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Growth of telecom sector provides platform for innovative mobile applications

According to him, by the close of 2015, “statistics from the National Communications Authority (NCA) indicated that about 35 million telecom subscribers which represent a tele-density population of 129.63 percent.”

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“Mobile data subscribers as at December 2015 stood at 18 million which is 61.47 percent,” he added.

He made these comments at a digital family forum organised by the National Communications Authority to commemorate the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD).

He acknowledged that we are already experiencing some of the innovation and creativity that he talked about. He cited the Mobile Money platform, E-commerce, E-health and E-education.

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The event was held under the theme “ICT entrepreneurship for social impact” but the discussions centered on “Addressing Challenges of the Communications Industry to promote growth and Development – Focus on Domestic Roaming and OTT services.”

Omane Boamah, who delivered the keynote address noted that the event affords Ghana “the opportunity to take stock where we are as a country and how we can enhance and improve our relationship, services and products for the collective will of society.”

He emphasized government’s position to finding a better way to harness the use of OTT services and urged the media to support by conveying messages which have been released and to avoid colouring them for the purposes of boosting readership and listenership.

“The government is not and has not in any way considered a ban on OTT services. We believe that as an emerging trend, the regulator, together with the operators and consumers should find a middle ground which befits our peculiar situation.”

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The minister also used the opportunity to educate participants on government’s aim to consider the case for domestic roaming.

He said: “the service will enable mobile users to switch from one network to the other in the event of network failure. Furthermore, this will ultimately be of an advantage to the police and other security officers in the event of crisis and mass information.”

The event marks the anniversary of the signing of the first international Telegraph Convention in 1865 which led to the creation of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Mr. William Tevie, Director General of the NCA who presented the ITU’s Secretary General, Houlin Zhao’s message, welcomed all participants and called upon all stakeholders – governments, industry and technical experts to promote the role of small, young and innovative firms in the ICT sectors; encourage the spread of digital social innovation; prioritize economic policies which promote innovation; ensure the availability of necessary human capacity; support the establishment of comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem as well as assist entrepreneurs in moving from idea and innovation to sales and revenue.

“Let us all put our resources together to harness the catalytic role of ICTs in achieving sustainable development and delivering on economic growth, social inclusion and environmental balance,” he added.

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