Jio’s arm Radisys and Tech Mahindra are working with Ghana’s Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC) to build the infrastructure needed to deliver affordable 5G mobile broadband services in the African country. Representational
| Photo Credit: KRISHNAN VV

Ghana has signed deals with a Reliance Jio subsidiary, Tech Mahindra, and other vendors to build 4G and 5G infrastructure as the African country aims to enhance its telecom capabilities.

Ghana’s state-backed Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC) has partnered with Jio’s arm Radisys, Tech Mahindra and Nokia to build the necessary infrastructure for delivering affordable 5G mobile broadband services.

India a ‘strategic choice’

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the West African country’s Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, told reporters in Mumbai that India was a “strategic choice” due to its similar demographics and Ghana wants to replicate the Indian story on telecom penetration.

“Your (India’s) demographics are just like us, the Jio model was rolled out just a few years ago, so the learnings are still fresh,” she added.

NGIC has been allocated 5G spectrum and local telcos will be utilising the shared infrastructure to roll out the services in the next six months. As per reports, the overall contract is over $200 million.

Ms. Owusu-Ekuful said Ghana is a part of the 33-nation Smart Africa alliance, and other countries in the continent will be closely watching the rollout to see whether they can also emulate the same locally.

When pointed out that Indian vendors have not executed such deals in the past and why Ghana chose them over the Chinese suppliers, she said, “It was a strategic choice for us. We don’t want to get caught up in any of the geopolitics that is currently going on. We want what is the best for our national interest.”

“Ghana wants to leverage India’s experience in the field,” she added.

Speaking on the deal, Radisys’ Chief Executive Arun Bhikshesvaran said, “Our communications platform and digital applications will help create new digital experiences that empower the Ghanaian community and foster sustainable and inclusive development.”

A statement said the lives of Ghanaians will be enhanced across various spheres including education, healthcare, and digital payments through the modern telecom network.

The Ghana’s minister said the country is looking at both the 4G and 5G networks, and also satellite connectivity to deepen its telecom penetration, and added that it is in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink for the latter.

Jio’s rival in the local market Bharti Airtel is one of the most prominent mobile network operators in the African continent.

Debt-laden telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd. has raised ₹18,000 crore.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Telecom operator Vodafone Idea’s (VIL) board has fixed the follow-on public offering (FPO) offer price at ₹11 per equity share, according to a regulatory filing.

The anchor investor offer price of ₹11 per equity share has also been greenlit by the board.

“… Following resolutions were also passed… determined and approved the offer price of ₹11 per equity share… approved the anchor investor offer price of ₹11 per equity share,” VIL informed.

Debt-laden telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd. has raised ₹18,000 crore pulling off India’s largest-ever FPO as the issue got subscribed nearly seven times after institutional investors poured in money, stock exchange data showed on April 22 evening.

The fundraise will arm VIL with an ammo to improve its competitive positioning in the Indian telecom market, where it trails Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, by a wide margin.

“Further to our letter dated 17 April 2024, intimating you about the meeting of the board of directors of the company to be held on 22 April 2024, in respect of the offer, we wish to inform you that the Board, at its meeting held today that is 22 April 2024 has approved and adopted the prospectus dated 22 April 2024 in connection with the offer,” VIL said.

The prospectus has been filed with the Registrar of Companies, Gujarat at Ahmedabad, and submitted to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited, it added.

Akash Ambani. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

“Telecom major Reliance Jio has deployed 85% 5G network in India and has the capability to deploy one 5G cell in every 10 seconds,” the company’s Chairman Akash Ambani said.

According to a statement released by broadband speed and quality measurement firm Ookla, the Reliance Jio chairman said the company has covered the entire country with a 5G network ahead of the promised time frame of December 2023.

Indians willing to pay a premium for elevated 5G experience

“I am particularly proud of our speed of the committed True 5G roll-out. Today, we have covered the entire country with a robust True 5G network ahead of our promised time frame of December 2023. Eighty five per cent of the entire 5G deployment in India is made by Jio. We continue to deploy one 5G cell every 10 seconds,” Mr. Ambani said.

According to the Department of Telecom, more than 3.38 lakh base stations for 5G have been deployed across the country.

“Over the past seven years, we’ve set several global benchmarks, propelling India into digital prominence. Today, our ambitions are even higher, and our faith in India’s digital future is as strong as ever. We remain fully committed to achieving the full potential of a digital India, and to help India become a leader on the global stage,” Mr. Ambani said.

