Ghana’s president launches Eastern corridor rural fibre optic backbone project

Alcatel-Lucent and NITA (National Information Technology Agency), the ICT policy arm of Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, have successful completed the Eastern corridor rural fibre optic backbone project which will open up communications across rural areas of Ghana.

John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana, was among the local and national dignitaries who attended a ceremony at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Ho, Volta region of the country.He gave an assurance that the government would spend judiciously to advance national development adding that the Government was investing heavily in information technology (IT).

Signed in 2012, the project is significantly expanding communication links between Ghana’s Coastal line and Northern Boundary to Burkina Faso. The optical backbone will also improve communications links for central and regional administration offices, in support of the national ‘e-Ghana’ Program initiative. The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) financed the project.

The Eastern corridor fibre optic backbone network – designed and deployed by Alcatel-Lucent- spans 775km, linking Ghana’s north and south as well as international submarine gateways via its eastern corridor. It serves major towns such as HO, Kpando, Jasikan, Nkwanta, Bimbila, Yendi, Tamale, Gushiegu and Bawku as well as 23 smaller communities.

Using Alcatel-Lucent’s agile optical networking based on the 1830 Photonic Service Switch with 100G technology, the network will enable new business efficiencies, providing high-speed data links between central government offices and remote regional locations. It will maintain quality and reliability telecommunications, email and Internet-based services, with the ability to expand to support e-services in health, education, justice, immigration, parliament and other sectors.

Alcatel-Lucent has also provided computing and storage infrastructure for two data centres including help desk infrastructure, a performance management and rating system and an e-Learning Management System. Alcatel-Lucent will continue to manage network operations for Ghana’s entire ‘e-government’ infrastructure until 2016.

William Tevie, Director General of NITA said: “The new eastern corridor optical backbone network will offer a great number of direct socio-economic benefits for the communities within the catchment areas of this project. It will, for example, attract new business, offer teaching and learning opportunities as well as telemedicine and new e-health services. It will help us to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban locations and create employment, allowing us to take an important step toward realising the vision of giving our people access to a range of critical services how and when they need them.”

Commenting at the ceremony, Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President, Alcatel-Lucent in Africa said: Through technology and innovation this project will help change the way people live, work and communicate, providing an important platform for sustainable growth and development. Alcatel-Lucent has long-standing expertise in IP transport and we are delighted to be a part of this project to support Ghana’s government initiative in continuously improving communications services for the country. The new network will be a catalyst for change to accelerate the development of rural areas in the country. Indeed every success has its network”

In addition to his Excellency Mr. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana; attendees at the ceremony included, Mr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Communications; Mrs. Margit Thomsen, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs. Helen Ntosu Regional Minister Volta Region, Mr. Issah Yahaya, Chief director of the Ministry of Communications; Prof Nii Quaynor Chairman of Board of Directors NITA, Mr. William Tevie, Director General of NITA; Mr. Solomon Richardson, Project Manager, NITA. as well Daniel Jaeger, vice president of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa; Alpin Verlet, Head of Alcatel-Lucent activities in West Africa; Ramy Hashem, Country Senior Officer in Ghana; Wolfgang Pfaff, General Project Manager Alcatel-Lucent and Mr. Jan Plenge, export director, Alcatel-Lucent Denmark; Steffen Lange, head of strategic industries, Alcatel-Lucent in Africa, as well as other high level members from government representatives, and regulatory and executives guests.