Leading Global ICT Company, Huawei has donated two hundred (200) Huawei smartphones to support the digitalization of some rural communities benefitting from the Ghana RuralStar project in a move to ensure that more Ghanaians at unserved and underserved communities in Ghana enjoy conveniences brought by communication.

The RuralStar project jointly developed by Huawei and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization (MOCD) seeks to bring connectivity to over 3.5 million Ghanaians at unserved and underserved communities in Ghana.

The project is also aimed at promoting digital inclusion in the country whiles bridging the digital divide gap to ensure that there is accessibility to network connectivity at rural communities.

In her remarks, the Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful thanked Huawei for actively partnering the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to ensure that no one is left behind in the digitalization drive. The Minister emphasized the need to improve the network infrastructure of the country to enhance network connectivity for both the underserved and unserved communities at remote areas.

So far, 748 sites have been completed, with 308 actively providing voice and data services to about half a million Ghanaians across the country. Recently, three communities; Apenamedi, Dantano and Anwiem have benefitted from the commissioning of new RuralStar sites in the Ahafo Region.

Huawei, in partnership with GIFEC, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization and MTN (GH) Ltd. rolled out Four Hundred (400) RuralStar Sites using the UMTS 900 technology between 2017 and 2019. These sites provide both data and voice connectivity with 3G coverage to over 1000 hitherto unserved communities across the country and serving over 1.2 million citizens.
Before the end of 2022, it is expected that 1,000 more RuralStar Sites will be constructed as part of the ongoing project.

The project is expected to increase substantially, the growth in the level of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy and help achieve 95% mobile telephone service coverage throughout Ghana.

As a responsible corporate organization, Huawei will continue to support the development of ICT infrastructure in Ghana by providing digital tools and solutions for unserved communities in the country as a means of giving back to the society in which it operates.