Industry News

On a journey to catalyze innovation and fast-track growth for businesses, AirtelTigo Business has rolled out “Flexi Business”, a tailor-made mobile solution for small and medium enterprises and corporate firms to meet their specific needs to grow and be profitable.

The product, which is first of its kind in the country’s telecommunications industry, allows SMEs and corporate firms to customize their package based on their needs.

Under this package, businesses enjoy value for money as the product has no expiry on data for SMEs and also gives an unlimited on-net call to corporate customers.

Additionally, SMEs and corporate firms will get 40 percent more data and 30 percent more on voice calls. Once a company signs on to the package, the company can pay all its employees through AirtelTigo Money for free.

Explaining further on the rationale behind “Flexi business”, the Chief Business Officer at AirtelTigo, Ms. Ethel Anamoo, said: “I’m really proud that we have developed this solution for businesses. It truly demonstrates our commitment to make businesses simple. With experience and rich understanding in this market, we believe that communication solutions for businesses, particularly small, medium and enterprises should be affordable. We also believe in offering innovative solutions with value to our clients.”

She noted that SMEs are playing a key role in fostering new ideas in the country and they need communication solutions that supports their growth. “In this market, we are the most trusted partner to businesses because we are offering value-for-money, integrated solutions and superior customer service.”

Commenting on the era of technology and business, Ms Anamoo stated that: “Technology is now a big driver for business efficiency and growth. Therefore, at AirtelTigo Business, we believe in helping small and large businesses to evolve with innovative technology solutions. Ultimately, our aim is to make businesses simple.”

Source: airteltigo.com.gh

MTN and Ericsson have signed a five-year contract extension to deploy new products and provide Managed Services for Mobile Money services in 13 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The new contract includes deployment of Ericsson Wallet Platform in new markets on top of existing 13 countries.

The deployment of Ericsson’s Wallet Platform will bring mobile financial services to MTN customers.
The strategic partnership between MTN and Ericsson will introduce Ericsson Wallet Platform across the operator’s footprint. MTN Group has Wallet Platform subscribers in 13 countries in Africa. Ericsson is providing MTN with an m-commerce solution that includes Ericsson Wallet Platform, systems integration, operational support and solution development.

MTN Group Executive for Mobile Financial Services, Serigne Dioum says, “A stable, secure and reliable platform is one of the fundamentals to building successful mobile financial services. Through this partnership, we look forward to working with Ericsson to further enhance our value proposition and expand our ecosystem.”

The five-year revenue sharing extended agreement includes a host of digital payment and transactional capabilities in line with MTN’s vision.

Ericsson Wallet Platform allows users to store, transfer and withdraw money, paying merchants and utility providers as well as using financial services like savings and loans.

Rafiah Ibrahim, Head of Ericsson Middle East & Africa says, “This breakthrough deployment is yet another example of MTN’s ongoing commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Ericsson Wallet Platform helps MTN offer the convenience of m-wallet financial services across its entire subscriber base.”

Part of the Ericsson Digital BSS portfolio, Ericsson Wallet Platform is an integrated mobile wallet solution that combines Ericsson Wallet Platform and Ericsson Charging. It also allows mobile operators to reuse existing assets and bundle telecom offerings with financial services to create a complete end-user solution for m-commerce needs.

Social media platforms aren’t living up to voluntary code of conduct, commissioner says.

Last October, in an attempt to fend off additional regulation, advertising trade organizations and major Internet platform providers—including Google, Facebook, and Twitter—signed off on a voluntary code of conduct aimed at reducing the threat posed by fraudulently purchased political advertisements and the posting of “fake news” articles. But a report released by the European Commission today called the social media platforms to task for not living up to those voluntary measures to help protect upcoming elections across Europe in the next few months—and particularly the European Parliament elections in May.

In a joint statement issued by the European Commission, Vice President for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip; Commissioner for Justice, Consumers, and Gender Equality Věra Jourová; Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King; and Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel wrote:

“We need to see more progress on the commitments made by online platforms to fight disinformation. Platforms have not provided enough details showing that new policies and tools are being deployed in a timely manner and with sufficient resources across all EU Member States. The reports provide too little information on the actual results of the measures already taken.

