According to her, the NCA has not been clear on its policy direction towards improved internet coverage in the country.

Madam Motman has therefore urged the NCA to open up the discussion on the acquisition of a 5G spectrum by telcos in the country.

Addressing journalists at a press conference, Roshi Motman disclosed that AirtelTigo is however working towards the acquisition of a 5G spectrum to ensure quality service to its customers.

“Acquiring a 4G is a natural progression but actually as a company, we are looking towards acquiring a 5G spectrum because in reality it’s time for 5G in the world and not really 4G. So it’s a bit sad that in Ghana the situation is the way it is. I also believe that it is not necessary to as a company move from 2G to 3G and then to the next when there is a more developed one out there, you can go straight onto 5G”.

Roshi Motman explained that both parent groups of the merged entity are working towards acquiring a 5G spectrum,

“Both our groups, we have the Bharti Airtel Group and the and the Millicom group that are behind this venture are both investing in 5G and we are now bringing on board experts to really have a look at how this can be positioned in this market”.

The move of the company to acquire a 5G spectrum comes despite pleas by the telcos to reduce the cost of acquiring a 4G spectrum.

The second 4G spectrum has been left untaken after MTN acquired the first one in 2015.

MTN, together with three other companies back then; Surfline, Goldkey and Migson communications all submitted applications for the spectrum but only MTN was able to cough up the floor price for the spectrum which was 67.5 million dollars.

The spectrum allows the telecom operator to provide improved internet services to customers as it has a faster speed and enhanced features.

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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Airtel Tigo joins calls for 5G network in Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is according to the CEO of Airtel Tigo, Roshi Motman.

The move which will make them the second biggest mobile money operator in the country also forms part of the integration of the two companies after their merger in November 2017.

The telecommunication company has signed an agreement with Mahindra Comviva, a global leader in providing mobility solutions to help the company deliver the mobile money service on a secure and reliable platform.

The integration is expected to deliver superior customer experience by providing access to wider agent network, reduce customer cost of transaction, and facilitate product innovation.

Addressing journalists at a press conference, Roshi Motan revealed that move will be done in collaboration with 20 banks in the country to increase liquidity in the market.

“Another important point is with our partner banks so we are increasing the number of our partner banks to approximately twenty of them and the reason why we are doing that is first of all we want to be able to ease the liquidity in the market”.

The mobile money service of Airtel Tigo is currently in collaboration with eleven banks, some of which are Ecobank, Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank, Barclays Bank and GCB Bank.

Madam Rotman also explained that the service also seeks to bring convenience to its customers,

“Another major point is that we want our customers to easily be able to put money in the mobile wallet from the banks and from the banks into the mobile wallet.”

Meanwhile Director of Airtel Tigo Money, Edmund Barwah who assured customers of a secure platform to conduct their transactions, said the operational vending centers will also be increased from the current thirty thousand to sixty thousand.

“The integration and the merger also presents to us an opportunity of an expanded agent base; today, one of the key transactions within mobile money is the cash in cash out, we are expanding the ecosystem which means that we will be readily available everywhere”.

“Currently we have about thirty thousand vendors and we are looking to double that figure to 60 thousand within the next few months”.

AirtelTigo registered mobile money customers is currently at 6 million with a value transaction count at 4.5 million per month.

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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Airtel Tigo integrate mobile transfer platforms appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The shop is aimed at giving patrons the opportunity to acquire authentic Infinix products which have attained a household name within the mobile phone industry in Africa.

According to Infinix Ghana, the Exclusive shop which will be located at the Achimota Mall will have products ranging from S and Zero series of mobile phones and other accessories.

The exclusive shop will be launched alongside one of the brands  mobile device Infinix S3.

The highly anticipated smartphone Infinix represents phone photography, style and speed all in one Smartphone.

The technology firm unveiled the S series some years ago and today the brand is at the top of the league with cutting edge technology built into the new Infinix S3.

Customers are urged to pre-order the Infinix S3 and stand the chance to win amazing prices.

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By: Anass S. Seidu/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Infinix to open ‘firstever’ exclusive shop in Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A breakthrough in accessible technology, the Nokia 1 delivers smartphone essentials, refreshingly familiar design and the reassuring quality of a Nokia phone to fans around the world.

Running the latest Android Oreo (Go edition), a version of Android for devices with 1GB RAM or less the Nokia 1 delivers extraordinary value with an exceptional experience encompassing all the features Ghanaians expect from a quality smartphone.

Quality of Nokia smartphones for everyone

The Nokia 1 is the champion of giving more people access to technology. With the reassuring quality and design expected of a Nokia smartphone, it keeps users connected with all their smartphone essentials and apps.

With a quad-core processor, front and rear cameras, 4G connectivity and dual SIM, the Nokia 1 elevates everything Ghanaians love about feature phones in an accessible smartphone package. Combining a removable 2150 mAh battery and power-efficient IPS display, its hardware works with the optimised apps so users can make the most out of each charge.

Bringing back personalised style

The Nokia 1 brings a refreshingly familiar Nokia phone design featuring the iconic ‘Nokia smile’ in a fresh new package. Available globally in Warm Red and Dark Blue, users can also give their Nokia 1 a makeover thanks to the Xpress-on covers which come in a range of vibrant colours.

Designed with the same attention to detail as the phone’s original cover, users can simply click on and off in seconds to express their personal style with these exchangeable covers. Inherently coloured, the tough two-tone polycarbonate cover is ready to take on every day knocks and bumps with its durable design.

General Manager West, East and Central Africa of HMD Global, Mr. Joseph Umunakwe, said: “There are more than 1.3 billion feature phone users around the world, many from markets in Africa.

