Internet And Smart Home Technology| NBS Breakfast Meeting

Summary

In this NBS breakfast meeting, Ali Keka, Head of Sales at Blue Crane Communications, discusses the company's role as an internet service provider and integrator of technology solutions. Keka highlights the importance of stable, high-speed internet for the operation of smart home technologies, emphasizing convenience, comfort, safety, and energy efficiency. He also touches on the future trends in smart home technology and how Blue Crane is positioned to guide customers through these advancements, offering personalized solutions and quick service activation.

Takeaways

• 📡 Blue Crane Communications is an internet service provider regulated by the Uganda Communications Commission, offering a range of internet services including fiber, wireless, and satellite connectivity.
• 🔧 Beyond connectivity, Blue Crane provides enterprise solutions that integrate technology for organizational efficiency, including physical and cyber security, mechanical and electrical solutions, and smart power backup solutions.
• 🏠 The company positions itself as a one-stop center for customer needs, offering not just internet but also a suite of integrated services to complement their offerings.
• 🌐 The script highlights the importance of the Internet of Things (IoT) in creating smart home environments, where physical devices with sensors and software communicate over the internet to facilitate decision-making.
• 💡 Smart home technology includes smart lighting, thermostats, security systems, and home automation hubs, which can enhance convenience, comfort, safety, and energy efficiency in homes.
• 🔒 Security is a key feature of smart home technology, with systems that can monitor and control access, detect intrusions, and alert authorities.
• 📶 The necessity of stable and high-speed internet for the effective operation of smart home devices is emphasized, with Blue Crane offering unlimited, reliable internet connectivity with 99.9% uptime.
• ⚙️ Scalability of internet services is available, allowing customers to upgrade or downgrade their bandwidth based on their needs without changing their infrastructure.
• 🛠️ Blue Crane offers a consultative approach to customer solutions, tailoring services to match individual customer needs and ensuring value for money.
• 📍 The company provides practical tips and advice on Wi-Fi positioning and access point deployment to ensure optimal internet coverage throughout homes.
• 🔮 Future trends in smart home technology are expected to become more affordable and widely adopted, with Blue Crane staying abreast of developments to advise customers on the latest advancements.

Q & A

What is the primary function of Blue Crane Communications?

Blue Crane Communications is an internet service provider regulated by the Uganda Communications Commission, offering a wide range of internet services using technologies such as fiber, wireless, and satellite connectivity.

What additional services does Blue Crane Communications offer beyond internet connectivity?

Beyond connectivity, Blue Crane Communications offers enterprise solutions that integrate technologies to optimize operations for organizations and homes, including physical and cyber security, mechanical and electrical solutions, smart power backup solutions, and more.

Can you explain what is meant by a 'smart home' in the context of the script?

A smart home refers to a network of physical devices embedded with chips, sensors, and software that communicate with each other and the internet to transfer data, enabling the home to operate more efficiently and effectively.

What are some examples of smart home devices mentioned in the script?

Examples of smart home devices include smart lighting, smart thermostats, automated curtains, smart security systems, smart home automation hubs, and smart appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.

How does Blue Crane Communications ensure the stability and reliability of internet services for smart home technology?

Blue Crane Communications invests heavily in its internet infrastructure, offering unlimited, reliable internet with a high degree of uptime (99.9%), and scalable bandwidth to accommodate the needs of smart home devices.

What is the significance of high-speed internet for the operation of smart home devices?

High-speed internet is essential for smart home devices to operate effectively and efficiently, as these devices require fast, reliable, and stable internet connectivity to function properly.

How does Blue Crane Communications tailor its services to meet customer needs?

Blue Crane Communications takes a consultative approach, assessing customer needs and tailoring solutions accordingly. They offer customized services and continuous customer engagement and education to ensure value for money.

What practical tips can Blue Crane Communications provide for optimizing Wi-Fi coverage in a home?

While the script does not provide specific tips, Blue Crane Communications works with customers to advise on the placement of access points and the design of solutions to ensure Wi-Fi access throughout the home.

What future trends in smart home technology does Blue Crane Communications anticipate?

Blue Crane Communications anticipates that as technology evolves, smart home solutions will become more affordable and widely adopted, with an increasing focus on remote monitoring, access control, and intrusion detection.

