Microsoft's 4Afrika Initiative to bring wireless internet to universities in Ghana

By Staff Writer

May 13, 2014 12:17 PM EDT

Microsoft made announcement at Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Global Summit in Accra, Ghana that it will  launch a new TV white space partnerships and projects in Africa and three other continents to provide lowcost wireless connectivity to students and faculty at universities in Koforidua, Ghana.

Microsoft is currently working with 10 countries in white space pilots. TV white space consist of the unused portions of wireless spectrum for television transmission. Microsoft together with commercial partners SpectraLink Wireless and research partners Facebook come in to provide a range of applications like low-cost connectivity. Other opportunities of connecting rural areas to broadband; improving inbuidling wireless network; creating hotspots for Internet access; and offloading mobile traffic surface. 

The announcement of Microsoft follows their ambition rooted in their 4Afrika Initiative to make the continent competitive across the global landscape.

The university benfectors of this engagement include All Nations University College and Koforidua Polytechnic.

The project obtained a licenced issued by Ghana National Communications Authority, the sole licence in West Africa issued, to operate the TV white space pilot.

Paul Garnett, Director in Microsoft's Technology Policy Group comments:"TV white spaces technology when combined with other low-cost wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, offers a substantial opportunity for businesses, consumers and governments around the world to improve the economics of broadband network deployment and service delivery." He continues to explain that:"Through these projects worldwide, we are working with local private and public sector partners to enable new consumer experiences, while encouraging governments to make needed legal and regulatory changes to allow this technology to be deployed more broadly."

John Sarpong, CEO of SpectraLink Wireless stated: "This project will provide substantial benefit to students and faculty at the universities."

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