Nigerian Telecom Operator Globacom Wins GSM Licence in Ghana

In its drive to become a true pan-African telecommunications operator, Nigeria’s Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom, at the weekend won a licence for Global System of Mobile communications (GSM) in Ghana.

Officials of Globacom see the development as a major boost in the company’s efforts to increase its take in the African telecommunications sector.

Globacom thus becomes the sixth mobile operator for Ghana’s nearly 25 million population. There are currently a little over eight million subscribers connected by the five other operators, including MTN Ghana.

In a letter to the management of Globacom dated June 12, 2008, Ghana ’s telecommunications regulatory authority, the National Communications Authority (NCA), said its Board of Directors declared Glo Mobile the winner of the international contest for the mobile cellular licence in the country.

The NCA congratulated Globacom on achieving the feat, adding that it looked forward to its contributions to the development of Ghana’s information communications and technology industry.

The NCA had over six weeks ago opened for a global bid for the sixth GSM licence in Ghana.

After a keenly contested open technical bid, the NCA adjudged Glo Mobile the preferred bidder because of the superiority of its technical presentation, pedigree and extensive roll-out plan for Ghana.

Glo Mobile also emerged tops in the commercial bid, leading to its eventual announcement as winner of the sixth GSM licence in Ghana.

Glo Mobile’s management, chaired by business mogul and multi-billionaire, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. thanked the NCA for the confidence reposed in the company and promised to roll out aggressively in the country very shortly.

Glo Mobile attributed the success story in Nigeria to its “network quality, pocket-friendly tariffs, innovative products and services and life-transforming promotions, which had endeared the network to the people and governments of other countries.”

The company had only last week kicked off services in Benin Republic at a ceremony in Cotonou. President, Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, had at the event stated that the entrance of Glo into his country’s telecommunications market would transform the sector.

He said he had always wished that Glo, having changed the landscape in Nigeria, would come to Benin Republic to make communications better for the people.

Claiming to be the fastest growing telecommunications operator in Africa and the Middle East, with over 18 million subscribers, Glo is also bidding for telecoms licences in other African countries.

Adenuga was quoted as saying that Glo had the vision to build the biggest and best network in Africa.

By Sonny Aragba-Akpore via Guardian