MTN Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to effective implementation of the national roaming project to help enhance telecommunication network connectivity and services in the country.
The national roaming policy, when completed, will allow phone users to automatically connect to the mobile network with the best quality of service available in any area, regardless of which operator one is primarily subscribed to.
MTN find the National Roaming project very significant way to support the growth of the whole industry. In 2022, MTN in collaboration with Vodafone and National Communications Authority (NCA) piloted the project in Volta Region. MTN is currently at advance stage of engagement with other network operators to extend national roaming to other places where necessary,” Samuel Addo, Chief Sales and Distribution Executive MTN Ghana, has said.
In June 2020, the regulator, NCA declared MTN as significant market power (SMP) in Ghana. SPM is regulatory status representing a dominant position in a given market such as the telecommunication industry. According to NCA, it takes one to hold 40 percent market share of voice, SMS, data and mobile money over a considerable period for one to be declared SMP, adding that as at June 2020, MTN controlled about 75 percent of the local market share, hence the declaration.
The situation warranted implementation of some regulatory remedies to correct the imbalance. These included the national roaming project, application of 30 percent asymmetrical interconnect rates for two years and setting of floor pricing.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of stakeholders’ engagement in Sunyani, Bono Regional Capital, Addo emphasized that “we are very much on course to national roaming to help grow the industry and the economy at large.” Participants comprised of journalists, representatives of regulatory agencies and security personnel.
Operational strategy
Commenting on MTN Ghana’s strategic priorities, he said the telecommunication giant is resolute in leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress by “building the largest and most valuable platform business with a clear focus on the continent. MTN is on course with a US$1billion network investment by 2025 to maintain network leadership.”
He however mentioned indiscriminate fibre cuts as a worrying challenge and called for all hands-on deck to address the menace, indicating that telecommunication infrastructure such fibre must be seen as a national security asset which requires a holistic approach involving all and sundry to protect it.
