The National Communications Authority (NCA) would, in a month’s time, announce a new arrangement that would ensure an equitable playing field in the 4G space.
Director-General of NCA, Joe Anokye announced this at a cocktail event to open the new head office of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (Telecoms Chamber) in Accra.
The D-G said: “We know there are some issues about the 4G space – well not too long from now, we will ensure an equitable playing field in that space.”
Later when journalists asked how soon the announcement will come, the NCA Boss said: “in about a month’s time the announcement will be made.”
Telecoms market leaders, MTN is currently the only telco in the 4G space. The other players are either Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) license holders, or Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
MTN acquired its license at a whopping US$67.5 million in December 2015. The other telcos have said the price is too high and they cannot afford it even at half of that price. Some of them have tried to partner BWA’s to get into the 4G space for less but to no avail.
MTN has said it will not sit by and watch the other telcos get into space through such “backdoor” partnership deals. It insisted that each telco must “cough up” US$67.5 million if they want to get into the 4G space, or else NCA would have to give them (MTN) some refund.
But the decision to bring others into the 4G space is the not for MTN but for NCA.
Asked how the NCA was dealing with the issues raised by MTN, Joe Anokye simply said: “we have taken all that into consideration so you will hear from us in a month.”
Meanwhile, the opening of the Telecoms Chamber new office was also used to bid farewell to outgoing telecoms CEOs and executives of the Chamber, while welcoming new ones.
Former AirtelTigo CEO, Roshi Motman, who was Chair of the Chamber, and former MTN CEO, Ebenezer Twum Asante, who was the Vice Chair of the Chamber.
In their place, new AirtelTigo CEO, Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi takes over as Chair, while new MTN Ghana Boss, Selorm Adadevoh comes in as a new Vice Chair.
Joe Anokye lauded the outgoing telco bosses for their achievements and assured the incoming and existing ones of continuous cooperation by the NCA to ensure the progress of the industry.
“We often jaw-jaw in heated debates in the boardroom but the bottom line is that we are seeking the progress of the industry and we will continue to work together to achieve that,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Communications, George Nenyi Andah also assured the telcos of the ministry’s commitment to working with all industry players for the benefit of the public.
“We are committed to mutual respect within the ecosystem – we can agree to disagree sometimes but what is important is when a decision is yours to make we will allow you to make it – and when a decision is ours to make we would expect that you support us as well,” he said.
He urged the Telecoms Chamber to work at bringing Glo Ghana onboard as a member of the Chamber to make the Chamber stronger and more formidable as a key stakeholder in the industry.