Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George has said the government wants to upgrade rural network infrastructure from 3G to 4G to reduce the digital divide between underserved communities and major cities.

He said the expansion of faster networks in urban areas, including preparations for 5G, could widen the gap if rural communities continued to depend on older technology.

“I believe that where we must go as a government is to then convert these networks from 3G to 4G so that people can have the real digital experience of what we’re doing,” he said.

“As we’re about to roll out 5G in our major cities, right now the divide is between 4G and 3G between our cities and these rural communities. If you move to 5G and you don’t step this up to 4G, you’re beginning to expand the digital gap between the underserved and the served areas,” he told reporters.

George explained that smaller network systems were necessary in communities where the population and expected revenue could not justify the cost of operating a conventional telecommunications mast.

He said major telecom operators were businesses and might not invest in such areas if the expected revenue could not cover operating costs. The government therefore uses support through the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to help extend connectivity to smaller communities.

He said the government had received assurances from President John Mahama and Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson that resources would be made available to sustain investment in rural telecommunications.

George also said the government was working with MTN on 800 new physical network sites.

He cited Zofi as one of the communities identified for a new site following consultations between the ministry, Members of Parliament and the telecommunications operator.

He expressed confidence that the Zofi site would be completed before the end of the year.