• Ghana aims to reach 70% 5G population coverage by March 2027, though the service is not yet commercially available.

• The government has shifted from an exclusive wholesale model to a hybrid, competitive licensing approach.

• Repeated rollout delays have put pressure on infrastructure firm NGIC, which faces new deployment targets.

Ghana’s government plans to expand 5G coverage to 70% of the population by March 2027, even though the fifth-generation mobile service has yet to be commercially launched.

The target was announced on Wednesday by Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Minister Sam Nartey George during celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the National Communications Authority (NCA), the country’s telecom regulator. The goal is tied symbolically to Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary on March 6, 2027.

George acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that the objective must be achieved within roughly a year. He expressed confidence in the regulator’s capacity to deliver, saying the effort would require accelerated network deployment, infrastructure expansion and significant capital investment.

According to a 2022 Ericsson study, the base cost of deploying 5G in a country ranges between $3 billion and $8 billion, with an additional 20% to 35% needed to extend coverage nationwide.

A shift to a hybrid model

Ghana has decided to adopt a hybrid approach to 5G deployment and operation. The government has withdrawn the exclusivity previously granted to a single license holder and will instead allocate spectrum through a competitive national tender process, allowing telecom operators to deploy their own 5G networks.

The minister said the decision does not eliminate the existing wholesale model but adds options for market participants. Interested telecom operators will now be able to acquire licenses and spectrum directly.

Initially, Ghana had opted for a shared neutral network model rather than traditional spectrum auctions. Authorities argued that auctions risk concentrating deployment in Accra and a few major cities, potentially delaying rural access.

In May 2024, Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC), the neutral shared infrastructure company tasked with providing 5G capacity to operators, was launched and granted a 10-year exclusive license.

However, commercial 5G availability has been repeatedly postponed. The launch was first scheduled for September 2024, then December 2024, and later delayed to January, May and June 2025. A formal network launch event took place in November 2024, but services were not activated for subscribers.

Amid the delays, NGIC has been given a deadline of end-2025 to deploy at least 50 5G sites in Accra and Kumasi. As of July, only 16 sites had been completed, according to authorities. George said the ministry would review and potentially renegotiate the license terms if the target is not met.

When will 5G become available?

The timeline for commercial 5G access remains uncertain. In a recent interview with Joy FM, NCA Director General Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko said Ghanaians should gain access by the end of 2026.

He said NGIC has finalized network deployment at least in Accra and is preparing to connect telecom operators, enabling them to offer services to consumers. That step is considered essential before full commercial rollout can begin, following several missed deadlines.

Isaac K. Kassouwi