25042019 - Free web operators threaten national security — EXPERTS

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
IMN MEMBERS FORCE NASS GATE OPEN— Members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria protesting
at the National Assembly, trying to forcefully enter the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday. Photo:
Gbemiga Olamikan.
Free web operators threaten national
In
security — EXPERTS
By Prince Osuagwu,
platforms that
Hi-Tech Editor & Telecoms Sector in a traditionally act as a abroad in the form of SMS
Juliet Umeh Changing Business controller or distributor of
Continues on Page 41
“Foreign Direct
LAGOS — The
security and
well-being of
Nigeria and its peoples
may be under serious
threat from the
operations of OTT (Over
The Top) service
providers in the nation’s
telecommunications
sector, unless serious,
concerted action is
taken.
This was the
summation of experts
and stakeholders at a
workshop, Unlocking
the Revenue and Growth
Opportunities in the
Model and Digital
T e c h n o l o g y
Environment: Role of
Regulator, Operators
and OTT Service
Providers, organised by
Vanguard Media Ltd in
Lagos yesterday.
Over the top (OTT),
according to Wikipedia,
is a term used to refer to
content providers that
distribute streaming
media as a standalone
product directly to
viewers over the
Internet, bypassing
telecommunications,
multichannel television,
and broadcast television
such content
Indeed, many
participants at the
workshop agreed that the
nation and her peoples
may be headed for
another form of slavery
unless the operations of
OTT service providers,
which also cut across
virtually every sector of
the economy, are
subjected to “full
disclosures and
regulation.” This, they
said, is because
"telecommunications is
the infrastructure of
infrastructure."
addition,
participants warned
leaders in the corridors
of power to be wary of
initiatives coming from
Investment”, usually
quoted in foreign
currency, which could
destroy the economic
base of the country.
Not done, the nation
was also warned of
dangers of free internet
services, free messaging
services, free broadband,
and others, which they
said will have the effect
of under-developing the
nation and her peoples.
The workshop, which
focused on the impact of
OTT operators in the
Nigerian telecom also
sector x-rayed dwindling
revenues of service
providers, and fleshed
out national security
implications if OTTs are
not brought under
regulatory cover.
Executive Vice
Chairman of the Nigeria
Communication
Commission, NCC, Prof
Umar Danbatta, kickstarted
the discussion
with a keynote speech on
the theme of the event:
Operators still
focus voice,
— NCC boss
Danbatta, represented
by Director, Technical
Standards and Network
Integrity, Eng. Bako
Wakil, said that most
industry players still
focus traditional services
like voice call and Short
Messaging Services,
SMS, which are now
suffering decline while
OTT services such as
WhatsApp, Snapchat,
Facebook Messenger
and Skype are fast
replacing them as
primary methods of
communication.
COLUMNISTS GAMBO DORI 17 IKECHUKWU AMAECHI 40
Mr & Mrs
By Bose Adelaja,Yinka Latona,
Chiamaka Uba, Tolulope
Oke&Erinfolami Abdulkudus
Collapsed state of Lagos roads, worsening traffic gridlocks (4)
He noted that the
business
of
telecommunication
requires partnerships,
and challenged the
telcos to urgently tweak
their business models to
confront erosion of their
revenue base by the
OTTs, headlong.
He added that the old
business models created
by the operators are no
longer sustainable,
saying this is why they
are suffering gradual
erosion of their Average
Revenue Per User,
The Lagos-Badagry
Expressway has
become synonymous with
traffic gridlock because of
pot holes. Also, the
situation is not helped by
the reconstruction which
has been going on on that
road for a very long time.
I appeal to the authorities
to hasten work on that
road.
Miss Dada Folasade
Blogger
It's
disheartening
considering the fact
that that road is very
important to the people.
That road has been under
construction for years,
and it's high time the
government did
something about it.
Enough is enough!
Mr.Victor Paul
Animation artist
I
think the Ambode-led
government is just too
inactive. Why would he
abandon a project he
inherited? The Lagos/
Badagry road
construction was fast
when Fashola started it
but nothing happened
since Ambode took over.
My take is that the state
government is less
concerned about us.
Miss Gbwa Mercy
Student
LAGOS being a cos
mopolitan state has
a deficit of infrastructure
coupled with bad roads
in most parts. They have
been the major reasons
we have traffic gridlock.
I think these major challenges
in Lagos today
are as a result of failed
leadership. The only way
out is for stakeholders to
be involved in the formulation
and implementation
of a long term
plan.Mr.Ifeanyi Okoye,
Analyst
I
want to know if
A p a
pa Oshodi Expressway
and Lagos/Badagry
Expressway are no
longer in Nigeria. How
could a government be
this insensitive to the
plight of taxpayers? Is
the problem beyond
what the federal and
state governments can
address? I am very angry
as I am talking to
you because people die
every week as a result of
the state of the roads.
sumed office in 2015.
Mr. Rufus Obomenfo,
Worker
I
have decided to
s t o p
complaining because
those concerned
do not care about us.
They only care when
they need our votes. I
want to plead with the
incoming governor, Babajide
Sanwo-Olu to
save those of us living
in Ojo, Badagry and
Amuwo Odofin Local
Government Areas.
Mr. Shola Adedotun,
Carpenter