Intelsat engages GIFEC on Satellite Connectivity for Rural Sites
A select group of Management Staff of Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has met with a delegation from IntelSat to discuss possible areas of collaboration on the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP) on Thursday, April 29, 2022.
During the meeting, the Administrator of GIFEC, Mr. Prince Sefah, did a brief introduction of GIFEC, highlighting key interventions like the Rural Connectivity Programme (RTP), which aims to connect underserved and unserved communities within the country with telephony network coverage, at an unprecedented rate.
He specifically cited key projects being implemented under this Programme, such us the GRT&DIP, which seeks to construct 2,016 Rural sites to underserved/unserved communities, with the goal of ensuring 95% mobile connectivity by the end of 2023.
He revealed that since active deployment started late 2020, 784 sites have been constructed, with about 310 currently active and delivering services to citizens in various communities across the country.
He, however, recounted special challenges in connecting some remote communities, and the need to find efficient solutions such as through Satellite connectivity.
The team from IntelSat, led by the Senior Sales Director, Africa – Mr. Hendrik Van der Berg, presented on the company’s value proposition, briefly, envisioning the possibility of a mutually beneficial partnership with GIFEC.
He mentioned that their Teleport presents a significant opportunity for optimised infrastructure and cost reduction for GIFEC’s Rural Connectivity Programme.
At the meeting with Mr. Sefah, from GIFEC, were Alhaji Yahaya Zakaria Osman (Director, Operations); Alhaji Faisal Issahaku Gbanjili (Director, Administration); Mr. Michael Agyei Takyi (Head, Programmes); Ms. Sandra Mills (Head, Corporate Affairs) and Ms. Laureen Tsenuokpor (Head, Administrator’s Secretariat).
Mr. Hendrik Van der Berg was joined by Nnamdi Chijioke-Osueze (Sales Director, West Africa Anglophone IntelSat Consultant), Adolph Kpesese (Regional Sales Director for ST Engineering iDirect, a Partner of Intelsat) and Werner Sauermann (Principal Sales Engineer, Africa).
