US Company to provide high speed internet access services in Ghana
Accra
(Greater Accra) 26
May 2000
Nortel
Networks, a US-based company is to provide a broadband wireless access network
in major cities across Ghana under a four-year contract estimated at more than 180
million dollars.
A
statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said the contract would target the
banking industry as well as small and medium-sized businesses.
Nortel
Networks was selected by another US-based company, United Communications
Systems International (UCSI) to do the work, the statement said. UCSI said it
plans to use Nortel Networks' Reunion broadband wireless solution to provide
Ghana with high-speed internet access, along with other voice and data
services.
UCSI
said it intends to provide reliable telephone services at rates below those of
the incumbent operator.
The
statement quoted Mr Charles W. Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
UCSI as saying the company is delivering the high-performance internet to West
Africa by bringing services not previously available to Ghana.
"Working
with Nortel Networks, we will make available significant strides to narrow the
digital divide for the people of Ghana, allowing consumers and businesses to
leverage the benefits of high-speed access and reliable voice service."
The
statement said Nortel Networks is a global leader in broadband wireless access.
Its awards this year alone in this market total more than 400 million dollars
from operators in Germany, Portugal, the US and Ghana.
It
said UCSI has begun initial installation of the network, which will include
switching elements, fibre optic cable, point-to-point macrowave and the first
deployment of Nortel Networks' Reunion broadband wireless access equipment in
Africa.
The
Reunion broadband wireless access portfolio helps to close the cost and
capacity gap between fibre optic and copper solutions for delivery of
high-quality voice and high-speed, high capacity data, video and internet
services.
GRi..
/
Accra
(Greater Accra) 26
May 2000
The
fourth edition of the West Africa Computing Technology and Office Equipment
exhibition and Conference (AITEC) opened in Accra on Wednesday with a call for
the integration of information technology and telecommunication systems in
African.
Owuraku
Amofa, Deputy Minister of Communications said it is unacceptable that the bulk
of the connectivity between countries on the continent must be routed through
other continents.
This
route, he noted, is expensive and the quality of services provided is low. He
therefore urged the continent to get its own communications connectivity.
AITEC
West Africa 2000 has brought together over 30 foreign and local IT companies
and over 100 delegates from Ghana, South Africa, United States, United Kingdom
and United Arab Emirates.
It
is expected to attract 6,000 top business executives, decision-makers from both
public and private sectors.
The
theme for the exhibition and conference is "An information society for
West Africa: Visions for the new millennium."
The
Deputy Minister urged the African Telecommunications union to work assiduously
towards the achievement of the African telecommunication connectivity.
He
said Africa has many advantages, expertise and the opportunity to leapfrog the
earlier stages of the development of the industry.
Mr
Amofa advised IT professional to ensure that Africa deploys the right and
appropriate technology at the lowest cost.
He
urged IT companies to take advantage of the wider market of 200 million people
in the sub-region and invest.
Commander
Pius M. G. Griffiths, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, said IT has
simplified business activities and information acquisition.
He
said with the advent of the internet, the face of trade and industry has
changed with the volume of trade growing to appreciable levels.
Commander
Griffiths called for the transformation of the banking sector in Ghana and
other West African countries saying that the development of electronic commerce
can boost businesses and urged the banking industry to take advantage of
information technology and expand.
GRi../