework to assure quality.

Mobile health consulting in Nigeria

The concept of mConsulting is still relatively new. But various forms of healthcare delivery through electronic platforms have been gradually introduced into the Nigerian scene with labels such as eHealth, ehealth4everyone, digital health, telemedicine and others.

In Nigeria, there are 15 functional mConsulting services operated by groups of private doctors. There are different ways of using the services. These include web chats, text messages, specialised apps, video calls and audio calls. The services include drug prescriptions, patient referrals, patient follow-up and provision of information about hospitals.

Only a few of the mConsulting services in Nigeria do not charge fees. Charges range from as low as N147 ($4) to as high as N344,000 ($950).

Respondents in our study perceived mConsulting to have a number of benefits. Access to healthcare was one. This is not only about getting medical help at any time: it’s also about the availability of quality and specialist services and bringing emergency care within reach.

Some stakeholders said that health facilities and resources were overstretched. They believed that mConsulting could reduce the burden on health workers and increase the income pipeline of physicians. This could strengthen the healthcare system.

It could also reduce the costs of using medical services, such as transport to facilities and waiting time.

They said it could contribute to better health outcomes, with better diagnosis and management of conditions. It could also reduce exposure of patients to risks associated with hospital visits, such as infections.

Perceived risks and barriers

Despite the benefits of mConsulting, participants mentioned some barriers too.

Some expressed distrust about this approach to medical consultations. They believed that physical interaction between physicians and patients was the most credible and reliable way of assessing a person’s health.

Lack of technology infrastructure and the digital divide, especially in rural communities, was another barrier. Where the facilities for mConsulting were not available and affordable, only a limited segment of the population would have access.

The human resources capacity for mConsulting was another concern. Many service providers rely on doctors who split their time between regular and mobile consultations. With the shortage of doctors in the Nigerian health system, dividing the time of the hospital workforce with mConsulting engagement puts more pressure on existing human resources. Some service providers also opened their platforms to both local and international clients, making it difficult to supply the demand.

The danger of misdiagnosis was seen as a barrier to mConsulting. Important information could be missed and errors could be made. Also, clients could mislead mobile consultants by not divulging all the relevant information. Even when using mConsulting in emergency care or for first aid, there could be a danger of receiving the wrong advice.

Data security and privacy is a major problem in Nigeria. Some participants believed that online materials and platforms were susceptible to abuse.

There were variations in stakeholders’ awareness of policy and regulations governing mConsulting in Nigeria. There have been suggestions at the National Council of Health that states should introduce eHealth into their healthcare delivery framework. Yet, after more than a decade of deliberations about it, policies are yet to be formulated specifically to govern this sector of healthcare.

Policy gaps and the way forward

The participation of the private sector has made it an imperative to have clear-cut policies to protect the public as users of mobile consulting services. The entrepreneurs who invest in these services also need protection.

mConsulting policies must cover training, credentialing, quality control, maintenance of electronic infrastructure, remuneration and protection against fraud.

Training curricula for healthcare professionals, especially doctors, nurses and pharmacists, must incorporate digital literacy and interaction with patients at remote sites. In the interim, short term training programmes can be organised for those already in the workforce. The agencies that regulate different cadres of health professionals should have clauses in their codes of ethics about mConsulting and eHealth in general.

Adequate remuneration is vital to sustaining mConsulting services and protecting members of the public against fraud or price gouging.

An effective policy environment is key to ensuring that mConsulting expands equal access to healthcare. A vision for mConsulting and eHealth needs to be integrated with the framework of the Abuja Accord to drive the achievement of healthcare for all.

Authors: Funke Fayehun, Senior lecturer, University of Ibadan, University of Ibadan; Akinyinka Omigbodun, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ibadan & Professor of Reproductive Health Sciences, Pan African University Life & Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, and Eme Theodora Owoaje, Professor , University of Ibadan

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Overview of the telecommunications sector

In just over 20 years since privatisation, the Nigerian telecommunications sector has significantly grown. In a short period, the number of telephone lines has increased from 400,000 lines by NITEL to having about 300 million connected GSM lines. This sector has received investment totalling $75 billion in over 20 years. While the telecommunications story is a top bright spot in Nigeria, and great things are being accomplished in the sector, much more can be accomplished.

With the rapid adoption of mobile phones that support 5G, 4G and 3G services all over the country, the sector’s growth is expected to be fast. By 2025, 3G will likely join the 2G networks already shut down. It is also believed that most mobile connections will be on 5G by 2029. The future indeed looks very bright for the telecommunications sector in Nigeria.

Benefits of telecommunications in Nigeria

As one of Africa’s largest telecommunications markets, telecoms contribute more than 17% to the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria. It is no doubt that telecommunications have immensely contributed to the economy of Nigeria and Nigerian lives. Telecommunications has paved the way for other sectors in Nigeria to develop. For example, banking has been made easier through mobile banking apps; there are also different e-learning, e-health and e-commerce platforms, all aided by the telecommunications sector.

Besides making essential communication and dissemination of information more accessible, the telecommunications sector also became a trusted ally for businesses, religious and social organisations, and individuals during and after the COVID pandemic. Remote work and online meetings and interactions have been made possible through telecommunications.

Uptake of telecommunication technologies in Nigeria

Over the past couple of years, the uptake of telecommunication technologies and services has risen. It has primarily been attributed to the restrictions and lockdowns brought by the COVID 19 pandemic. Due to the need to communicate and hold conferences, classes and virtual meetings on video technologies, there has been an increase in the number of uptakes of telecommunication technologies.

Many people have become internet users in two years because of the shift to remote working. More businesses are becoming dependent on telecommunications in delivering their products and services. Telecommunications now plays a vital role in keeping societies, governments, and businesses connected. The increasing importance of telecommunications means a corresponding rise in the uptake of telecommunication technologies in Nigeria.

Technological challenges facing the telecommunications sector

Some of the challenges facing the telecommunications sector include:

1. Infrastructure: there are still places without 2G/3G services or networks. The major challenge for the telecommunications sector is ensuring that everywhere is connected, especially the rural areas. Power is also a significant challenge as network providers must depend on diesel generators to ensure they remain online. They also must deal with vandalisation by unscrupulous elements.
2. Network Security: with emerging technologies, a major technological challenge is ensuring network security. New technologies usually bring new threats to applications and network security.
3. Complex operational processes: network providers have millions of subscribers and offer varying products and services. This makes operational tasks very complex for network providers, especially in an era where we are trying to eliminate face-to-face assistance.

Solutions to technological development issues in the telecommunication sector

The solution to technological development issues is reform, and this is addressed by the new strategic vision plan (SVP) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The SVP aims to increase consumer engagement and ubiquitous services and enable cross-functional infrastructure. This is going to help consolidate the growth of the telecommunications sector.

There is a need for the telecommunications sector to be considered essential to Nigeria’s economic development since it provides the infrastructural backbone for a new digital economy that helps drive socioeconomic development in all the sectors of the economy (Mobile banking, eCommerce). For economic growth, it is crucial to invest in telecommunications infrastructure. Only proper infrastructure can lead to effective and efficient operations. Through investments in telecommunications, network security can also be upgraded to meet the requirements of new technologies.

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