TechBrandReview®

MTN’s Potential Exit from Nigeria: Examining the Impact of the Proposed 5% Telecom Tax

2024-11-19T11:06:00.000+01:00

MTN Nigeria, the largest telecom provider in the country, has hinted at the possibility of exiting the Nigerian market should a proposed 5% telecom tax come into effect. This development has raised concerns over the potential impact on Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and the feasibility of other operators filling MTN’s void. There is also speculation that MTN’s threat may be a strategic move to pressure regulators and the government into reconsidering the tax, with significant implications for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and its role as a regulatory body.

The Proposed 5% Telecom Tax: What It Entails

The Nigerian government has proposed a 5% telecom tax on all telecom services, including calls, SMS, and data. This tax aims to bolster government revenue, especially as the country’s oil income declines. The proceeds are intended for funding public projects, particularly those aimed at improving Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and expanding connectivity to underserved areas.

If enacted, the tax would lead to an increase in the cost of telecom services, potentially reducing affordability for end-users, many of whom already face economic hardships. Telecom operators, including MTN, argue that with existing price controls in place, they may not be able to pass this tax directly onto consumers, leaving operators to absorb the increased operational costs. According to MTN, this additional expense could undermine the industry’s viability, leading to service reductions, layoffs, or, as in MTN’s case, considerations of exiting the market.

MTN’s Role and Investments in Nigeria’s Telecom Landscape

Since entering the Nigerian market in 2001, MTN has made significant contributions to the telecommunications industry. With over $16 billion invested in infrastructure and service expansion, MTN has become the largest provider, serving over 80 million subscribers across the country. This extensive investment reflects MTN’s commitment to Nigeria, a market known for its high mobile penetration rates and young, tech-savvy population.

MTN’s scale has enabled it to reach areas with limited connectivity, positively impacting both urban and rural regions. Given this level of infrastructure, MTN’s exit would pose challenges for Nigeria’s connectivity, and the loss of such a major player would leave a substantial service gap that other operators may struggle to fill.

Can Other Operators Meet the Demand?

Should MTN follow through on its threat, a key concern is whether other telecom providers—such as Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile—have the capacity to handle MTN’s massive user base. While Airtel, the second-largest operator, would likely be best positioned to absorb some of MTN’s subscribers, doing so would require additional investment to expand network infrastructure and boost service capacity. This could be a costly endeavor given MTN’s existing reach and robust infrastructure.

Glo and 9mobile face their own limitations in network quality and coverage, especially in rural areas where MTN has established a significant presence. Their ability to scale up quickly to meet the demand may be hindered by both capital and logistical constraints, as building out infrastructure in rural areas involves substantial investment and time.

The Role of the NCC in Regulating the Market

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is tasked with ensuring a fair, competitive, and consumer-friendly telecom environment. Since its establishment, the NCC has played a critical role in facilitating growth within Nigeria’s telecom sector, making it one of the most vibrant on the African continent. However, MTN’s prominence in Nigeria’s market raises questions about whether the NCC has been effective in curbing the influence of large players and balancing industry needs with consumer protection.

In regulating service prices, the NCC prevents sudden and sharp increases to protect consumers from unaffordable telecom costs. This price regulation is part of what limits MTN’s ability to directly pass the proposed tax onto consumers, leaving the company to shoulder a larger portion of the burden. While this regulation is intended to benefit consumers, it also complicates revenue strategies for telecom operators. Industry observers note that the NCC faces a challenging task in balancing the financial viability of operators like MTN with the goal of protecting consumers from excessive costs.

MTN’s Threat: Genuine Concern or Strategic Pressure?

Many industry analysts view MTN’s exit threat as a potential strategy to dissuade the government from enforcing the telecom tax, rather than an imminent withdrawal plan. Taxes on telecom services are not uncommon worldwide, and in several African countries, including Kenya and Uganda, similar levies have been successfully implemented without leading to the withdrawal of major telecom providers.

Some experts argue that MTN’s history in Nigeria suggests it is unlikely to leave such a lucrative market without fully exploring other cost-management strategies. For example, MTN has previously negotiated successfully in disputes over regulatory fines, such as the $5 billion penalty imposed in 2015 for unregistered SIM cards, which was ultimately reduced after prolonged discussions.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has emphasized that the government considers the tax essential for funding digital expansion projects and improving connectivity. Pantami has urged telecom operators to seek other solutions and explore efficiency measures rather than resort to drastic actions like market exit. “The 5% telecom tax is aligned with global practices, and operators should prepare to adapt to a more competitive environment,” Pantami said in a recent statement, reinforcing the government’s stance on implementing the tax.

The Road Ahead

MTN’s proposed exit from Nigeria over the 5% telecom tax presents a complex scenario for all stakeholders involved. While MTN raises valid concerns about cost burdens and operational impacts, the company’s significant investments and extensive user base in Nigeria make an actual exit seem improbable. Additionally, the NCC’s role as a regulator will be crucial in navigating these tensions to protect both consumer interests and operator sustainability.

Ultimately, MTN’s stance may be a strategic negotiation tactic to influence government policy rather than a definitive plan for withdrawal. As the NCC works to mediate between the Nigerian government’s revenue goals and the sustainability of the telecom sector, collaboration will be key to ensuring that the industry continues to thrive while meeting regulatory requirements.

"HarmonyOS vs. Android: Will Huawei’s Switch Hit the Right Note in Nigeria?"

2024-10-27T14:24:00.000+01:00

By Ejiofor Agada

When Huawei officially broke free from the Android ecosystem to fully embrace its proprietary HarmonyOS, it didn’t merely shake the tech world; it upended the whole mobile software landscape, especially in markets like Nigeria where Android rules the roost. This decision marks Huawei’s final goodbye to Google’s Android, officially positioning HarmonyOS as a complete replacement in new devices. But will this move yield harmony for users in Nigeria and similar regions, or is Huawei headed for a disharmony of epic proportions?

The Value of Independence: What HarmonyOS Brings to the Table

This switch is more than just Huawei flexing its tech independence; it’s a practical pivot for the company and its users. HarmonyOS is custom-built for a seamless ecosystem that integrates Huawei’s wide array of devices, from phones to IoT gadgets like smart TVs and wearables. According to Richard Yu, Huawei’s Consumer Business Group CEO, HarmonyOS will "provide users with a truly interconnected experience across their Huawei devices." It’s like a family reunion on your phone screen, minus the drama.

In Nigeria and other Android-dominated markets, the switch may actually be refreshing. Huawei’s HarmonyOS offers something Android doesn’t - a slick, adaptive user experience on an operating system that’s optimized for hardware diversity. This could especially appeal to Nigerians who use their phones for multiple purposes, including banking, gaming, and even operating small businesses.

Beyond its cross-device operability, HarmonyOS packs a punch with faster app performance and an adaptable interface. While Android users often juggle RAM space with app-crashes galore, Huawei promises smoother sailing with HarmonyOS. The OS is geared toward high-speed, low-latency experiences, which could be a game-changer for gamers and streaming enthusiasts across Africa.

The Drawbacks: Gaps in Apps and Ecosystem

But here’s where things get sticky. Despite HarmonyOS’s promise, it’s still a young platform with limitations—particularly in terms of app availability. With Android, Nigerian users have access to the Google Play Store’s sprawling app ecosystem, spanning hundreds of thousands of free apps. HarmonyOS, by contrast, runs on Huawei’s AppGallery, which is impressive but limited. Several mainstream applications popular in Nigeria, like WhatsApp, YouTube, and even banking apps, are more difficult to access, often requiring workarounds or APK downloads.

Jide Kene, a Lagos-based tech analyst, points out, “For HarmonyOS to truly succeed in Nigeria, Huawei will need to work on making the AppGallery more competitive. Nigerian consumers depend on mainstream apps, and limitations here could slow down adoption.” This echoes concerns that the platform switch could be painful for users, especially those needing Android’s app range for personal and business needs.

Additionally, Huawei faces the challenge of developing a loyal user base around HarmonyOS. Huawei users are largely accustomed to Android and its familiar functionality, and a sudden shift in how things operate could alienate them. Transitioning from one OS to another isn’t as simple as switching brands; it’s like learning to cook all over again—your recipes look familiar, but the appliances are foreign.

Probable Pitfalls: Can Huawei Dodge Android’s Shadows?

The biggest gamble Huawei faces is losing Android’s ready-made software support system, particularly with updates and bug fixes. Android users enjoy continuous updates across devices, but Huawei will now shoulder this responsibility entirely for HarmonyOS. In markets like Nigeria, where software reliability is paramount due to connectivity limitations, Huawei has to guarantee a robust OS with as few bugs as possible—a tough challenge in new ecosystems.

Additionally, Huawei must deal with consumer perception. In an age where Android and iOS are synonymous with reliability, any slip-ups by HarmonyOS could erode user trust faster than a fish disappears in Nigerian pepper soup. Without Google’s backing, Huawei’s system will be scrutinized for glitches and breakdowns that Android users might otherwise overlook. Nigerians are known to be vocal with their tech critiques, and if HarmonyOS doesn’t hold its ground, the social media lashback could be harsh.

Final Thoughts: Will Nigerians Welcome Huawei’s New Tune?

