GIFEC Targets November Deadline to Activate Over 460 Rural Telephony Sites
The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) is targeting the end of November to bring more than 460 newly deployed rural telephony sites across the country into operation as part of efforts to improve network coverage in underserved communities.
The Chief Executive Officer of GIFEC, Rashid Tanko Computer, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists at the Adaklu-Kpetsu Rural Telephony Project (RTP) site in the Volta Region, where he joined the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, on a two-day tour to inspect telecommunications infrastructure and digital learning centres.
According to the CEO, the ongoing deployment is intended to connect rural communities to the country’s telecommunications network and address persistent connectivity challenges.
“In fact, all across the country, we currently have over 460 such new sites. We are hoping that by the close of November, like the minister indicated, all of them should be up and running,” he said.
Tanko Computer explained that the deployment followed an assessment of rural telephony infrastructure, which revealed disparities in the distribution of sites across regions.
He said the Volta Region had been disadvantaged during previous deployments, prompting GIFEC to allocate additional sites to communities that required improved network access.
Adaklu District alone has been allocated 13 rural telephony sites under the current exercise, according to the Rashid Tanko Computer, who commended the Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu and local authorities for supporting the initiative.
He said the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives had assisted GIFEC with land acquisition and other arrangements required to establish the infrastructure.
Tanko Computer explained that the rural telephony system uses roaming technology supported by the existing spectrum of mobile network operators. Before a site is installed, technical teams take geographical coordinates and conduct simulations to identify suitable donor sites from which signals can be received and distributed to surrounding communities.
He said the technical assessment was necessary to ensure that the new installations could connect communities to existing networks effectively.
The planned activation of the sites is expected to strengthen connectivity in rural areas, where poor network coverage can affect communication, business activities and access to digital services.
The deployment forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and GIFEC to extend telecommunications access to underserved communities.
During the tour, the minister and the GIFEC CEO also visited selected centres under the government’s One Million Coders Programme, which seeks to equip Ghanaians with digital skills.
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