The Internet is a very powerful medium of communication. IP protocol (the backbone technology of the Internet) allows just about any data to be encoded and transmitted from node to the other. Riding on this power and ubiquity, many means of communication in today's world are now increasingly relying on the Internet. Projections are that all communication would be routed through the Internet, in future. It is thus not much of a surprise to me ...  [Read more]

I listened to Philip Sowah, the Country Manager of Zain Communications Ghana Limited, being interviewed on Joy FM's Super Morning show one morning in the last quarter of 2008. It was at the eve of Zain's network launch in Ghana. One thing I remember clearly was him saying Zain Ghana has so much network capacity, they are scared in a positive way. I wondered to myself: "What is he talking about? Why this much confidence? Is this a marketing ...  [Read more]

The case for prepaid international roaming in Africa is very strong indeed. Most subscribers on cellular networks in Africa are on the prepaid platform. What better way could there have been to reach out to this large number of people who form the majority? None. Background According to Wikipedia, "Roaming is a general term in wireless telecommunications that refers to the extending of connectivity service in a network that is different than ...  [Read more]

Glo Mobile, the GSM subsidiary of Globacom Nigeria Limited has been a great player in the telecom industry since it was launched in 2003. First came the rather aggressive adverts on all the available media in the country: TV, Radio, Newspapers, Magazine and even the Internet. Nigerians were left to wonder what this new entrant could offer. Glo Mobile made promises, to be Nigeria's best mobile phone operator, to break the hitherto existing ...  [Read more]

Recognising the importance of cross border and overall telecommunications connectivity as the key to the economic and social development and integration of the West Africa sub-region, ECOWAS Secretariat, last week, organised a Regional Telecommunications Forum on Roaming and Cross-boarder ...  [Read more]