With Android and iOS firmly established as the kings of the mobile realm, Huawei’s switch to HarmonyOS has raised plenty of eyebrows, but not without hope. Nigeria’s dynamic, tech-savvy population could very well embrace this bold move, provided HarmonyOS meets their needs with a reliable app ecosystem and high-performing OS.

The path to success for HarmonyOS, particularly in Nigeria and other non-iOS dominant regions, lies in Huawei’s ability to rapidly expand AppGallery’s offerings and ensure smooth functionality. If it manages to hit these notes, HarmonyOS could indeed bring harmony, not just to Huawei’s devices but to Nigeria’s Android-heavy market. And if it falls short? Let’s just say Nigerians are not known for mincing words when it comes to tech flops.

State vs. Federal: The Impact of the Joint Revenue Board Bill on Nigeria’s Gaming Industry and the NLRC

2024-10-17T11:39:00.002+01:00

By: Ejiofor Agada

The introduction of the "Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill" by President Bola Tinubu is a pivotal move in Nigeria's quest to reform its tax and revenue system. The bill aims to streamline revenue administration through the creation of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), which will coordinate, harmonize, and settle disputes related to tax and revenue collection. While this development could potentially optimize the efficiency of national revenue collection, it also raises important concerns, particularly for the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), which currently positions itself as a key revenue-generating agency. This analysis will explore the implications of this bill for the NLRC, especially in light of opposition from several state gaming regulatory bodies.

The NLRC and its Current Revenue-Generating Role

The National Lottery Regulatory Commission is tasked with overseeing and regulating lottery operations in Nigeria. Its responsibilities include granting licenses, ensuring compliance with gaming regulations, and most notably, generating revenue for the federal government through taxes and levies imposed on lottery and gaming operators. The NLRC has long touted its role as a critical revenue generator, which has been a key component of its legitimacy and relevance within Nigeria's regulatory landscape.

However, this central role has not been without controversy. Several state governments, which have their own gaming regulatory bodies, argue that the NLRC’s function as a national regulator undermines their authority and goes agaisnt the Constitution of the nation. They contend that gaming activities within their territories should be regulated locally, with revenue retained at the state level based on the fact that such are listed under the residual list in the constitution and not under the Concurrent list. This has led to a jurisdictional conflict between the NLRC and state regulatory agencies, with some states outrightly rejecting the NLRC’s claim to regulate gaming within their boundaries. The matter is currently awaiting determination at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The Potential Impact of the Joint Revenue Board Bill

The establishment of the Joint Revenue Board, as outlined in the proposed bill, aims to create a unified structure for revenue collection and dispute resolution across the country. By centralizing revenue collection functions, including the establishment of a Tax Appeal Tribunal and an Office of the Tax Ombudsman, the JRB could significantly alter the revenue-generating capabilities of existing agencies like the NLRC.

Should this bill be passed, it is possible that the NLRC could be stripped of its revenue-generating powers, with these functions transferred to the JRB. This would have profound implications for the commission, particularly in terms of its relevance and authority as a regulator. Without the ability to generate revenue directly, the NLRC’s power would be significantly reduced, potentially relegating it to a purely regulatory role without financial clout. Such a move could weaken its influence both at the federal level and in its ongoing disputes with state gaming authorities.

Consequences for State Gaming Regulatory Bodies

State gaming regulatory bodies have long argued that they should be the primary authorities in regulating and collecting revenue from gaming operations within their borders. In some instances, states have set up parallel regulatory structures, leading to a fragmented regulatory environment across Nigeria. The centralization of revenue collection under the JRB could shift this dynamic in favor of state authorities, depending on how revenue from gaming activities is distributed under the new system.

If the NLRC is no longer responsible for revenue generation, state gaming bodies may see this as a victory in their quest for autonomy. This could lead to increased tensions between the federal government and the states, particularly if the distribution of revenue collected by the JRB is perceived as unfair by state authorities. Moreover, the potential for greater harmonization of tax policies under the JRB could streamline some of the issues currently plaguing state and federal gaming regulation, but only if the bill is crafted in a way that takes into account the unique needs and concerns of state authorities.

Industry Experts’ Perspectives

Industry experts have weighed in on the potential consequences of the JRB Bill for the gaming industry. One notable expert that craves anonymity due to his sensitive position in the industry, argues that "centralizing revenue collection might streamline tax processes but will pose significant challenges for agencies like the NLRC, which have built their identity around revenue generation." He further notes that “stripping the NLRC of its revenue-generating powers could lead to a realignment of roles within the industry, potentially giving more autonomy to state regulatory bodies.”

Similarly, Uche Ogoke, a gaming law specialist, points out that "there has always been tension between the NLRC and state gaming bodies. If the JRB Bill passes and removes NLRC's revenue functions, state bodies will likely intensify their efforts to control gaming activities within their regions." He adds that "a centralized system might work for taxation in general, but gaming is a complex industry with regional nuances that need to be considered."

Conclusion: The Future of the NLRC and the Gaming Industry

The introduction of the Joint Revenue Board Bill represents a critical juncture for the NLRC. If the bill leads to the NLRC being stripped of its revenue-generating functions, the commission will need to redefine its role within Nigeria’s regulatory ecosystem. Such a shift could empower state gaming bodies, potentially leading to greater fragmentation or, conversely, a more harmonized approach to gaming regulation if the JRB handles revenue equitably.

Ultimately, the future of the NLRC and the Nigerian gaming industry will hinge on how the bill is implemented and whether it adequately addresses the concerns of both federal and state regulatory bodies. If done correctly, the bill could offer an opportunity to resolve long-standing conflicts, but if mishandled, it could exacerbate tensions and create new challenges in the industry.

Banking on Change: Exploring the Impacts of Software Migrations in Nigeria

2024-10-09T10:53:00.000+01:00

The Nigerian banking sector is undergoing a significant technological transformation, with several institutions making the strategic decision to migrate their back-office software systems to address certain limitations.

This shift marks a pivotal moment in the industry, obviously driven by the need for enhanced efficiency, improved security, and the ability to adapt to evolving customer demands in a rapidly digitizing world. These migrations are complex undertakings, involving not only substantial financial investments but also the intricate task of transferring vast amounts of sensitive data and retraining personnel. The implications of these changes are far-reaching, impacting everything from internal operations and customer service to the overall stability and competitiveness of the Nigerian financial landscape. This article will delve into the motivations behind these transitions, exploring the challenges and opportunities presented by this technological evolution.

On this article, we will examine several key migrations within the Nigerian banking sector, providing in-depth analysis of the chosen software solutions, the rationale behind each bank's decision, and the anticipated impact on their operations and customer base. We'll also explore the broader trends shaping these technological advancements, including the rise of cloud computing, the increasing demand for real-time data processing, and the ever-present need for robust cybersecurity measures. Join me as I navigate this complex landscape, offering insights into the forces driving change and the potential consequences for the future of Nigerian banking featuring GTBank (GTCO), Zenith Bank, and Sterling Bank:

Sterling Bank:

Sterling Bank's recent transition from Temenos' T24 core banking system to SEABaaS signals a significant shift in the Nigerian banking landscape. While official statements often cite broad goals like "enhanced efficiency," the underlying reasons for this complex undertaking are more nuanced. One key driver is likely the need for greater agility and flexibility.

T24, while robust, can be perceived as rigid, especially when adapting to the rapid pace of technological change and evolving customer expectations in Nigeria's dynamic market. SEABaaS, with its cloud-native architecture and microservices approach, promises greater adaptability and faster implementation of new features. As Chris Skinner, a renowned fintech expert and author of "Digital Bank," notes, "Banks are increasingly looking for cloud-native solutions that offer the flexibility and scalability needed to compete in today’s digital world." This resonates with Sterling Bank's move towards a more adaptable platform.

Another likely factor is cost optimization. Maintaining and upgrading legacy systems like T24 can be increasingly expensive. SEABaaS, being a cloud-based solution, potentially offers a more cost-effective model, shifting from capital expenditure to operational expenditure and reducing the burden of on-premise infrastructure. This aligns with the broader industry trend of migrating to the cloud for cost savings and improved efficiency.

Beyond financial and operational considerations, the move to SEABaaS likely reflects Sterling Bank's strategic focus on digital transformation. Nigeria's banking sector is increasingly driven by mobile and internet banking, demanding seamless integration and personalized experiences. SEABaaS, with its modern API-driven architecture, is better positioned to facilitate these integrations and offer the personalized, real-time services that today's customers expect.

So, how will this transition benefit Sterling Bank's customers? SEABaaS's features translate into several tangible advantages. Firstly, expect faster transaction processing times. The cloud-native architecture allows for quicker data processing and reduced latency, leading to near-instantaneous transactions. Secondly, customers can anticipate a more personalized banking experience. SEABaaS's flexibility allows for tailored product offerings and customized services based on individual customer needs and preferences. Thirdly, improved security measures inherent in the cloud-based system, coupled with regular updates, offer better protection against fraud and data breaches, enhancing customer trust.

Finally, the move to SEABaaS could pave the way for more innovative financial products and services. The platform's open architecture and API-driven design make it easier to integrate with third-party fintech solutions, opening up possibilities for new and exciting offerings in areas like mobile payments, lending, and investment management. Sterling Bank's transition to SEABaaS is not just a technical upgrade; it's a strategic investment in the future of banking, promising a more efficient, secure, and personalized experience for its customers.

