Ghana Opens 5G Market as Government Scraps Wholesale Exclusivity
Ghana has taken a major step towards opening up its 5G market to greater competition and investment following the removal of the wholesale 5G exclusivity framework.
Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George said the reform was part of the government's efforts to address the country’s growing demand for high-speed mobile broadband.
Speaking during the Government’s Accountability Series, Mr George said the National Communications Authority (NCA) Board approved the removal of the exclusivity framework on July 15, 2026.
He said the decision followed comprehensive regulatory, economic and legal assessments of Ghana’s 5G market.
According to the minister, requests for applications for spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands had subsequently been issued.
The development, he said, would open the sector to new investments and promote greater competition in high-speed mobile broadband.
Mr George said the government was determined to ensure that Ghana’s digital infrastructure kept pace with the country’s rapid transition from a voice-driven telecommunications market to a data-driven economy.
He noted that the country had experienced a significant increase in smartphone adoption, with smartphone penetration rising from 27.5 per cent a decade ago to 71.8 per cent as of June 2026.
“That means that there's more demand as we have grown, but over the last 10 years, as demand has grown, the infrastructure has not been increased,” he said.
The minister said the government could not resolve the infrastructure deficit overnight but was implementing regulatory measures to attract private capital and accelerate network expansion.
He disclosed that MTN Ghana had committed more than US$1.1 billion over the next three years, including about US$380 million in 2026, towards network expansion, new sites and 5G deployment.
He said the company was also building 800 new cell sites, representing its highest annual site construction programme in a decade.
Mr George said the policy direction was intended to create a competitive telecommunications environment while ensuring that growing digital demand was matched with the necessary infrastructure.
He added that the government would continue to work with regulators and operators to expand connectivity and improve the quality of digital services nationwide.
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