International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 54 Number 2 December 2017 MTN 4th Generation Long Terminal Evolution (4Lte), a New Technological Paradigm for Ghana‟s Economy Anibrika Bright Selorm Kodzo1,Gavua Komla Ebenezer2 ,Samuel Tawiah3,4Abaido K. Emmanuel 1Christ Apostolic University, College, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua Box KS 15112 Kumasi, Ghana 2Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Box KS 15112 Kumasi, Ghana 3Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua Box KF 981,Koforidua,Ghana 4Christ Apostolic University College, Kumasi, Box KS 15112 Kumasi, Ghana Abstract－ The advancement of wireless technology metamorphosis of Cellular Networks development especially with Mobile Radio Technologies have (Mobile Telecommunication or Telcos).MTN Ghana, revolutionized the way and manner communication the country’s largest telecommunication company has takes place, permeating all facets of human endeavor. recently upgraded its network to 4G LTE technology The proliferations of mobile devices and mobile thereby upgrading the country’s telecommunication applications have placed high demand on the infrastructure system and connection to the internet. bandwidth of cellular wireless networks. Despite its This paper therefore develops a historical perspective numerous challenges, cellular networks in Ghana are of MTN Ghana, from inception till date,technical and experiencing a new dawn of ultra-high-speed business operations and how it has transform the multimedia transmission with increased bandwidth telecommunication and business landscape of Ghana specially to serve as backbone for business and the future of the 4G Long Term Evolution applications and services that consume computing platform. resources and places demand on data communication networks. In Ghana however, the story is no different Keywords: MTN 4G, Technologies, Evolution, Telecommunication, Cellular Networks as government policies have changed the 1. INTRODUCTION The MTN (Mobile Telecommunication Network) in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of Group is one of Ghana‟s major telecommunication 30Th June, 2013, MTN recorded 201.5 million giants, formerly M-Cell, is a South Africa-based subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, multinational mobile telecommunications company, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d‟Ivoire, Cyprus, operating in many African countries, European and Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Asian countries. Its head office is in Johannesburg. As Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), of 30 September 2015, MTN recorded over 300 Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, million subscribers across its operations (MTN Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia (MTN Ghana,2017). The company sponsored the CAF Ghana,2017). MTN‟s brand is the most valuable in Champions League football competition as well as Africa, and is ranked in the top 100 brands worldwide. APOEL FC, winners of the Cypriot First Division in MTN‟s shares constitute the biggest primary listing on 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 and participants in the 2009– the JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange – Africa‟s 10 and 2011–12 UEFA Champions League (MTN largest stock exchange. In Ghana, MTN Group, was Ghana,2017) . On 18 March 2010, it was announced registered as Spacefon, with its post-paid package for that MTN signed a sponsorship deal with English Ghana‟s first GSM (Global System for Mobile football club Manchester United F.C. In March 2016, Communication) service in November 1996 (MTN MTN Group, LTD appointed Rob Shuter as Chief Group,2017) . First was the thrill that came with the Executive Officer. Launched in 1994, the MTN Group new service‟s Caller ID (Note that Caller ID is an is one of the leading telecommunication giants integral feature of GSM). Spacefon‟s service gained especially on the African continent and rest of the more and more popularity by the day(MTN world especially, connecting subscribers in 22 Ghana,2017). New features like Call Forwarding, Call countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Holding, International Roaming, Short Messaging MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange Service (SMS) was soon made available to the ISSN: 2231-5381 http://www.ijettjournal.org Page 64 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 54 Number 2 December 2017 increasing number of subscribers.The birth of MTN sharing of resources to achieve the following mutual Ghana can be traced to 1994 when a small company objectives: called Scancom Limited was registered in Ghana with I. To demonstrate MTN Ghana commitment to, and authorization to operate the Global System for Mobile support for community