On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Ghana achieved a major digital milestone as the country’s first shared 5G network officially commenced full commercial operations in selected cities.
The network is operated by Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC), which received formal clearance from the National Communications Authority (NCA) after satisfying all technical and regulatory requirements.
Phase 1: Live Locations
The 5G service is currently active in specific high-traffic urban areas, with plans for a phased nationwide expansion:
Accra: Selected locations across the capital are now live.
Kumasi: Core areas in the Ashanti regional capital have been activated.
Tamale: Key parts of the northern hub are included in the initial rollout.
Site Count: NGIC has deployed 49 operational 5G sites nationwide, with the majority currently located in Greater Accra.
The Wholesale Model
Unlike traditional mobile networks, Ghana is using a neutral-host (shared) model.
Wholesale Operator: NGIC builds and manages the shared 4G and 5G radio and core infrastructure.
Retail Providers: Licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like MTN, Telecel, and AT connect to this shared backbone to offer retail 5G services to their customers.
Goal: The government aims to achieve 70% 5G population density coverage by Ghana's 70th Independence Anniversary in March 2027.
Policy Shift: Scraping Exclusivity
In a surprise move on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, less than 24 hours after the launch, the NCA initiated a process to revoke NGIC’s 5G exclusivity.
Reasoning: The regulator cited "public interest," aiming to promote competition, enhance service quality, and stimulate innovation in the 5G space.
New Strategy: This shift signals a transition to a hybrid model, allowing other telecom operators to potentially deploy their own 5G infrastructure independently of the shared backbone.
Financial Dispute: The NCA also disclosed that NGIC is currently in default of its license fee installment payments.
Consumer Impact
- While the backbone is live, consumers may not see 5G icons on their phones immediately:
Telco Integration: No individual mobile operator has yet confirmed that they have fully connected to the NGIC network to offer commercial retail services as of today.
Timeline: The NCA Director General, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, has indicated that widespread consumer access to 5G services is expected to materialize by the end of 2026.
0 Comments