GTBank:

GTBank's decision to migrate from ICS BANKS to Infosys' Finacle is another example of quest for flexibility and functionality in the Nigerian banking sector. While official pronouncements also focus on broad improvements, other reasons includes complex undertaking that are multifaceted and driven by the evolving demands of the modern banking landscape. One primary motivator is likely the pursuit of enhanced scalability and flexibility. As GTBank continues to grow its customer base and expand its service offerings, ICS BANKS, a traditionally robust system, may have presented limitations in terms of scalability and adaptability to new technologies. Finacle, with its modular architecture and open APIs, offers greater flexibility to integrate with other systems and scale operations efficiently, accommodating future growth and innovation.

Finacle, with its modern architecture and streamlined processes, promises to optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. This efficiency translates into faster transaction processing, reduced downtime, and improved customer service. Furthermore, Finacle's robust reporting and analytics capabilities provide valuable insights into customer behavior and operational performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.

Beyond operational considerations, GTBank's move to Finacle likely reflects a strategic focus on enhancing the customer experience. In today's digital age, customers expect seamless, personalized banking services accessible anytime, anywhere. Finacle's digital banking suite offers a comprehensive platform for delivering personalized, omni-channel banking experiences, including mobile banking, internet banking, and other digital channels. This enhanced digital capability is crucial for attracting and retaining customers in a competitive market.

So, what tangible benefits can GTBank customers expect from this transition? Finacle's features translate into several key advantages. Firstly, customers can anticipate faster and more efficient transaction processing. Finacle's optimized architecture and streamlined processes enable quicker transaction completion and reduced waiting times. Secondly, the platform's personalized banking capabilities offer a more tailored and customized banking experience, with features like personalized alerts, customized dashboards, and targeted product recommendations. Thirdly, Finacle's robust security features provide enhanced protection against fraud and data breaches (of which GTBank had suffered from in the recent past), ensuring the safety and security of customer information.

Finally, the move to Finacle opens up exciting possibilities for future innovation. The platform's open architecture and API-driven design make it easier to integrate with third-party fintech solutions, paving the way for new and innovative financial products and services.

Zenith Bank:

Zenith Bank's migration from Finastra Phoenix to Oracle Flexcube is another major technological undertaking with far-reaching implications. Officially, the bank will emphasize general improvements as reason for the migration, but the underlying motivations for such a complex transition are also likely rooted in the evolving demands of the modern banking landscape.

As one of Nigeria's largest banks, Zenith Bank requires a robust and scalable system capable of handling massive transaction volumes and supporting future growth, and Flexcube, known for its high-performance capabilities and ability to handle complex banking operations, is well-suited to meet these demands. As stated by Riadh Belhaj, senior vice president of EMEA and APAC at Oracle Financial Services, “Flexcube is designed to provide banks with the agility and scalability they need to compete in today’s dynamic market," directly addressing the needs of institutions like Zenith Bank.

Another crucial factor is likely the desire for improved integration and interoperability, as Flexcube's open architecture and comprehensive API suite facilitate seamless integration with other systems, both internal and external. This enhanced interoperability allows Zenith Bank to streamline operations, improve data flow, and offer a more integrated and cohesive customer experience across various touchpoints. Furthermore, Flexcube's robust reporting and analytics capabilities provide valuable insights into customer behaviour and operational performance, empowering data-driven decision-making.

Beyond operational considerations, Zenith Bank's move to Flexcube likely reflects a strategic focus on enhancing digital banking capabilities. In today's increasingly digital world, customers expect seamless, personalized banking experiences across multiple channels. Flexcube's digital banking suite can provide a comprehensive platform for delivering personalized, omni-channel banking services, including mobile banking, internet banking, and other digital touchpoints.

How will this transition benefit Zenith Bank's customers? Flexcube's features translate into several tangible advantages. Firstly, customers can anticipate faster and more efficient transaction processing. Flexcube's optimized architecture and high-performance capabilities enable quicker transaction completion and reduced waiting times. Secondly, the platform's personalized banking capabilities offer a more tailored and customized banking experience, with features like personalized alerts, customized dashboards, and targeted product recommendations. Thirdly, Flexcube's robust security features provide enhanced protection against fraud and data breaches, ensuring the safety and security of customer information.

Finally, the move to Flexcube positions Zenith Bank for future innovation. The platform's open architecture and API-driven design make it easier to integrate with third-party fintech solutions, paving the way for new and innovative financial products and services.

In conclusion, as we expect more migrations from one software architecture to another continues in the Nigerian banking landscape, the underlining factor obviously remains in the region of enhanced security and scalability which can easily be compromised while on a less-enhanced platform.

Critical Review of the Power Outage Reporting System (PORS) App in Nigeria

2024-09-19T13:27:00.000+01:00

The Power Outage Reporting System app, introduced in Nigeria, aims to enhance communication between consumers and electricity providers regarding power outages. Given Nigeria's long-standing challenges with electricity supply, particularly frequent and unpredictable outages, this app could serve as a vital tool for improving customer service and operational efficiency. However, its effectiveness and overall impact remain subjects of debate.

User Interface and Accessibility

At first glance, the app's user interface appears straightforward and user-friendly, designed to accommodate users with varying levels of technological proficiency. The layout is intuitive, allowing users to report outages with just a few taps. However, the accessibility of the app raises concerns. Many Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, may lack smartphones or reliable internet access. This digital divide can potentially alienate a significant portion of the population that most needs to report outages and receive timely updates.

Functionality and Features

The core functionality of the app allows users to report outages by providing details such as location and duration. Users can also view outage maps and receive notifications on the status of their reports. While these features are commendable, their effectiveness is hampered by inconsistent data management and response systems from power providers. Reports of outages may not always be addressed promptly, leading to user frustration and diminishing trust in the app.

Additionally, the lack of a feedback mechanism complicates user interaction. Users submit reports but often receive no acknowledgment or updates, leaving them in the dark about the status of their issues. This absence of communication can undermine the app's purpose and lead users to question its reliability.

Integration with Utility Providers

A crucial aspect of the app's success lies in its integration with electricity distribution companies (DisCos). However, the reality is that many DisCos in Nigeria struggle with inefficiency and inadequate infrastructure. These systemic issues can hinder the app's potential to facilitate timely responses to outages. For the app to be truly effective, it requires seamless data sharing and collaboration between consumers and utility providers. Unfortunately, this integration remains a significant barrier, as many DisCos have not fully embraced digital transformation.

Impact on Consumer Engagement

The app has the potential to enhance consumer engagement by fostering a sense of empowerment among users. By enabling them to report outages directly, consumers could feel more connected to their utility providers. However, this potential is often overshadowed by the app's operational shortcomings. The lack of consistent updates and poor response times can lead to disillusionment, causing users to revert to traditional means of communication, such as phone calls or in-person visits, which are often inefficient.

Recommendations for Improvement

To maximize the app's potential, several improvements are necessary. First, enhancing the app's functionality with real-time tracking of reported outages would significantly improve user experience. Users should be able to see the status of their reports and receive updates on restoration timelines. A feedback mechanism allowing users to rate their experience could also foster accountability among power providers.

Second, expanding outreach efforts to educate users about the app and its benefits is essential. Many consumers may not be aware of the app's existence or its functionality. Collaborative campaigns between the government and DisCos could help raise awareness, particularly in underserved areas.

Finally, investing in the infrastructure of electricity providers is crucial. Without substantial improvements in the overall power supply system, the app may only serve as a band-aid solution rather than addressing the root causes of outages.

Conclusion

The Power Outage Reporting System app has the potential to transform the way Nigerians interact with their electricity providers. However, its current implementation reveals significant gaps in accessibility, integration, and user engagement. To truly serve its purpose, the app needs comprehensive improvements that address both technological and systemic challenges within Nigeria's electricity sector. By doing so, it could become an invaluable tool for enhancing customer service and operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to a more reliable power supply in the country.

"Why a Technocrat, Not a Political Puppet, Should Lead the South East Development Commission"

2024-08-20T15:15:00.001+01:00

By Ejiofor Agada

As Nigeria embarks on the ambitious journey of establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC), there is a palpable sense of hope and expectation among the people of the South East. The region, known for its industrious spirit and rich cultural heritage, is poised for a new era of development. However, this potential can only be fully realized if the right leadership is put in place at the helm of the Commission. And by "right leadership," I mean a thorough-bred technocrat, not a political lackey who owes more to his godfather than to the people he's meant to serve.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a crucial decision to make. The choice of the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SEDC will set the tone for the Commission's trajectory. Will it be a beacon of development and progress, or just another bureaucratic quagmire, mired in the same inefficiencies and corruption that have plagued similar bodies in the past? The difference lies in whether Tinubu chooses a seasoned technocrat or succumbs to the pressure of political hawks from the region who are more interested in using the Commission as a tool for political patronage than in fostering genuine development.

Let’s take a detour to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for a moment. Ah, the NDDC, a body whose name alone could conjure images of gleaming infrastructure, thriving economies, and well-fed communities. But alas! The reality is more akin to a tragicomedy, where the CEOs – many of whom have been politicians with little to no expertise in actual development work – have often turned the Commission into a revolving door of mediocrity. Each new CEO comes with grand promises, but instead of roads, schools, and hospitals, what the Niger Delta often gets are white elephant projects and unfinished contracts. The Niger Delta remains underdeveloped, a sad testament to what happens when political considerations overshadow merit and competence.

