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STAR
Interview |
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Cybercrime
And Security
Will Soon Dominate
National IT Activities |
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Uwaje, D-Link Regional Directore |
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Newly appointed
Regional Director West Africa for networking solutions leaders,
D-Link, Chris Uwaje says the future and survivability of any
nation and corporate businesses depend grossly on the health
and security of her IT infrastructure.
In the following interview, this acclaimed oracle of Information
Technology speaks on the impact this |
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brand will have in the sub-region's effort at bridging the digital
divide as well as how he intends to use his new position to actualize
this. Excerpts…
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understand that you are the 'New Face of D-Link', is that correct?
The new face of D-Link translates to enhancing the critical Information
Infrastructure and encouraging Corporate Businesses and Governments
all over the world especially those in West Africa, to understand
that the future and survivability of their nations and corporate
businesses grossly depend on the health and security of her IT infrastructure.
D-Link is world class technology Brand of International repute for
functionality and quality. I am therefore, very happy to be invited
on board to restructure and add value to its West African (Nigerian)
Market Channel. In summary the new face of D-Link amounts to enhanced
quality reassurance and commitment to our numerous end-Users and
Customers.
The message is that D-Link will deliver unparallel innovative quality
products, solutions and value-added technical support services to
the People and Government of Nigeria and West Africa in general.
What have you learnt since your appointment
as D-Link Regional Director for West Africa?
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I've
learnt a great deal. First is that D-Link Corporation is a
reliable and efficient corporate entity with ability to create,
design and manufacture top quality Networking Brand with International
recognition and acceptance.
D-Link has indeed become the centre of gravity of the global
Networking Technology Domain. Today, D-link is the No.1 in
global Wireless Technology Solutions and service delivery.
With over 6000 Engineers world-wide and four state-of-the-art
Research and Development (R&D) Laboratories located in
USA, China, India and Taipei, D-link products such as Routers,
Switches, Network Firewall, IP Surveillance Security Cameras,
to mention but a few - have enhanced the end-to-end solutions
and service delivery at the Small Office, Home office and
Enterprise levels. |
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The mission of the new
face of D-Link is codified in the will to change the future
of Networking through creativity and resounding innovation wrapped
in cost-effectiveness and simplicity of use.
Some people think that D-Link is just a small company manufacturing
only switches. How true is this?
That is not correct. Founded in 1986, D-Link is a global leader
in the design, manufacture and marketing of advanced networking,
broadband, digital, voice and data communications solutions.
Following our company motto, “Building Networks for People”, |
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D-Link continually
meets the global networking and connectivity quality standards and
needs of digital home consumers, small office professionals, small-
to medium-sized businesses, and enterprise environments.
D-Link's core competency is in Ethernet connectivity. In fact, we
are the global leader in providing network connectivity solutions
to small and medium-sized business. From the beginning, D-Link engineers
have researched, designed and manufactured innovative, standards-based
networking solutions.
We sell our state-of-the-art hardware at the best prices. Price
may be the deciding factor for many new customers, but D-Link innovation,
reliability and service keeps them loyal year after year.
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A major contributor
to our success is our established and expanding network of global
distribution and delivery channels that brings products to more
than 100 countries every day.
We do more than meet the growing demand for computer networking
and communications solutions - we fuel it. Our development of
global distribution channels in more than 100 countries has
resulted in double-digit growth every year for 20 years.
D-Link surpassed the $1 billion revenue milestone in 2005, driven
by record sales in every geographic region of the world. Our
Global Presence is another plus. D-Link's international headquarters
are located in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China. More than
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global
offices serve North America, Asia, Europe and Africa including the
North American headquarters in Fountain Valley, California.
D-Link maintains strategic operations in Canada, the United Kingdom,
Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Norway, the
Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Israel, the Middle East, South
Africa, West Africa with Nigeria as a Hub, Chile, Australia, Japan,
Vietnam, Singapore, China, India and other countries on five continents.
