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TikTok to Challenge Amazon as it Unveils Plan to Expand Into E-Commerce

By
Ojukwu Emmanuel
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0
The brand is growing

Short-form video hosting platform TikTok looks to compete with Amazon after it unveiled plans to expand into e-commerce.

The social media company revealed it is testing a new in-app called “Trendy Beat”, a shopping section where it will offer products for sale that are shipped and sold by a subsidiary of its parent company, ByteDance.

TikTok disclosed that it is focused on providing valuable shopping experiences in countries where TikTok shop is currently offered across Southeast Asia and the UK, which includes providing merchants with a range of product features and delivery options.

The feature will contain a shopping section that offers popular items that have appeared in trending videos. Reports reveal that the feature is currently being tested in the U.K, meanwhile, TikTok had already trademarked “Trendy Beat” on May 30, 2023, in the U.S where it says it is currently focused on adding new merchants to its TikTok shop offering that lets brands sell items on the platform.

In the Trademark filing, Trendy Beat will offer advertising and advertisement services, sales promotion for others, provision of an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services, administrative processing of purchase orders, and apparel such as pyjamas, sweaters, suits, shirts, and many others.

Notably, TikTok parent company ByteDance plans to start selling its products on the app which is referred to as “Project S”. Project S will leverage TikTok’s knowledge of products that are gaining popularity on the app, which then allows ByteDance to either acquire or manufacture those products.

The new in-app TikTok shopping feature would drastically drive more of these sales by offering users easy and direct access to discovery and purchasing experience.

Although TikTok is still in the early phase of its e-commerce initiatives in the U.S., the app already has a notable influence over users’ shopping habits.

Notably, this is not the first time TikTok is making a move into e-commerce. In 2021, the social media platform partnered with Shopify to bring organic product discovery and shopping tabs to TikTok, helping creators and merchants deepen their relationships with consumers.

The recent move to launch a shopping section “Trendy Beat”, indicates that TikTok remains committed to making in-stream shopping a thing on its platform. This could be a stepping stone for the social media company to deepen its e-commerce push, by getting users more accustomed to buying in-stream, then expand that behavior to other products and businesses.

TikTok remains focused on building its shopping business, as a means to both drive more revenue, and more opportunity for partners, as it also seeks to provide rental advertising space for brands to advertise their goods on the platform.

In today’s world, brands are recognizing how important it is to jump on the exploding global trend. Many experts claim that TikTok could be the future of e-commerce, due to the high level of engagement the platform has from its users.

TikTok has no doubt made a unique and significant contribution to the e-commerce space. This is especially because of the natural tendency of its users to engage in social shopping.

In a 2020 survey by TikTok, two-thirds of respondents said they were inspired to shop on the platform even though they weren’t planning on it.

With over 1 billion active users spread across 154 countries, TikTok’s expansion into the e-commerce space will see it compete for a larger share of the market from other top e-commerce giants like Amazon and Shein.

Could TikTok one day challenge Amazon for online shopping supremacy? The Chinese ByteDance-owned company’s fastest-growing feature is its live-streamed marketplace called TikTok Shop, and Indonesia, where it debuted and remains its biggest market, is serving as a $20 billion test bed. However, the path to the U.S. e-commerce market is less certain, with TikTok facing a potential ban on national security concerns. For now, the company is dipping a toe into the country’s online shopping waters with in-app mini-stores attached to creator profiles. TikTok also plans to roll out a traditional shopping site in the coming months. (LinkedIn News)

China Records 31 Deaths Following Fire Outbreak at a Local Restaurant

By
Tiamiyu Ismail
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0

Not less than 31 people have been reported dead from an explosion in Fuyang Barbecue Restaurant in Yinchuan, China. The incident which was reported to have occurred at about 8:40 pm local time on Wednesday was on the eve of a popular local holiday, Dragon Boat Festival.

The state news agency, Xinhua, reported that the explosion was due to a leak of liquefied petroleum gas while the restaurant was running. The agency also gathered that seven more people were receiving medical treatment including one person in critical condition; two persons that suffered severe burns; two individuals who had minor injuries and two others that had scratches caused by flying glass.

According to a report from the Guardian, footage on state broadcaster CCTV showed more than a dozen firefighters working at the site as smoke poured out of a gaping hole in the restaurant’s facade. Shards of glass and other debris littered the darkened street.

The Ministry of emergency management said local fire and rescue services dispatched more than 100 people and 20 vehicles to the scene in the wake of the blast. The rescue efforts had concluded by 4 am on Thursday, it said.