One might say the NDDC has become something of a theater, where each CEO plays a role dictated not by the needs of the people but by the whims of their political patrons. And so, the region’s development lags behind, as politicians masquerading as technocrats shuffle in and out, leaving little to show for their tenures but a trail of abandoned projects and squandered funds.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Minister of Finance and current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has often emphasized the importance of expertise in leadership roles:

"Effective development requires not just passion but precision. It takes a leader with a deep understanding of both the macro and micro elements of the economy to drive sustainable growth. Political appointments often miss this mark, focusing on short-term gains over long-term stability."

This insight highlights the necessity of appointing a CEO with the right technical background, rather than someone who is politically connected but lacks the requisite expertise.

Also Professor Chukwuma Soludo, current Governor of Anambra State and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who is known for his pragmatic approach to economic development, stated:

"For regional development commissions to truly succeed, leadership must be anchored on competence, not politics. The CEO must have a thorough understanding of the local dynamics and a proven ability to execute projects that have real impact on people's lives."

This quote underscores the need for the SEDC’s CEO to be a leader with a robust understanding of regional issues, backed by practical experience in implementing development projects.

The South East must not follow this script. The SEDC must not become a stage for political puppetry. Instead, it must be led by a true technocrat – someone whose loyalty lies not with any political godfather but with the vision of a developed, prosperous South East. The people of the South East deserve a CEO who understands the intricacies of development, who can navigate the complexities of regional growth, and who has a track record of turning ideas into tangible outcomes.

So, what does the ideal candidate for the CEO of the SEDC look like?

Firstly, the person must be someone with a solid educational background in fields such as economics, urban planning, public administration, or engineering. A Master’s degree, at the very least, is essential, but a PhD would be even more desirable, particularly if it comes with research that focuses on regional development or related areas.

Beyond education, the ideal candidate must possess deep insight into the unique challenges and opportunities within the South East. They should have a comprehensive understanding of the region’s economic potential, its infrastructural deficits, and the social dynamics at play. This kind of insight doesn’t come from reading reports; it comes from years of hands-on experience in development work, preferably within the South East itself or in similar regions.

Experience, they say, is the best teacher, and the SEDC’s CEO must be a seasoned student. The person should have a proven track record of successful project management and execution, ideally in the public sector or within large-scale private enterprises that focus on development. This experience is crucial because it demonstrates the candidate's ability to not just plan but to implement – to take ideas from the drawing board to the ground where they make a real difference in people’s lives.

Moreover, the ideal CEO must be a visionary leader, someone who can see beyond the immediate challenges and craft a long-term strategy for sustainable development. They should be capable of rallying diverse stakeholders, from government officials to local communities, around a shared vision for the South East. They should also have the fortitude to stand up to political pressures and the integrity to resist the temptations of corruption that have hampered similar commissions.

In conclusion, the South East Development Commission represents a rare opportunity to rewrite the narrative of development in the region. But this opportunity can only be seized if President Tinubu appoints a technocrat with the expertise, experience, and vision necessary to lead the Commission. The people of the South East are tired of the old ways, of seeing their dreams of development dashed by political puppetry. They deserve a CEO who will work for them, not for the politicians. And who knows, with the right leadership, the SEDC might just become the success story that the NDDC never was – a shining example of what can be achieved when competence is put before politics.

Ejiofor Agada is a Communications and Research consultant based in Abuja - Nigeria

Obi Cubana, House Committee chair, other dignitaries storm Enugu for Gaming Conference

2024-05-28T10:55:00.000+01:00

The Enugu State Gaming Conference and Gala/awards night billed for the 27^th of June, 2024 at the prestigious Amadeo event Centre in Enugu, is currently attracting the attention of top socialites, politicians, business people as well as Gaming enthusiasts. This is even as the organizers have been confirmed the presence of Obinna "Obi" Iyiegbu aka 'Obi Cubana’, High Chief Hon. Candice Moore Nwachukwu, chairman House committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and other esteemed dignitaries for the event.

"This conference marks a pivotal moment for the gaming industry in Enugu State," said Prince Arinze Arum, Executive Secretary/CEO of Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission. "It presents an opportunity for us to explore innovative ideas that will propel investment in the sector while ensuring responsible gambling practices are upheld."

The theme of the conference is "Exploring The Future of Gaming: Innovations and Collaborations." Discussions will revolve around legislation, investment climate, illegal gambling prevention, crime mitigation strategies within the industry. This particular aspect, as explained by Prince Arum, necessitates the presence of the House Committee Chairman on Intergovernmental Affairs, High Chief Hon. Canice Moore Nwachukwu, whose committee has oversight responsibilities of the Gaming industry in Nigeria.

"We aim to position Enugu as a gaming tourism destination in Africa through collaborations between the gaming industry and hospitality sector," added Arum. "Our goal is to attract investments that will drive economic growth while safeguarding our citizens from illicit activities, and the likes of Obi Cubana and other investors especially in the Hospitality industry, are keen to tap into the partnership proposition this event will be projecting”.

It is noteworthy to remember that Mr. Iyiegbu, is the Chairman/Founder of the Cubana Group, with major stakes especially in the hospitality industry including the Cubana Gustavo in Enugu amongst others.

"The governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, will also be present at the event to shed light on his administration's commitment to fostering partnerships with investors in the gaming sector and the conducive business environment that Enugu offers for potential stakeholders."

Enugu State Set to Become Nigeria's Premier Destination for Gaming Tourism with Upcoming Conference

2024-05-14T13:03:00.000+01:00

Enugu State is poised to establish itself as the leading destination for gambling tourism in Nigeria with the highly anticipated Enugu State Gaming Conference set to take place at the Amadeo Event Centre on June 27th, 2024. Organized by the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission (ESGC), this inaugural conference will bring together industry stakeholders to explore new opportunities and collaborations within the gaming sector.

"This conference marks a pivotal moment for the gaming industry in Enugu State," said Prince Arinze Arum, Executive Secretary and CEO of ESGC. "It's an opportunity for us to showcase how far we've come in regulating and managing the gaming landscape in our state."

The theme of this groundbreaking event is 'Exploring the Future of Gaming: Innovations and Collaborations', reflecting a commitment to fostering growth and development within the industry. Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Executive Governor of Enugu State, will be in attendance to show support for initiatives aimed at positioning Enugu as a hub for gambling tourism.

"We believe that through strategic partnerships between casino operators and hospitality providers, we can unlock new avenues for growth and prosperity within our state," stated Arum. "This conference is about more than just discussing ideas - it's about taking concrete steps towards making Enugu a premier destination for gaming enthusiasts."

The event will provide attendees with valuable insights into regulatory practices, market trends, and potential investment opportunities within the gaming sector. Participants will also have the unique opportunity to engage directly with Governor Mbah on his vision for promoting sustainable growth within the industry.

With its focus on collaboration and innovation, the Enugu State Gaming Conference represents a significant milestone in advancing the state's position as a key player in Nigeria's growing gambling tourism market. By leveraging its regulatory prowess and creating fertile ground for partnership opportunities, ESGC is paving the way for a bright future ahead.

TECNO Wins 2023-2024 Global Top Brand

2024-02-20T12:31:00.001+01:00

Global Innovative technology brand TECNO, for the second consecutive time, secured the title of "2023-2024 GLOBAL SMART PHONE BRANDS TOP 10" at the annual Consumer Electronic Show 2024 (CES), the world's most renowned, influential, and largest event in the consumer electronics industry.

This recognition was attributed to TECNO's global brand strategy, as well as its remarkable "Going Premium" achievements in technology innovation and design excellence. This award further solidified TECNO's top position as a global leader of frontier markets.

The annual CES Global Top Brands Award, hosted by Asia Digital Group, and European Digital Group, and supported by TWICE and International Data Corporation (IDC), is aimed to honor global consumer electronic brands at frontier innovations for global consumers and promote the entire industry's development.

"TECNO continues to captivate with their outstanding achievements this year," expressed Zhu Dongfang, President of the Asian Digital Group on behalf of the jury team. "Their unwavering dedication to technological advancements for global frontiers is truly commendable. TECNO's innovative prowess and commitment to excellence make them an exceptional consumer electronics brand."

CES serves as a hub for technology and global innovators, spotlighting inspiring innovations and effective global brand strategies. With a commitment to principles like authority, science, professionalism, objectivity, and impartiality, the Global Top Brands Award remains a highly credible acknowledgement in the global consumer electronics industry since its inception in 2006, encouraging brands to continually upgrade technological innovations and deliver superior products.

In the rapidly evolving digital era, innovation capabilities and global brand awareness are pivotal criteria for the Global Top Brands Award, among other dimensions including overseas competitiveness, consumer experience, and patents etc. And artificial Intelligence becomes a central theme in 2024 ranking among other highly anticipated trends in the industry.

TECNO has strategically prioritized technical innovation since its establishment. Especially in many frontier and emerging technologies innovations, TECNO has established its leadership across the industry, such as setting-new bars in the development and adoption of multi-skin tone imaging by launching Universal Tone technology, artificial intelligence algorithms, AI voice recognition, AIoT vertical application technology architecture, and 5G. For instance, in the past year, TECNO launched its latest groundbreaking leap in camera technology, TECNO Universal Tone–the most advanced AI-Powered multi-skin tone imaging technology that integrates the industry's newest spectral database and insights; worked through a 3-year global strategic partnership on Android system collaborations with Google; and became industry first to optimize its OS assistant experience through the fusion of Chat GPT AI and voice assistant excellence with TECNO Avatar Ella.

