Mobile Internet In Ghana

by Oluniyi David Ajao
2007-03-05 09:30:45 | Viewed 10187 times

Mobile Internet technologies play a very important role, in making Internet services available to many, in Africa. The role of cellular networks in Africa's telecommunications industry cannot be over-emphasized. In fact, cellular networks dominate in Africa, as a result of the fact that the number of mobile phone subscriptions far exceed those of their fixed-line counterparts. To do this end, it is only expedient that we at Mobile Africa share useful information, about the various Internet service offerings by the cellular networks in every African country where a form of data/Internet access exists, over a cellular network. We are starting the Mobile Internet series, with Ghana in celebration of the west African nation's 50th Independence Anniversary celebration.

Overview

Mobile Internet in the context of the write-up refers to accessing the World Wide Web (WWW) via mobile devices - either by browsing on the mobile devices or using them as a modem with a laptop or desktop computer. Technologies that facilitate mobile internet access include: CSD, HSCSD, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA 1x 2000, UMTS [3G], iBurst™, WiMax and HSDPA.

The table below shows the mobile Internet technologies available in Ghana, and the companies utilizing them:

Technologies	Utilized by
GPRS and EDGE	Areeba, Tigo, Onetouch (all GSM networks)
CDMA2000 1x	Mobile2i (on Kasapa's CDMA network)
iBurst	Infinite Stream, AfricaOnline
WiMax	InternetGhana

Brief History

Real mobile internet was pioneered in Ghana, by the country's leading GSM network - Areeba. Areeba is operated in Ghana by Scancom Ghana Limited. The cellco in 2004, announced it was launching Africa's first EDGE network. It later “soft-launched” GPRS, in the last quarter of 2004 and launched the service commercially in 2005. Mobile Internet was made available for free, to subscribers who requested for the service, for over a year.

Hitherto, Tigo (a service of Milicom Ghana Limited) had been offering an SMS-driven information-on-demand service, which it inadvertently tagged "Mobile Internet". The re-branding of “Buzz GSM” to “Tigo” in the first quarter of 2005, came with the announcement that GPRS and MMS would be available on the new Tigo network, among other new services. Tigo's GPRS offering was later launched commercially, on April 3rd 2006.

Kasapa upgraded its network from AMPS (an old, analogue technology) to CDMA2000 1x (a digital, third-generation technology) in the second quarter of 2005. Though the high capacity and efficiency of CDMA allows voice, data and Internet traffic to be carried over its cellular network, Kasapa chose to maintain a focus on improving their coverage area and offering a low voice tariffs. This, according to the Managing Director of Kasapa Telecom - Mr Robert Palitz, "more clearly addresses the unmet needs in Ghana, though it's not interesting to gadget fans. We will consider partnering with people and companies who wish to offer advanced services on our network." Kasapa later partnered with NetAfrique to offer mobile internet access, which was branded “Mobile2i”.

Onetouch, the mobile telecommunication service of state-owned Ghana Telecom, launched its GPRS offering in November 2006 and made it available to its subscribers for free, till the end of November 2006. According to Onetouch, 15 cell sites in Accra (Ghana's capital city) had EDGE-capability and could offer mobile Internet at a much higher speed.

In Ghana today, a company known as Infinite Stream emerged, with the sole aim of offering mobile broadband Internet access while the traditional ISPs (Internet Service Providers) have also started using mobile technologies as a platform for offering Internet access. NetAfrique is using CDMA2000 1x, over Kasapa's CDMA network. AfricaOnline is utilizing iBurst technology (and so is Infinite Stream), while InternetGhana is utilizing WiMax.

For the companies utilizing iBurst technology, coverage is currently limited to selected areas of Accra. The companies have made known their determination to rapidly cover other parts of Accra, and extend connectivity to other major cities in Ghana, in the near future.

InternetGhana's Wimax network which is branded SkyBurst has a much larger coverage, when compared to the iBurst networks. According to the ISP's website, it currently covers Achimota, Apenkwa, Akweteman, Abeka, Tesano, Dzorwulu, Roman Ridge, Airport Residential Area, Kanda, Alajo, Accra New Town, Abossey Okai, Mataheko, Kokomlemle, Cantonments, Adabraka, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra Central, Osu, North Kaneshie, McCarthy Hills, Gbawe, Malam, Oblogo, Weija, Sompa, Aplaku, Menskrom, Dansoman, Kaneshie, South Odorkor, Sakaman, Darkoman, Legon, Madina, Ashaley Botwe, Adenta and surroundings, East Legon areas, Ofonkor Barrier, Pokuasi, Kasoa, Shai Hills all in the Accra metropolis, as well as Ashiaman, Batsonaa in Tema metropolis, and also KNUST, Kwadaso, Adum, Aburi & surroundings areas all in Kumasi.