empowerment and Communications (GSM) system. After about two national development. years of preparation, Scancom commence operations II. To administer social investment programs as part under the trade name, Spacefon, launched GSM of the core business of MTN Ghana. services in November 1996 and began operating with III. To enhance the image of MTN as a responsible coverage areas around Accra and Tema(MTN corporate citizen. Ghana,2017). In 1997, coverage expanded to Kumasi IV. To develop a holistic Corporate Social and Obuasi, and two years later, in 1999, Takoradi, Responsibility (CSR) program as part of the Bibiani, Tarkwa and Cape Coast were added to the reputation management strategy for MTN Ghana. Spacefon coverage map. Scancom Ghana Limited V. To improve upon the MTN brand in all operating (Spacefon) Commenced its operations with a staff areas. strength of 20, including six Ghanaians(MTN VI. To foster network values among MTN Ghana Group,2017). In 1998, Spacefon launched its prepaid staff through a proactive Employee Volunteer service and christened it SNAP. It came with many of Association. the features of a digital mobile phone service, with the VII. To foster strategic partnership with other convenience of being prepaid[33]. It became more national/international partners and stakeholders. popular, especially amongst the youth population. The focus on expansion continued, with Scancom going through change of ownership and of trade names 2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK SPACEFON TO SPACEFON AREEBA TO AREEBA until MTN entered the scene in 2nd August 2007. MTN 2.1 Historical Perspective of the Wireless Ghana now has a staff capacity of 1, 919 employees, Communication Spectrum (1GHz - 4GHz LTE) out of which 685 are direct employees, 57 on contract From electromagnetic to digitization and IP routing and 1, 177 being third party contractors. GSM ,the technological world has witnessed massive evolution in Ghana, started essentially as way back as development dating back in 1864 when James Clark November 1996 with the launch of the first GSM Maxwell predicted the existence of radio waves with a (Global System for Mobile Communication) service simple experiments, again in 1886, Heinrich Rudolph by Scancom Limited under the brand name of Hertz also demonstrated the presence of radio waves Spacefon and became Spacefon Areeba and now to support the experiment conducted by J.M Clark. known as MTN(MTN Ghana,2017). The remaining Furthermore, in the era of 1895-1901, a famous chapters of the paper is organized as follows: The scientist and physicist named Guglielmo Marconi was chapter two is the Literature Review revealing the able to demonstrate the power of radio waves in technical history of telecommunications technologies , wireless communications over increasing and long from 1G to the current and latest technology called 4G distances (Chen, 2003). Also in the 1890s , the LTE and other similar technologies deployed in other following scientists Nikola Tesla, Alexander countries (MTN Ghana,2017). Chapter three which is Stepanovich Popov, Jagdish Chandra Bose and others, the Methodology focuses more the technological demonstrated various forms of wireless impact MTN telecommunication company have had on communications using radio waves (ITU-R,2007). The the Ghanaian economy till date, where chapter four era of early 1900‟s characterized the development of focus on the Results and Analysis and gives a broadcast radio, and later television (TV) transmission summary on the services provided by MTN till date systems. The World war 2 marked the advent of two- especially the unlimited opportunities introduced by way radio communication in MTN 4G LTE and the way forward for Ghana‟s closed networks especially defense. In the year of economy including Start-Ups and small-small scale 1972, witnessed NMT development to cater for businesses and the opportunities for E-businesses. telephony for nomadic populations in Scandinavian Chapter five ends the paper with Conclusion and countries (Chen, Yue, 2003).1982 , saw the of use of Acknowledgment. digital coding, modulation and communications systems emerging and In 2009, the first 4G LTE 1.1 The Aim of MTN Ghana super high-speed communication system for The main aim of the Foundation is to have a broad commercial networks in Scandinavia was launched community impacting and supporting national and (CELTIC/CP5-026,2009). international development priorities and projects (MTN Group, 2017). It facilitates partnership and ISSN: 2231-5381 http://www.ijettjournal.org Page 65 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 54 Number 2 December 2017 2.1Technological Advancement and Features Fig 2.0 : The birth of wireless communication TABLE 2.0: COMPARISON OF WIRELESS NETWORK EVOLUTION AND SPECTRUM Fig 2.1:US Bancorp Piper Jaffray &