In this year's evaluation, brands are assessed across industry popularity, global strategic layout, international market influence, and product innovation. The prestigious recognition as a CES TOP10 Global Smartphone Brand signifies TECNO's breakthroughs and strengths in these dimensions, especially in its efforts capturing local markets globally.

Consistently championing the "Go Global" brand strategy, TECNO seamlessly merges global vision with local innovation, growing its user base and brand influence in over 70 countries. Consistently growing in these markets, TECNO deeply understands local user pain points, focusing on integrating technological innovations with stylish modern designs tailored to local needs. Beyond delivering a delightful mobile digital experience, this approach also mirrors local values, contributing significantly to TECNO's success in premiumization and globalization in various markets.

Continually elevating its user experiences, in 2023, TECNO unveiled many groundbreaking products for the premium market through its PHANTOM and CAMON product lines, which contributed to its global optimization and regional expansion. According to counterpoint's market monitor service, TECNO, saw smartphone shipments grow across all regions in Q3 2023, by an impressive 62% YoY. While TECNO's shipments have increased, product mix improvement meant that the proportion of higher-value devices sold has expanded even more. For instance, 5G smartphones, which TECNO started shipping only since Q1 2022, have grown rapidly, with volume increasing more than 600% YoY by Q3 2023. Furthermore, sales volume of TECNO's high end CAMON series and premium end PHANTOM series increased 53% YoY, outpacing company-wide growth rates.

TECNO's General Manager, Guo Lei, expressed gratitude for being recognized alongside other international brands at CES 2024 while stating, "TECNO will always be committed to unlocking cutting-edge innovations through premium products, narrowing the gap between frontier markets and global digitization."

Truecaller announces 'Call Recording' feature

2018-07-17T12:08:00.001+01:00

Truecaller has introduced a new call recording feature for its Android users globally. The company says the feature will help users in reporting fraudulent calls and harassment. This is another step towards upgrading Premium offerings aimed at making communication safe and efficient by helping users report harassment related or fraudulent calls, Truecaller said in a statement.

When a Premium user dials or receives a call, they can toggle on the recording feature from the Truecaller Caller ID screen. The recordings are then stored on the user's phone. Users without a Premium subscription can get a free 14-day trial of this feature, the company added.

The latest feature also assists its users in keeping track of important conversations with businesses, colleagues, or friends.

On its blog, Truecaller said, "From users identifying new business clients to empowering women in their fight against harassment or objectionable calls, or for everyone being protected from potential fraud. Truecaller has been there to safeguard calls and SMS to give you the right to know who is trying to get in contact. With the added feature of call recording, this will empower users to keep track of important conversations they have with businesses, colleagues, and people.

ESGC technical partner CWG, to drive efficiency in govt, gaming

2018-04-27T11:57:00.002+01:00

Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Nigeria’s largest system integration company, says it will focus on driving efficiency in the government agencies, utility and gaming sectors as part of its strategic operational growth plan.

According to the company, this will empower it to remain the leading technology services platform provider in Africa. The CWG’s Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Adewale Adeyipo, while revealing the growth projection plan in an interaction with journalists in Lagos, said it would be extending its expertise to ensure its impact was felt in other sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

According to him, after 25 years of doing business and providing services to major corporations in Nigeria and West-Africa, and being strategic partners with major multinationals on the continent, it intends to innovatively set technology solutions to drive efficiencies where other service providers have deemed it impossible to penetrate.

“We have re-engineered our operations, people and process models to harness the opportunities before us. Our next line of growth projection is to focus on solving some sectors’ challenges with indigenous solutions,” he said.

Adeyipo said, “The operational mandate for the CWG is to deploy technology solutions that enable growth. This, the company and its workforce have set out to achieve riding on the ‘Can-do-spirit’ as a core value and operational philosophy.”

He further stated that its ability to roll out solutions that were addressing immediate challenges while curbing the occurrences of new ones in these sectors would continue to endear the CWG to the customers in the next five years and beyond.

Adeyipo also noted that going by the CWG’s knowledge of Nigeria’s ICT space, the expertise built had offered an opportunity for a paradigm shift, allowing the learning of 25 years to remain relevant for a long time, even in the face of economic instability.

“The CWG will be around for a long time creating incredible and innovative services in and out of Africa. All can be sure of the CWG’s understanding of market trends and its ability to respond appropriately. Applying the new definition of customer service as regards the deployment of the IT and value creation, we understand the season we are in,” he said.

Given the dwindling state of the Nigerian economy and the drop in purchasing power, the CWG said it intended to deploy innovative platforms with models that would ease the burden of the everyday business and ensure adequate return on investment in regions where it operated.

CWG Plc, which currently leads the charge in the gaming/lotto technology platform and solutions in West Africa, is also technical partners to the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission (ESGC).

APO Innovation Lab designs cutting-edge print monitoring system for press releases in Africa

2018-02-06T14:20:00.000+01:00

Upon successful completion of a three-month testing period, APO Group (www.apo-opa.org) has unveiled its print monitoring workflow system for press releases distributed across Africa. For the last couple of years, APO Innovation Lab has worked towards developing an advanced automation tool that pinpoints where customers’ press releases have been picked up in newspapers and magazines across the 54 African countries, whether they are in English, French, Portuguese, Arabic or local languages such as Afrikaans, Zulu and Swahili. During the test, more than 400 print publications were monitored, and 1000 print clippings collected.

This significant breakthrough opens up new possibilities for organizations. They will now be able to gauge their message penetration in print media and gain valuable insights on how the national, regional, local and pan-African press responds to their communication efforts.

In the space of two years, APO Innovation Lab, APO Group’s Research and Development arm, succeeded in designing a highly sophisticated analysis engine that uncovers press releases’ mentions in all African news sources, regardless of the language. Furthermore, to ensure accuracy and relevance, all editorial coverage is scrutinized by seasoned analysts.

The new technology has been developed at the request of customers and partners, who expressed the need for a multi-market press release’ monitoring solution that measures the extent of their print media coverage in all 54 African markets. Until now, no such solution existed.

Over the years, APO Group has earned the trust of many Public Relations agencies including the most prestigious ones such as Edelman, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Fleishman Hillard, Ogilvy, APCO Worldwide, Havas MSL, Baird’s CMC who, to meet the needs of their clients, use APO Group services. In 2017, 56 PR agencies collaborated with the consultancy compared to 42 in 2016. A number that keeps increasing year-on-year.

“APO Group has a strong track record of providing a support system to communication practitioners and PR agencies which regularly call on our expertise in media relations for Africa. As no such tool was available on the market, we decided to take on the challenge of developing a pioneering technology internally,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder & CEO of APO Group. “This innovation is the fruit of relentless work by our Lab team. Given the diversity and the number of markets we serve, perusing all print publications and generating an almost inexhaustible number of press cuttings was far from easy and required considerable ingenuity. After testing the technology thoroughly, we were thrilled with the results which far exceeded our expectations.”

Press release’s print monitoring, coupled with online monitoring and social media analytics, beefs up organizations’ capabilities to assess their return-on-investment more accurately. With the complete press release’s media monitoring solution, they can now access a powerful decision-making tool that gives them a holistic understanding of their campaigns’ performance and a clearer vision of how efficiently they support their business strategies.

For every press release distributed either through Africa Wire® or MENA Wire® technology, APO Group will provide its customers with a full press release’s media monitoring report including rich data and precise metrics on online news penetration, international reach (screenshots of Bloomberg Terminal, Factiva, LexisNexis, SyndiGate…), social media, and print media coverage.

“To my knowledge, APO Group will be the first company to provide print monitoring as part of its press release distribution service globally. Now that we have the technological and human capacity to monitor print media, we will challenge the limits of the possible to keep bringing a wealth of data to our customers. We set ourselves the objective of monitoring 600 Africa and Middle East related-media outlets worldwide and double the number of press cuttings by the end of 2018. This is just the beginning of our commitment to enhancing our press releases ‘media monitoring reports”, added Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard.

Since APO Group was founded, innovation has always played a crucial role in delivering service excellence. The consultancy allocates 6,5% of its total budget to the APO Innovation Lab, whose mission is to invent and test emerging technologies in response to corporate communications challenges. The addition of print monitoring in press releases ‘media monitoring reports underscores APO Group’s commitment to supporting organizations whether they are private companies, public and governmental institutions or PR agencies in achieving superior editorial coverage.

A sound bite of Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard is available for media to download here: http://www.apo-mail.org/180206ENsoudbite.mp3

Samsung's The Wall makes massive, 146-inch modular TV a reality

2018-01-08T14:15:00.002+01:00

Samsung kickstarted CES 2018 with a massive 146-inch 4K TV it's calling "The Wall." Yeah, it's a wall, alright. The Wall is the one of Samsung's many 2018 TVs to use a new display technology called "Micro LED."

Think of it as the next evolution of the many display technologies TV makers have been ramming down our throats over the years. First it was LED, then OLED, then Quantum Dots, and now it's Micro LED.

