Author: ITPulse

  By Kester Omu The GSMA has urged government in Africa, especially in the North countries of Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia to develop their mobile tax reforms, saying that would improve access to mobile connectivity. In its latest report ‘Delivering Mobile Connectivity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)’, the GSMA provides an overview of key general taxes, such as VAT, corporation tax and import duties, as well as additional sector-specific taxes and regulatory fees applied to mobile operators in the MENA region. The report also estimates the potential impacts of tax reform to illustrate how it may…

  By Martin Ekpeke The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) has announced prices for this year’s Innovation Changemaker Challenge, which the department in the Nigerian Communications Commission is using to challenge Nigerian youth to engage their ingenuity to solve relevant problems and bring about change through creativity and innovation. The prices, according to a statement issued earlier today are N1, 000,000, N750, 000 and N500, 000 for the Ist, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. The price also includes acceptance into incubation programme for the three winners, stressing that monetary prize includes product completion and cash. USPF, established under the Nigerian…

  The Director General, the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has posited that the proliferation of many illegal online news, radio and television stations across the country is as a result of non utilization of the Nigerian Internet Service Point. Pantami made the position known in a press statement signed by Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs & External Relations at NITDA, after a visit to the Galaxy Backbone’s Headquarters in Abuja, calling for the proper regulation of the internet service in the country. The statement quoted Pantami as saying that:  “It is our…

  By Martin Ekpeke A telecommunications enthusiast and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos based MainOne Cable Company, Ms. Funke Opeke has posited that the possible solution to Nigeria’s connectivity challenges is for the country to formulate policies that would encourage infrastructure sharing among operators. Opeke stated this in an interview with a National Newspaper, stressing that broadband connectivity can only be fast tracked when Nigeria work on infrastructure sharing, create the enabling environment, a relaxed tax environment and reduce regulation. “In my own opinion, those things that can fast track Nigeria’s move to deepen connectivity include infrastructure sharing, creating the…

  Smartphone shipments would grow 5% in 2017 touching 1.6 billion units worldwide, led by consumers shift to premium devices, with Korean Samsung’s flagships making a dent so far in 2017, the US-based research firm Gartner Wednesday said. Overall smartphone shipments will grow 5% in 2017, reaching nearly 1.6 billion units. End-user spending continues to shift from low-cost utility phones toward higher priced smartphones, it said in a statement. “The Samsung S8 and S8 Plus have had a strong impact so far in 2017, with users undeterred by battery issues that affected the Note 7 at the end of 2016,”…

Qeturah.com, a curated online marketplace that makes it easier for people to discover, sell and shop for quality made in Nigeria lifestyle brands and their products is set to organize a 2-day summer splash fair in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial center. Tagged ‘Tropika Summer Splash’, the fair will see Nigerians displaying quality Made in Nigeria items, ranging from fashion, beauty, home décor, food, entertainment and games at a mouth watering prices. According to Keturah Ovio, Founder and CEO of Qeturah.com, the summer fair would help businesses to engage with the community, showcase their products, and make sales which serves as…

  The much talked about June edition of the CFA’S Startups Hangout came up on Friday, June 23, 2017 and it lived up to it’s billing. The attendee Startups really had their times worth at the event from insights given by the two distinguished and successful Entrepreneurs that spoke at the occasion,  Deepankar Rustagi, Co-Founder, VConnect and  Nadu Denloye, PhD, Co-Founder, Telnet and Director, CDNet Ltd/Gte. First to speak was Deepankar Rustagi, Co-Founder, VConnect, who stated that many people talk about the challenges of SME’s, but very few people do anything about it. He said that this was one of…

  The Executive Council Members of the National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), today awarded Programos Software Group the most innovative and supportive Information and Communications Technology company in Nigeria. Presenting the award to Programos at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, Comrade Okoro Emeka Louis, the National Public Relations officer of NACOSS said the award is a recognition of various efforts Programos has put in place to groom the youths, especially Nigerian students in the country. “We are awarding Programos Software Group the most innovative and supportive Information and Communications Technology company in Nigeria today because there are…

  By Kester Omu The Nigerian Communications Commission says it is pleased with the resolution reached between troubled Etisalat and its creditors, stressing that the resolution would further strengthen Etisalat’s capacity to continue to provide services to its over 20million customers. In a statement issued earlier today by its Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, the Commission assures subscribers of network integrity of Etisalat, despite the setback created by the indebtedness. Reports have it that Etisalat has reached an amicable resolution by restructuring its operation in Nigeria. The reports say Boye Olusanya, Former Deputy Managing Director of Celtel Nigeria (Now…

  Visa Inc., the global leader in payments, and Interswitch, Africa’s leading integrated payments and transaction solutions company, have announced that they will partner to accelerate mobile payments adoption across the region. The partnership will see Visa and Interswitch upgrade the digital banking applications of leading banks to include mVisa, as well as enable more merchants to accept mVisa payments. mVisa is an innovative mobile payments solution that allows consumers to pay for goods from any type of phone by either scanning a QR code , or entering a merchant number. Payment goes straight from the consumer’s account into the…