Wireless Networks

MTN and Telecel secure 5G licences in Ghana as wholesale model is dropped

MTN and Telecel secure 5G licences in Ghana as wholesale model is dropped

MTN Ghana and Telecel have bagged licences to provide 5G services in Ghana as the market enters a new era of 5G competition following the government’s decision to scrap the existing wholesale exclusivity deal.

The previous model granted 5G exclusivity to NGIC (Next-Gen Infrastructure Company), a joint venture between the Ghanaian government and several private partners, including Nokia, Reliance Industries’ Radisys, and Tech Mahindra, as well as local operators AT Ghana and Telecel.

This wholesale model aimed to replicated India’s ability to deliver low-cost data via infrastructure sharing, but the government revoked the concession well ahead of its 2034 expiry date, citing the need to speed up the deployment of high-speed connectivity in Ghana which has struggled under NGIC’s stewardship. At the time, MTN and Telecel confirmed their intent to bid on concessions.

Earlier this year, Ghana had just 49 active 5G sites – well short of the government’s target of 1200 by 2027. The hope is that more direct competition between providers will lead to swifter deployments, with operators able to leverage their existing infrastructure to begin offering 5G connectivity more swiftly.

Ghana’s National Communications Authority held bids on spectrum in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands, with MTN Ghana acquiring two blocks of 700MHz spectrum and three of 3GHz for around US$100 million per holding. Licences are valid for 15 years.

Telecel has confirmed that it plans to launch 5G this year, with CEO Moh Damush telling Bloomberg: “We plan to launch the service in December this year on our own network.”



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