As with all previous TV acronym tech, Samsung's touting Micro LEDs as the next leap for picture quality.

All Samsung TVs with Micro LED tech, including The Wall, will be noticeably brighter and have better contrast. That means colors should look even better, especially when viewing HDR (or HDR10+) content.

Last year, Samsung announced a 34-foot 4K LED TV that could challenge movie theater screens, and now it's ready to sell a version for home use. The Wall by Samsung uses similar MicroLED tech that is "self emitting" (read: Each pixel works without a backlight) and can be assembled in extremely large sizes thanks to its modular design. There are not much information to go on yet, but the 146-inch 4K screen seen promises "outstanding brightness, contrast, and close-to-perfect viewing from any angle."

ASUS and AMD Launch half-a-million Naira Gaming Device!

2017-11-27T17:37:00.001+01:00

ASUS has introduced the industry’s first gaming laptop powered by AMD’s eight-core Ryzen 7 1700 processor. The ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC-WB74 is a 17.3” desktop replacement machine that uses the desktop-class CPU and a powerful GPU to offer peak gaming performance to its users.

Since the system relies on numerous desktop-class components and an inexpensive FHD display panel, the final pricetag not too high for a gaming notebook, with the laptop launching for $1499. Meanwhile, ASUS will also offer an even more affordable version powered by AMD’s six-core Ryzen 5 1600, as well as a more advanced model with a 120 Hz display panel.

To a large degree, the ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC can be considered to be AMD’s flagship mobile gaming platform, as it supports all of the company’s latest technologies and can scale in terms of performance and pricing to satisfy different requirements and customers. In fact, the ROG Strix GL702ZC is the first all-AMD gaming laptop in years as makers of mobile PCs avoided AMD’s FX-series CPUs due to power consumption and did not use AMD's APUs due for gaming computers because of performance concerns.

The notebook relies on a a couple different AMD 65W desktop processors — the six-core Ryzen 5 1600 or the eight-core Ryzen 7 1700 — as well as AMD’s Radeon RX 580 GPU with 4 GB of memory (the manufacturer does not disclose specs of the part, but we are investigating). The graphics processor supports AMD’s FreeSync dynamic refresh rate technology for both internal and external displays. Speaking of displays, ASUS will offer GL702ZC with either 60 Hz or 120 Hz FHD IPS panels, so FreeSync support will be especially handy in the second case. To cool down the two key chips of the notebooks, ASUS uses its Hyper Cool Duo-Copper cooling system featuring heat pipes and two fans that are said to cool down the CPU and GPU independently.

Moving on to other internal parts of the ROG Strix GL702ZC. The GL702ZC-WB74 model that ASUS is formally introducing today comes with 16 GB of DDR4 memory, a 256 GB SATA SSD, and a 1 TB hard drive. Meanwhile, more advanced configurations may expand DRAM to 32 GB, upgrade the SSD to 512 GB, and install a 1 TB SSHD or a fast 7200 RPM HDD. By contrast, entry-level configs are going to feature 128 GB SATA SSDs.

As for I/O capabilities, the ROG Strix GL702ZC looks like a fairly standard model here. The notebook comes with a GbE port, an 802.11ac Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2 module, three USB 3.0 Type-A connectors, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C header, an SD card reader, an mDP 1.4 port, an HDMI output, an HD webcam, a TRRS jack and so on. The machine features a Chiclet keyboard with marked WASD keys, 30-key rollover support as well as an isolated numeric pad.

With two display outputs, the ROG Strix GL702ZC can handle a couple of external monitors (with FreeSync support), which is okay for a relatively inexpensive gaming machine. In addition, the HDMI port and three USB-A connectors allow users to plug VR headsets to the laptop to play virtual reality games.

The machine is not as bulky as flagship offerings featuring more advanced GPUs and storage sub-systems But since the ROG Strix GL702ZC is still a desktop replacement laptop, it is rather thick (34 mm) and heavy (3 – 3.2 kilograms). ASUS does not disclose specific battery runtime figures, but a 76 Wh battery should provide enough time do an urgent work while on the go.

The ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC-WB74 is not yet available in Nigeria but already available in the U.S. from the ASUS Store, Amazon, and other retailers at an MSRP of N550,000 ($1499). In the meantime, it will be very interesting to see how much ASUS will charge for the lower-end SKU with the Ryzen 5 1600 as well as the higher-end model with a 120 Hz display and a 512 GB SSD.

Microsoft is now selling a Verizon compatible HP Elite x3

2017-11-07T13:31:00.001+01:00

Even though HP's Elite x3 Windows phone launched well over a year ago, rumors of a Verizon-compatible flavor started floating about over the summer. Those rumors seemed to be confirmed when Microsoft announced which phones would get the Windows 10 Mobile Fall Creators Update, and the Verizon Elite x3 was on it, even though it's never been formally announced.

Today though, the handset actually showed up on the Microsoft Store, priced at $599. Interestingly, the unlocked GSM model is back up to $799, after being priced at $599 for months.

Other than the cellular radios, the Verizon Elite x3 is exactly like the unlocked one. It includes a 5.96-inch 1440p AMOLED display, a 16MP rear camera, 64GB of internal storage, a fingerprint reader, and iris recognition. The device also comes with the Desk Dock, HP's docking solution for connecting the phone to an external display and peripherals for a desktop experience, which Microsoft calls Continuum.

According to the fine print on the listing, the promotional price tag of $599 will only last until November 20.

Even though Elite x3 is more than a year old, it still has some pretty impressive specs. The phone packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM. Although the 820 processor isn’t as fast as current flagship phones like the Pixel 2 XL or Samsung Galaxy S8, it should still zip along for most business tasks.

The Elite x3 also features 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded to 1TB through the MicroSD card slot. A 5.96-inch AMOLED display accompanies Bang & Olfuson stereo speakers and and an 8MP camera. The back of the phone features a 16-megapixel camera. HP also included a fingerprint sensor and support for Windows Hello, which allows you to unlock the phone with an iris scan.

What sells the Elite x3 however, is its ability to transform into a makeshift computer. The bundled Desk Dock lets you to connect your phone to an external monitor and peripherals, while the Lap Dock transforms the phone into a 12.5-inch laptop. Windows Continuum and HP Workspace allows you to run a limited number of Windows apps through the phone.

The HP Elite x3 will probably be the last Window 10 mobile phone on the market. Last month Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore tweeted that the company was no longer focused on Windows Mobile and that he was currently using a Samsung Galaxy S8 with a suite of Microsoft apps installed. The Microsoft Store is currently selling the Samsung Galaxy S8 alongside the Elite x3.

Via: Phone Arena

Lenovo buys stake in Fujitsu PCs as Revenue Tops Estimates

2017-11-06T17:00:00.000+01:00

Lenovo and the Development Bank of Japan have coordinated to acquire stake in Fujitsu's computing branch, with Lenovo purchasing a majority share at 51% and DBJ receiving 5% in the deal. Fujitsu will net about $245.45 million (28 billion yen) as part of the purchase contract, of which Lenovo will pay about $156.7 million in cash. "The joint venture will focus on the research, development, design, manufacturing and sales of Client Computing Devices (CCD) for the global PC market," reads the press release announcement.

"Through this strategic collaboration, Fujitsu and Lenovo aim to drive further growth, scale and competitiveness in the PC businesses both in Japan and worldwide," the joint statement said. "The joint venture will leverage Fujitsu's capabilities in global sales, customer support, R&D, highly-automated and efficient manufacturing and systems integration that meet customers' demand. Furthermore, it will benefit from Lenovo's global scale and presence." This is coming after posting its strongest revenue growth in two years amid signs the PC market is stabilizing.

China’s largest PC maker reported a 5 percent jump in revenue to $11.8 billion in the quarter ended September, surpassing projections for $11.3 billion and marking the biggest rise since the same period of 2015. Net income fell 11 percent to $139 million, which was bolstered by accounting gains. Lenovo rose as much as 5 percent in the afternoon, erasing year-to-date losses.

Lenovo is struggling to find growth in its key divisions of personal computers, smartphones and servers. While it lost top spot in PCs to HP Inc., the market shrinkage of the past few years is easing and Chief Executive Yang Yuanqing is taking costs out of a mobile business that’s made little progress since buying Motorola for $2.9 billion. On Thursday, the company announced it will buy Fujitsu’s client computing division for at least 17.85 billion yen ($157 million), adding the Japanese name to its portfolio.

“A healthier PC market may finally aid Lenovo’s platform almost as much as it has HP or Dell,” Anand Srinivasan and Wei Mok, analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence, said before the release. “The server and mobile platforms need structural fixes.”

PC shipments climbed 17 percent from the previous quarter, allowing Lenovo to arrest market share losses. The company’s struggling smartphone division also made headway into Latin America and Western Europe.

“Lenovo’s business lines remain weak in the past quarter and now it has cash flow difficulties,” said Qian Kai, an analyst with CICC. He noted that Lenovo gained more than $100 million in net income from tax rebates. “I don’t foresee Lenovo turning around its smartphone business. It lags far behind market leaders in China and in the markets like India where they did well, the challenge is growing thanks to companies such as Xiaomi.”

The company continues to face rising costs for components such as memory chips. Chief Operating Officer Gianfranco Lanci previously said he expects costs for essential components such as memory chips to keep rising throughout the rest of the year, albeit at a slower pace.

