STARCOMMS LEADS CDMA INNOVATION IN THE WORLD, LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL ROAMING

Starcomms Plc has once again demonstrated its determination to render superior and world-class service to its teeming customers. For the first time in the world, a CDMA telecommunication operator is providing its customers the opportunity to enjoy international roaming. As a result of this development Starcomms customers do not need to change their numbers whenever they travel out of Nigeria.

This new development is sequel to an agreement signed on March 23, 2010 by Starcomms with MACH, the leading provider of hub-based mobile applications exchange solutions and Accuris Network, the leading provider of Inter-standard and converged solutions.

Consequently, the over 3.2 million and still growing customers of Starcomms now have the rare opportunity of seamless access to international mobile roaming on all wireless technology networks. This will greatly expand Starcomms network coverage outside Nigeria and simplify the roaming experience of the customer who may have cause to travel outside the country. Already Starcomms has coverage in 31 major Cities covering 175 towns in Nigeria.

With this development, Starcomms now gives its customers the global advantage as they are connected to about 600 networks in over 100 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, America and the Middle East.

Commenting on the new deal that will boost the Starcomms network, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Maher Qubain said “The commitment of Starcomms to providing innovative products and services that simplify lives and enhance living for our customers is a tradition we hold dear.We know that many customers yearn for the high quality services of Starcomms everywhere they go. So, the pioneering step of adding inter-standard roaming capabilities to our portfolio as a CDMA network in this country is just more evidence of our practice of always being the first to give the customer the best.”

The ISR solutions from MACH and Accuris Networks is delivered through a proven services infrastructure and offers turnkey inter-operability between wireless technologies, including CDMA, 1xEVDO, GSM, GPRS/UMTS, WIFI, WiMax and soon, LTE. The solution, which can be implemented using existing connections, offers end-users all of the services that are available on their home network, even when they are travelling. With end-to-end one-number interoperability, operators can provide complete voice and messaging services easily.

The seamless interoperability roaming access that MACH provides for over 600 networks all over the world is in line with the high quality services that Starcomms has been providing its customers in Nigeria. Tushar Maheshwari, the Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, while speaking about the new possibilities said, “Starcomms will never trade high standard for any thing. Our focus in providing international roaming opportunities for our customers is not just about the service but about the quality of their experience while roaming with the Starcomms service.“We have continued to make sure that our customers who have cause to travel outside Nigeria feel at home anywhere with all their contacts having access to them seamlessly.”

THE KEY TO THE WORLD

An entrepreneur from Bath has been selected to safeguard the future of the Internet in the event of a terrorist attack or other catastrophic event.

Paul Kane, chief executive of Internet management company CommunityDNS, is one of seven people who were given a ‘key’ to restart the Web if it is knocked offline.

Mr Kane is the key holder for Western Europe while the other six individuals will share responsibility for the rest of the world.

In the event of a security breach, six of the seven individuals will be required to travel to a secure location in the United States where they can collectively recover the master signing key.

The keyholders would be able to reboot secure systems that underpin some of the Internet to ensure Web users are directed only to genuine websites.

Mr Kane said: “I’m honoured and excited to be recognised for past achievements and current contributions to global Internet security.

“We are very pleased to be part of stimulating innovation in the Bath area and see the University of Bath becoming a global centre of excellence for enabling Internet technologies.”

Mr Kane’s company is made up of a team of specialists that created a security system, known as DNSSEC, that companies can use to make their websites more secure.

Kane has dismissed suggestions that a single key could be created to reboot the entire Web. “Such a key would trigger the Balkanisation of the Internet,”

DIGITAL DIVIDE

As our world increasingly surfs the technology wave, some still struggle on the other side of the Digital Divide. Some interesting, inspiring- and troubling- questions for the researcher emerge...

How can research give a voice to the voiceless- in society, government or economy? How can we initiate a dialogue or co-create participative solutions for this audience?

As marketers search for the Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, how do we ensure that research tools are equipped for - and customised to - access and properly understand consumers on the other side of The Divide?

How can one develop markets or initiate new behaviours from a social welfare or economic perspective? How do we better understand these individuals, build a relationship or educate?

Relevant solutions could include developing ingenious and customised offerings to encourage dialogue with a traditionally hard to reach audience. These could include technology or infrastructural tools used individually or as a socially collaborative medium. On the other hand, proposed solutions could equally well be simple, cost effective and robust "back to the roots" options.

Whatever the route, the end result should be a deep understanding- and an inspirational example- of what it takes to cross over to the scary side - of a world without technology.
From Esomar