2. Introduction
• The truth is that convergence has opened
a wide array of opportunities to form new
business relationships and to compete.
• If technology has made media
convergence possible, regulatory and
structural change has/will make it "doable
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3. convergence in Ghana
• Convergence is creeping in steadily and
slowly
• Greatest impact of convergence felt in the
mobile telephony sector due to intense
competition both to attract and keep
customers
• Print and Broadcast Media organizations
using the internet as added/alternate
platforms
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4. Convergence in Ghana
• More online newspapers
• More and more use of SMS banking services
ranging from salary alerts to buying prepaid units
from the customers bank account bank account.
• More radio stations using the internet as second
broadcasting platform
• Mobile customers snap and send picture
messages, download latest ring tones, play mobile
games, send and receive voice, text and e-mails,
engage in instant chat with friends and basically
browse the Internet using their mobile phones.
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5. Regulation
• Separate regulators for each sector
• Media regulated by –National Media
Commission
• Telecommunication regulated by the
National Communication Authority
(Specifically, its functions include the
regulation of communications by wire,
cable, radio, television, satellite, and other
related technologies in Ghana.)
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6. • The Government of Ghana is committed to
promoting a technology-neutral legal and
regulatory framework that is responsive to
rapid changes in the global
communications industry in a competitive
society which also accommodates
converging markets. This is clearly stated
in the Ghana ICT4AD policy document.
• Duo play of fixed line providers which are
partially and fully government owned.
Government plans to sell majority share in
GT soon.
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7. Convergence Challenge -- VoIP
Official Position of the National Communication Authority
(NCA)
• 1. VoIP is allowed within the corporate VPN setting.
• 2. Licensed International Gateway operators are free to use
whatever technology they choose to terminate / originate their
international traffic in or out of the country (including VoIP
technology), within the right interconnection agreements with
other carriers.
• 3. ISPs, Internet Cafes are not allowed to terminate
international voice traffic on the national PSTN or any other
public telephone network, since their license is primarily for
data and not voice communications.
The NCA however realizes the blurring of the line between data
and voice traffic on IP networks, and as such is working on a
licensing and regulatory framework to enable qualified
operators (ISPs, Internet Cafes) to offer VoIP services to their
clients while contributing to the development of the access
network and telecom development in the country in general.
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8. Telecommunication act
• The new Ghana Telecommunications Bill met Stiff
Opposition at Stakeholders Forum. The reasons
assigned by stakeholders were that:
• -The Bill on Telecommunications it completely
neglected the trend towards convergence and shut
out the Internet community altogether though
convergence is a clearly stated objective of the
overriding Ghanaian ICT4AD policy and that this
should be reflected in the bill.
• - Board of the NCA as proposed had too much
powers and control over the work of the authority
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9. Finally
• There is some debate among stakeholders
in the area of convergence primarily fueled by
Government.
• The challenge is not of managing or regulating
communications convergence but of introducing
and maintaining healthy competition in a rapidly
converging communications environment.
• The Emphasis should be placed on more
collaboration of the two stakeholders and more
debate.
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