“Our mobile business turnaround is still in progress,” Yang said in a statement.

While the 2005 acquisition of International Business Machines Corp.’s PC division paid off by lifting Lenovo closer to the top of the market, deals in 2014 for IBM’s low-end server unit and Motorola haven’t gone as smoothly. It’s now re-enlisted the executive who steered the Motorola acquisition to run its Chinese PC arm to breathe new life into the business.

Via: Tweaktown.com

itel Mobile launches 4G-ready S21in India...celebrates 10yrs with product launch in Lagos

2017-11-02T13:35:00.001+01:00

One of the fastest growing Asian brands, itel Mobile has launched a new smartphone — S21 into the market. The latest entrant comes with a dual front camera function, fingerprint sensor and dual social media accounts.

The smartphone sports a 5-inch FWVGA IPS display and is powered by a 1.1 GHz quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM and Mali-T860 MP1 GPU. It has 16GB of internal storage which is expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD card.

The device runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with multi-window view, quick switching between apps, and a direct reply feature. The smartphone also enables users to access dual social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The device is equipped with an 8MP rear camera with autofocus, while there is a dual camera setup (2MP + 5MP) up front. Connectivity options include, 4G VoLTE and ViLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS. The device draws power from a 2700mAh battery. The itel S21 is available across India in three colours: Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, and Elegant Black.

Itel Mobile, one of the world’s fastest growing mobile brands, has always provided a variety of reliable and trendy communication devices for people in emerging markets. This time, it celebrates its 10th anniversary, unveiling its latest mobile devices, itel S12 and S32 at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.

Year on year, the mobile phone giant rolled out affordable and reliable mobile phones without compromising on quality hence the reason for its mobile success in Africa as it understands the major need for the African consumer.

Speaking at the event, the Marketing Communications Manager of itel mobile, Oke Umurhohwo said the newly launched itel Selfie centric phones are affordable, sleek and of high quality with one selling for N24, 000 and the other N32, 000 respectively.

“At itel Mobile, we understand the demand of our customers, hence the reason we are introducing the most affordable dual selfie camera phones in Africa. These new itel phones come with an innovative front camera that can accommodate more people in a single selfie.”

“Compared to the previous S31, the latest S32 boasts of 63° portrait lens for solo selfie and an ultra-wide 86° angle lens which makes it easy for users to take group selfie.”

Adding he said, “Judging by the itel mobile trajectory, it is hard not to be excitement for what the brand intend to achieve in the future. This can be seen today with launch of three new models S32, S32 LTE and S12; a clear upgrade on previous products. The three new models all come with Dual selfie cameras as well as fingerprint, with the S32 LTE version having 4G network ability.”

Commenting on the success of itel mobile, Umurhohwo said itel have always put the customers at the forefront of their business.

“We believe that by providing customers with affordable, reliable and trendy mobile devices, we can allow more people to get connected with the rest of the world in an efficient way.”

“With such belief in mind, itel is continually making efforts to get close to customers and understand their needs and expectations in various ways, so as to continue to meet their expectations.”

Over the past decade, the brand has become a household name in the industry spreading its presence to over 50 countries across the globe. Last year, itel sold a landmark of 50 million devices, to become the top mobile brand in Africa.

itel mobile positioned itself in Africa inspired by a mission to empower everyone with seamless mobile communication through reliable, trendy and affordable mobile devices.

Giving back to the community is also at the core of itel Mobile’s philosophy. This has made the brand develop a robust CSR policy on education via the “Love Always On” initiative. Through the Love Always On campaign, various life-touching projects geared towards empowering pupils and students in different schools were carried out. Some of such projects include provision of education materials to school children, scholarships to brilliant students, as well as sponsorship of different student events across different tertiary institutions. As at October, 2017; over 1,300 students have benefited directly from itel mobile education support initiative.

Speaking on service care issue, Oke said, the company has provided trained engineers, as well as made spare parts available for free software repairs.

“It’s been 10 years of a fantastic journey. It is a milestone, we have grown over the years and this means beyond just selling our phones, we take service delivery more seriously and follow our users all the way as we are a people friendly phone.

Via: http://thenationonlineng.net

After 20 Years, AIM Will Shut Down in December

2017-10-10T13:50:00.000+01:00

AIM, AOL’s hugely popular instant messenger service that was a coming-of-age internet experience for many in the late 1990s and early 2000s, will officially shut down on Dec. 15.

In a statement on the decision, the company says, “AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed. As a result we’ve made the decision that we will be discontinuing AIM.”

The reactions on Twitter ranged from sadness to nostalgia to surprise that the service still exists.

AIM and its signature yellow running man launched in 1997 and was one of the first widely used free chat services. “Instant messages allow communication that is faster than e-mail but more personal than a chat room,” a USA Today piece from 1999 marveled. AIM fought for users against competitors like MSN Messenger, which shut down in 2014, and Yahoo Instant Messenger, which discontinued service in 2016 but later revamped with the same name. Over the past decade, though, AIM has experienced upheavals, from the major cuts in its staff in 2012 to Verizon’s $4.4 billion acquisition of AOL in 2015. And with texting, Gchat, Facebook, and others stepping in as the primary forms of communication for the AIM generation and beyond, it’s no surprise that these instant messaging services are closing shop.

Users can salvage mementos from their chat logs by downloading files and images from AIM before its door closes. But people who want to save their Buddy Lists full of emo screen names and eRraTiC LetTeR CaSInG are out of luck. Perhaps these bits of nostalgia, like those carefully curated quotes and song lyrics as away messages, are best sent the way of Friendster and Nokia phones.

Seems WeChat has officially ended support for Windows phone!

2017-09-25T12:09:00.001+01:00

The popular china-based messaging and calling app, WeChat is no longer available for Windows Phone anymore. Tencent recently stopped updating the Windows 10 Mobile app and it appears that you cannot use it anymore on your Windows Phone whereas the app is still available for Windows 10 PCs and Tablets.

WeChat is one of the best all-in-one communications app that lets you easily connect with family and friends across countries for free. First spotted by a German site, for the security reasons, WeChat has been (temporary) discontinued for Windows Phone.

You can still download and install WeChat on Windows 10 Mobile but when you will open the app an error will be display. WeChat is asking the users to run the app on Android or iOS instead of Windows Phone. It might be a server-side mistake, there is, however, no confirmation from the Chinese firm yet.

WeChat’s app based on Universal Windows Platform is still available but it works only on Windows 10 PCs and Tablet. It could be sideloaded to Windows 10 Mobile but the app isn’t optimized for the smartphones yet and it is highly unlike that the company would do in future.

So another day, another big name leaving the Windows Store on mobile. It's par for the course at this point as Windows 10 Mobile is all but dead and therefore not much of a surprise that WeChat, the largest and most popular app in China, is leaving Windows Phone and taking with it its 700 million strong user base.

Tencent, the company behind WeChat, had already indicated its irritation at Microsoft's lack of effort in the mobile market and had refrained from building an app on Windows 10 Mobile.

Offering services ranging from messaging to banking, WeChat is an integral part of online life in China and its loss is certain to shatter any expectations Microsoft may have had of, at the very least, retaining its current standing in the Chinese mobile industry. The company does still have an app for Windows 10 on the desktop so China may not yet be entirely out of Microsoft's grasp but it's certainly looking like it. There has been no official statement from Microsoft on the situation yet.

MTN Nigeria, TD Mobile partner to launch Freetel ICE 2 smartphone

2017-09-18T11:59:00.001+01:00

MTN Nigeria and TD Mobile have introduced the Android smartphone ICE 2 from Freetel, Japan’s largest selling smartphone brand into the open market in the country.

Designed in Japan, the ICE 2 comes pre-loaded with Worldreader’s free e-library of 50,000 e-books and MTN apps such Music Plus. The Android 7.0 smartphone will sell for about NGN 13,000 at all major online and offline retail stores including MTN’s outlets.

According to TD Mobile, the new device is designed for the Nigerian market and it is just one of many devices from the stable of Freetel. The device is pre-loaded with MTN’s latest apps including MTN Music Plus. Additionally, the device is also pre-loaded with Worldreader’s free e-library of 50,000 e-books – an app that enables Nigerians to read their favourite book at no cost, according to a report by Telecompaper.

Although it is a mix of low-end and budget, the Freetel Ice 2 comes with a design language spoken by mid-range smartphones and higher-specced devices. It has a plastic build, but is designed in such a way that you’d be unsure of what it is made of when looking at it from afar.

Rahul De, MTN’s chief marketing officer speaking on the launch said, “We are excited by this partnership because our focus over the years has been on connecting millions of Nigerians to each other and the world, thus expanding access to information, entertainment and endless opportunities. The affordable Freetel Ice 2 takes us further along this journey, allowing more Nigerians make the transition to smartphones.”

Also speaking at the event, Gozy Ijogun, managing director, TD Mobile, disclosed that the launch of the Freetel Ice 2 is a fitting testimony to the company’s landmark strides in making ICT products and devices accessible, affordable and usable across Africa.

While, Adama Diallo, Google’s head of Nigeria for Android Partnerships, emphasised: “We have been truly impressed by the quality of the Freetel Ice 2 at this price point. We are excited to continue working with ecosystem partners like Freetel, TD & MTN to offer Android devices at every price point and connect more Nigerians to the internet.”

