Sunday, November 10, 2013

Maximizing digital dividends begins with .NG – NIRA boss


To maximize the benefits of digital dividends emanating from the call by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for digital migration from analogue to digital broadcasting, local content must be embedded on nation’s country code Top Level Domains (ccTLD), says the President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mrs. Mary Nma Uduma.

This position was made known to DigitalSENSE Business News at a two-day West Africa ICT Congress (WAFICT) and exhibition 2013 by Mrs. Uduma, who was represented by the chairman, Communications and Publicity at NIRA, Mr. Remmy Nweke, last weekend in Lagos, in her paper entitled ‘Maximising the Benefit of Digital Dividend.’

She pointed out that in order to maximize the benefits of digital dividend, the expectations are that revenue of mobile services will soar, coupled with blossom social economic activities, increasing creativity, affordability, availability of local contents hinged on development of ccTLD like .NG for Nigeria and rural development.

According to her, social, educational and cultural values would be given a boost because there will be educated citizens, informed democracy, cultural understanding, belonging to a community, access and inclusion of broadband services as well as enhanced quality of life.

Mrs. Uduma further advocated that to maximize the benefits of today subject of Analogue Switch Over (ASO), the committee set up for such implementation before the deadline, which is June 2015, hence must be allowed to do their work based on the terms of reference setting up such a committee.

In addition, this must be matched by walking the talk through leveraging on the mobile broadband environment.

She expects that the affordability of services should surpass the anticipated government revenue, while ECOWAS countries must wake up to ensure not to miss the date, while enforcing harmonized West African policies, regulations and  legal framework must be adhered to.

This, she pointed out to DigitalSENSE Business News, has to begin by individuals and corporate getting their .NG domain names, which she described as Nigerians identity for the digital dividend.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE

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