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Data prices won’t change – MTN


Ghana’s leading telecom operator MTN Ghana is assuring its subscribers that the cost of data and other services won’t change when it launches its 4G services.

With the introduction of a much improved and faster data service for Ghanaians, the company, which has the largest market share of telecom subscribers, says the current data rates will still apply.

MTN got its 4G 800MHz FDD spectrum license in December last year and promised a commercial launchof the spectrum in six months.

MTN bought the 2x10MHz spectrum with the 800MHz for US$67.5million and finished paying in January this year. The company has so far earmarked an additional US$18million to specifically deploy the service across the country.

Allaying fears of subscribers that they may pay more for the 4G LTE service, Ruben Opata, Head of Planning at MTN Ghana explained to Myjoyonline.com that nothing will change.

“Whatever you are paying today on MTN will not change. If today I do a download and I pay X cedis, if I do the same download on LTE I will pay X cedis, nothing changes,” he assured.

Mr Opata stressed that, “Whatever service you have today, be it SMS, be it voice calls, be it data, the amount that we charge you on MTN today will still be the same amount on 4G LTE, nothing changes.”

He noted that rather, subscribers “will do a lot more on LTE. Today if it takes me one hour to download a movie, I’m going to use less than three minutes to download the same movie on LTE. What it means is that I’ve got 57 minutes available that I’m not using now.”

The Head of Planning at MTN Ghana opined that 4G LTE has huge advantages to the subscribers over 3G. In some cases, 3G runs at 2,000kmps while 4G will go at 100,000kmps. This means faster internet speed and download.

4G LTE also provides room for content on demand and in light of that, MTN is embarking on a campaign to provide rich content on demand for subscribers.

“Recently there was a group of people that was awarded for app development for MTN. 4G brings innovative services and in that regard the innovation hub that we have within MTN comes out with products and services which are rich in content,” Mr Opata said.

MTN Ghana has so far deployed 4G cell sites and other infrastructure in at least four regions ahead of the commercial launch in June this year.

The telecoms giant has deployed 27 4G cell sites in Greater Accra, 23 in Kumasi, eight in Sekondi/Takoradi, nine in the mines area (Tarkwa and Obuasi), and one each in Koforidua and the Ashesi University.

Subscribes will be invited for a sim swap to enjoy the 4G service, the Head of Planning at MTN Ghana revealed.

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