VoIP Workshop@GIMPA: Observations of an Eternal Optimist

The Key Issue
I think that the most encouraging aspect of the VoIP workshop for me, was the fact that some local Ghanaian ISP?s (Internet Service Providers) were willing to actually implement telecommunications networks in Ghana. Essentially what these particular ISP?s were saying was that they were not at the workshop simply to fight for access to the access network that the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) had invested in and installed, but that some of them were actually willing to invest in a telecommunications network of their own. This for me was the major victory of the workshop.

But even this major breakthrough is not the real issue. The real issue is the continued inter-action and brainstorming of all interested stakeholders. This is our key for success. So long as we continue to think together, we can hammer out win-win solutions to our mutual benefit and Mother Ghana as a whole.

Solving the Competition Conundrum
This breakthrough was particularly refreshing for me given the way that the Honourable Minister of Communications and Technology has been handling the telecom sector. There has been very little, if not negligible attention paid to creating vibrant competition in the telecom sector. Earlier on, in some of my wild and wonderful brainstorming sessions, friends convinced me that it was only a major PSTN who would be willing to invest in a network, particularly in the last mile. I am indeed happy that my friends and I have been proved wrong. As a subscriber, I have always maintained that a large part of our telecommunications and ICT (Information Communication and Technology) quality-of-service problems in this country spring from a lack of viable competition. But again, searching for a foreign company such as BT or AT&T etc did not seem to be very high on the agenda. The other alternative was to have local Ghanaian companies competing. These wild and wonderful brainstorming sessions were discussed almost a year or two ago. And so this new development is most welcome and refreshing indeed.

NCA. A help or a hinderance?
Indeed, a member of the NCA (National Communications Authority) even sanctioned the idea, suggesting that licenses be granted to such ISP?s and indeed any other Ghanaians who would so wish to build their own network. Unfortunately, however, the NCA has been perceived by many to actually be a stumbling block to the wheel of telecommunications progress in Ghana. The eternal optimist is asking this time, ?Will the NCA be able too tear itself away from its favourite position of being the watchdog of the foreign inbound traffic revenue, and see that local Ghanaians wanting to build their own networks in Ghana can only be a good thing and must be encouraged? ? and must be encouraged?? and must be encouraged?? and must be encouraged?? and must be encouraged??for the good of Ghana?

I believe that as much competition as possible must be encouraged. (DAQIANS 2-30-2 etc)

VoIP through the PSTN
There were some ISP?s that were fighting to use the PSTN network. On the surface of it the PSTN is congested and cannot take anymore traffic. However, there are some de-congestants such as DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology which in fact is already being applied. I think that what the ISP?s who want to have a case for using the incumbent?s system must be able to contribute to it?s decongestion by such technologies as DSL.

PSTN Congestion
One key component of the congestion is that telephone networks (all over the world), both wireline and wireless are having to deal with a huge amount of ever-growing unplanned-for internet traffic. This is causing serious problems for such networks.

DSL. The De-congestant
One key solution, where possible, is to apply DSL, both wireline and wireless to this problem. What DSL does essentially is to conduct internet traffic AWAY from the telephone network, thus freeing up the telephone network (both wireline and wireless) to focus on its function of telephony. Indeed some of the ISP?s are already applying this solution, and its effect is to de-congest the networks. However, DSL cannot be applied everywhere, that is why I said, ?where possible?.

Conclusion:Quality of Service is the Real Issue
At any rate, the quality of service issues must be dealt with decisively before adding any more traffic to networks (both wireline and wireless), which would further depreciate the quality of service. As was noted towards the end of the seminar, there really was not much focus on quality of service and this is really what the customer, including the eternal optimist craves for...

PS. the final session is today