Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) and Togo’s posts and telecommunications authority (Autorité de régulation des télécommunications et des postes-Artp) have been holding since February 7, 2019, a bilateral meeting for frequency coordination at their borders. The two regulators are deliberating on a framework surrounding the use of the radio spectrum at the stretch of land separating the two territories to avoid interferences that create various inconveniences, accidental roamings that increase the population’s phone bill.

Henry Kanor, NCA’s technical operations manager, explained that it is essential for the two countries to tend to the issue to guarantee quality service to the population and avoid the jamming of administrative and security forces’ communication.  

During the 2-day meeting, the regulators want to find an amicable durable solution to tend to the issue that still persists and is affecting both countries’ economic interests despite many meetings in the past.

With the accidental roaming, the signal of telecom operators’ clients accidentally captures the network of foreign operators. This affects their revenues and, by proxy, their investments in the country; a decrease of their turnover affecting the fiscal revenues collected by government.