By Shina Badaru
Lagos. June 22, 2008. Nigeria’s second national operator, Globacom Limited has paid the $50.1 million licence fee for its subsidiary in Ghana, Glo Mobile Ghana Limited, to become the sixth mobile operator in the West African nation, the government has said.

Ghana’s telecoms regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA) says Globacom was selected among 11 bidders for the nation’s sixth mobile licence in line with set rules seeking to encourage competition and new players with, “with significant technical, operational capabilities and experiences.”

The announcement posted on NCA’s website Friday comes just as Globacom unveiled a plan to invest over $2billion in the Ghanaian telecoms market toward the rollout of its mobile service.

According to NCA, “pursuant to the National Communications Authority's announcement on the issuance of a 6th Mobile licence in Ghana dated 27th March, 2008 and its Selection and Award Process, the Board of Directors on the advice of Management, has completed the Process which has culminated in the award of the licence to Glo Mobile (GH) Ltd. for a consideration of US$ 50.1 Million.”

It adds further that, “As stated in the Selection and Award Process, the Authority's primary emphasis has been, and shall be the encouragement of market participants with significant technical, operational capabilities and experiences.”

Glo mobile was eventually selected when it emerged in the final round alongside Warid, a telecoms company based in Abu Dhabi.

Nine others companies that initially expressed interest in the licence include Afritel Communications Ltd, Awesomedia Ltd, BenchMac PR & Business Consult, Express Mobile Communications Ltd, Faith Telecom Ltd, Global Trade Imex Ltd and TechnoEdge Ghana Limited. Others include Teylium Telecom International and TransAtlantic Industries Ltd.

NCA says it is selling the following frequencies: 2x15 MHz: 1800 MHz as well as 2x5 MHz: 900MHz including any additional frequencies needed for network roll-out, “at the prevailing market prices.”

In a related development, Head of New Markets, Globacom, Yinka Olafimihan, Friday says the company is grateful to the Ghanaian government for the confidence reposed in the capability of Globacom to deliver telecoms services in the country.

Media reports quotes him as saying that when rolled out, Globacom’s local subsidiary, Glo mobile, will provide quality and efficient telecommunications services to Ghanaians.

Under the plan, an initial investment of $200million is planned in the first year of operation in Ghana while plans are already in top gear to deploy infrastructure and commence business after the regulator okayed the commencement of its telecom business.

It is also a renewed bid by Nigerian rivals for the sub-regional market as Glo Mobile will be competing for Ghana’s telecoms stakes with local rivals, MTN and Celtel, who are among the five mobile operators in the country. Others include Onetouch, Tigo and Kasapa.

Globacom recently rolled out mobile service in Benin Republic after it was awarded a mobile licence in the West African nation to propel its plan to explore market stakes beyond Nigeria where it commenced telecoms business in August 2003.