Finally, the platforms have failed to identify specific benchmarks that would enable the tracking and measurement of progress in the EU. The quality of the information provided varies from one signatory of the Code to another depending on the commitment areas covered by each report. This clearly shows that there is room for improvement for all signatories… We urge Facebook, Google and Twitter to do more across all Member States to help ensure the integrity of the European Parliament elections in May 2019. We also encourage platforms to strengthen their cooperation with fact-checkers and academic researchers to detect disinformation campaigns and make fact-checked content more visible and widespread”.

The EC report specifically called out each of the major social media platforms for specific failures. Facebook was cited for not providing details of its efforts to scrutinize political advertisement placement, which the company said it began in January. Facebook had also promised a Europe-wide archive for political and issue advertising, to be available by March 2019. And while Facebook’s reports to the EC thus far have given details on “cases of interference from third countries in EU Member States,” the commissioners said, it does not provide the number of fake accounts removed due to “malicious activities targeting specifically the European Union.”
Google’s reporting to the EC detailed actions the company had taken to improve its oversight of advertisements targeting citizens of EU countries, but the commissioners found fault in how Google measured its result. “The metrics supplied are not specific enough and do not clarify the extent to which the actions were taken to address disinformation or for other reasons (e.g. misleading advertising),” according to a summary of the report published by the EC. And while Google issued a new election advertising policy in January that includes the creation of a transparency report, the company did not provide any evidence that it had done anything concrete to implement “integrity of services” policies in its January report to the EC.

For its part, Twitter did’t even provide a report to the EC in January—the company announced the expansion of its political advertising transparency report to Europe on February 19. Twitter did release five new data sets of what it called state-backed information campaigns, including collections of posts from accounts connected to campaigns by Russia, Iran, Bangladesh, and Venezuela, which are publicly downloadable. But Twitter did not give any details on how it was measuring progress on spotting such activity.

The commissioners plan on pushing for full compliance with the voluntary rules by before the May 2019 European Parliament elections and continuously monitoring the results of the platform vendors’ actions through the end of the year. “By the end of 2019, the Commission will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the Code’s initial 12-month period,” the commissioners’ statement noted. “Should the results prove unsatisfactory, the Commission may propose further actions, including of a regulatory nature.”

Source: arstechnica.com

This year’s Mobile World Congress Barcelona is a wrap, and organizer GSMA is celebrating a very successful event.

The mobile alliance says that MWC19 Barcelona saw 109,000 visitors from all over the world, with 55 percent of attendees being senior-level executives and 7,900 being CEOs. The event also attracted 3,640 media and industry analysts, and is estimated to have contributed €473 million to the local economy.

Commenting on the successful event, GSMA CEO John Hoffman emphasized the prominence of 5G technology at this year’s flagship MWC. “With the theme of ‘Intelligent Connectivity’, 5G was prominent at MWC19 and it was exciting to see a glimpse of that new world, with 5G-enabled handsets launched, new products and services, and even the first demonstration of live tele-monitored surgery over 5G technology,” he said, adding, “The mobile industry continues to make strong progress with 5G and MWC Barcelona continues to showcase the best and most creative elements of our connected world.”

Of course, other major tech trends in the mobile world shared the spotlight, too, with artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, VR/AR, and biometrics generating a lot of buzz. The latter, in fact, was more prominent than ever, with organizers having implemented a new biometric access system that allowed visitors to register to gain entry to the MWC venue with a face scan, instead of having to show ID or badges. Biometrics have become integral in mobile technologies over the last few years, and this new ‘BREEZ’ system offered the latest indication of just how prominent biometric tech is in the mobile world.

Source: mobileidworld

As the European Parliament election inch closer, the European Commission has claimed Facebook is withholding key data on its efforts towards how the platform is rooting out the spread of poll-related disinformation.

According to a report in The Guardian on Thursday, the European Commission has complained that Facebook has set up fact checkers only in eight of the European Union’s (EU) 28 member states.

“Mark Zuckerberg’s company has been under fire from the European Commission for failing to provide it with the hard numbers to prove that it was living up to promises made in a voluntary code of conduct,” said the report.

