Airtel launches Smart Cities initiative

Accra, Aug. 4, GNA - Airtel, Ghana's best Data and Internet Service Provider has launched a bold initiative to digitally connect major shopping malls in the country with a combination of technologies including Wi-Fi access as part of its wider 'Smart Cities'.

A Smart City is an urban development concept that integrates multiple information and communication technology and Internet of Things IoT solutions to connect a city's assets and infrastructure including transportation, education, health care, enterprises amongst others.

A statement issued in Accra by Mr Richard Ahiagble, Head of Corporate Communications and copied to the Ghana News Agency said, Airtel has over the years provided consummate communication, connectivity and collaborative solutions to enterprises, health care establishments, educational complexes and lately major shopping malls in the country.

In view of this, the Smartphone Network has announced the activation of Wi-Fi access at the A&C Shopping Mall, a mixed use Centre to provide patrons access to its superior data and internet services.

It said the innovative Wi-Fi project dubbed: 'Flex Zone' enables access to all smartphone users - irrespective of their network.

Speaking to this latest addition to the company's suite of data solutions, Director of Data Business at Airtel, Mr Jean Claude Domilongo Bope said: 'Our vision is to completely transform the way Ghanaians communicate, connect and collaborate with our unparalleled data and digital solutions.

'We have completed the piloting of multi-network Wi-Fi access at the A&C Mall and are happy to announce that patrons of this facility can now have access to our data packages simply by visiting the Airtel shop within the Center to purchase a Wi-Fi voucher and connecting their devices to it.

'The ability to access this irrespective of what network you use is ground breaking and opens up the space for customers on other networks to enjoy the best data experience that only Airtel provides.

'We have been leading the deployment of the necessary infrastructure to connect homes, clusters, communal locations and shopping malls in this country including the Achimota Mall as part of the smart cities initiative to digitally connect Ghanaians across all relevant platforms - from transportation to education, health care and entertainment.

'Our customers have responded positively to these innovations, which has powered the growth of our data segment to the point where more than 61 per cent of our customer base use our data services - an unprecedented achievement within the industry.

'So the next time you're in the A&C Shopping Mall, walk right up to the Airtel shop and connect to the best data experience on the Smartphone Network,' it said.

GNA