How can potential customers get in touch with Blue Crane Communications for their services?

Customers can visit Blue Crane Communications at Cal Gardens, contact them through their website www.bcc.edu, or reach out via social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. They can also call 02000 30620 or WhatsApp [phone].

What is the typical activation time frame for internet services provided by Blue Crane Communications?

For fiber to the home customers, Blue Crane Communications guarantees internet activation within 72 working hours, emphasizing speed and responsiveness in their service delivery.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introduction to Blue Crane Communications and Smart Home Technology

The script begins with an introduction to the NBS breakfast meeting, where Ali Keka, the head of sales at Blue Crane Communications, is invited to discuss the integration of the internet into daily life. Ali provides an overview of Blue Crane Communications, an internet service provider regulated by the Uganda Communications Commission, offering a range of internet services including fiber, wireless, and satellite connectivity. The company goes beyond connectivity to offer enterprise solutions that integrate technology for optimized operations, including physical and cybersecurity, mechanical and electrical solutions, and smart power backup. The discussion then shifts to smart home technology, which is part of the Internet of Things (IoT), highlighting how devices with embedded chips and sensors can communicate to facilitate decision-making and create a smart home environment.

05:00

🏠 Smart Home Technology and Its Benefits

In this paragraph, Ali elaborates on smart home technology, explaining how it enhances living and working spaces through convenience, comfort, safety, security, energy efficiency, and cost savings. Examples of smart home devices are provided, such as smart lighting, thermostats, security systems, and automation hubs like Samsung SmartThings, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomePods. The importance of stable and high-speed internet for the effective operation of smart home devices is emphasized, and Blue Crane Communications' commitment to providing unlimited, reliable internet with a 99.9% uptime is highlighted.

10:00

🚀 The Importance of Fast and Reliable Internet for Smart Homes

Ali discusses the necessity of fast, reliable, and stable internet for smart home devices to function effectively. He mentions that Blue Crane Communications has invested heavily in its internet infrastructure to meet the growing demand for smart home technologies. The company offers scalable internet solutions, allowing customers to upgrade or downgrade their bandwidth based on their needs. The paragraph also touches on the customer-centric approach of Blue Crane Communications, which includes consultation, site surveys, and tailored proposals to ensure that the solutions meet the specific requirements of each customer.

15:01

📲 How to Access Blue Crane Communications' Services

The script provides information on how customers can engage with Blue Crane Communications for its services. The company is located at Cal Gardens and offers countrywide services, ensuring the same level of reliability and speed regardless of the customer's location. A state-of-the-art studio has been set up for customers to experience the solutions firsthand. The company is also active on various social media platforms and can be contacted through phone or WhatsApp for inquiries or to initiate service activation. The paragraph assures potential customers of a quick turnaround time for internet connectivity, typically within 72 working hours for fiber to the home customers.

20:03

🔮 Future Trends in Smart Home Technology and Blue Crane's Role

Ali concludes the discussion by looking forward to future trends in smart home technology, acknowledging the continuous evolution and innovation in the field. He mentions that while current technologies may seem advanced and costly, they will become more accessible and widely adopted over time. Blue Crane Communications is positioned to guide customers through these trends, ensuring they can take advantage of new developments to enhance their lives. The script ends with an invitation for viewers to embrace these technologies and reach out to Blue Crane Communications for more information.

Keywords

💡Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things refers to the network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing them to collect and exchange data. In the video, IoT is central to the concept of smart homes, where devices like smart lighting and thermostats communicate with each other to enhance convenience and efficiency. The script mentions IoT as a key part of the fourth Industrial Revolution, indicating its importance in modern digital life.

💡Smart Home

A smart home is a living space that integrates technology and IoT to make daily life more convenient, comfortable, and efficient. The video discusses various smart home devices such as smart lighting, thermostats, and security systems that can be controlled remotely or automated to optimize home environments. The script highlights smart homes as an example of how internet connectivity can transform the way we live.

💡Fiber Optic

Fiber optic technology uses thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data as pulses of light, providing high-speed internet connectivity. The video script mentions fiber as one of the technologies used by Blue Crane Communications to deliver internet services, emphasizing its role in providing fast and reliable connections for smart home devices.

