Managing the deployment of telecommunication towers in Ghana: an urban-integrated sustainable approach

Telecommunication plays a crucial role in the modern society, and its importance in Ghana’s rapid digital and economic transformation is very relevant. Ghana is however confronted with huge telecommunication towers doted in the skylines of its major cities with some towers mounted in homes and on roof top of structures. The objective of this research was to investigate the major challenges associated with the urban deployment of the towers and suggest sustainable approach to its deployment. Using quantitative descriptive design, data was collected from the three leading telecommunication companies in Ghana receiving a response rate of 77.6%. Analysis of responses showed that, land acquisition and use challenges, compliance with regulatory and statutory issues, community occupational health issues, neighbourhood challenges and urban planning regulations are the key factors that affect the deployment of towers in Ghana. The research postulates that the urban deployment of telecommunication towers would require an integrated and regulated planning approach that constrains environmental impact, diminishes land use, optimises existing urban infrastructure through co-location and the deployment of advanced technologies such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites, High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G in managing the growing urban demand for urban telecommunication.