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Two months after the launch of Ghana’s first 5G wholesale network, telecommunications operators are yet to lease capacity from the infrastructure to provide commercial 5G services, raising concerns about the project’s immediate impact.
The state-of-the-art 5G infrastructure, developed by the public-private consortium Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC), was inaugurated on November 1, 2024, as a landmark initiative to boost digital inclusivity and accelerate development. However, the anticipated rollout to consumers in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi by December 2024 has yet to materialise.
Former Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, emphasised in a recent TV3 interview that the government’s role in the 5G rollout was complete.
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“It’s a wholesale infrastructure; we built it. It’s now up to the telecom companies to buy capacity from it and deliver it to their subscribers. I’ve done my part. The rest is left to the telcos and the NGIC,” she stated.
The NGIC network operates on a wholesale model, designed to reduce costs for telecom operators and ensure rural inclusion through phased expansion. While the infrastructure currently covers Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, with nationwide coverage targeted by 2026, operators have yet to adopt the network to provide services to their customers.
The hesitation has sparked frustration among citizens who were promised transformative digital connectivity. During the launch event, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful urged Ghanaians to hold service providers accountable for delays.
“If you live in the initial 5G catchment areas and still cannot access 5G by December, kindly call out your network operator,” she said.
Despite the potential of 5G to revolutionise connectivity and productivity in Ghana, the lack of telco participation underscores the challenges of implementing a wholesale model in a competitive telecom market. As NGIC seeks to attract operators, questions remain about when consumers will experience the promised benefits of the 5G network.