💡Connectivity

Connectivity in the context of the video refers to the ability of devices and systems to access and exchange data over the internet. It is a foundational aspect of smart home technology, as discussed in the script, where seamless connectivity is necessary for devices to function effectively and provide the benefits of a smart home environment.

💡Enterprise Solutions

Enterprise Solutions are comprehensive services designed to meet the specific needs of organizations, often integrating various technologies to optimize operations. In the script, Blue Crane Communications offers enterprise solutions that include physical and cyber security, mechanical and electrical solutions, and smart power backup, demonstrating their role as an integrator of technology and services.

💡Mechanical and Electrical Solutions

These solutions involve the integration of mechanical and electrical systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), to improve the functionality and efficiency of a building or home. The video script highlights these solutions as part of the broader services offered by Blue Crane Communications, showing their commitment to providing a wide range of services beyond just internet connectivity.

💡Smart Home Automation Hubs

Smart home automation hubs act as central controllers for all smart devices within a home, allowing users to manage and automate various aspects of their living environment. The script mentions hubs like Samsung SmartThings, Google Home, and Amazon's Alexa, which are used to control devices such as smart lighting and thermostats, illustrating the integration of technology in smart homes.

💡Mbps (Megabits per second)

Mbps stands for Megabits per second and is a unit of measurement for data transfer rates, indicating how much data can be transferred in a second. The script discusses the importance of high-speed internet for smart home technology, mentioning that Blue Crane Communications offers internet bandwidths up to 200 Mbps to support the efficient operation of smart home devices.

💡Up-time

Up-time refers to the total time that a system or service is running without interruptions or downtime. In the video script, Blue Crane Communications guarantees a high degree of up-time (99.9%) for their internet services, ensuring that customers' smart home devices remain connected and functional almost all the time.

💡Scalability

Scalability is the ability of a system or service to handle a growing amount of work by adding resources or increasing capacity. The script mentions that the internet services provided by Blue Crane Communications are scalable, allowing customers to upgrade or downgrade their bandwidth based on their needs without changing their internet infrastructure.

💡Customer Solutions

Customer Solutions refer to tailored services or products designed to meet the specific requirements of individual customers. The video script emphasizes Blue Crane Communications' consultative approach to providing customer solutions, where they assess customer needs and offer customized services to ensure that each customer's unique requirements are met.

Highlights

Blue Crane Communications is an internet service provider regulated by the Uganda Communications Commission.

The company offers a wide range of Internet services using fiber, wireless, and satellite connectivity.

Beyond connectivity, Blue Crane provides enterprise solutions, including physical and cybersecurity, and mechanical and electrical solutions.

Smart Home Technology is part of the Internet of Things, allowing physical devices to transfer data to one another, enhancing decision-making.

Smart home devices include smart lighting, thermostats, security systems, and automation hubs like Samsung SmartThings, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.

Blue Crane Communications emphasizes the importance of stable and high-speed internet for the effective operation of smart home devices.

The company offers unlimited internet connectivity with 99.9% uptime, ensuring continuous operation of smart home technologies.

Customers can upgrade or downgrade their internet bandwidth without changing their infrastructure, adapting to their smart home needs.

Blue Crane Communications provides a consultative approach to customer solutions, tailoring services to individual needs.

Practical tips are offered for Wi-Fi positioning to ensure optimal access throughout the home.

Blue Crane Communications is located at Cal Gardens and offers countrywide services, including internet and IoT solutions.

The company has a state-of-the-art studio at Cal Gardens where customers can experience their solutions firsthand.

Blue Crane is active on social media platforms and maintains a strong online presence for customer engagement.

The company guarantees a quick turnaround time for internet service activation, typically within 3 to 5 working days.

Blue Crane Communications encourages the nation to embrace smart home technologies for convenience, comfort, safety, and cost savings.

The company is committed to keeping up with future trends in smart home technology, ensuring their solutions remain relevant and accessible.

