Daily Independent (Lagos)
Aaron Ukodie and Emma Okonji
13 April 2009
Telecommunications analyst and knowledge driver Titi Omo-Ettu has canvassed that the reality of converged networks and services is already here with us and governments and network providers must work towards its provision.
He spoke at an IT annual event organised by Titan Of Tech in Lagos at the weekend
According to him, the concept of the world as a global village is real to extent that a society, which invests in Internet and Internet Protocol (IP) supported services will conquer distance, close the gap between the rich and the poor and ultimately conquer poverty.
A society that is unable to or unwilling to make these necessary investments will remain outside that village and the world will never be one global village in that circumstance.
He said Nigerians must make their rulers truly accountable by the use of ICT in governance as a campaign issue in 2011 and that though may not know those who should rule over them they must know who should not rule over them.
Omo-Ettu said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should conduct a high level study into what extent investment into broadband should reach, while at the same time continuing ongoing initiatives and attitude on broadband provisions.
Government, he said, should restructure the ICT industry by recognising that convergence and its match into presents networks and systems is unstoppable, while reviewing the country's education in a manner that the school leaver must be immediately relevant to the industry when he or she comes into it.
Restructuring the industry, in Omo-Ettu's view, entails managing the industry by distinctive structures that relate to technology development and technology application.
Government must recognise that convergence is real and is capable of helping services of telecommunications, broadcasting, media and entertainment will certainly converge and can be bundled as a service.
Restructuring he said must emerge until the current markets evolve into an ICT industry.
The emerging industry must move from the growth objective to a development objective, even as human capital development processes are reviewed.
He postulated that broadband is the major platform on which convergence of networks and services will develop.
Government and all industry stakeholders must court and embrace emerging and major convergent technologies which include IP, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), digital , video broadcasting (DVB), worldwide Inter-operability for microwave access( Wimax) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies.
In the converged environment, users will have one phone; there will be free enterprise, free newspapers, while the Internet will thrive. The emerging converged environment will see a car complete electronic key board, a broadband Internet access with 12 months airtime at purchase and with an appointed service provider.
Also in a paper on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in a converged economy, Chief Executive of Hilios Towers, Mr. Fazal Hussain, urged all telecom operators to consider collocation of infrastructure, if the telecom industry must achieve convergence.
According to him, operators should not be distracted by the burden of constructing and installing masts and towers, but to concentrate on the introduction of new technologies and services that will benefit their subscribers.
Infrastructure sharing, he said, will enable three to four operators share facilities like mast, towers, antennae, and in the process, reduce cost of service to a large extent.
Delivering the lead paper with the theme "Realising the potentials of a converged economy," Titi Omo-Ettu challenged Nigerians and ICT professionals on the need for a converged economy, saying that it is time for Nigerians to set up the stage for a converged economy, if it must achieve its dream of becoming one of the first 20 economies of the world in the year 2020.
Omo-Ettu described convergence as distinct services that are brought together and provided as a single service to the majority of the people, adding that converged economy will mean the totality of converged industries and services.
He noted that for any successful convergence to take place, there must be convergence of the nation's policies to reflect what convergence is all about.
He explained that convergence is faced with some challenges that needed urgent solution. Some of the challenges according to him, include governance and lack of broadband internet access.
Government, he said, should come up with policies that will allow for easy convergence and at the same time make internet access available.
Proffering solutions for a converged economy, Omo-Ettu said government must invest on infrastructure, restructure current markets, review educational sector, manage existing industry among others.
Chief Executive Officer of Technology Africa, organisers of Titans of Tech, Mr. Don Pedro Aganbi, said technology convergence offers massive opportunities for the development of value-added services and expansion of consumer choice. He said if Nigeria is to feel the full benefit of convergence, then the legal and regulatory environment must develop at the same pace, and new laws must be drafted in such a way that the laws will be technology neutral and must take account of international developments.
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