Rural Connectivity Programme

Rural Connectivity Programme

The Rural Connectivity Programme seeks to extend the coverage of mobile telephone services as far as possible into all areas of the country where access to such services are not adequately available, and where existing licensed operators have proven unwilling or unable to expand their networks, due to commercial or other technological constraints.

The programme also ensures the provision of Internet Points of Presence in underserved and unserved communities.

Rural Telephony Project (RTP)

The Rural Telephony Project (RTP) is aimed at closing the void created by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) during their rollout. The project connects rural communities in Ghana with population below 1,000, with voice and data services.

The project adheres to the following components:

  • Tripartite Co-operation Model between GIFEC, Mobile Network Operator and a Private Investor, for efficient CAPEX and OPEX.
  • Deployment is done through the innovative UMTS 900 Rural Star Technology (A Ghana-first)
  • Sites are solar and grid-powered
  • 500 sites deployed within 3 years
  • Over 750,000 people connected
  • 3G data services provided

Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP)

The project is an extension of the flagship RTP, which commenced in 2020, with funding from the Government of Ghana, and seeks to extend Network Coverage in 2,016 Rural Areas (up to 3.4 million Residents) through the provision of voice and data access.

The project adopts efficient sustainability mechanisms in its deployment, such as the use of green energy solutions like solar energy for over a third of the Network Sites built.

  • 769 sites built
  • 360 sites On-Air

 

Satellite Hub

One of GIFEC’s objectives is to provide internet point of presence and basic telephony to unconnected communities in Ghana.
The installation of a VSAT Hub is to provide universal access to telecommunication services for remote communities in the country. The project is being implemented to motivate telecommunication operators to extend their services into locations of less commercial viability.
It is to also provide the same satellite communication services, delivering a terrestrial-grade experience with voice, video and data that can be extended to all unserved communities in Ghana.

  • 22 RTP Sites
  • 80 Basic and Secondary Schools