|
|
| MileStone |
|
| Main
One Promise Cheap Internet Access |
|
Exciting
moments await Internet users in the continent of Africa especially
Nigeria and Ghana as the massive Main One Cable Project gets
underway. The project will also when completed, bring about
a heavy reduction in telecommunications services tariffs in
the region.
The Main One Cable Project is an ambitious Open Access fibre
optic transmission project that will run from Portugal into
the coast of West Africa with initial landings in Portugal,
Nigeria and Ghana, and with the possibility of landing in
more countries along the coast of West Africa and down to
South Africa as regulatory policies and market opportunities
permit.
The 1.92Terabits per second capacity cable system will terminate
in Seixal, Portugal where it will interconnect with other
cable systems to London, New York and key cities in Asia.
The cable will significantly expand international and Internet
capacity to West Africa by providing 15 times, the capacity
available on the entire SAT-3 system.
While the first phase of the project will span 6,900 kilometres,
extending from Portugal to Ghana and then Nigeria on the West
Coast of Africa, the second phase is expected to extend by
another 6,000 kilometres to South Africa and Angola.
|
|
|
 |
|
Chief Executive Officer
of Main One Cable Company, Ms. Funke Opeke said the project
when completed, will provide open access to regional telcos
and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) at rates that are less
than the current international bandwidth tariffs.
“With a capacity that is several multiples of what is
currently available on the West Coast, Main One Cable promises
to bring the cost of |
|
|
international bandwidth to
levels that are globally competitive. “We will provide wholesale
connectivity between our Lagos or Accra cable stations and London,
UK at prices that are at 10-20% of what is currently paid for such
services, and all our services will be covered by guaranteed Service
Level Agreement,” she said.
Opeke stated that the services are targeted at existing communications
operators and Internet service providers in addition to providing
an infrastructure option that does not tie down their capital with
long term savings for high quality international bandwidth. “The
equivalent pricing of an E1 line between Lagos and London on our network
will be approximately $500.”
The Main One chief executive, who noted that the first phase of the
project is gulping $250million and that both phases will be ready
for use by June 2010, added that the project would provide enough
capacity to carry voice and data so as to avoid jam.
She stated that the project was based on the most advanced and latest
technology which will provide cutting-edge technologies and direct
international connectivity for West African countries to Europe and
beyond, adding that the system will ease the difficulties and reduce
the cost of switching traffic between African countries without the
need to go through Europe, as well as provide broadband capacity to
expand Internet access in the sub-Saharan region, which currently
stands at less than five per cent.
The Main One Cable Company intends to use the project to bridge Africa's
digital divide through the provision of telecommunications infrastructure
that enables cost effective access to global information. |
|
| IBM
Appoints Country GM For Nigeria, W/Africa |
|
 |
|
A new Country
General Manager has been appointed for IBM Nigeria. He is Mr.
Endy Chiakpo.
Chiakpo is a hands-on and result-oriented executive that has
had a 20-year career with IBM in both Nigeria and the United
States of America spanning hardware and software as System Engineer,
Senior Engineering Manager and recently as Programme Director.
Having spent his early life in the northern Nigerian city of
Kano, Chiakpo received part of his elementary and post primary
education in the south east of Nigeria. He speaks the |
|
|
three most commonly
spoken Nigerian languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
Chiakpo started his IBM career in Lagos, Nigeria prior to proceeding
to USA where he furthered this career after his university education.
As such Chiakpo commands a strong blend of technology and business
experience.
He holds an MBA from Columbia University NY, Master of Science in
Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University NY and Bachelor of
Science in Physics from Texas Southern University.
With an extensive international business experience covering business
development, strategy, marketing, branding, product development, merger
and acquisition to developing new growth business in emerging markets,
Chiakpo was part of the team that crafted IBM Linux strategy as well
as the successful commercialized IBM Blue Gene super computer. He
has several technical publications and holds invention patents.
The much traveled Chiakpo has also collected numerous awards during
his time at IBM including on Patent Invention, Best Collaborative
Inventive (Blue Gene), eServer Excellence Award and the IBM Bravo
Award.
