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nterconnect
Rates Review NCC Appoints
Detecon, PWC |
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As a response to the
country's growing telecom subscriber base and noticeable changes
in the operating environment, the Nigerian Communications Commission,
NCC, has appointed Detecon International and PriceWaterHouseCoopers,
as consultants and advisors to the Commission for the review
of current interconnection rates among the Nigerian telecom
service providers.
The two consulting firms are to conduct cost study as well as
international benchmarking studies as a follow up to the one
conducted in Nigeria in 2006 which led |
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existing fixed and mobile termination rates in the country.
A release signed by Reuben Muoka of the Public Affairs Unit of the
NCC stated that the consultants will be having sessions with the
operating companies during the months of March and April 2009 while
their reports are expected to be submitted to the Commission before
end of April, 2009.
The Commission said that with the growth of the nation's subscriber
base, and changes experienced in the operating environment, it has
become necessary to review the interconnect rates so as to be in
tune with current realities.
The release quoted the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice
Chairman of the NCC, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe as having said “We
are happy that the two well respected international firms are involved
in the study and we expect the operating companies to give the consultants
full cooperation”.
Interconnect rates are the rates which service providers pay to
each other for terminating calls on their fixed or mobile networks.
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| Armstrong,
Google Exec Named AOL Chief |
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Time Warner has
named Google's advertising sales guru Tim Armstrong as chairman
and chief executive of its troubled AOL unit.
Current AOL Chairman and CEO Randy Falco and President and Chief
Operating Officer Ron Grant will leave AOL after a transition
period.
Armstrong, a senior vice president at Google in charge of sales,
will take over the top post at AOL immediately, the company
said in a press release.
Time Warner's management is hoping that Armstrong's magic touch
will help revive the ailing AOL. |
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| “Tim is the
right executive to move AOL into the next phase of its evolution”,
Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said in a statement.
“At Google, Armstrong helped build one of the most successful
media teams in the history of the Internet- helping to make Google
the most popular online search advertising platform in the world
for direct and brand marketers.”
Armstrong, who started with Google in 2000, was a member of Google's
Operating Committee and served as the president of the Americas
Operations. He is best known for developing Google's online advertising
business.
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| Cisco
Launches New Data Centre Solution |
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Cisco
has unveiled the much anticipated evolutionary new data centre
architecture, the Cisco Unified Computing System, to help
customers develop next-generation data centers that unleash
the full power of virtualization.
With this announcement, Cisco is delivering on the promise
of virtualization through Unified Computing- an architecture
that bridges the silos in the data centre into one unified
architecture using industry standard technologies. The Cisco
Unified Computing System |
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unites computer, network,
storage access, and virtualization resources in a single energy
efficient system that can reduce IT infrastructure costs and complexity,
help extend capital assets and improve business agility well into
the future.
It is the first offering in a new family of products which complements
the Cisco data centre portfolio.
“Today's announcement extends Cisco's data centre portfolio
and is a critical step in the company's Data Center 3.0 strategy”
said Richard Edet, Regional Sales Manager, Cisco English Speaking
West Africa. “This solution and Cisco's architectural approach
is specifically designed to lead the transformation to the next
generation Data Centre.”
The Unified Computing System is a new computing model that uses
integrated management and combines a “wire once” unified
fabric with an industry standard computing platform to optimize
virtualization, reduce data centre total overall cost, and provide
dynamic resource provisioning for increased business agility.
This solution reduces the total cost of ownership, improves IT productivity
and improves business agility by shifting focus from IT maintenance
to IT innovation and providing application in minutes instead of
days.
It also increases scalability without added complexity as it can
be managed as a single system whether it has one or 320 servers
with thousands of virtual machines, this inevitably improves energy
efficiency as it significantly reduces power and cooling costs.
In addition it provides interoperability and investment protection
through industry standards-based infrastructure.
“Especially in today's economy, where organizations are mandated
to increase productivity and cut costs while maintaining their competitive
edge, an investment in innovation such as this is what stands out
any organization”.
“Also, to help customers accelerate the transition to the
Unified Computing architecture, Cisco is paving the way with a comprehensive
suite of new Unified Computing Services. In addition, Cisco today
announced collaboration with industry leaders on the Unified Computing
System and architecture,” added Edet.
Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how
people connect, communicate and collaborate.
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| Ethiopia's
'Teza' Wins Zain Prize |
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The
winners of the special prizes on offer at the 21st PanAfrican
Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Festival panafricain
du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou)
or FESPACO has been announced.
During the ceremony to announce the winners of over US$ 100,000
worth of special prizes in Sembene Ousmane conference room,
at the Azalai Hotel in Ouagadougou, Zain's special prize was
won by Haile Gerima of Ethiopia for her movie 'Teza'.
The leading telecom company in Africa and the Middle East
is big promoter of music, arts and culture in the continent.
Additionally, the mobile operator operates in Burkina Faso.
The announcements came a day before unveiling the winner of
the 'Etalon of Yennenga' (Golden Stallion of Yennega). "Étalon
de Yennenga" is named in reference to the legendary founder
of the Mossi Empire. The "Étalon de Yennenga"
is awarded to the African film that best shows "Africa's
realities".
FESPACO events were attended by Presidents Faure Gnassingbe
of Togo and his counterpart from Benin, Yayi Boni. They were
received by the host, President Blaise Campaore of Burkina
Faso.
Speaking at the announcement of the special prizes the General
Manager of FESPACO Michel Ouédraogo said, “For
the first time in FESPACO's history we want to pay tribute
to our partners who contributed to the 'Special Prizes' ceremony.
We would like to thank Zain group who has had a big impact
on the festival with its employees' dynamism and its shimmering
colours.”
At the end of the prize ceremony, the Managing Director of
Zain in Burkina Faso, Mouhamadou N'Diaye, announced his pleasure
at being an official partner of the Festival. He reaffirmed
Zain's support towards arts and cultural in Burkina Faso and
throughout Africa.
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Win
N Rule Promo Resumes In Lagos |
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| Seven winners comprising
three students, two civil servants, a banker and an accountant received
their prizes recently as the presentation of cars to winners of
the Glo Win n Rule promo resumes in Lagos.
The lucky Glo subscribers were among the 100 winners drawn in Lagos
during the mega draw of the promo late last year.
Globacom said the prizes are being presented to the winners in batches
in their home states. Some of the winners of the mega draw had earlier
received their prizes in Abuja, Aba, and Ibadan.
At the first Lagos prize presentation ceremony which held at Union
Bank Sports Centre, Dolapo Alo, a banker with FCMB and Adebimpe
Akintola, a staff of Mushin Local Government Council went home with
a Peugeot 307 saloon car each.
Seun Olaleye, Salamade Oluwayemi, Afolabi Sunday Anthony who are
all students; Alabi Adijat of the Lagos State Ministry of Education
and Afolabi Charles Anthony, an accountant, all received a Kia Rio
saloon car each.
Globacom's head of Win 'n Rule Promotion, Tonye Briggs, said that
Glo would always deliver on its promise to consumers. According
to him, more presentations will be held for Lagos winners with another
one scheduled for FESTAC Town soon.
One of the winners, Mr. Alo, after receiving his car keys, said
that Globacom had become a major force in the transformation of
the Nigerian economy, creating jobs, creating wealth and spreading
joy to common people. “Globacom is doing well,” he said.
The Win N Rule promo is offering 500 cars to subscribers who recharge
with various sums every month. The promo has also been enhanced
to include various other prizes including 1000 power generating
sets, 1000 motorcycles and 1000 bicycles.
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