Takoradi, Nov. 3, GNA - The Elubo and Half Assini exchanges of the Ghana Telecom Company ere to get a 5,000 capacity switch to make communication easier, Mr. Oystein Bjorge, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company has announced.

The Western Region would get an additional 1,000 public payphones while 180 new cell sites would also be established for Mobile telephone services by 2004.

Mr. Bjorge who announced these at a Press Conference organised as part of his working visit to the Western Region said the existing "One Touch" mobile phone service, would include text messaging and other modern features before December 1, this year.

He said the existing cell sites would be increased from 80 to 180 nationwide, to enable more people to have access to the facility and ensure that services provided by the company, were satisfactory to customers.

The CEO said by 2004, the country could have between 350 and 400 cell sites if adequate lands were acquired for such purposes.

Mr. Bjorge said a 150 million dollars grant from the China, was meant to replace the obsolete equipment and replace them with digital ones. Mr. Robert Baffour-Awuah, Western Regional head of the company said the rampant theft of underground telephone cables, had reduced drastically following the improved security provided the various pits.

He said though the improvement in security had safeguarded the company's interests and reduced thefts, it had also increased the company's expenses each time there was the need to work on such pits.