Ghana’s first rural mobile connectivity project completed

The first-time mobile voice and mobile broadband connectivity project to rural communities in Ghana has been completed.

The project, which was funded by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), was executed by privately held Irish technology company, Altobridge in partnership with K-NET, a locally owned network solutions provider.

“The initial rollout phase of the satellite-backhauled, solar powered solution, on the Tigo Ghana mobile network, has now been completed,” said Altobridge in a statement September 12, 2012.

According to the company who has Intel Capital, IFC and Enterprise Ireland as its shareholders, the subscriber uptake and usage levels in these hitherto unconnected, rural village communities, have surpassed all parties’ expectations.

“This approach not only accelerates mobile voice and mobile broadband penetration, but also offers incremental revenue to the mobile network providers,” said Mike Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Altobridge.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Richard Hlomador, Founder & CEO, K-NET said, “To make this business model work, K-NET needed an ultra-low operating cost, reliable solution that can be rapidly deployed and which is easy to install, maintain and operate. This solution from K-NET and Altobridge provided precisely that.”

By Ekow Quandzie