Africa's first commercial service network utilising TV white spaces was launched in Ghana, a statement reveals.

The commercial service, a partnership between Spectra Wireless and the Microsoft 4Afrika initiative, allows students in Ghana to buy affordable, high speed internet bundles and devices.

Spectra Wireless is the first company in Africa to offer a consumer broadband internet access service leveraging TV white space technology, the statement notes.

"Research by the Wi-Fi Alliance in the United States has revealed that 90% of students view access to Wi-Fi as critical to their success," said Fernando de Sousa, general manager of Africa Initiatives at Microsoft.

De Sousa added, "...While the initial pilot project in Ghana offered wireless broadband to universities, this new commercial service allows students to have their own internet bundles, determine their own usage and purchase an internet-enabled device for anytime, anywhere access and enhanced productivity."

According to the statement the cheapest data package starts at two Ghana cedi per day and provides 24 hours of access.

"We are breaking away from the standard way of selling Internet services in Africa," Sam Darko, country leader of Spectra Wireless noted.

Darko said, "Everyone wants and needs access to the internet, but there are very few, if any, reliable, unlimited and affordable solutions for the masses. Our complete service for the tertiary education sector provides just that, and together with the application bundles and affordable devices we offer a complete technology upgrade to participating institutions. This service will transform education in Africa."

The ITU's ICT Facts revealed that Africa led in mobile-broadband growth with penetration in the continent reaching close to 20% in 2014, up from 2% in 2010.