EXPANDING TELECOMS SECTOR (NOV 6, 2010)

Good corporate citizens and governments have a common goal, and that is to create value for their businesses and offer job opportunities to the people.
That is why business and the government cannot operate independently of each other.
It is the responsibility of the government to strive to improve the policy space and create the enabling atmosphere for which businesses can operate.
It is such a close collaboration that has led to the advancement of most economies.
Therefore, the directive by the President to the Ministries of Communications, and Environment, Science and Technology to facilitate the launch of Glo, the sixth mobile operator in the country, is laudable.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that the challenges with respect to the spectrum requirements have since been resolved and that the challenge is for Glo to show its commitment to the country by launching its services.
Much as the delay has been at a cost to the company and could have been avoided, the Daily Graphic is of the view that a continuous delay in deploying its services would further compound its financial position and subsequently affect its operations.
The anticipation with which many Ghanaians were waiting for the final launch of Glo has not waned because the stories of Glo in neighbouring countries provide ample evidence of its performance for which Ghanaians are waiting patiently to experience Glo services.
Again, Glo, even before its launch, has indicated the seriousness with which it intends to play ball in the Ghanaian telecommunications sector by being the first mobile operator to launch its fibre optic cable in the country.
The signal was that of a company ready to do things differently. That is the more reason why the Daily Graphic thinks the government has demonstrated its seriousness to faciliate Glo’s unhindered launch of its service.
Even before it launches its operations formally in Ghana, Glo has committed resources to promoting the Premier League game that many have passion for and also helps to unite the nation.
The goodwill of the people of Ghana, has been expressed by the President in his directive; the ball is now in the court of Glo to take up the challenge, and reciprocate the government’s gesture by mobilising resources for the launch as soon as possible.
But that also offers the country the opportunity to redefine its policies with regard to the telecoms sector, to offer a level playing field for the six players in the sector.
Beyond that, Ghana and Nigeria enjoy good neighbourliness, for which reason we must support such investments in the spirit of ECOWAS without compromising the country’s laws and procedures.
We believe that issues related to the environment also need serious considerations just as discussions about infrastructure sharing among telecoms companies should be speeded up.
The Daily Graphic believes Glo has the ability to take the good signal of the government to launch by the end of the year. There are more exciting times for users of cellular phones.