Accra, July 20, GNA- The Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Ghana Telecom) on Tuesday launched a new Internet project dubbed, the "Broadband4U" that would enable customers access some of the fastest Internet connections available.

The project, which would start operation in Accra from August and later to cover the entire country by the end of next year is to use the Asymmetric Digital Subscribers Line (ASDL) technology, which could deliver speed up to 40 times current dialup access.

At the launch, Mr Philip Sowah, Project Manager of the ADSL described the technology as the fastest growing technology for the deployment of high speed data communication in the world today that uses existing phone lines making it relatively easy, efficient and economical to deploy.

He said with the introduction of the ADSL, Ghana Telecom has moved from engineering focus to a market focus with the aim of providing new improved services to it customers.

Mr Sowah explained that the new product would target homes, business and schools and would allow students and employees to experience the full breadth and richness of the Internet.

He said with the product, "your access to the internet is always on 24 hours a day. When you click on your browser, your access is immediate without having to dial a phone number. You will be charged only one access fee regardless of how long you stay online".

He said an Internet security package including anti-virus software, firewall software and parental control software would be included in the broadband access to give customers the appropriate tools to fully enjoy the service.

Potential users and subscribers would pay 195 dollars, 295 dollars and 395 dollars for the broadband4U residential, school, and business and business plus respectively as installation fees. All charges are payable in cedis at prevailing exchange rate.

The Chief Executive Officer of GT, Mr Oystein Bjorge said the company has now moved from the monopoly it had enjoyed for the past years into the competitive business market and would collaborate with the National Communication Authority (NCA) to ensure that fair business play on the market.

"We welcome other competitors and partners into the market since we believe that healthy competition will create the most vibrant Internet services environment" Mr Bjorge said.

Mr Keli Gadzekpo, Vice President of the Databank Financial Services who launched the product expressed happiness about its arrival in Ghana but appealed to GT to speed up the extension of the facility to other parts of the country to enable customers to take advantage of it. He expressed the hope that Ghana Telecom would provide more lines to support the government's ICT programme and assist in the springing up of local businesses.

"This way the private sector will be in a position to employ more people and help minimize the current state of unemployment in the country and give hope to the young and up coming", he said. As part of the launch, a mobile Internet caf=E9 was out-doored to be put at the various GT exchanges for the public to access and be abreast with the new broadband project.