NCA and Telcos agree to supply more data to financial, utility service providers

Key organisations in the country will gain more data resources to enhance their effectiveness in spite of the present internet connectivity challenges.

In a statement on March 18, 2024, the National Communications Authority (NCA) announced that mobile network operators (MNOs) will reassess their operations and allocate more data resources to key stakeholders to improve their operations while working with subsea service providers to improve data connectivity.

“The objective of the meeting was to understand and find solutions to the peculiar challenges facing financial and public utility service providers regarding the impact of the current data connectivity disruptions affecting banking transactions and digital payments of utilities such as water and electricity,” the statement said.

“At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that due to the limited bandwidth currently available, MNOs would review their operations and consider the possibility of prioritising and allocating more data resources to the above-mentioned and other critical services while they work with the Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers to progressively improve internet data capacity,”  it added.

The NCA recommended financial and utility service providers, in the medium to long term, consider hosting critical services locally to ensure continuous service delivery in the event of a significant disruption, citing leveraged local internet exchanges such as GIX and AIX.

According to the statement, Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers and MNOs progressively continue to receive capacity from their international partners as they work towards the full restoration of data services, adding that the user experience will continue to improve as additional capacity becomes available.

Below is the list of institutions to be given priority:

i. Bank of Ghana (BoG)
ii. Ghana Association of Banks (GAB)
iii. Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS)
iv. Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE)
v. Central Securities Depository
vi. Ghana Water Company Limited
vii. Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)
viii. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
ix. Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers
x. Ghana Internet Exchange (GIX)
xi. Accra Internet Exchange (AIX)