…As IoT connections hit 25 billion globally by 2025
From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
Executive Vice Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has stated that with the advent of 5G technology the world will witness another dimension in the IoT Ecosystem.
Danbatta made the disclosure at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Emerging Technologies which was held at Lagos Sheraton Hotel on Thursday, 4th July, 2022.
He said “With the advent of 5G technology, we are going to witness another dimension in the IoT Ecosystem as 5G technology is going to enable Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC).”
Danbatta also revealed that the GSMA Intelligence has predicted that IoT connections will reach almost 25 billion globally by 2025. With this pace of growth, according to Danbatta, it has become imperative to prepare for the Regulation of the important technology.
The Forum which drew together industry giants not forgetting the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has the Theme: “Regulatory Roadmap for IoT Ecosystem in Nigeria”.
Danbatta also stressed the commission’s efforts in seeing to fruition the Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025. “In line with our Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025 which include amongst other things Facilitating the Provision of Infrastructure for Digital Economy which fosters National Development, Improve Quality of Service (QoS) for Enhanced Consumer Quality of Experience (QoE) and Facilitating Strategic Collaboration and Partnership; the Commission has continued to conduct studies on emerging technologies and their Spectrum and Regulatory requirement to ensure adequate availability of Spectrum for current and future use devoid of any harmful interference.”
Danbatta said the telecommunications industry is a dynamic industry, therefore, to keep abreast with developments in the industry, the contributions from all stakeholders are critical, adding that the forum was for the stakeholders to come and constructively exchange ideas and views on the Spectrum and regulatory requirement of Internet of Things.
Going further he explained what IoT is all about. “Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring any human intervention (human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction).”
He said IoT has become indispensable to certain sectors of the national life “This is increasingly becoming important in the scheme of activities across most sectors of the economy which includes Education, Security, Military Reconnaissance Commerce, Governance, Inventory Management, Health, Surveillance, Smart City Initiatives etc.”
He also maintained that the applications of IoT are far-reaching. “In the home, IoT can be used for home automation and control, lighting, temperature measurement, entertainment amongst others. Similarly, in industrial settings, Internet of Things (IoT) unites assets, advanced analytics and workers by using connected industrial devices to monitor, collect, exchange, and analyze insights to drive faster and better decision making. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can be used to track inventory, improve the monitoring of product quality, and automate factories to make them run more efficiently. “
Danbatta revealed that his commission is conscious of the importance of participatory Regulation through strategic partnership with Government and non-Government actors, adding “it is for this reason therefore, that you are all invited here to provide comments and inputs on this very important topic.”
Speakers at the forum include, Professor Mike Hinchey of University of Limerick, Ireland, who spoke on The IoT Ecosystem; The secretary General of International Communication Union (ITU) Mr Houlin Zhao joined via Zoom; Dr Zaglo (Intel, USA) spoke on The IoT Ecosystem ‘Terrestrial Perspective’; Levin Born McCall (Regent Square Group, USA) dwelled on the IoT Ecosystem ‘Satellite Perspective’; Engr Richard Ogbuji (Chrema Technologies, Nigeria), he spoke on the IoT Ecosystem ‘Experience in Nigeria’; Prof. Emmanuel Eronu who spoke on the IoT Ecosystem ‘Consumer Requirements, Regulation and Challenges’ and Elizabeth Migwalla (Qualcomm, USA), she spoke on the IoT Ecosystem ‘Regulation and Challenges).
The event also witnessed the public presentation of two books by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
The first book with the titled “Datafication of Society to Foster an Internet Economy” has its foreword written by the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao. Mr Zhao has had a long distinguished career at the ITU and has served as the Secretary-General since 2014. The International Telecommunication Union is the oldest UN agency and is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.
The second book is titled “Cybersecurity Initiatives for Securing a Country”, with the foreword written by the President of International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), Professor Mike Hinchey. Professor Hinchey is a professor of software engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland and was previously Director of the Software Engineering Laboratory at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, United States of America. He was the leading graduating student during his undergraduate studies and he had his post-graduate studies at both Oxford University and Cambridge University.
Emerging technologies are playing a vital role in the development of digital economies around the globe. The 2 books of the Honourable Minister emphasize key aspects of emerging technologies, namely datafication and cybersecurity. With respect to datafication, it shows how data- its generation, processing and use play a critical role in determining success in the digital economy. The book on cybersecurity discusses the importance of cybersecurity in protecting data and infrastructure to secure the digital economy of countries. Mr. Zhao and Prof Hinchey, both renowned global ICT personalities will serve as special guests at the public presentation.