In his current leadership role as Country General Manager of IBM Nigeria
and IBM West Africa countries, he is tasked with creating new business
opportunities, maintaining and establishing new business relationships
and various collaborations with business partners, customers and governments.
Chiakpo enjoys reading and playing the games of golf and soccer. |
|
| HP
Launches First Feminine Notebook |
|
|
HP and
fashion designer Vivienne Tam - author of the lavishly illustrated
book China Chic and one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful
People have teamed up to add even more style to digital experience
with the launch of HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition: the
world's first "digital clutch.”
The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition PC is targeted at the
needs of Internet-centric consumers, mobile professionals,
always-on social media enthusiasts and fashion-forward women.
The notebook is gleaming red and bursting with peony |
|
  |
|
|
flowers, a signature staple
of Tam's collection. The peony design is then meticulously carried
inside the notebook, under the keypad. The design was inspired by
Tam's “China Chic” style, which is recognized from the
runways in Milan to the Olympics in Beijing and represents her personal
mantra to live well and be beautiful.
“The final product? Tam's stunning design on the outside,
HP's reliable technology on the inside, the portability of a mini
computer and the look of a clutch” said, Chioma Nweke, General
Manager, HP Personal Systems Group, West Africa. “You can't
go wrong with this Valentine gift!”
Tam personally designed the finishing touches, including an elegant
embroidered HP Vivienne Tam sleeve that will ship with the mini
to help keep the exterior protected. Her goal was to design a system
that would encourage the feeling of peace and tranquillity you get
from being in a garden.
Adding to the mood, the enter key on the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam
Edition includes the Chinese symbol for double happiness. Tam explains
that she chose peonies because they are the most beautiful flowers
and have many layers of unfolding blossoms much like the layers
of a busy woman's life.
As the digital clutch helps you juggle the demands of home and office,
it can also remind you of what's beautiful and feminine in your
life. It's a design that's continued to grow on her. In fact, it's
incorporated into her spring 2009 line of clothes, as well as the
invitations to her show and a new carrying case she'll be selling
in her stores.
This 'companion PC' provides a simplified Internet experience in
a sleek, ultra-portable design. Weighing about 1kg and less than
1-inch thick, it comes with a keyboard that is 92 percent the size
of a standard notebook PC keyboard. All options come with a bright
view widescreen infinity display (1,024 x 600 resolution) with flush
glass and LED backlight, built-in webcam and microphone.
The Vivienne Tam Edition companion PC runs Windows XP Home, making
the web, critical files and PC applications easily portable. It
includes an Ethernet jack, two USB ports, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth wireless
and 3G capabilities.
“Staying connected to your world, however you define it, is
increasingly important to people on the go,” said Terae Onyeje,
Country Category Manager for HP's Personal Systems Group, West Africa.
“That's why HP is excited to address this new high-growth
market with a portfolio of head-turning mini companion PCs that
are fun and easy to use. This product is a definite hit with the
modern woman and we can't wait to get feedback from our esteemed
Nigerian customers.”
|
|
| Professor
Oliver Osuagwu Appointed BCS Chartered Fellow |
|
 |
|
More accolades came
the way of multiple doctorate degree holder and one of Nigeria's
most accomplished Computer Scientists, Professor Oliver Eberechi
Osuagwu when he was recently appointed a Chartered Fellow
of the prestigious British Computer Society (BCS), the second
Nigerian to be so honoured.
Professor Osuagwu, who is currently a Professor of Information
Technology at the Department of Information Management Technology
and Coordinator of Post Graduate Programmes in IT at the Federal
University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, is a distinguished
scholar, a forensic scientist and a prolific writer. Presently,
Vice Chairman of the Computer Professionals Registration Council
of Nigeria (CPN), |
|
|
Professor Osuagwu is a
fellow of many international and national bodies including the Association
of Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical Engineers of
the United States of America as well as member of the Institute
of Data Processing Management of Nigeria and England.
Professor Osuagwu, who is also a guest columnist with ICT Today
magazine, is married with children.
|
|
|
