Ghana Accelerates 5G Deployment with New Spectrum Award

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has awarded three spectrum lots in the 2.3 GHz band to Telecel Ghana, paving the way for commercial 5G services by December. This move follows the government’s decision to revoke exclusive rights previously held by Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC).

Spectrum Allocation Details

Telecel secured all three lots it applied for in the 2.3 GHz band, marking a significant expansion of its mobile broadband capacity. The final price paid was not disclosed, but the NCA had set a minimum bid of $10 million per lot.

Komla Buami, Telecel’s external affairs director, hailed the award as “a critical step toward commercial 5G deployment” that will strengthen network capacity and improve service quality across Ghana’s digital economy.

Background on Next Gen InfraCo

Next Gen InfraCo previously held exclusive rights to build a national 5G network but failed to meet deployment requirements, completing only 16 of the required 50 sites in Accra and Kumasi. This paved the way for Telecel’s acquisition of the spectrum.

Implications for Ghana’s Digital Landscape

With this new allocation, Ghana is aiming to achieve 70% 5G population coverage by 2027—the year the country celebrates its 70th anniversary. The move signifies a shift toward more competitive ownership in Ghana’s 5G market.

While MTN Group also bid for spectrum access, it remains unclear whether they have been granted licences at this time.