Globacom unhappy with Ghana co-location deal

Ghana’s sixth mobile phone service provider yet to start operations still has issues with the country’s regulations for mobile phone companies. And one of the issues Glo is not happy with is the co-location deal that the National Communications Authority (NCA) and other stakeholders have reached with mobile operators in the country.

A source familiar with Glo’s operation plans in Ghana has told ghanabusinessnews.com that the co-location deal in the country is not the best. The source argued, “if you want us to co-locate, you are saying we should offer just what our competitors are offering. You are limiting us.”

In January this year, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology imposed a ban on the erection of telecom masts in the country, citing among other reasons that about 50% of all communications masts in the country were erected by service providers who did not obtain the required permit.

Some of the concerns that informed the decision to ban the erection of masts included public outcry against the location of some of these masts, accidents, land disputes and health implications believed to be associated with the masts, according to a Daily Graphic report of February 1, 2010.

But on June 1, 2010, the Ministry issued a press release lifting the ban and passed a new regulation on the erection of masts. The lifting of the ban followed the adoption of new guidelines for the erection of masts.

The press release said the guidelines include pre-application requirements for new sites, application processes, requirements for various permitting agencies, operational requirements, structural requirements, co-location and penalties for breach of guidelines.

Even though Glo was part of the deliberations that led to the new regulations it is unhappy with it.

In the press release announcing the new regulation, the Ministry indicated that the effort was the product of collaboration by the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the Town and Country Planning Department and telecommunication operators. It added tat civil society organizations and the general public were also involved.

According to the Glo insider, “we can’t offer any better service than our competitors, if we have to co-locate.”

Since Glo was given the license to operate, the company though is yet to start operating, has spent millions of dollars in promotional and advertising activities.

The telecom provider received the license to operate in Ghana in June 2008 from the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Accra. But regulatory and permit challenges slowed it from setting up its base stations to begin operations. Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) eventually granted it license to that effect, paving the way for Glo to begin building its cell sites.

When the company was issued its license to begin operations in Ghana, Glo’s management announced the establishment of its Glo-1 Submarine cable to be laid through Europe, Accra to Nigeria. The company subsequently started laying fibre optic cables in Ghana for its broadband services.

In May this year Glo threatened to walk out of the country, citing destruction of its promotional and advertising items.

Asked when Glo will start operations in the country, the source said “the date is uncertain.”

Meanwhile, ghanabusinessnews.com can confirm that one of the major challenges facing Glo is the company’s inability to hire the right caliber of human resources to be able to begin operations.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

Globacom unhappy with Ghana co-location deal
Ghana’s sixth mobile phone service provider yet to start operations still has issues with the country’s regulations for mobile phone companies. And one of the issues Glo is not happy with is the co-location deal that the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications has reached with mobile operators in the country.
A source familiar with Glo’s operation plans in Ghana has told ghanabusinessnews.com that the co-location deal in the country is not the best. The source argued, “if you want us to co-locate, you are saying we should offer just what our competitors are offering. You are limiting us.”
In January this year, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology imposed ban on the erection of telecom masts in the country, citing among other reasons that about 50% of all communications masts in the country were erected by service providers who did not obtain the required permit.
Some of the concerns that informed the decision to ban the erection of masts included public outcry against the location of some of these masts, accidents, land disputes and health implications believed to be associated with the masts, according to a Daily Graphic report of February 1, 2010.
But on June 1, 2010, the Ministry lifted the ban and passed a new regulation on the erection of masts. The lifting of the ban follows the adoption of new guidelines for the erection of masts.
The press release said the guidelines include pre-application requirements for new sites, application processes, requirements for various permitting agencies, operational requirements, structural requirements, co-location and penalties for breach of guidelines.
Even though Glo was part of the deliberations that led to the new regulations it is unhappy with it.
In the press release announcing the new regulation, the Ministry indicated that the effort was the product of collaboration by the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the Town and Country Planning Department and telecommunication operators. It added tat civil society organizations and the general public were also involved.
According to the Glo insider, “we can’t offer any better service than our competitors, if we have to co-locate.”
Since Glo was given the license to operate the company though is yet to start operating, has spent millions of dollars in promotional and advertising activities.
The telecom provider received the license to operate in Ghana in June 2008 from the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Accra. But regulatory and permit challenges slowed it from setting up its base stations to begin operations. Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) eventually granted it license to that effect, paving the way for Glo to begin building its cell sites.
When the company was issued its license to begin operations in Ghana, Glo’s management announced the establishment of its Glo-1 Submarine cable to be laid through Europe, Accra to Nigeria. The company subsequently started laying fibre optic cables in Ghana for its broadband services.
In May this year Glo threatened to walk out of the country, citing destruction of its promotional and advertising items.
Asked when Glo will start operations in the country, the source, “said the date is uncertain.”
Meanwhile, ghanabusinessnews.com can confirm that one of the major challenges facing Glo is the company’s inability to hire the right caliber of human resource to be able to begin operations.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

2 Comments
  1. Amanda says

    Will the govt. be kind enough to give whatever incense glo need to to begin operating, what kind of gov. is this? This glo company am sure will be recruiting hundred of unemployed youth all over the country. What the hell is going on Communications Authority?

  2. Akim Nortey says

    this is injustice we Ghanaian have not said any thing on other networks apart from now that GLOBAL IS COMING WE HAVE FORGOTTEN SO SOON WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR WE GHANAIAN , please we must stop this wicked mind because it is destroying the growth of Ghanaian in general. we have nothing still we did not want any thing good to come into our life God will have mercy on all of us .

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Shares