Mobile Internet Access in Ghana, at a glance

It is important to note that the speeds listed below are mainly theoretical. Performance in real life situations are determined by various factors including line-of-sight, proximity to the nearest radio mast, number of people using the same base station at a particular time, speed of travel (if the user is in motion), as well as bandwidth available to the service provider.

Provider	Technology	Speed	Coverage	Pricing
				Set-up	Tariff
Areeba	GPRS & EDGE	80 to 170 kb/s	Nationwide; all major cities, towns & villages in all 10 regions of Ghana	｢ 50,000	Ranges from ｢ 500 to ｢ 1,989 per 100kb, depending on package. Flat monthly fee of ｢ 450,000 for post-paid subscribers
Tigo	GPRS	170 kb/s	Nationwide; all major cities, towns & villages in all 10 regions of Ghana	Free	｢ 900 per 100kb. Currently free for post-paid subscribers
Mobile2i (partners Kasapa)	CDMA2000 1x	384 kb/s	Major cities and towns in 8 regions of Ghana	｢ 2 million	｢ 24,000 per hour
Onetouch	GPRS	170 kb/s	Nationwide; all major cities, towns & villages in all 10 regions of Ghana	N/A	N/A
iBurst Ghana	iBurst	1024 kb/s	Parts of Accra	｢ 2 million	｢ 15,000 per hour + various per Mb packages
Africa Online	iBurst	128 to 256 kb/s	Parts of Accra	$195	$100 to $250 per month
InternetGhana	WiMax	2048 kb/s	Accra, Tema, Kumasi	｢ 1,650,00	｢ 750,000 per month

Service providers' websites

Areeba Ghana – www.areeba.com.gh
Tigo – www.tigo.com.gh
Onetouch – www.onetouch.com.gh
Mobile2i – www.mobile2i.com
Infinet – www.infinet.com.gh
iBurst Ghana – www.iburstghana.com
InternetGhana – www.internetghana.com

GPRS Configurations for Areeba and Tigo

Areeba GPRS activation

Mobile Internet (GPRS) is activated on a user's phone, after a payment of 50,000 cedis is made for service activation. Areeba requires that its subscribers visit any of its customer service centres, for payment and activation. They then manually enter the settings and configurations on the mobile device.

Areeba Ghana: GPRS Settings

Connection name: Areeba
Data bearer: GPRS
Internet access point name: internet.areeba.com.gh
Username/password: Leave empty
Authentication: Normal
Homepage: http://wap.mobileafrica.net

Tigo GPRS activation

Activation of GPRS for Tigo's subscribers is pretty straight-forward. A user is required to send "wap nokia 7250i" to 777, if the name of the phone is Nokia 7250i. Settings are then automatically sent to the user over-the-air, via SMS. The user has to accept and activate the settings. Alternatively, users can visit www.tigo.com.gh and request for activation of GPRS, through the website.

Tigo Ghana: GPRS settings

Connection name: Tigo
Data bearer: GPRS
Internet access point name: web.tigo.com.gh
Username/password: Leave empty
Authentication: Normal
Homepage: http://wap.mobileafrica.net

Depending on phone model, the APN might be wap.tigo.com.gh where the phone does not support full internet access.

Lastest Comments

market share of various networks
2007-09-13 10:53:59
"i write to make enquiry on the market share of arious telecomunication companies in GHANA to assist me arry out a project i am embarking on."
nana baffour from ghana

Re: Mobile Internet in Ghana
2007-03-09 05:06:52
"
Dear Sir,

I found your article very interesting and would like to share some ideas and points. In-fact, there are two driving forces of modern Internet and that is broadband and wireless.

Firstly let me comment on the WiMax standard which combines the two solutions, delivering high-speed broadband Internet access over a wireless connection. Because it can be used over relatively long distances, it is an effective "last mile" solution for delivering broadband to the home, and for creating wireless "hot spots" in places like airports, college campuses, and small communities.

Based on the IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard, WiMax delivers a point-to-multipoint architecture, making it an ideal method for carriers to deliver broadband to locations where wired connections would be difficult or costly. It may also provide a useful solution for delivering broadband to rural areas where high-speed lines have not yet become available. A WiMax connection can also be bridged or routed to a standard wired or wireless Local Area Network. But it is expensive and do not increase the ARPU of a Provider.

