Globacom to roll out 2G and 3G networks

Globacom, the sixth mobile operator licensed to do business in Ghana will roll out its services in both 2G and 3G networks when it begins operations. Frederic Sallet, Alcatel Lucent’s Vice President for North, West & Central Africa told ghanabusinesnews.com in an exclusive interview that the company is building both 2G and 3G networks for Globacom. Alcatel Lucent, is a Paris-based telecoms solution provider. He also described the landing of the Glo-1 submarine cable in Ghana as a very significant development in the country’s telecoms sector. “The landing of the submarine cable in Ghana, Glo-1 is extremely significant,” he said. Mr. Sallet says the submarine cables bring two things to Ghana, “It is bringing lots of capacity and significant reduction of the interconnectivity costs of Internet between Africa and Europe,” he said. “Of course the roll out of the full Glo network in both 2G and 3G is also significant,” he told ghanabusinessnews.com. Nigerian mobile provider, Globacom received the license to operate in Ghana in June 2008 from Ghana’s regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and in 2009 the country’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), granted it permits to build its cell sites, but the company is yet to start operations in the country and its officials will not comment on its activities in Ghana. Meanwhile, it is spending millions of dollars in advertising and payments to musicians and movie actors to represent its brand. The company is also spending money on sponsorships.