As the value market leader in feature phones, we understand the barriers and challenges people face when it comes to the step up to a smartphone, which is why we’ve made our most accessible smartphone ever. With the Nokia 1, we have combined the reassuring quality and design of a Nokia smartphone with the latest Android Oreo (Go edition) software to deliver exceptional value and realise our dream of creating a complete smartphone experience, accessible to everyone.”

 Pure, secure and up to date with Android Oreo (Go edition)

Tailored to devices with 1GB RAM or less, Android Oreo (Go edition) comes with a new range of apps from Google designed to run faster while consuming less data. Optimised to be smooth and fast, these include Google Go – a web search app, Google Maps Go, YouTube Go and Google Assistant for Android (Go edition), to quickly send messages, make calls, set alarms and do more, simply by using voice.

With fewer pre-installed and much lighter apps on Android Oreo (Go edition), users get 2x more available storage out of the box compared with Android Nougat.

All Nokia smartphones come with no bloatware, skins, UI changes or unnecessary apps pre-loaded onto the Nokia 1 phone, giving them a pure Android experience. Android Oreo (Go edition) offers a smooth and responsive experience, while making sure the device gets the latest security updates and features, including Google Play Protect, which continuously works to keep the Nokia 1 device, data and apps safe.

 Available in Warm Red and Dark Blue, the Nokia 1 is available at mobile phone retailers across the country.

The post Nokia 1 smartphone arrives in Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The occasion is to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.

As part of this year’s celebrations, Citi Business News has been finding out the level of satisfaction among consumers within the telecom industry and how such concerns are being addressed.

This year’s celebration is on the theme, “Making digital market places fairer”.

Click to listen to full audio report.

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By: Citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Consumer Rights Day: Telecom users to ditch poor service providers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Chaalabi bemoaned the relatively minimal impact of Expresso as such, he believes the regulator needs to intervene to sanitise the industry.

His comments follow a formal notification by the NCA to Expresso, of the Authority’s intention to terminate its Mobile Cellular license.

“I think what the NCA has done is the right thing to do especially because they have defaulted since 2014. I think they gave them ample time to rectify the issues and I don’t think that even at that time they were in a position to change anything,” he told Citi Business News.

According to the NCA, the move is due to Expresso’s inability to meet its regulatory obligations.

Expresso, last month appealed for an extension of the timeline leading to a possible revocation of its license.

But Mr. Chaalabi maintains that the move taken by the NCA is commendable.

“In my professional opinion, there is no need to redeem themselves, I don’t think they have that influence in the Ghanaian market and I think that as investors, I will just close down and find some other avenue to invest,” he added.

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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Analyst backs revocation of Expresso’s license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The workers’ union of Expresso, tells Citi Business News, efforts to secure an investor should turnaround the fortunes of the company, soon.

The Minister of Communications Ursula Owusu Ekuful has served notice the National Communications Authority (NCA) will be compelled to revoke the company’s license if it fails to improve its operations within the time offered.

According to her, the exercise is to sanitise the telecommunication industry by giving value for money and providing cutting edge services to customers.

But the Deputy Women’s Organiser for the Communications Workers’ Union and herslef a worker of Expresso, Hildegard Ferguson Kraikue explains that revoking Expresso’s license will impact adversely on workers.

“What we are asking for is that at least NCA gives us some time between now and by the time of our license expiry and then they would know whether we have performed or not and then they can take a decision to renew or withdraw.”

Expresso has been saddled with a lot of challenges which have affected the telecommunication’s position in the market.

The development has equally led to unpaid salaries accumulating for at least four years now.

The local workers’ union believes that the revocation of the company’s license would adversely affect the payment of the accumulated salaries hence their call.

Meanwhile Hildegard Kraikue is optimistic that attempts to get an investor to revamp the company’s operations should turn around its fortunes and deepen the provision of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) services.

“We have had the consultant looking into our operations for about two years now and admittedly, it is not easy to get an investor for a company in the current situation that we are in,” she said.

Madam Kraikue added,“We have had several investors coming in but they realize that there is so much debt that they have to take on board and they are unwilling to pursue the move. It is not as if we haven’t done anything as a business.”

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Expresso appeals for more time over losing license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Persons close to the matter say the company’s confidence is premised on what it describes as the continuous engagement with the NCA to improve their services.

Minister for Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has stated that telecom companies; Expresso and Glo may lose their licenses if they fail to meet a 30 day ultimatum given by the ministry to answer questions on their poor operations.

This also comes after consistently operating below standards set by the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful further hinted that she is convinced the NCA will soon revoke the license of the two telecommunications companies.

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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Glo races against time to stop revocation of license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The latest victim is a 31-year old Mobile Money operator who was shot dead by some unknown assailants in the Afigya Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region.

Current figure show that mobile money agents increased from 136 thousand in 2016 to 194 thousand in 2017.

In this news desk report, Bobbie Osei explores the subject of security for mobile money vendors and the way forward in the following report.

Click to listen to full audio report.

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By: Bobbie Osei/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Mobile money attacks: Vendors appeal for protection appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Information available to Citi Business News indicates that the issue has led to tension between the workers and the management.

The agitated workers, most of whom are from Airtel, say the offers are in sharp contrast to what was agreed earlier by the Communications Ministry, management as well as workers following the merger.

The National Communications Authority (NCA), in September last year [2017], approved the merger between Tigo and Airtel.

The new entity assumes the second biggest telecom in terms of market share.

Meanwhile Citi Business News understands management has been meeting with the aggrieved workers over the issue and a solution is expected by next week.

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By: Citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Airtel Tigo workers up in arms over redundancy packages appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.