Transcripts

[Music]

very good morning thank you so much for

joining us on NBS it looks like pretty

much most of our lives these days

revolve around internet whether at work

or at home and of course to explore this

a little father this morning on the

breakfast meeting I'm joined by Ali keka

who is the head of sales at blue crane

Communications good morning Ali good

morning thank you for joining us in stud

thank you for having me it's a pleasure

being at NBS well before we get into the

details of internet at home and the

product that you're telling us about

today can you tell us about blue crane

Communications great thank you uh blue

crane Communications is an internet

service provider

uh we are regulated by the Uganda

Communications Commission and we provide

a wide range of Internet services that

we can uh deliver using uh Technologies

such as fiber uh Wireless Technologies

and uh visat or satellite

connectivity uh we however don't just

stop at connectivity we seamlessly blend

uh technology and strategic expertise to

deliver a wide range of other services

that we believe work with connectivity

or with internet that is to say we offer

it Enterprise Solutions here we

integrate Technologies to uh optimize or

to ensure that organizations and even

homes uh operate more efficiently and

effectively uh such Solutions uh include

uh physical and and uh and uh cyber

security uh we also do mechanical and

electrical Solutions uh such as heating

ventilation and air conditioning uh

piping and pluming uh smart power backup

Solutions and so very many others so in

that case we are a onetop center for all

our customer needs and requirements and

that makes us an integrator of sorts so

we offer connectivity in terms of

Internet we offer it Enterprise

Solutions and mechanical and Solutions

and why did we do this because we

realize that along the way our customers

require much more than connectivity

hence offering these other solutions to

complement what we offer in terms in in

the internet sense and of course

customers do require Smart Home

Technology yes can you tell us about

that and some of the examples just so

the viewer can understand what that is

great well smartphones technology is uh

the new kid on the Block and uh it is

part of the Internet of Things

technology now Internet of Things has uh

been made popular in this age and era of

uh digitalization or what we call the

fourth Industrial

Revolution uh so Internet of Things We

we are looking at uh a network of

physical

devices that uh transfer data to one

another these devices have uh chips or

sensors and softwares that are embedded

in them and which when they communicate

with the Internet or rather which

powered by the internet to transfer data

among themselves now that data helps you

the decision maker or the end user to

make decisions now when uh we achieve

such a network at home that network of

physical devices we have what we call a

smart home or a smart home environment

now these devices include for example or

the network includes for example things

such as uh smart lighting smart lighting

is where you have Smart bulbs is where

your bulbs can your lighting can adjust

the brightness and the color

automatically are they the ones where

you walk into a room and they

immediately sense the mo like stuff like

that then there is a smart theats smart

thermostats learn the preferences and

schedules of the users or the watch of a

given home and then they're able to also

optimize uh heating ventilation and Air

conditioning the curtains opening by

themselves exactly and even the SC is

regulating themselves then there is a

what we call Smart Security Systems uh

these Monitor and control access they

can detect intrusion and they can alert

the authorities that there is something

wrong happening uh that includes mat

locks uh CCTV cameras and so on and so

forth there is a smart home automation

hubs what we've been talking about

curtains that uh you know contr

themselves now smart automation hubs

refers to uh you can call it uh a

central controller of all the smart

appliances that may be at your home yeah

and the key among the smartforms that

are very common include uh Samsung smart

things I hope you've heard about that

there is uh uh Google homes with Google

Assistant there is uh Amazon's Alexa M I

like that yes there is also Apple home

pods now these are Central devices or

hubs that can control the all the

devices that are within your smart home

environment we have Smart appliances as

well uh these are for example fridge

refrigerators washing machines you know

washing machine can alert you that you

know what I'm done with today repl

anything else for me to do machine with

song exactly foret alerting that such

and such an item is done then we need to

restock so that is the power of the

internet of things and that is how

internet comes in to transform the way

we live at work by supporting these

devices hence achieving the smart home

technology so internet in this case is

now un

enable internet is UN enabler that you

know helps us to achieve the smooth

operation the smooth running

of the devices that we put in place to

achieve the smart home technology and

this is what you provide at bline this

is what we provide at BR Communications

the viewer might wonder uh I think

someone is like is that seems like masae

do I need smart technology just to

reemphasize why would one need Smart

Home Technology well uh again one needs