Ookla on Sunday said Jio has emerged as the number one network in India, winning all nine Speedtest awards presented by Ookla for mobile networks in the market, including all awards for 5G networks.

“Jio has emerged as the #1 Network in India, winning all nine awards for Mobile Networks in the market, including all awards for 5G networks. This is a first for any service provider anywhere in the world,” Ookla said.

“Jio won awards for the best mobile network, fastest mobile network, best mobile coverage, top-rated mobile network, best mobile video experience, best mobile gaming experience, fastest 5G mobile network, best 5G mobile video experience, and best 5G mobile gaming experience,” Ookla said.

“We are pleased to recognise Jio’s efforts in providing the best customer experience in speed, video, and gaming to their customers. These awards and this recognition makes them the most awarded network in India, reaffirming Jio’s ambition to offer the best-in-class network to their consumers,” Ookla President and CEO Stephen Bye said.

Representational image
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Jio Infocomm, the telecom wing of Reliance Industries, is in talks to raise up to $2 billion in offshore loans, with BNP Paribas acting as lead arranger, to fund the purchase of 5G network gear from Ericsson, the Economic Times reported on Monday.

BNP Paribas will provide $1.9 billion-$2 billion over a nine-month period, during which the telecom company, led by Mukesh Ambani, will pay back Ericsson, BNP and some other banks, the newspaper said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The report neither mentioned the individual amounts that Jio will pay back to Ericsson, BNP and other entities in the loan deal nor clarified whether BNP was acting on behalf of a consortium.

The fundraise is through a discounted process, and the implicit interest rate will be arrived at over the nine-month period, the report said.

BNP Paribas and Jio Infocomm did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Swedish telecommunications firm Ericsson, in October last year said that its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) products and solutions will be deployed in Jio’s 5G rollout in India.

Jio had tied up with Swedish export credit agency EKN for a $2.2 billion funding to finance the equipment and services for the 5G plan, the Indian conglomerate said in its latest annual report.

“The $2.2 billion cover from EKN will likely reduce Jio’s overall 5G gear funding costs as global lenders and 5G equipment supplier involved in such a large deal will be more comfortable,” ET said, citing another source.

Jio has been in loan talks to help finance its 5G rollout, including reports of signing a deal with Nokia for $1.7 billion.

Unutilized Delhi:

Reliance Jio’s 5G services and products marks the fastest-ever rollout of this scale anyplace on the earth, and the corporate is “on track” to barricade all the nation with the extremely high-speed community by means of December this month, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani mentioned on Monday.

JioAirFiber might be introduced on Ganesh Chaturthi, September 19, Mr Ambani mentioned on the forty sixth AGM of Reliance Industries.

Jio buyer bottom has crossed 450 million. Its 5G community covers 96 in keeping with cent of cities and the corporate is heading in the right direction to barricade all the nation by means of December.

“Jio’s overall customer base has now crossed the milestone of 450 million subscribers, reflecting a year-on-year revenue growth of over 20 per cent,” he mentioned.

The per-user knowledge intake on Jio’s community has surged, with the common consumer now eating over 25 GB each and every moment.

Mr Ambani mentioned that Jio used to be introduced seven years in the past with a project to develop into Republic of India right into a Premier Virtual People, and added “we have invested our heart and soul into building a Digital Public Infrastructure which the entire world has begun to admire.” Jio has been the principle catalyst of Unutilized Republic of India’s impressive virtual transformation, he asserted.

“Now our ambitions are even higher — and they go beyond the shores of India, as I shall explain. Let’s first discuss Jio True 5G, our pioneering 5G broadband offering. We began our 5G rollout last October. In just nine months, Jio 5G is already present in over 96 per cent of the census towns of our country,” Mr Ambani mentioned.

Jio is heading in the right direction to barricade all the nation by means of December this month.

With over 50 million 5G shoppers, Jio is already eminent in 5G adoption in Republic of India, Mr Ambani mentioned.

“And we are the only company with the capacity to smoothly transition our entire 4G customer base to 5G, with minimal additional capital expenditure. With the growing adoption of Jio 5G, we are also seeing an increasing trend of high-ARPU, post-paid customers choosing Jio as their preferred network,” Mr Ambani mentioned.