For the launch of mobile technologies such as 5G, countries generally proceed by auctioning frequencies and the license that goes with them. Ghana believes that this approach slows down the rapid expansion of the service nationally.
The Ghanaian government on Monday, May 27 announced a public-private partnership with Ascend Digital, K-Net, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana to launch Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC). This is the neutral shared infrastructure company that will provide 5G to Ghanaian telecom operators and internet service providers. The entity has obtained a license and is expected to launch 5G services within the next six months.
In addition to building 5G infrastructure, NGIC will also work with MNO partners to launch affordable 4G and 5G-enabled wireless access equipment and smartphones during this year.
It was in August 2023 that Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitization, revealed that there would be no auction for 5G, but a neutral network shared by telecom operators. This strategy should ensure that 5G is fully and quickly available nationwide, even in rural areas. In several African countries where the 5G license has been awarded to telecom operators, there has always been a delay in the effective deployment of the network throughout the national territory. The service has always been mainly concentrated in one part of the capital and a few main secondary towns.
“ The creation of a shared 5G mobile broadband infrastructure is essential to providing affordable, high-speed data access to the people of Ghana and to help realize our vision of a Digital Ghana. The creation of the NGIC as a neutral and shared platform, accessible to all mobile network operators and tower companies, will enable the rapid expansion of 5G services across the country ,” said Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
The Ghanaian government plans to launch 5G from September. The advent of 5G should accelerate the digital transformation ambitions of the country which has made digital a major axis of its development policy. Ultra-high speed will facilitate the digitalization of public services, the dematerialization of payments, the automation of procedures, e-learning, e-government, 3D video, telemedicine, virtual reality and augmented reality, streaming, artificial intelligence…