Business
NCC Appoints Consortium To Implement Number Portability Services
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Monday appointed a consortium of three companies to implement the proposed Number Portability services in Nigeria.
Mr Reuben Muoka, the commission’s spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos that the Number Portability service would allow phone users to migrate from one network to another without losing their numbers.
He said that the consortium of Interconnect, Saab Grintek and Telecordia was announced as the preferred vendor for the service after the technical, financial and demo presentations by the bidding vendors.
“Consequently, the companies will be responsible for the set up and implementation of Number Portability Clearing House in Nigeria.
“They will also provide mobile number portability solution administration in Nigeria within six months of receiving the licence with a testing period of two months,” he said.
Mouka said that members of the consortium were to execute a tripartite agreement.
He said that this would indicate their specific responsibilities in the process with the regulator approving such agreement to tally with the conditions of the provision of the service in Nigeria.
“The NCC also mandates the consortium to ensure that local content participation and adequate skills transfer are entrenched in the process during the implementation of the five-year licence.
“The consortium is also expected to configure the technical solution for Number Portability in Nigeria in line with the consultation documents as earlier published by the Commission,” he said.
It would be recalled that the commission had earlier indicated that the Number Portability programme would be the next logical step following the SIM Card registration exercise.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.