6 August 2008
Lagos — Technology and business convergence would drive the market for backbone infrastructure providers as demands for services surge on the high forcing operators to require wider and bigger transmission pipes, say experts as the IT Edge West Africa Convergence Forum draws nearer.
"Convergence is the natural progression of where IP is headed with services that used to be distinct now clearly deliverable by one operator. The distinction between broadcast and the telecom sectors have been erased and businesses are evolving to become just one. All these services would depend on the ready availability of backbones,"said chief executive officer of Abuja based Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), Dr Kwame Boakye which has fibre optic connectivity deplored across Nigeria's administrative capital.
Boakye is among the lead discussants on the Infrastructure sessions at the Convergence Forum.
For chief technical officer at Phase 3 Telecoms, Ola Popoola, another backbone provider, the demand for infrastructure would definitely grow for pipe providers. Nigeria's increasingly expanding market in terms of service offerings, subscription and sophistication would push demand on the high for conectivity backbone providers.
"Due to the increasing need for greater bandwidth for transmission of voice, data and broadband traffic, it has become imperative for ISPs and telecom operators to use next generation networks which consist of fibre optics technology. As we know, broadband penetration in Africa is abysmal, however, the consumers on the continent will soon start demanding for high-speed internet access via broadband.
"Broadband will soon become the dominant technology for internet access throughout Nigeria and Africa. With the availability of broadband connections, internet users will have access to a wide range of activities including e-commerce, e-banking, e-health, e-security, 3 and 4G services on their mobile handsets, collaborative work environments in the office, video downloading and social networking to name a few. Broadband access is rapidly becoming essential to businesses, governments and consumers on the continent," said Popoola.
"The IT Edge West Africa Convergence Forum is organiszed by Knowledge Media International Limited, publishers of IT Edge .It is geared at promoting the right framework for best practices and results as the technology sector evolved to its ultimate fate of convergence. The second edition follows the trail of the first edition as West Africa's primal gathering on knowledge advancement on the key issues that affect the industry. IT Edge has evolved to become the leading content provider among its peers and boast of the largest number of industry experts as columnists in its strive to become an 'industry-owned' journal," said CEO of KMI and Head of IT Edge Intelligence Unit (ITE-IU), Segun Oruame in Abuja while with CEO of Phase 3 Telecom Mr. Jegede.
With thousands of visitors and participants already registering at the official site of IT Edge Convergence Forum: http://www.itedgeconvergenceforum.com/, the forum opens significant interest in one of the industry's key current mantra. The Forum also has as partner, Nigeria's technology watchdog the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA. "We are very please to be associated with an event bringing together key players to discuss the future of the industry," said Director General of NITDA, Professor Cleopas Angaye.
The confirmed list of speakers and delegates include Dr Gabriel Obi, former chair of Nigeria Computer Registration Council (CPN), Professor Clement Dzidonu, president of Ghana based AIT Technology University and ICT4D Consultant with the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA), CEO of Ibadan based ISP, Skannet, Mr. Sunday Folayan CEO of Sierra Leone leading technology solutions provider SBTS Group, Evelyn Lewis, CEO of Hirest, and Mrakpo Igho. They will be joining an array of participants drawn from the telecom, broadcast, banking, oil & gas sectors.
Also confirmed are Head of IT at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, president of Nigeria Internet Group, technology consultant on ICT4D and don at Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Akinyokun , and Chris Uwaje, Connect Technologies Limited. They would be joining an array of participants drawn from the telecom, broadcast, banking, oil & gas sectors.
"The level and depth of speakers as well as expected delegates confirmed the seriousness attached by the industry on the evolving trends in the sector towards convergence and also affirmed the level of commitment by KMI in joining other stakeholders particularly the NCC at growing the industry.
The NCC has become a reference point globally in regulation under the leadership of Engineer Ernest Ndukwe. We have witnessed rapid quality growth and unqualified display of dynamism inspired by the leadership of the NCC. This event affirms our faith in the ability of Nigeria's regulatory regime to promote and sustain growth in the industry," said President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem who is also the president of the KMI.
The high profile event is expected to be declared open by the Minister of State for Information and Communications Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande.
This year's forum media partners include two leading international media organisations: BTE, owned by IPCL and DAAR Communications Ltd, owners of AIT and Raypower. The Forum is a five session event. Sessions include: West Africa: The Converging Environment is Convergence feasible?; Driving Convergence: The Infrastructural challenge; Business Remodeling or Business Erosion in the Converging Environment: Digital content and the disappearing ISPs; and the new drivers of service/content Providers; Regulating in the Converged Market; and Mounting Issues in the converging environment: Content & Rights Infringement.
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