The Chinese government was reported to have demanded all-out efforts in treating the wounded and the strengthening of safety supervision and management in key industries and fields to effectively protect people’s lives and property. According to Xinhua, President Xi urged efforts to ascertain the cause of the accident as soon as possible and hold the relevant people accountable in accordance with the law.

“All regions and related departments should screen for and rectify all types of risks and hidden dangers,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

Yinchuan Mayor, Tao Shaohua, expressed his regret at the unfortunate situation and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

“On behalf of the city’s party committee and government, I express deep mourning for the deceased, my sincere condolences to their relatives and the injured… and a profound apology to all the people of our city,” Tao said.

The mayor assured the authorities would clarify the cause of the accident as quickly as possible and announce the results of the investigation in a timely manner. He also noted that screening and rectification campaigns would be done to eliminate (safety) risks and hidden dangers at the root.

Specific NCC Conditions for The Operation Of Private Network Links (PNL) Services Employing Radio Communications in Nigeria

By
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Ogbuka
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0

This article deals with the specific conditions in detail outlined by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for licensing PNL services relying on the employment of radio communications in Nigeria, ranging from required scope of operations to license limitations. 

Scope of operation 

– This lience shall be for the provision and operation in the designated Licensed Area of Private Network Links employing cable, microwave or other Radio or a combination of any of these systems as approved by the commission deployed for the purpose of providing point to point or switched/unswitched point to multipoint communications for the conveyance of voice messages. 

Technical Requirements 

-The licensee’s network shall throughout the terms of the licence conform to the NCC’s technical specifications. The licensee shall introduce measures and at all times use its resources to ensure that apparatus in the network including the terminal equipment operated by the licensee shall comply with :-

(i) The requirements for electro-magnetic compatibility, and 

(ii) The requirement for network interface, both as prescribed in accordance with international specifications and by the commission’s standards. 

-The licensee shall not alter any of these specifications except with the prior written approval of the NCC. 

-The lines installed, maintained and used by the licensee shall throughout the term of the Licence conform to such specifications and standards and CCITT recommendations as prescribed by the commission. 

– Subject to the NCC’s periodic directives, the licensee shall at all times fully comply with the recommendations of the International Telecommunications Union and its associated organisations as they apply to Nigeria from time to time. 

-Subject to the NCC’s contrary directive, the licensee shall design, construct, maintain and operate the network in accordance with the statements and representations, if any, made in the application for the Licence.

Approval of Equipment/Site 

-The licensee shall ensure that its network equipment is type-approved by the NCC or a body approved by or accredited to the commission prior to the commissioning or commercial use (whichever is the earlier) of such equipment and shall obtain any necessary compliance certificates or licences in accordance with the respective regulations. 

– The licensee shall further ensure that it complies with the provisions of NCC regulations in respect of all new equipment it acquires after commencement of operations. 

– The licensee shall ensure that all sites at which it installs equipment and network infrastructures conform to the site approval guidelines stipulated by the commission from time to time. 

-All towers and masts must comply with NCC regulations on towers as may be published from time to time.

Network Roll Out 

-The licensee shall implement a network roll out in accordance with an implementation timetable as stipulated by the NCC. The licensee shall at all times comply with the implementation timetable. 

– Pursuant to condition mentioned above, the licensee shall submit to the NCC not later than the 15th day of January of each calendar year, following the date of commencement of operation, a report of the network roll-out achieved in compliance with the implementation timetable referred to above. 

Frequencies 

–  Frequencies used by the Licensee shall conform to the general allocation of grequencies in the ITU Regulations and Assignments by the NCC. 

– The licensee shall utilize the frequencies assigned solely and entirely for the provision of the licensed undertaking. The licensee is further required to covenant that it shall, in the use of the frequency spectrum, conform to the general allocation of Frequencies in the ITU Regulations and Assignments by the NCC. 

-The services operated by the licensee shall be operated only on the radio frequencies and frequency bands which the NCC may assign to the licensee and the commission may refuse to assign further frequencies or require the locensee by notice in writing to cease to provide the services on any frequency previously assigned to the licensee if inter alia in the opinion of the commission the licensee is not making efficient use of the frequency.

-The NCC may, by giving not less than 12 month’s notice in writing to the Licensee, require the licensee upon such date as may be specified in the notice to cease to operate using the frequency assigned to the licensee and to use such new frequency from the National Frequency Plan as the NCC may designate.

