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Ghana’s wholesale 4G and 5G platform is finally gone live, setting the tone for commercial 5G operations as the licensed mobile network operators (MNOs) connect to provide direct 5G services to their consumers.
This comes after Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), the sole 5G wholesale operator in Ghana, got formal regulatory confirmation from the National Communications Authority (NCA) after satisfying the requirements to commence commercial wholesale 4G/5G operations under its licence.
After a series of rigorous inspections and technical validation processes, the
NCA wrote to NGIC, confirming that the company is cleared to proceed in accordance with its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure Licence.
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With that confirmation, Ghana’s shared
The 4G/5G platform is now live in selected locations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and other key areas, with nationwide expansion progressing in phases.
This marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital development agenda, as Ghana is the first African country and among few in the world to adopt a wholesale-first 5G architecture.
A Structural Shift in Ghana’s 5G Framework
Ghana adopted a wholesale-first infrastructure model designed to coordinate national deployment while maintaining competition at the retail level. Under this framework, NGIC’s mandate is to build and operate the shared 4G/5G radio and core network infrastructure, while licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like Telecel, MTN and AT Ghana connect to the platform and provide retail services directly to consumers and businesses.
Thus far, NGIC has deployed, tested and readied 50 4G/5G sites in parts of the country, with some 67 more sites ready for deployment this month. 233 more sites are also in the advanced planning stage, with deployment readiness by March ending, providing clear visibility on near-term expansion.
The company has also successfully completed 4G and 5G sites’ performance testing with AT Ghana, with Telecel 5G performance testing pending SIM provisioning at Telecel’s vendor level, which is external to NGIC.
Commenting on the milestone, Tenu Awoonor, Chief Executive Officer of NGIC, said: “Today,
Ghana moves from 5G ambition to 5G execution. The shared backbone is commercially active and positioned to scale.”
He added: “This structure allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally.
while preserving innovation and competition at the retail layer.”
Speaking on the operational transition, Nenyi George Andah, Chief Operating Officer of NGIC, noted that the focus now shifts to disciplined expansion, saying, “The backbone is active. The framework is clear. The responsibility now is execution and scaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner.”
He lauded the wholesale-first policy approach, saying that “Separating wholesale infrastructure from retail service delivery is a strategic decision. It enables faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment.”
Once commercial rollout starts at the individual operator level, the benefits for enterprise connectivity, SMEs, and fintechs, as well as for education, health delivery and even for individual consumers, are vast. This is about delivery value for businesses and the general public in a very big way.
70% coverage target requires coordination, not duplication.
Meanwhile, the commercial activation comes at a time when the government is pursuing a target of achieving 70% 5G population density coverage by Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary, which is next year, 2027.
The government’s target appears rather far-fetched, as the individual operator builds for commercial rollout, which appears rather slow. And experts say the target is even unrealistic without the necessary policy support.
But the sector minister, Sam George, has indicated that in addition to the wholesale-first approach, the NCA will soon be given a policy directive to open applications for standalone 5G licences to augment the wholesale network in a bid to achieve the 70% coverage by Ghana @70 target. In other words, the burden of the 70% coverage by March next year will not be entirely on NGIC alone.
In the light of that, Tenu Awoonor stated that meeting this objective requires alignment across the ecosystem and not necessarily duplication.
“Achieving 70% coverage within the Ghana @70 timeframe demands coordination and long-term discipline. The shared architecture ensures investment is directed toward expanding reach rather than duplicating infrastructure.”
He said the NCA’s confirmation signals regulatory alignment and operational readiness, adding that, with services now live in selected parts of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, NGIC’s next phase will focus on expanding nationwide in line with licence obligations and national policy objectives.
Speaking of coordination, Nenyi George Andah acknowledged the ecosystem effort behind the milestone, saying that “This progress reflects collaboration with the NCA, our core network parent Nokia, our anchor and connecting mobile network operators, tower and fibre infrastructure partners, and financing institutions.”
He said delivering a shared national backbone requires coordinated effort across the value chain, adding, ‘Ghana’s 5G backbone is live. The priority now is to scale responsibly and
deliver nationwide impact.”
Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa, Mobile Networks at Nokia, said that “Nokia is proud to partner with NGIC in Ghana as a technology partner to introduce the country’s first neutral-host (shared) 4G / 5G network.”
He further stated, “This wholesale network model, provided by NGIC, enables all mobile operators in Ghana with a smart and
prudent approach to bring high-speed data to consumers while bringing in new service models to the enterprise segment.”
Salah is confident that with a future-ready architecture underpinned by advanced security, the new shared mobile broadband network will drive socio-economic growth and bridge the digital divide in the coming years in Ghana.
About NGIC
Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC) Limited is Ghana’s licensed wholesale electronic
Communications infrastructure provider. The company designs, deploys and operates the country’s shared 4G/5G network platform. Its wholesale-first model enables licensed
mobile network operators to deliver competitive retail services over a common national backbone.
NGIC is focused on accelerating nationwide coverage and supporting Ghana’s digital
development objectives toward Ghana @70.
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