Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Ghana, has disclosed that it has set aside US$144 million to expand the quality and reliable digital services to rural and peri-urban areas across Ghana.
According to officials, such expansion programmes will increase network capacity and improve data provision and network security.
Speaking at the 2018 Media and Stakeholder Engagement in Kumasi, Acting Corporate Services Executive at MTN Ghana, Samuel Koranteng said the company would roll out 695 kilometres of fibre optic cables and extend its 3G coverage up to 27 percent, roll out 239 4G cell sites and bring up 200 new locations in the rural area.
He indicated that the company is focusing on improved network availability, accessibility and retainability.
Fibre cuts
Mr Koranteng expressed worry over activities of cable and battery thefts across the country.
The development he said results in call drops and other interruptions the network suffers.
The activities of these unguided elements in the society have brought an additional cost to the operations of the company.
He explained that the company was collaborating with the security agencies to clamp down on such activities.
He, therefore, called on the media and the public to help the company with information anytime they notice unusual activities on their lines on the ground.
MTN fulfils tax obligations
He disclosed that the company has paid a total amount of GHS 1.218 billion to government of Ghana in 2017 through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC).
The payments included; GHS 1.059 billion to the GRA and GHS 159.4 Million to the NCA and the GIFEC.
Mobile Money Subscriber growth
MTN-Ghana in 2017 increased its subscriber base to 11.6 million for its Mobile Money (MoMo) transactions.
The company currently has 16 Partner Banks, 8.3 Million mobile wallets, 90,000 Active Agent points, paid GHS 98.9 Million Interest to subscribers from Jan 2016 to Dec 2017.
The company he noted, has also been collaborating with the Electronic Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service to mitigate fraud issues bedevilling the money transaction platform.
Social interventions
Mr Koranteng noted that the company would continue to roll out responses that will go a long way to improve lives of the individual Ghanaian.
He mentioned, for example, that; the company, in the last Ten years has invested 13 million dollars in about 142 projects it has carried out in the Ashanti Region.
He maintained that though the company through its foundation has helped in the health and educational sectors, it is rolling out further initiatives to better the lives of the needy in the society.
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By: Hafiz Tijani/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