We are innovative leaders. Our engineers have been key contributors
to the development of the rapidly expanding home and business networking
environment we take for granted today. D-Link has been awarded patents
and copyrights on a variety of technology platforms - including Application
Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) computer chips, hardware technology
designs, software applications and other intellectual properties.
D-Link product solutions are high-performance and feature-rich by
design. As a key contributor to the Digital Home Working Group (DHWG),
D-Link embraces industry standards as criterion for the development
of new and innovative connectivity and communications solutions for
home and business. D-Link products are certified by the FCC, the Wi-Fi
Alliance and CableLabs |
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D-Link Corporation manufactures
over 600 ICT quality products. The fact and truth is that D-Link
is a world-class Networking product manufacturing and solutions
company with a difference.
The core difference is that D-Link is focused on creative areas
embedded in working together with customers, to understand their
needs and moving forward to deliver absolute customer satisfaction
to them. At D-Link, we create, innovate and build the future
with our customers' demand in-view covering the lower, medium
and enterprise levels.
In concrete terms, what is the secret behind the New Face of
D-Link? The fact behind the secret is that D-Link has finalised
arrangements to set-up a Technical Support Centre in Lagos,
Nigeria the first in West Africa.
At D-link, we have learnt and believe that the Internet now
represents the future of mankind, and Networking Technology
is the bridge to that future. Indeed, D-Link is globally recognized
as not |
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The new
face of D-Link therefore, goes beyond 'Building Network for People'
to preparing the future Information Society Networking total environment
for mankind. It promises to be creatively captivating and rewarding
to everyone. It will be awesome.
In preparing the future, what are the Cyber Security issues?
The state of a Nation's critical Information Infrastructure will determine
her security status. Cyber Security and Cybercrime issues will become
the dominant subject of IT activities and challenges of our time.
The danger is that many unprepared countries such as Nigeria will
be vulnerable to the emerging impact unless specific policies and
established and critical actions are timely implemented. |
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The role of D-Link
is to ensure that those Tsunamic impacts do not lead to the
complete breakdown of the survivability framework of government
and the corporate business.
The main damage is going to come from the Networking environment
incorporating information routing and delivery, storage, secured
data access and interchange. D-link will plan, design, deliver
and support safe-computing with unmatched solutions at all
levels of e-Government, Education and Hospitality sectors.
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What
are your priorities?
As global leaders in the Networking-Wireless Domain, D-Link priority
is to look at challenging Networking disruptions and move rapidly
to deliver quality solutions to them. This is one of our key strategies
of sustaining our leadership in the Networking environment. The
vision is positioning D-Link as the Preferred Market Leader (PML)
in building and delivering Network solutions and support services
for the West African People.
With particular reference to Nigeria, my mission amongst others
is: To Transform the Nigerian IT-Network Solutions and services
into the reliable Hub to serve and service the needs of the entire
West African Sub-Region. D-link will build Networks and Solutions
for the West-African People - through sustained delivery of original
quality and cost effective Technology Solutions and Services. |
Our objective is to add value to National Development Projects,
Research and Development programmes, Deep Market Penetration, Mass
Market appeal winning top class customers and product support services
in Nigeria and West African Sub-Region. We shall make Nigeria the
first Address and Central Clearing House for D-Link Networking Products,
Solutions and services in West Africa
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We hope to attain the following long-term goals: Product Research
and Development Centre; Production Assembly Point for SKD and CKD
components; Warehouse Facility for Shipping to West African Countries.
Our Channel Development Priorities shall include first, the development
of the Nigerian/ West Africa Market. The second level is to make
the people of West Africa 'Think D-Link' by embedding D-Link solutions
and services images into their mind-set.
Our Strategy focus aims to deliver the following goals: Dominance
of the Nigerian Wireless LAN and ICT Security surveillance market;
Winning Strategies in the mass market arena; building a reputable
profile for Managed Switches as well as building commensurate Infrastructure
and Manpower Capacity.
Others are engaging the Project Solution Models; achievement of
well over $50Million (USD) Target by 2010. Ultimately, D-Link West
Africa will be solutions-focused and contribute significantly to
upgrading D-Link world-wide into a US$5billion business
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