Huawei is set to deploy over 2000 telecom sites in rural locations across Ghana.
The initiative is the result of a new agreement signed by Ghana’s Ministry of Communications (MoC), the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), and the Export-Import Bank of China.
Slated for completion in September 2021, the project will see Huawei deploy its Rural Star solution to deliver voice and data in remote communities. According to TeleGeography, the services are expected to reach over 3.4 million people, increasing Ghana’s national coverage rate from 83% to 95%.
The MoC is running the project via GIFEC, which is a government agency aimed at delivering universal access to basic telecoms services. The Rural Star solution uses Relay Remote Node (RRN) wireless backhaul, is powered by solar energy and can be installed on a simple pole, making it around 50% cheaper to deploy that the microwave or satellite transmission typically used for rural connectivity. Once the rollout is complete, mobile operators will be able to lease the network.
GIFEC head Abraham Kofi Asante said: “Partnering with Huawei on this project…will ensure that all persons in Ghana are part of government’s digitisation agenda, and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of people living in Rural Ghana.”
Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful added: “ICT development plays a vital role in revitalising the national economy, especially in promoting rural economic development. Accelerating the improvement of rural communications facilities is one of our important agenda. We selected Huawei as a partner in this rural network project as we have seen Huawei’s unremitting efforts in bridging the digital divide.”
