(Ecofin Agency) - The Ghanaian government has unveiled plans to deploy 4,400 telecommunications sites for 4G and 5G over the next three years, aiming to enhance the country's high-speed connectivity. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitalization, disclosed this initiative last week during a press conference in Accra.

These telecom sites will be built and deployed by Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC), the new neutral shared infrastructure company for 4G and future technologies. The rollout includes 3,200 4G telecom sites and 1,200 5G telecom sites.

Through this initiative, the Ghanaian government hopes to reach 37 million end customers by 2028 and increase the 4G penetration rate to at least 80%. "Despite launching 4G in Ghana 9 years ago, the current 4G penetration rate is 15%, with the majority of the population using 3G networks," said Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful. As for 5G, it is expected to be launched before the year ends.

The decision to opt for a shared neutral network for 5G, instead of auctions, stemmed from the observed delay in extending the 4G network across Ghana. This approach aims to ensure that high-speed internet is not solely concentrated in major cities at the expense of rural areas. Often neglected by telecom operators due to lower commercial potential, rural areas stand to benefit from this inclusive strategy.

As of the third quarter of 2023, Ghana had 22.29 million mobile internet subscribers with a penetration rate of 69.1%, according to data from the National Communications Authority (NCA). Moreover, there were 113,640 fixed internet subscribers and 1,420 wireless broadband subscribers in the country.