Numbering Plan

-The licensee shall conform to the numbering plan approved by the NCC and any directions given by the commission in respect of the numbering plan and any directions the commission may give to facilitate the portability of telephone numbers between operators. 

-The licensee shall at all times comply with the regulations concerning the implementation of the National Numbering Plan. 

Connection Arrangements 

-The licensee shall have the right to interconnect its network with the network of the carrier or another licensee.

 -The licensee shall enter into an agreement with the carrier or such other licensees to connect and keep connected their respective systems and to establish and to maintain such one or more points of connection, and the licensee shall provide the NCC with a copy of such agreement. 

– If after a period which appears to the Commission to be reasonable for the purpose, the licensee and the Carrier or such other licensee have failed to enter into an agreement, the commission shall, on the application of either the licensee or the carrier or such other licensee, determine the terms and conditions for the purposes of the Agreement which have not been so agreed between the licensee and the carrier or such other licensee. 

Grade of Service 

-The licensee shall ensure that the traffic capacity provided in its system, where it accesses a Telecommunications network infrastructure, shall be dimensioned to guarantee a satisfactory grade of service. The grade of service threshold that shall be met or exceeded shall be determined by the NCC. 

-The licensee shall provide a good, efficient and continuous service that meets grade of service thresholds periodically specified by the NCC and in a manner satisfactory to the Commission and shall not reduce or cease to provide the service unless with the express written approval of the NCC. 

-In the event of default by the licensee in regard to any of the provisions of this condition, the NCC shall, subject to specific prevailing laws and/or regulations, take such steps as it deems necessary to remedy the situation including but not limited to issuance of directives to the licensee and application of sanctions and/or fines against the licensee. 

-The licensee shall within 30 days from the date of commencement of operations install equipment and devices that meet ITU-T standards for measuring the grade of services. 

– The licensee shall permit the NCC to inspect the licensee’s equipment and devices for measuring service grade, to inspect the licensee’s files, records and other data relating to the measuring of service grade and to request the licensee to submit such reports, statistics and other data and to conduct such measurements as the Commission deems necessary in order to determine compliance with the Act, Wireless Telegragh Act, the Regulations and this licence. 

– If the NCC has reason to believe that measuring equipment devices or methods are not installed or do not meet the standards aforestated, the NCC shall instruct the licensee to install or upgrade the equipment and devices to the required standards within 30 days from the date of such instruction. 

– If the licensee fails to install or upgrade the equipment and the devices to the required standards within the period specified above, the licensee shall be subject to a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) for every calendar month or any part thereof that it so defaults.

Limitation of Liabilities 

– Subject to prior conditions of the NCC  and not withstanding any contrary provision of this licence, the Commission shall not be liable in contract, tort or otherwise to the licensee or any 3rd party whomsoever for any indirect, contingent or consequential loss or damage or for loss of profit, business, revenue, goodwill, opportunities or anticipated savings, cost of capital, cost of substitute service, facilities or products, or down-time costs, consequent upon the issuance or actualisation of any Condition of this Licence or any act taken by the NCC in connection with or pursuant to this licence or any other matter related however thereto.

-The NCC’s total liability, cumulative or otherwise, under this licence and in regard to any matter related to the licence shall at all times be limited to the actual cumulative amount paid at any given time to the NCC by the licensee for the licence.

Licence Limitations 

– The licensee shall not operate a Private Network Link employing Satellite. 

– The licensee is not allowed to provide any mobile telephony service.

 – The licensee is not allowed to employ its network infrastructure to provide a Telecomms service other than that for which this licence is granted. 

Notable Provisions of The Value Added Services (VAS) Regulatory Framework in Nigeria

By
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Ogbuka
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0

This article will be dealing with the regulations governing Value Added Services (VAS) businesses and Aggregators as an important component of the Telecomms service value chain. This article will in focus be looking at :-

– The definition of Value Added Services VAS as a Telecomms service offering.

– The relevant regulator for VAS services in Nigeria.

– The structural framework for VAS in Nigeria regarding market segmentation.

Which organization is in charge of regulating Value Added Services in Nigeria?

Value Added Service licensing and business operations are regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) by virtue of the Nigerian Communications Act.

What is the definition & classification of Value Added Services?

Value added Services or VAS are terms describing any network-based service other than voice conversation that is provided in the form of text, video, graphics, picture, multimedia or data for the purpose of conveying information or executable content either downloaded or accessed on line and normally at extra cost.