The Freetel Ice 2 comes with a 5.5-inch display which is rather large for a budget device. It has an HD (1280 * 720) pixel resolution with a 267 ppi pixel density, and its display is covered with 2.5D curved glass, yet another unusual feature in a low-end smartphone. The device is 9 millimetres thick.

The Device

The device is Google GMS certified, meaning that the device meets Google’s performance requirements and properly runs Google Apps. In addition, the device is powered by Google’s most recent Android operating system – Android 7.0 – and comes with the latest software and security updates including Google Play Protect: a newly-developed software which continuously works to keep one’s device, data and apps safe.

Memory & Performance

Under the hood, the Google Freetel Ice 2 is powered by a MediaTek MT6580 processor with four Cortex-A53 processing cores (quad-core) and a clock speed of 1.2GHz. Its graphics operations are carried out by an ARM Mali 400 GPU.

The processor has 1GB of RAM space to carry out its operations, offering basic multi-tasking functions. This RAM size is quite low and the phone can be used on at most two applications at a time if you want to avoid lags and crashes.

The user has 8GB of default internal memory to store multimedia files and install applications. A significant part of the ROM is already filled up with system applications and files, and it might not be sufficient for the user’s storage needs, in the event of which you can slot in a microSD card with a size of up to 32GB into its external microSD card slot to expand the default internal storage capacity.

Camera

Much should not be expected from a budget device in this department, and the Freetel Ice 2 keeps it low with a basic 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash at the rear.

It also offers you the luxury of making video calls and taking basic selfies with a 2MP camera placed on the top of the front bezel.

Battery, Connectivity & Software

You will be able to use the smartphone for at least half a day before a recharge is needed, thanks to its 2800mAh Li-ion battery. The smartphone has dual SIM slots, but unfortunately, it lacks 4G LTE support which seems to be a deal-breaker for most smartphone users today. It’s a budget smartphone with other amazing specs at a low price, so we can’t say this is bad, either.

The smartphone runs on a stock flavour of version 7.0 (Nougat) of the Android operating system out of the box, and offers connectivity options like NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 and GPS.

Apple's New Phone to Be Called `iPhone X,' ?

2017-09-11T10:26:00.000+01:00

Apple Inc.’s

most important new phone for years will be called the iPhone X, according to a leak of the company’s latest mobile operating system on Saturday.
Strings of software code inside of the leaked operating system, first detailed by Apple news website 9to5Mac, show the expected three new phones will be called the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. App and game developer Steven Troughton-Smith discovered the names in the software and tweeted about it on Saturday.
The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are successors to the current iPhone models, while the iPhone X is the premium version with an all-new design, crisper OLED screen, improved cameras, and a 3-D facial recognition scanner for unlocking the device.
The "X" in the iPhone’s name may be a reference to this model being a special 10th anniversary edition. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will look similar to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, but include faster processors, Bloomberg News has reported. The new devices will be unveiled at an event on Tuesday. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
The leak comes not long after Apple accidentally published early HomePod speaker software that provided details on upcoming iPhone features. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has criticized news reports on upcoming iPhones this year, saying the articles dented sales of current models. Still, expectations are running high for a blockbuster holiday season: In a recent survey by RBC Capital Markets, almost two-thirds of respondents said they would buy a new iPhone model sight unseen.
The leaked operating system corroborates earlier Bloomberg News reports that the premium X device will replace the usual Touch ID fingerprint scanner with a face unlock feature. Apple will call the enhancement Face ID, according to the code. The sensor will also be used for scanning a person’s facial expression and converting that into animated emojis for messaging, the code shows. Bloomberg recently reported that the premium model will lack a home button and instead use a series of gestures for controlling the device.
The leaked software also sheds more light on an upcoming version of the Apple Watch that has its own cellular connection (existing models have to be tethered to an iPhone). An Aug. 4 report by Bloomberg described this feature.
The code also includes a photo of the new Watch, with a red button on the side and dots in the middle of the screen to show cellular signal strength. The image and the leaked code indicate the device will be capable of making phone calls without an iPhone in range and that Apple will announce new colors, including a grey ceramic and a new gold tone.

First water-resistant BlackBerry will not have keyboard

2017-08-30T23:14:00.003+01:00

TCL, the Chinese conglomerate that produces phones under the BlackBerry name, is going to broaden its appeal to more than just keyboard devotees. The company has revealed to Engadget that it will launch a full touchscreen device under the BlackBerry name at some point in October. It may not be a Z10, or even a Storm (or Thunder), but if you were looking to get your mitts on a keyboard-free BlackBerry, it's coming.
Granted, TCL's DTEK 50 and 60 phones were also all-screen, but this is different. Details are, perhaps obviously, fairly scarce about the as-yet unannounced device, but we managed to glean tidbits from TCL's François Mahieu. Mahieu explains that TCL will respect BlackBerry's reputation for building hard-wearing devices for clumsy international travelers who will be working in all weathers. The main feature, beyond the full-touchscreen, is the (planned) IP67 water and dust-proofing, as well as a battery rated to last for more than 26 hours of mixed use. Mahieu believes that durability and longevity will be two of the biggest selling points, a long-lasting phone that'll keep going long after your iPhone has conked out.
Mahieu feels bold enough to claim that he expects a number of iPhone and Galaxy users to "make the switch" to BlackBerry come October. Of course, these handsets now run Android, which means that it's far harder to make it stand out from the crowd. Mahieu continues to believe that BlackBerry's security know-how will enable TCL to deliver the "most secure Android phone in the world." Although given the failure of so many ultra-secure Android devices to sell, his confidence seems — at least right now — misplaced.
But TCL is used to combating cynicism with people looking down their nose at BlackBerry in its new after-life as a white label brand. Mahieu said that users shouldn't write off BlackBerry just because it doesn't stand toe-to-toe against Apple and Samsung. "We are there to play," he explained, "we're just playing with different cards," mostly by pushing its strengths of battery life, security and durability. As for pricing, it's likely that the device will cost less than other flagships.
Of course, we've already seen a BlackBerry device with a large display unencumbered by a physical keyboard. The Priv hid its physical input device in its slider, and so could actually work as a phone for touchscreen devotees. And given how well that device sold — prompting BlackBerry to abandon producing hardware altogether — it's going to be interesting to see how TCL can avoid history repeating.
TCL is banking on certified water and dust-resistance as a draw, and it's not clear how many people were waiting for that as a reason to make the switch. But Mahieu is hinting that the company is "marching towards millions" of device sales, although it's not clear how many models it needs to shift before it can be considered a success.

On-Demand-Video powerhouse, Iflix set sights on Nigeria

2017-08-29T14:22:00.000+01:00

Iflix, the world’s leading Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service for emerging markets, announced the launch of its revolutionary service in Nigeria last Thursday at their offices famously known as “The Playground”.

The online video streaming platform which boasts of partnerships with over 220 studios and distributors allows users have access to international, regional and local content which ranges from Asian, European, American and African movies, TV shows, Documentaries and cartoons for as low as ₦799 monthly or an annual subscription at the rate of ₦6,392.

Speaking at the launch, Ngozi Madueke-Dozie, country manager, said the subscription service is targeted at the mass market.

‘We are excited to launch Iflix in Nigeria, we have a lot to offer from our wide range of movie selection from around the globe’, said Ngozi Madueke-Dozie.

She said, “The SVoD will be characterised by local contents that the Nigerian audience can relate with. We are excited to launch Iflix in Nigeria because we have a lot to offer from our wide range of movie selection from around the globe.

“We are especially thrilled to launch Iflix here because it offers affordability, variety, and convenience by giving our users an amazing selection of the best TV shows and movies from all over the world, to stream or download on any device of their choice for less than N800.

"You can watch 20 minutes of video content with 33MB of data so that means you can watch whole shows and movies without exhausting too much data in the process.”

Madueke-Dozie further said that the contents to be supplied by Iflix would meet up with local and global censorship.

But for this innovative company, it has not always been easy being Iflix. When you run a business called iflix that streams movies and box-sets into homes from Iraq to Indonesia, being known as the “Netflix of emerging markets” is inevitable. But it is an inevitability that causes co-founder and chief executive Mark Britt to bristle. Rather, he prefers to highlight the similarities to Spotify — content on both the music streaming service and iflix is curated by celebrities and aficionados.

Certainly the battles facing Mr Britt, an Australian based in Kuala Lumpur, in building the two-year-old company are far removed from those faced by his opposite number at Netflix. Reed Hastings never had to work out a way of collecting money without credit cards, or to fret about data servers — actual physical boxes holding 170 terabytes of House of Cards et al — being stranded at ports.

And Netflix makes money. Iflix, valued at about $600m and backed by Rupert Murdoch’s Sky TV and Liberty Global, is generating annual sales of $100m. “Are we making revenues? Absolutely. Are we making money? No,” says Mr Britt, speaking in Hong Kong at the Rise technology conference last month.

Price and local content is iflix’s competitive edge on Netflix, argues Mr Britt. Yet building the first emerging market video platform has entailed some unconventional methods. By way of market research Mr Britt, a lawyer by training, talked to stores selling pirated DVDs, assuming they would know what was hot.

Iflix launched in Nigeria last week.