Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) has invited eligible entities to apply for spectrum licences to establish, maintain and operate electronic communications networks for the provision of mobile broadband services, including 5G.
The licensing process is open to a broad range of industry players, including licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), Broadband Wireless Access Providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), as well as new entrants that are 100 percent Ghanaian-owned, provided they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA).
According to the regulator, the Request for Applications and the accompanying Selection and Award Procedure contain detailed information on the spectrum lots available, eligibility criteria, application requirements, rollout obligations and the evaluation process. The NCA said interested applicants can access the complete application documents through the link provided by the Authority as it seeks to expand mobile broadband connectivity and accelerate the deployment of next-generation 5G services across the country.
The announcement comes shortly after the NCA amended the wholesale 5G licence issued to Next Gen Infraco Limited (NGIC), removing the company’s exclusive rights to operate Ghana’s wholesale 5G infrastructure in a move aimed at fostering greater competition, investment and innovation in the country’s telecommunications sector.
Africa’s leading telecommunication operator, MTN Group, had recently indicated interest to bid for 5G licences in Ghana after the government ended the exclusive rights previously granted to Next-Gen InfraCo to build and operate the country’s wholesale 5G network, opening the market to wider competition. Citing the chief executive officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, and Group CEO of Telecel Group, Moh Damush, Bloomberg reported that the auction process was expected to begin within weeks.
The move is expected to allow MTN, Telecel, state-owned AT Ghana and other qualified operators to acquire licences and deploy their own 5G infrastructure, marking a significant shift in Ghana’s telecommunications policy.
Ghana adopted the wholesale 5G model to accelerate network rollout, reduce infrastructure duplication and lower the cost of deployment by allowing multiple service providers to use a single shared network. The country launched its first 5G network in March 2026 under the model, with NGIC leading deployment and Reliance Industries subsidiary Radisys providing the infrastructure.
NGIC was granted a 10-year licence in May 2024, but its exclusive concession has now been terminated eight years before its scheduled expiry in 2034. The decision follows repeated rollout delays that slowed the country’s 5G ambitions. Although commercial deployment was initially expected in June 2025, NGIC had completed only 16 of the required 50 sites across Accra and Kumasi. The government subsequently set a December 2025 deadline and warned that the agreement could be renegotiated if deployment targets were not met.
The policy shift aligns with Ghana’s objective of accelerating nationwide 5G adoption and achieving 70 per cent population coverage by 2027. Authorities also plan to auction spectrum in the 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands before the end of 2026 to encourage greater competition and investment.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultation earlier this year, Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said spectrum allocation would prioritise operators with credible deployment plans, particularly those capable of expanding connectivity to underserved and rural communities.
