GISPA urges immediate action to safeguard Ghana’s digital infrastructure

The Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA) has called for urgent steps to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure in order to prevent future internet disruptions. 

Speaking at the fourth Annual Ghana Internet Conference, GISPA President Michael Nfordzo emphasized the need for regulatory reforms and infrastructure improvements to support Ghana’s rapidly growing digital economy.

The conference, sponsored by Telecel Wholesale, was held under the theme “Empowering Ghana: Building a Resilient Local Internet Ecosystem for Business Growth and Continuity.”

In his remarks, Mr. Nfordzo highlighted the impact of recent internet disruptions caused by cable faults in undersea telecommunication cables, which affected several African countries, including Ghana.

On March 14, 2024, Ghana experienced widespread internet disruptions due to faults in commercial undersea telecommunication cables, resulting in partial internet blackouts that affected mobile network operators and data service providers. 

These disruptions, Mr. Nfordzo said, should act as a wake-up call to improve digital infrastructure and reduce dependency on international networks.

“The recent internet disruptions caused by faults in undersea cables highlight the vulnerability of our sector if critical investments are ignored,” he said. 

“Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of the Ghana Internet Exchange (GIX), we managed to keep local internet traffic within the country, reducing the overall impact. However, more needs to be done to strengthen our infrastructure to safeguard against future occurrences.”

The Ghana Internet Exchange (GIX), operated by GISPA, optimizes local internet traffic, reducing costs for users while improving the quality and resilience of services. 

Mr. Nfordzo mentioned the need for further collaboration among internet service providers (ISPs), government institutions, and key industries to build a more robust digital infrastructure.

The keynote speaker at the event, Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Scientific Director of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab at KNUST, also stressed the importance of a resilient local internet ecosystem for business growth. 

“A truly resilient ecosystem would have multiple redundancies and fail-safes, ensuring that even if international connections are compromised, local businesses can continue to operate with minimal interruption,” Prof. Kponyo noted.

A key topic of discussion at the conference was the affordability of internet services in Ghana. Stakeholders urged policymakers to prioritize regulations that support both affordable internet access and the development of resilient infrastructure. 

Affordable and reliable internet, they argued, is the backbone of Ghana’s modern economy and should be accessible to all, especially businesses.

The forum also explored the potential impact of emerging technologies such as Starlink on the local internet ecosystem. 

While innovations like Starlink offer exciting opportunities, stakeholders cautioned that these technologies should complement, not compete with, local ISPs to maintain a balanced and sustainable digital environment.

GISPA, a non-profit trade organization, advocates for policies that promote the growth of internet infrastructure in Ghana, enabling widespread access to reliable, high-quality communication services.