Secondly, talking about the iBurst, it unleashes the power of the Internet by providing true mobility at a cost and speed similar to many ADSL and cable offerings. Mobile broadband is different from portable wireless broadband, just as a mobile phone is different to a cordless phone. As far as I know, your cordless phone works in close proximity to your phone line, but if you move too far away, you'll lose your connection. Your mobile phone however, can move from cell to cell without dropping calls. Similarly, portable wireless broadband service only works if you stay within the cell coverage area, but if you want to move beyond that cell, then you need a true mobile broadband service, such as iBurst which finds you and follows you - freeing you to move seamlessly between cells, creating a truly mobile wireless broadband experience. To my knowledge it is a performance data only network, unlike 3G networks, it doesn't need to share its data traffic with mobile voice calls, resulting in high availability and quick call connects. I also do think before getting Started you need the following:

A modem

An account with an iBurst Service Provider.

Pricing:

The tariff or the traffic of pricing of 15,000 cedis per hour, 750,000 cedis, 600,000 cedis and $100 - $150 per month is too much. How many people can afford it? "The providers pricing mobile services and handsets as if they are caviar or champagne is counterproductive," and also as if they are luxury goods rather than a vital means of communications. In a developing country, an increase of 10 percentage points in mobile penetration will lift that country's annual economic growth rate by 1.2 percentage points, the study found. That represents a major uplift - if the proportion of people with a mobile phone in an economy, growing at 4% a year, rises from 10% to 20% that would boost the economic growth rate to 5.2% a year but not in Africa or Ghana which rather undermines the economy. Providers should recognise this and adjust their price politics to encourage, rather than constrain, mobile usage".

All the same, translating the talk into action is not easy. In addition, the benefits of high-tech gadgetry for the poor often are not evident. The question is how do you bring Internet access to remote villages in Ghana or Africa as a whole? And are people's lives going to improve once they can go online? Yes to this questions since there are phones with good applications like the one that Onetouch just launched by name OGO. Those phones are typically inexpensive and advanced, nearly mini-computers themselves."

OGO

Based on the same principles other mobile devices, it includes ease-of-use and affordability, the device is a mass market mobile pocket web device that delivers many of the most popular desktop and mobile applications, including instant messaging (IM), email, news, SMS, voice and Web browsing. For an improved email experience offers includes POP3 and IMAP email access, as well as attachment viewing. The device includes an RSS reader, facilitating access to the latest breaking news. The browser, supporting WAP and HTML browsing, optimizes Web pages for ease of display and navigation. The device also delivers mobile voice, via a Bluetooth or wired headset. For productivity and scheduling, the Ogo includes an easy-to-use calendar application.

The Ogo's applications and graphical user interface (GUI) can be tailored to address user experience and branding needs. For IM and email, it is the best and can fully interoperate with leading portals, as well as other communities. Below are the features and the highlights of the device:

Clamshell design with large, horizontal color screen

QWERTY keypad with 8-way navigation key and dedicated “hot keys” for easy navigation

Compact size: 114 mm X 25 mm (closed)

Special “hot keys” for simple navigation

Instant messaging (IM) on MSN Messenger, Yahoo or other IM communities

Email – dedicated support for MSN Hotmail; POP3 and IMAP email; attachment viewing; SSL support

Configuration wizard with preconfigured email setups

Text Messaging (SMS) – dedicated keyboard and full-size screen

One button display for all active messages and chats on one screen

Consolidated inbox – view all email and text messages in one mailbox, or sort by account

Web Browser – HTML and WAP

RSS – dedicated reader with configurable channels; great for breaking news

Calendar and Contacts

Synchronization of Calendar and Contacts via Bluetooth or USB cable (optional kit)

Games

Voice – via Bluetooth or wired headset

Moreover, "The Ogo and the services supporting it extend Internet accessibility to the wireless world. In essence, I believe that the service will make it possible for thousands of young people who currently use Cyber Cafes as their primary connectivity hub, to have access anywhere they go for an affordable price, while not compromising on the rich experience they are used to."

"We are very excited at the prospect of enabling the mobile masses in Ghana," "Especially in countries where the infrastructure or the cost of the personal computer limit the penetration of Internet accessibility, this end to end solution of onetouch GT is in many cases the only viable option for the end user." And the "Success of such solutions will however depend on the ease-of- implementation, ease-of-use, relevancy of applications, affordability and support," "In short, it is the device at the moment and has beaten all competitors as I see the combination of all of these aspects which I believe makes it the optimal Pocket Web solution for Ghana."

Finally, Onetouch has beating them all with such a device price of 2.5million and have all the access to browse as long as you can. A good job done!

Brian Buckson
Mobile Usability Manager

"
Brian Buckson from Ghana & Switzerland

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