The Ghana Grid Company, (GRIDCo) has signed a partnership with CSQUARED, Africa’s leading wholesale open-access broadband infrastructure provider, for the leasing of its excess fibre capacity to mobile network operators and Internet Service Providers in Ghana.
The partnership is expected to support CSquared to provide internet connectivity to underserved communities in the country through mobile network operators.
GRIDCo’s operations involve the use of an Optical Ground Wire System (OPGW), which serves to protect the nation’s transmission system against lightning strikes. This OPGW can also be utilised as fibre for communication purposes.
In 2017, GRIDCo’s Business Unit – GRIDTel – commenced operations with the sole aim of commercialising the excess fibre capacity available from the OPGW installations, by leasing it to telecommunication companies in Ghana.
Broadband connectivity is a powerful catalyst as well as an anchor for economic and social advancement through the creation of jobs and multiple business opportunities.
This partnership will enable the deployment of broadband infrastructure to deliver high-speed data services to businesses and homes especially in the more remote areas of Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and other underserved areas in the country. It will promote the country’s journey towards achieving its digital transformation agenda.
Chief Executive Officer of CSquared Group, Lanre Kolade, highlighted the direct benefits of the partnership to Ghana:
“Every day, broadband is connecting the unconnected. From education to health care to economic opportunities, more people in Ghana continue to benefit from living in a fully digitized world. This partnership goes a long way towards achieving CSquared’s goal of democratizing connectivity and achieving #InternetForAll.”
Article Credit: MyJoyOnline
