Business
NCC Issues Two New Licences To Service Providers , Soon
The Nigerian Commu
nications Commission (NCC) says it has concluded arrangements to issue two new licences to telecoms infrastructure providers.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos last Friday, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, said the commission was already behind schedule on its plans to accelerate the processes that would eventually dovetail to cheap, fast reliable and ubiquitous broadband.
Juwah said the new broadband would provide service to every nook and cranny of the country pursuant to the realisation of the ambitious goals of the National Broadband Plan, stressing that the commission’s inability to complete the process on schedule was as a result of the fear of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that is ravaging parts of the West Africa subregion.
The NCC boss explained that the country is behind schedule on licensing of the infrastructure firms because the commission’s foreign consultants refused to come to Nigeria because of Ebola which was imported into the country by the indet, American Liberian Patrick Sawyer.
He said that under the NCC Open Access Model, the regulator intends to license seven infracos one each for the six geo-political zones of the country while the seventh would service Lagos exclusively.
He said it remains a decanting challenge for the country to meet the five-fold target of broadband penetration from the current less-than-seven per cent by the commission to handle the bid evaluation would not come to the country for the assessment as agreed, stressing that the commission is working out clearance measures with the Federal Ministry of Health for the consultants to arrive.
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.
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