ADAPTI: FEC approves 6,000 digital tablets, NCC’s deployment of regulatory systems to support telecoms

*The Federal Government has approved the implementation of Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI), and NCC’s deployment of regulatory systems to support the telecoms sector with the distribution of 6,000 digital tablets to encourage appreciation of ICT solutions

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government has continued to activate its digital transformation agenda towards bridging the existing digital gaps in the academia by promoting the practical application of technology in research, teaching and learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its weekly meeting Wednesday, December 8, 2021, approved the implementation of the Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) and the deployment of a regulatory system to support the telecommunications industry in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari at an FEC meeting in the State House, Abuja

The FEC’s approval was sequel to the presentation of memos by Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE).

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The Commission has stated on its corporate Web site, that ADAPTI is “aimed bridging the digital gaps that exists in academia by providing computers, other ICT equipment and the necessary facilities to provide lecturers, staff and students with the requisite ICT skills essential for the 21st Century.”

Accompanying the Minister to the meeting were Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry;  Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Prof Sahalu Junaidu, and Mr. Yakubu Gontor, Director of Financial Services of NCC.

On the importance of the ADAPTI initiative, Dr. Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Research & Development) to the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, in a statement  also said that it is aimed at “bridging the digital gaps that exist in the academia by promoting the practical application of technology in research, teaching and learning in tertiary institutions.”

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Dr. Adeluyi stated that the approved programme would include the distribution of 6,000  digital tablets and is aimed at encouraging the appreciation and use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the country, particularly in tertiary institutions; and providing access to ICT tools.

Others are promoting economic empowerment through self-development; and stimulating demand for products and services in the telecommunication sector.

Digital tablets

The government noted the ADAPTI would be implemented by NCC and it aligns with a number of pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030, including the pillars on digital literacy and skills, solid infrastructure, digital services development and promotion, digital society and emerging technologies and indigenous content development and adoption.

The Federal Executive Council also approved the deployment of regulatory systems to monitor, detect, and block SIMBox and Call Masking Traffic within the country’s telecommunications industry.

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According to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, these hardware devices are of high-end configurations/specifications meant to ensure seamless optimal functionality, bearing in mind the volume of data inflow from the four major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country.

Benefits of regulatory systems

The Ministry stated that derivable benefits of the systems include implementation of a system to continuously monitor incidences of SIMBOXING in the industry; detection of incidences of SIMBOXING in the entire MNO networks, round the clock, in near real time or real time preferably and reporting the same in applicable formats.

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It also mentioned effective blocking of calls from SIMBOXES while also blocking the SIMs being used for the activity across all operators; and implementation of a Call Masking/Calling Line Identification (CLI) Spoofing System to continuously monitor incidences of Call Masking/CLI Spoofing in the industry.

Other advantages of the deployment of regulatory systems are detection of incidences of Call Masking in the entire MNO networks, round the clock, in near real time or real time preferably and reporting the same in applicable formats; and proactive blocking of Masked/Spoofed CLI calls at the origination stage to prevent successful call routing to the called subscriber.

The use of SIMBoxing and Call Masking has posed a challenge in meeting the critical security information needs of the telecommunications industry, stated the Technical Assistant (Research & Development) to the Minister.

The statement also noted the deployment of these systems would address the challenge. Adeluyi said: “The deployment is also in alignment with the Soft Infrastructure pillar of NDEPS.

“The Honourable Minister, Ministry and the telecommunications ecosystem are grateful for the tremendous support of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”

“The Ministry will continue to position Nigeria to leverage technology in order to transform Nigeria into a leading digital economy.”

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