“Facebook has again failed to provide all necessary information, including any data on its actions in January on scrutiny of ad placements or efforts to disrupt advertising and monetisation incentives for those behind disinformation,” the report said, quoting EU’s security commissioner Sir Julian King and digital economy commissioner, Mariya Gabriel.

The commission, however, said Google has fared slightly better on sharing information on election-related misinformation.

The next elections to the European Parliament are expected to be held in May. A total of 751 members of the European Parliament currently represent more than 512 million people from 28 member states.

Facebook in January said it is committed to setting a high standard for transparency when it comes to political advertising on Facebook in EU. “To run electoral ads or ads about highly debated and important issues related to the European Parliament Elections, advertisers will be required to confirm their identity and include additional information about who is responsible for their ads,” Anika Geisel, Public Policy Elections, Europe said in a blog post.
Facebook said it was planning to set up new operation centres, focused on election integrity, including one in Dublin.

“Working together with our teams in our Menlo Park headquarters and across Europe, the new initiative will serve as an added layer of defence against false news and misinformation, hate speech, voter suppression and election interference,” said Facebook

Source: Economic Times

The Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA) has stressed the need for a regulatory framework in telecommunications that will drive the global digital transformation agenda.

Director General of the GSMA, Mats Granryd, who made the call at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, proposed a regulatory framework to boost security and bring to fruition, an era of intelligent connectivity, in a bid to accelerate the adoption of a common digital transformation agenda.

According to him, the move would help to build a better future by demonstrating leadership in security and trust.
“The GSMA is working on behalf of our members to unite the broader digital ecosystem behind a common vision, namely to act ethically in the digital economy. The security of financial transactions is critical to consumer trust.
“When you can trust someone with your money, you can trust them with pretty much anything.”

Meanwhile, the European Commission (EU) has vowed to ensure swift resolution of 5G security issue across globe. European Commissioner for digital economy and society, Mariya Gabriel sought to diffuse what she described as mobile industry unrest on the 5G network security issue, stating her organisation was working to bring a solution to the table very soon.

Speaking at the MWC in Spain, Gabriel acknowledged concerns raised by the mobile industry on potential legislation related national security and 5G rollout.

“I am well aware of the unrest among all of you key actors in the telecommunications sector caused by the ongoing discussions on the cybersecurity of 5G, but let me reassure you that the Commission takes your view very seriously, because you need to run these systems every day,” Gabriel said.

Outside of the security debate, Gabriel praised the status of 5G development and rollout across the European Union, adding the Commission aimed to be at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development.

On the issue of regulatory framework for digital agenda, Granryd said: “If the mobile and tech industries take the lead on this, we will be able to bring other industries and governments with us.”

The regulatory framework, Granryd explained, “must be fit for the digital age, with key objectives such as the need for various governments to support the initiative without killing the long-term opportunity by short-term greediness.”

“Next, is the approval for consolidation to drive investment while maintaining effective competition, and thirdly, we need to see the same rules for equivalent digital services, with an even playing field for operators and internet players; and lastly, we must have harmonised international privacy and data protection rules,” he added.

“The framework is something we at the GSMA will be working hard on behalf of the generality of the public to secure,” Granryd said, adding that the organisation stood ready to work with governments and regulators of various countries to put any of such concerns to rest.

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MTN Ghana is organising the Independence Day edition of the MTN Music Festival on 05 March, which will feature Ghanaian music and culture. “The MTN Music Festival is geared towards celebrating our evergreen Ghanaian music and culture”.

“This is one of the best treats we can give our customers on the eve of Ghana’s independence anniversary celebrations”, Noel Ganson, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Ghana said. Artistes billed to perform on the night are Daddy Lumba supported by musician Ofori Amponsah and vocalist Efya.

The Music Festival includes dance and poetry, too. The event is one of several platforms that MTN Ghana uses to support and promote the creative arts industry. Its other platforms include the MTN Hitmaker and MTN Regional festivals. The recent partnership between MTN and Aftown supports listening, streaming and monetising of local music in the digital age.

Source: Telecompaper

The telecoms industry is acutely aware of the need to ensure that ever-more complex mobile networks are safe, the head of its main lobby group said , as debate swirls over whether to bar some equipment vendors on national security grounds.