Smart Home Technology because well the

agent era that we live in now is a

digital one that is number one so would

wish to you know to work with the train

secondly uh these smart home

Technologies come in to

enhance the way we we live at work by

offering

conveniency

Comfort Safety and Security as well and

Energy Efficiency and cost cost saving

so you you can imagine your your

lighting regulating itself you're saving

a dollar on your you know utility bills

every month your your

uh water system or your piping system in

the house alerting you that there is a

leakage here and there you're able to

come in and fix that uh your heating at

ventilation monitoring it and regulating

itself or optimizing you know the

heating and ventilation all that helps

to cut your costs and there for you

become energy efficient at home yes so

you did you did tell us about all these

devices that make up a smart home yes

and you mentioned how internet is an

integral part of that we might call it

the backb so can you reemphasize or

explain how stable and highspeed

internets uh is essential for smart home

great

uh the increasing demand of Internet is

closely tied to the internet of things

and smart home Technologies why because

uh the Smart Homes the devices that make

up the Smart Homes require

fast reliable and stable internet to

operate effectively and efficiently so

they can't you know operate smoothly

without having fast reliable cyber

connectivity uh blue CR Communications D

four as an internet service provider has

heavily invested in its internet

infrastructure to accommodate the

increasing and you know Rising demand of

Internet due to the prer the prer ation

of Smart Homes Technologies in that case

there we offer unlimited internet

connectivity which is highly required

because these devices have to be on the

internet 24/7 so you will need internet

that's not volume capped and that is

what blue cran Communications offers

apart from it being unlimited it is also

reliable uh with a very high degree of

up time which is

99.9% so we guarantee that your internet

shall be up and running 99.9% % of the

time so your devic shall be therefore

also up and running because you know

there is a liability of of

connectivity uh it is also scalable the

that we do we do provide by scalability

we

mean you being able to upgrade you the

end user the person at home you're able

to upgrade your internet capacity or

your bandwidth without changing your

internet infrastructure so you can uh

upgrade or downgrade depending on how

much band you need which is dictated by

the amount of devices that you do have

with our fiber the home connectivity for

example you can have internet access or

Internet bandwidth that can go to as up

to as much as 200 megabits per second

that is too much capacity to support

your devices to run efficiently at work

M rather at home I was coming to that

and to ask I'm not too well Ved with it

and internet but I know there's

different Mbps from 10 to the 30 so you

advise a consumer accordingly to how

much of the MVPs that they need in their

home correct yes correct our team of

experts you know

uh our approach towards providing

customer Solutions is a consultative one

yes before we we we recommend any

solution be internet B the Smart Homes

we first have call it a sit down with

the customer assess their needs and then

we tail

these solutions to match the needs of

the customers so we just don't we just

don't offer Solutions we offer customer

Solutions because we believe that uh

different users have different user

requirements so it's not one size fit

for all yes and with that comes

practical tips so would you provide some

of those maybe sometimes where people

position their Wi-Fi make it hard or

slower to use in certain parts of their

homes but you're in a right position to

give some tips on that okay

yeah you're very right uh

internet itself what we do provide is uh

the band with intensive equate it or use

the analogy of of what um does when you

know deploys electricity at your your

premises it won't do the lighting or it

won't dictate where you want uh

electricity to be accessed in such and

such a room so what we do we provide you

with the internet but we don't just stop

at that as well we because you may tell

us that you know what I I want Wi-Fi

access at this uh side of the house at

the side of the lobby here and there

therefore we work with you and advise

you on the for example access points

that you may need to deploy at given

locations such that you have Wi-Fi

access or internet access at all corners

of the house yes so we we are with the

customer in all stages right from uh on

boarding

uh along the way along the journey the

customer Journey yes so we we we we we

advise right from the design of the

solutions the implementation and even

the maintainance and we we we we do what

we call continuous customer engagement

and education to ensure that uh the

services that you do have make sense for

you such that you have value for money

for what you paid for because if what

sense would it make for you to acquire

things that you can't use effectively so

we we we engage customers continuously

to ensure that they are engaged they're

educated and they have updated

information about these uh the working

of these devices yes we live in a very

forward world and we think it's forward

enough but still more Trends are coming

up we're seeing AI making uh

people and the way they live their lives