The following service classifications are recognised as value added services:-

Information services/Content: News, updates, data, quiz, games, ringtones, video streaming, alerts, product information, call center, database access .

Interactive services/ applications: charting, contest participation, e-voting, egovernment, text –to-win, polls and surveys, coupons, on-line games, promotions, prepaid calling card service, call directory, location-based services.

Commerce: E-banking, mobile money, e-health, telemarketing, e-ticketing.

The list is not exhaustive as new value added services are being developed virtually every day. 

Nevertheless, VAS are usually external third-party hosted 

functionalities which are physically and logically not part of the switching or signalling fabric of the telecommunications network. 

What is the structural framework for Value Added Services (VAS) in Nigeria regarding market segmentation? 

The VAS subsector of the telecommunications industry is based on horizontal segmentation in line with the value chain. This consists of four broad segments with the following corresponding market players:- 

Segment 1: Network operators.

Segment 2: Aggregators. 

Segment 3: Content and application service providers .

Segment 4: Developers of content, applications and platforms.

What are the functions and responsibilities of these market players within VAS arrangements?

Network Operators

-Providing termination service to Aggregators and transmit requests for service from subscribers to content and application providers through aggregators. They must possess a Digital Mobile License, Unified Service Access Service License (UASL) or any other license issued by the Commission which enables the licensee to transmit VAS to end users. 

-Protection of subscribers from unwanted and unauthorised value added services in accordance with NCC directives and the provisions of the Nigerian VAS. 

– Providing billing, revenue collection, publicity and e-marketing services to content and application providers who wish to outsource these administrative services to network operators. 

Aggregators 

-Providing simplified, direct and secure connection to content and application providers for access to all network operators that have the capability to transmit value added services to end users. 

This service will be limited to multiplexing of signals from various VAS providers and distributing same to all network operators as requested by each content and application provider. 

-Providing a direct link to the internet or International Data Access service providers for content and application providers who wish to market their services globally. 

-Securely transporting content to and from operators and VAS content service provider systems.

-Provision of collocation services to those requiring it. 

-Provision of billing and revenue collection services to content and application providers as may be required.

-Provide intermediation for billing verification between parties in the VAS value chain.

Content & Application Providers

-Installation of hardware and software platforms for hosting applications and content. 

– Hosting and distribution of third party applications and contents.  

-Installing software for processing, counting and logging request for Value Added Services. 

-Takes responsibility for billing the customer and revenue collection, either by installing an in-house billing platform or outsourcing it to third parties. The content and application provider may collect payment directly from the subscriber via VAS prepaid voucher or other electronic payment platforms. 

Revenue collection, branding and advertising can however be outsourced to third parties. 

– Remission of revenue due to developers based on agreed sharing formula. 

– Collaborating with developers in determining a reasonable price for VAS products. 

– Taking responsibility for user authentication, traffic management, security and service delivery.

– Monitoring and managing end-to-end quality of service in conjunction with other market players and taking charge of customer complaints, service level agreements(SLAs) and customer code of practice. 

There is no restriction to the types of value added services they can offer except that they cannot offer those that are banned by the NCC and/or those that are not permissible under the relevant Nigerian Laws that may then be in force. For tele-marketing and e-adverts, they must adhere to the modes of delivery specified by the Commission as stated in the NCC framework and other conditions. 

-Must meet minimum technical specifications outlined in the technical framework.

Developers of Content, Applications and Platforms 

– A VAS developer must be able to provide valid proof of ownership of an application to be hosted and distributed if required by the content and application service provider. 

-Taking responsibility for obtaining necessary rights, licenses, consent and permissions for content or third –party applications to be hosted on his behalf when required. 

– Be responsible for payment of all royalties and fees required by third-party owners of content and applications subject to the terms of any agreement.

What are the notable provisions of NCC competition and market rules for VAS businesses in Nigeria?

Prohibition of Network operators from Offering Value Added Services: 

The Unified Access Service license clearly specifies the list of services the licensee is allowed to offer which does not include Value Added Services.  

– Operators will not be entitled to common short codes assignment except for critical operator specific services for example access numbers to call centres, short codes for recharges as approved by the NCC.

– Operators are allowed to partner with third party content providers for the provision of charged Caller Ring Back Tone (CRBT). 

– Content providers are free to develop in-house applications and content in addition to acquisition of franchise rights from third-party apps and content developers .

