Glo Mobile Lands

Nigeria's telecommunications giant, Globacom has pledged to change the face of Ghana's telephony industry within the shortest possible time, following the receipt of a licence to operate the 6th mobile cellular network in the country.

Globacom, popularly known as Glo Mobile, is expected to begin operations in the country within the next six to eight months and has planned to invest $2 billion in its roll-out programme.

The telecommunications giant which received its operational licence last week after paying over $50 million, plans to roll out on a 3G licence so as to realize its business strategy.

“The government and people of Ghana can only expect the very best in telephony from Globacom as we are set to roll out very aggressively in Ghana shortly,” Yinka Olafimihan, Globacom's Head of New Markets said at a press briefing in Accra yesterday.

Mr. Olafimihan further stated: “Now that we are coming, things will never be the same again, at least in telecom in Ghana. Globacom will ensure that the trust so freely reposed in us by the people is not misplaced.”

He was grateful to the government for providing the enabling environment that encouraged his outfit to venture into the country, noting that “the task ahead may look tough, but we assure you that we will meet and surely surpass your expectations.”

He disclosed that his outfit has already paid the licence fee of $50.1 million to the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The company revolutionized the telecoms industry in Nigeria after its entry in 2003.

NCA in a letter to the management of Globacom dated June 12, 2008, said its Board of Directors unanimously had declared Globacom winner of the international bid for the award of a mobile cellular licence in the country.

The NCA congratulated Globacom on the feat and charged the company to transform Ghana's information and communication technology profile.

The letter added that after a keenly contested open technical bid among 11 companies, the NCA adjudged Globacom as the preferred bidder because of the superiority of its technical presentation, pedigree and extensive roll-out plan.

Globacom is one of the fastest growing telecommunication companies in Africa and the Middle East, with over 18 million subscribers. It is also bidding for telecom licences in other African countries.

The company is currently building Africa's first private submarine cable from Nigeria through Ghana and other African countries to the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Globacom is about people, service and possibilities,” Mr. Olafimihan told journalists, explaining that the entrance of the company into Ghana at this time is destined and calculated.

Globacom is noted for its aggressive business operations having slashed call rates in Nigeria and provided efficient network services when it first entered the Nigerian market in 2003 after being granted a licence by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Meanwhile, Globacom's GSM network in Benin Republic has hit about 600,000 SIM sales in the first 10 days of its commercial kick-off, according to a statement from the company on Thursday.

Out of the number of SIMs already sold, over 200,000 lines have been activated, making the network an instant hit in the Francophone country.

Globacom entered the Beninoise market on June 5, 2008 with a promise by the chairman of the company, Otunba Mike Adenuga Jr., to change the face of telecommunication in that country.

By Felix Dela Klutse