The Institute of Electronic and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a US-based research and standards group, lifted a temporary ban on Huawei and its subsidiaries from participating in a peer review process for its research papers.

Its U-turn follows a statement last week that it would bar Huawei employees from taking part in the process and prohibit them from being involved in closed events involving technical discussions.

At the time, the IEEE explained its decision was the consequence of the US government placing Huawei on a trade blacklist last month.

IEEE said it decided to lift the ban following further clarification from the US Department of Commerce “on the applicability of these export control restrictions to IEEE’s publication activities”.

“Based on this new information, employees of Huawei and its affiliates may participate as peer reviewers and editors in our publication process. All IEEE members, regardless of employer, can continue to participate in all of the activities of the IEEE,” it said.

The association continued to state the risk had been addressed and its initial decision to bar the Chinese vendor was “motivated solely by our desire to protect our volunteers and our members from legal risk”.

Huawei is now free to submit papers, attend conferences and participate in other public activities.

Backtrack
The SD Association, an industry group covering standards for memory cards, had also reportedly blocked Huawei from participating in its technical meetings, but in a statement explained the vendor’s name had been omitted from its list of members “due to a technical issue”.

However, the association also noted Huawei’s membership “was recently suspended to ensure compliance” with the US export ban, before explaining most handset makers don’t need to be members of the group “to manufacture products using SD technology” unless they require access to the group’s specifications or branding.

The Wi-Fi Alliance also stated it had blocked Huawei, though the vendor appears to have subsequently been reinstated to the group’s list of members.

Source: mobileworldlive

MTN Ghana has paid a courtesy call on his eminence Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu at his Fadama residence today Saturday with a donation of Gh¢30,000.

In addition to the cash, MTN Ghana also presented some items including 10 bags of rice, 20 cartons of soft drinks, 5 cartons of vegetable oil, 30 cartons of mineral water, GH¢500 worth of airtime, and 2 Rams to the Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu.

The donations are meant to support his Trust Fund and the celebration of the Eidul Fitr.

The holy month which began on May 6 is expected to end on the evening of June 5, 2019. Throughout the period, Muslims have undertaken dawn-dusk fasting which primarily entails abstinence from food, drink, marital intimacy and any such prohibitions as instructed by Allah.

According to MTN Ghana representative that paid the courtesy call on the Islamic leader, they have been compelled to take the step to honour Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu on his centenary birthday which he celebrated recently.

And also to support the Eidul Fitr celebration and donate to his Trust Fund to help promote education.

Speaking at the short ceremony, the General Manager of Distributive Trade, Abubakar Mohammed explained that for the past 12 years, they have consistently supported the Chief Imam during Eidul Fitr celebrations by way of donations and organizing key events in Nima and Accra New Town, all in an effort to foster peaceful coexistent in the communities.

“MTN has also been supporting the National Hajj Board annually in the organization of the pilgrimage to Mecca for the past 6 years,” Mr Mohammed stated.

He continued, “It is in view of this strong bond with you, that the management of MTN Ghana initiated the Quaranic Recitation today in honour of his eminence, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu’s 100th birthday.

“Also as part of the centenary celebration of your birthday, we are happy to present a cheque of GH¢30,000 to support the Chief Imam’s Educational Fund to aid your quest to promote education in Ghana”.

The Chief Imam speaking through his spokesperson, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu thanked and prayed for Allah’s blessing for the MTN Ghana for the kind gesture.

Source: Ghanaweb

[caption id="attachment_5448" align="alignnone" width="300"] Mr. Selorm-Adadevoh-CEO-MTN-Ghana[/caption]

Accra, May 31, GNA – MTN Ghana on Thursday launched its new wireless broadband internet device called the “TurboNet” to offer customers more affordable, wide and faster internet services.

The TurboNet designed to be used at different settings especially at homes and offices could be accessed by up to 32 users at a time.

Mr Selorm Adadevoh, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana at the launch, said people wanted to access high speed data in their homes, offices, shops even if they did not have access to fixed broadband connectivity, therefore, ensuring that they met the customers at the point of need was paramount to them.

He said a World Bank report had indicated that an increase in broadband penetration increases GDP per capita growth.

“In view of this, we are excited to introduce onto the market the MTN TurboNet, which is a high speed 4G internet router providing a Fixed Wireless Broadband Service,” he said.

Mr Adadevoh noted that MTN had earmarked an amount of 160 million dollars for network improvements which was still ongoing.

Mr George Andah, the Deputy Minister of Communications, said in the 21st century, broadband had become a critical infrastructure prerequisite as ICT had a considerable impact in the creation of the information society.

Broadband adoption, he explained, was serving as a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life.

He noted that usage of such internet services would propel Ghana’s participation in the forth industrial revolution considering the significant impact and opportunities that would be unleashed as government worked towards building a digital economy to establish Ghana as a leader in ICT innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2023.

Mr Andah disclosed that government would be making available spectrum within the 800 megahertz band realised from the migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television to promote the deployment of 4G services to enhance the quality of experience in the provision of data services by the telecom sector.

“We are of the firm belief that the mobile network operators will take advantage of this opportunity to provide high capacity and faster data services in Ghana for all,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said the introduction of the service by MTN would support government’s effort in bridging the digital wide gap for citizens to access digital initiatives of government.

The digital initiatives are the e-payment, generation of digital address, e-procurement, e-justice, e-immigration, e-parliament, and e-passport systems, Mr Andah noted.

He advised the citizenry to protect the investments made by government and the private sector to provide better services for all.

“If we continue to damage and vandalise fibre optic cables, which are belayed, we will be facing severe service interruptions and the experience we are championing might be useless. These damaged cables are repaired at high cost by operators not to talk of the inconvenience consumers and enterprises face in the destructions,” he said.

“I will like to remind MTN of the concern of service quality, availability, reliability, speed and affordability of service when it comes to the delivery of broadband services…,” Mr Andah said.

Source: GNA

AT&T claimed to be the first major US operator to allow its customers to pay their phone bill using cryptocurrency, after inking a deal with BitPay to process the transactions.

Through BitPay, AT&T will be able to accept Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash from customers making payments online or through the myAT&T app. BitPay will handle the actual transaction, displaying customer invoices in cryptocurrency dollars, accepting payment and converting the funds into traditional currency for the operator.

An AT&T representative told Mobile World Live it anticipates “a small percentage” of its customers will choose to use the new feature.

A survey conducted in April by investment company Blockchain Capital determined around 9 per cent of the US population owns Bitcoin, with the highest levels of reported ownership among 18-to-34 year-olds (18 per cent) and 34-to-44 year-olds (12 per cent).

Kevin McDorman, AT&T VP of Finance Business Operations, said in a statement the move is part of the operator’s ongoing effort to “improve and expand our services”.

“We have customers who use cryptocurrency, and we are happy we can offer them a way to pay their bills with the method they prefer.”

Source: mobileworldlive.com