A new GSMA study reveals that 80 per cent of women in low- and middle-income countries are now mobile owners. According to the GSMA’s 2019 Mobile Gender Gap Report released today, mobile is the primary means of internet access in these markets, where 48 per cent of women use mobile to get online.

However, despite the growth in connectivity, the gender gap in mobile ownership is not closing. Women remain 10 per cent less likely than men to own a mobile phone in low- and middle-income countries, and 23 per cent less likely than men to use mobile internet.

The mobile gender gap varies by region and country but is widest in South Asia where women are 28 per cent less likely than men to own a mobile device and 58 per cent less likely to use the mobile internet.

“We are seeing significantly increased mobile access for women, however in an increasingly connected world, women are still being left behind,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. “While mobile connectivity is spreading quickly, it is not spreading equally. Unequal access to mobile technology threatens to exacerbate the inequalities women already experience.”

Mobile operators are taking action to address the mobile gender gap and leading an effort to drive digital and financial inclusion for women.

As part of the GSMA Connected Women Programme’s Commitment Initiative, nearly 37 mobile operators from 27 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America have committed to reducing the gender gap in their mobile money or mobile internet customer base by 2020.

These operators have provided over 16 million additional women with access to digital and financial services since 2016.

“Ensuring digital and financial inclusion for women is critically important, as we know that when women thrive, societies, businesses and economies thrive,” added Granryd. “Reaching the 432 million women in these countries who are still unconnected will require concerted effort and coordination from the mobile industry, as well as policy makers and the international community.”

Women highlighted affordability, literacy and digital skills, a perceived lack of relevance, and safety and security concerns as the top barriers needing to be addressed in order to further decrease the mobile gender gap.

The GSMA found that closing the gender gaps in mobile ownership and usage represents a substantial commercial opportunity for the mobile industry. Over the next five years, low- and middle-income countries could gain an estimated additional $140 billion in mobile industry revenue if operators could close these gender gaps by 2023.

The GSMA also found that closing the mobile gender gap could be an important driver of economic growth. These markets could also add an additional $700 billion in GDP growth by 2023.

The GSMA’s 2019 Gender Gap Mobile Report is available here.

Source: GSMA

Chinese telecommunications giants ZTE, Huawei and Xiaomi displayed their brand new products at the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC2019), which opened Monday in the city of Barcelona in northeast Spain.

ZTE presented its new smartphone: the ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G, one of a range of 5G compatible devices to be shown to the public for the first time at the event.

“We have been coming to the MWC for several years, but 2019 is the first year in which we are going to see 5G commercialized and we think we are going to be a key player in the sector,” Li Qing, marketing manager from Chinese smartphone producers ZTE told Xinhua, adding “Innovations in 5G have been and will continue to be a very important strategy for our company.”

Chinese companies Huawei and Xiaomi presented their proposals for 5G handsets on the eve of the MWC2019, with Huawei showcasing the Mate X and Xiaomi, their Mi Mix 3 5G.However, MWC2019 is not just about smartphones, with 5G opening new possibilities for connected and autonomous cars and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“I hope to see what the new trends are, especially in 5G, and this week will decide the business strategy that my company will take for the coming years,” Bojan Pavlovic, Research and Development Director of software developing company, Ibis Instruments, told Xinhua.

“I have come here to see the challenges which the introduction of 5G offers to telecommunications providers and to try and identify the spaces in the market, so we can attempt to fill them,” he added.The four days of the MWC2019 also offer opportunities for networking, with numerous rooms set aside to visitors to find future business partners, while there is also a series of keynote speeches and conferences hosted by industry heavyweights aimed as helping decide the future of the mobile industry for 2019 and beyond.

“This is probably the most important conference in the world, in which we are going to see the next generation of technology. The products that are going to be used in society during the next 10 years are all here,” industry expert Mike Murphy commented to Xinhua.

This is the 14th time for Barcelonia to host the event since the Mobile World Congress was moved to the city in 2006.

Around 110,000 people are expected to visit the MWC2019, which will last until Feb. 28, with 2,400 companies from 200 counties exhibiting under the banner “Intelligent Connectivity.”

Source: China.org.cn