-Content and apps providers must not discriminate or show preference in accepting application for hosting on the basis of the source of the product to be distributed. 

-Both in-house products and third party products must be treated equally. VAS developers whose request for hosting has been rejected despite meeting the conditions stipulated in section above will have the right to appeal to the NCC for redress. 

-Rejection of hosting requests for flimsy excuses or deliberate restriction of access to third-party applications/content in order to give advantage to in-house content/ apps will attract sanctions. 

Network operators and content/application providers are barred from full or partial ownership of aggregator companies. 

-The provision of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (section 31.1) barring any company in Nigeria from offering any telecommunications service without appropriate license applies equally to value added services.

These include location-based services, commercial ring tones and ring back tones, music downloads, mobile money 

Switch-generated ring tones or caller ring back tones and other features such as call forwarding, multi – party conference call etc. which are offered to subscribers without extra charges will not be classified as value added services. 

Barring of Fixed Charges

-No monthly or annual fixed charges for bearer, channel or access cost shall be imposed on any access partner in addition to usage-based charges. 

-The charging model shall be usage-based or subscription type, but not a combination of the two. 

-If the aggregator collects VAS product charges from the user directly via any other method other than Subscriber’s airtime credit, it must settle the network operator or other access partners for additional services within the agreed time frame failing which the partner owed will be entitled to interest charges. 

Undelivered VAS

-Where the VAS payload is successfully handed over to the network provider, and it is unable to deliver it to the subscriber, the operator must not charge the subscriber any transport cost.

 -The content and application provider must not charge the subscriber for VAS until there is a confirmation that the VAS payload has been successfully delivered to the subscriber.

-In all circumstances the subscriber must not be charged for a service that was not rendered.

Conditions for VAS Activation

-A request for hosting must be granted if the developer satisfies the following conditions:

(1) If the developer provides a legally enforceable guarantee against infringement of third-party copyright, patents and intellectual property rights if required by the content service and app provider.

 (2)The VAS belongs to the class of VAS that the Commission defines as being qualified for short code allocation.

(3) If the VAS content is permissible under the relevant Nigerian Laws that may then be in force and is not one that is deemed to “encourage or incite crime, lead to public disorder, be repugnant to public feeling or contain an offensive reference to any person, alive or dead, or generally, be disrespectful to human dignity” 

Conditions for VAS De-activation

-A content and app service provider is allowed to de-activate a VAS being hosted if any of the conditions below is satisfied:

(1) If the developer so requests or if there is mutual agreement between the two parties. 

(2)If the VAS does not generate any revenue for three months continuously.

(3) If the revenue generated does not cover the cost of hosting for a period of 6 months.

(4)If it is discovered that the developer has obtained access through false information or via a fraudulent process. 

(5) If there is a proven case of third –party intellectual property rights, copyrights or patent violation that is not resolved within 90 days. 

(6) If the VAS is found to contain errors or bugs and the VAS developer fails to make necessary correction within 14 days of a written notice being given. 

Denial of VAS Activation or Illegal De-activation

-Where a request for access is denied or there is illegal de-activation of an already hosted VAS, the aggrieved party has the right to appeal to the NCC. 

Nigeria’s Presidency Denies Approval of 114% Salary Increase of Government Officials

By
Tiamiyu Ismail
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0

Against an earlier report that the Federal Government is considering increasing the salaries of government officials at the federal and state levels by 114 percent, a statement from the office of the president has revealed the federal government currently has no plan of increasing public holders’ salaries and the president has never received or approved any of such proposition.

The Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications & Strategy to the president, Mr. Dele Alake, who issued the press statement yesterday at the presidential villa in Abuja, described the news of the salary increase of government officials as not only false but an attempt to smear the new administration which has been gaining momentum and goodwill. Mr. Aleke therefore challenged journalists and media houses to do a thorough investigation of stories before putting them out to the public in order to avert undue public panic.

The statement from the presidency reads as follows:

“We have followed with consternation the viral story of the purported 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders, and judicial officers.

‘’We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration.

‘’While we recognize that it is within the constitutional remit of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such cannot come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President.

‘’It is important to note that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.

‘’However, that this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, brings to the fore the danger fake news poses to the society and our national well-being. The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, slow down the upward momentum and massive goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians as a result of its fast-paced, dynamic, and progressive policies.

‘’It is important to reiterate to journalists, media managers, and members of the public that stories on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.

‘’Media practitioners are enjoined to, at all times, cross-check their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.’’

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