3.5G network implemented in Ghana

Ericsson and Zain partner for communications initiative

Ericsson and Zain have deployed mobile communications services to fight poverty in the Amansie-West district of the Ashanti region of Ghana.

The Bonsaaso cluster of Millennium Villages consists of 6 distinct villages namely; Bonsaaso, Watreso, Datano, Keniago, Takorase and Asamang, with an estimated population of 5,000 residents per village.

Chris Gabriel, CEO Zain Africa says the company is collaborating with Ericsson to provide communications solutions that will help to improve the quality of life for people in Ghana.

“The concept of the Millennium Villages Project reflects the Zain core value belonging.  The introduction of the latest 3.5G mobile networks to these villages will empower the residents to climb out of the poverty trap and create a sense of belonging by enabling them to connect with each other and the rest of world by phone and using ultra fast internet connections.”

Says Lars Lindén, President of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, “Together with Zain, we have developed a comprehensive and end-to-end communication solution by providing state –of- the art 3.5G mobile communications and Internet access for these clusters. This includes not just the underlying infrastructure, but mobile applications that will enable access to health, education, information on weather and agriculture, and in general improve livelihoods, while at the same time support the achievement of the MDGs.”

The establishment of a 3.5G network in the clusters also provides farmers with the opportunity to access information about availability of goods and pricing from vendors without having to travel – mitigating risk and diversifying outputs while increasing income.