much more simpler and of course with

that comes blue cran of course to advise

people on on how to move with the trend

if I should call it that can you tell

tell us early about the future Trends we

should look forward to when it comes to

Smart Home Technology and how blue crane

is in the midst of all that well

um the future trends that we may look at

uh may not be something that is casting

Stone because uh like I said we're in a

revolution the fourth Ira Industrial

Revolution new trends keep on coming

each and every day uh today we we we are

having uh what we have it may be a

little costly because they new

technologies anyway but uh every passing

day uh new technologies new trends are

being invented uh the the the companies

the tech companies that we do partner

with as BCC have research and

development teams that you know bring up

new Solutions every day such that our

work the way we live and work becomes

you know quite easy so yeah the with

time in the next few years

these technologies that we are talking

about that seem to be rocket science

will be adopted by so very many people

everyone would wish to have to monitor

for example what is happening at their

home remotely everyone would wish to to

to Grant or deny access to anyone uh

people would wish to know to be notified

if there is a intrusion at their homes

so the future is digital and the future

is now as we progress these Trends shall

be adopted and they'll be more

affordable to the end users yes can you

tell us how someone can approach you if

they want to get services from blue

crane blue cran Communications is

located at col Gardens that is where our

offices are the beauty is that we don't

stop Service delivery within Cal only or

at Gardens we we we we offer our

services Countrywide yeah be it internet

be the internet of things and uh for our

customers up country I am glad to let

them know that we can offer you the same

amount of reliability stability and even

speeds of internet as though you live in

campella so there is no worry about that

secondly at Gardens we've set up a

state-of-the-art studio this stateof

theart studio has all whatever I've been

describing and even much more it has for

example audio VIs Solutions which we

haven't talked about uh we set it up for

our customers to come and have a look

and feel of the solutions that we do

offer because we believe in Africa that

seeing is believing so yeah our

customers can walk in have a look and

feel and we also do consultations for

our customers we do site surveys then we

do tailored

proposals uh we also have uh presence on

the internet on the worldwide web the

URL is

[Music]

www.bcc.edu

We on LinkedIn we are on X for Twitter

on Instagram and so very many others we

also have phone contacts if you permit

me I can uh sure read them out um our uh

number is

02000

30620 that is the phone contact and then

uh the WhatsApp one given the age and

error is uh

0786

39465 you can reach out to us to learn

more of or to learn more on how blue

cran Communications can transform your

home so that you have more conveniency

more comfort more safety and even to cut

on your bills that you incur on a daily

because of the utilities that you pay

for M yes someone might wonder if they

are taking up your services how long

does it take for you to activate all

that what is the process if they confirm

and make the payment

afterwards again

uh like I said these services are

tailored they are

customized uh a person for example who

has

uh a bigger

house I don't know you may say how many

flows I don't know may it it may take

more time for us to deploy and uh have

the entire Solutions running in that

house as compared to one who has a you

know a smaller a smaller place of

residence so it is a you know uh Case by

case however for internet connectivity

if it's internet alone uh our turnaround

times are very very very little because

the we there are some uh values that we

do hold and we do cherish at Blue cran

Communications among them is speeds and

with speeds and responsibility we are

talking at we are looking at the speeds

that we do take to respond to any issues

that may arise if we've connected you

but also the the responsibility whether

the responsiveness in the sense that how

long does it take us to connect a

customer once they want to on board for

our internet services we take within 3

to five working days but

three is ideal for our fiber to the home

customers because that is about 7

working working hours so within 72

working hours we guarantee that our

fiber to the home customers shall have

internet up and running at their

premises okay wonderful Al do you have a

last word to the viewer as we close well

uh as we close I call out to the entire

nation because I believe the entire

nation is you know watching NBS TV to to

to come to

BCC and uh Embrace these Technologies

reach out to us to learn more about what

we do offer and to take good use of what

we've brought in because it is meant to

you know make our lives easy to to like

I say to enhance conveniency Comfort

security and cut costs that you doing

car on a daily basis okay yes well thank

you Ali for joining us again and

educating us it's a pleasure it's always

a pleasure and as you can see the world

is moving in over 200 Mbps now so do not

be left behind in this fast forward

moving World well that's it from our

breakfast meeting today thank you for

watching NBS more coming your way my

name is Mona bux good morning

[Music]