The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) would upgrade its WIMAX networks to Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies, a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals, by the end of this year.

The move forms part of an agreement signed with Huawei Technologies to implement the second phase of the eGovernment network which is expected to witness the roll out of 30 more Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), bringing NITA’s total stations to 60 across the country.

This is contained in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday.

It said the upgrading would improve the catchment area of the eGovernment network, and “in addition, a secondary data centre in Kumasi, and some eServices including e-health and correspondence management system for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will be deployed during the second phase of the project."

The statement said by the deployment of LTE solution, NITA would provide 4G class data and voice services on the eGovernment network.

“This will enable government MDAs to have access to the latest technologies and improve upon doing government-to-government and government-to-citizens business,” it said.

The statement said NITA was committed to improve efficiency within government through the use of ICTs and to stimulate government-citizen interaction through eServices.

“NITA will complete deployment of all 11 pilot eServices which include online passport applications, drivers’ license renewal, birth and death registration, business registration and many more by the close of the year, and expand the scope to eService deployment to other MDAs,” it concluded as saying.

NITA was established by Act 771 in 2008 as a Government Agency to implement e-Government.

It is also the Information Technology and Communication (ICT) implementation aim of the Ministry of Communication tasked to regulate the provision, efficiency and high quality of ICT services.**