Vodafone Ghana Working on $33 Million Network Upgrade:

Vodafone's Ghana subsidiary says that it is working on a major network upgrade that will see over 400 new base stations deployed across the country by the end of March 2014.

The network upgrade started last November, and is said to be costing some GH$55 million (US$33 million).

In addition to new base stations, the investment will also see upgrades to the core network.

The Chief Technology Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai said "We've made a conscious decision to invest not just in our brand and market, but to build a network that is reliable, sound and stable. We are going to make sure that we are consistently reliable, and provide the best service."

Vodafone Group owns 70% of the company, with the rest owned by the government.

Ethiopian Authorities Release Seized Huawei Equipment:

Ethiopian authorities have released US$13 million worth of network equipment that it had seized as part of a dispute over import taxes.

The Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority (ERCA) confiscated the 235 items of equipment last year following allegations that Huawei was not paying import taxes.

It has now secured an agreement where it will pay some of the disputed tax, as well as the custom's offices warehousing costs for storing the equipment.

The tax dispute did not stop Huawei recently being awarded a US$800 million network upgrade contract by the state-owned monopoly mobile network operator. There have been questions raised though as to why Huawei was apparently shipping equipment for the upgrade ahead of the contract being awarded.