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General News of Tuesday, 9 December 2003

Source: GNA

NCS may need US$300,000 to get up

Network Computer Systems (NCS), Ghana's premiere Internet and Information Technology Solutions provider on Monday said it would require more than 300,000 dollars to fully relocate its equipment at its old offices in the Ridge area of Accra.

??? Without stating the exact figures, an official of the company who claimed anonymity told the Ghana News Agency that "it is not easy to tell how much the disruption to our services would cost us. But if you look at the cost of installing a new satellite dish the size we currently have, a new mast and router equipment, we are talking in the region of over 300,000 dollars."

??? NCS top management officials who addressed a press conference in Accra on Monday said, "the company is more concerned about providing quick solutions to our loyal customers who require our services and facilities to carry on their daily operations."

??? The conference was to clarify recent disruptions to NCS operations due to a tussle over a tenancy agreement.

???? The company said it was very concerned about providing continued service to its customers and assured them that the current sticky situation would be resolved soon with minimal disruption of service. ???? NCS the first IT provider in Ghana has been in operation over the last 15 years currently has no physical access to its main premises in Ridge because the police have condoned off the place since November 26, this year.

???? It is operating from its customer service point at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre at La.

??? Mr Mike Baidoo, Acting Chief Executive of NCS said the development of the unresolved tenancy agreement was "a surprise to all of us as we did not expect issues to get this far."

??? Mr Baidoo said, "it was not as if NCS did not anticipate any of these problems, but that we did not expect our landlords to take matters this far. We were indeed surprised."

??? He said NCS was working with its partners to ensure that its service delivery was not disrupted during the transition to a new location on the Rangoon Avenue next to the National Communication Authority (NCA).

??? Mr Baidoo said a team of skilled technical personnel and customer service representatives have been stationed at the NCS Trade Fair offices to offer support.

??? He noted that NCS is negotiating with telecom providers to allow it re-route its international gateway traffic through their teleport at a minimal interruption in service.

?? "Dial up subscribers," he said, "have to make temporary modifications in mail configurations which will not affect sending or receiving of mails."