From Buzz GSM to Tigo Ghana

Telecommunication networking in Ghana took a new dimension in the early 1990’s with the introduction of the Global System for Mobile )GMS) network. With this came the growth of many telecommunication networks which provided mouth-watering services to lure the masses into their fold.

Millicom Ghana Limited, a cellular network was the first mobile cellular network was incorporated in Sub-Saharan Africa in March, 1990. Provision of service commenced in April, 1992. Millicom International Cellular S.A. (MIC) is a leading global operator of cellular telephony services with several investments across the world. Millicom's portfolio of assets currently comprises 17 cellular operations and licenses in 16 countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa, covering a population under license of approximately 392 million people.

Millicom Ghana Limited - a subsidiary of MIC, best known by many in Ghana simply as "Mobitel/Buzz," is down in history as the first company to launch a mobile telecommunications network in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

In 2002 Millicom Ghana introduced its GSM service under the brand name Buzz GSM. Buzz GSM with its trendy lifestyle image offered very exciting services to its numerous clientele.

Mobitel has, over the years, been able to maintain a fast rate of subscriber and revenue growth and a very high quality of service, acclaimed by most users as being second to none. 

With the youth as their target audience, advances were made towards ‘catching them young’ as the mobile communication was just introduced into the country and was becoming a fashion of owning a mobile phone.

Buzz excelled in establishing itself as on of the juggernauts in the industry so much that mobile phones were called mobitels (another name by which buzz is known).

The country’s cellular market was moving a step further with the introduction of Millicom Ghana’s GSM service- BUZZ: ‘Now you are talking!’ being its motto became quite a popular go to phrase in Ghana, gradually increasing the popularity of the service. It brought to three, the number of GSM service providers, with Scancom Ghana (Spacefon) and Ghana Telecom (OneTouch) taking the lead. The entrance of Mobitel- BUZZ, to increased competition in the cellular market, improve quality of service and reduce cost.  

Being the first communication network in Ghana to introduce the analogue network in Ghana, its call clarity was best to none. Blazing the trail with internet accessibility of mobile networks, it increased its subscription of mobile users in Ghana as people could access internet services on the go.

As the ever improving technological took another leap of improving, Buzz upgraded its system from the analogue system to the digital system which meant the era of GSM was gradually ending and a new General packet radio service (GPRS) or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), which meant data could be received and sent via the internet at a faster rate. This was the introduction of the 2G network in Ghana.

As Buzz GSM’s efforts to provide a better service for its customers, it rebranded in to Tigo Ghana promising to give their customers improved services like:

- International roaming
- National coverage
- IDD at local rates
- Best tariff
- Internet
- Per Second billing
- Games
- Share Your Credit
- CRBT – Caller Ringback Tone
- Picture, Video & Sound Messaging

Tigo is still in operation in Ghana but is not as fierce a competitor as it used to be. It gradual decline is as a result of poor network reception and difficulty in internet accessibility which used to be its strength. Subscribers go days without internet service and once mighty Tigo can be said to be one of the poorest telecommunications network in Ghana.