The Ghanaian government is pivoting its high-speed internet strategy, moving away from a single-provider model to a competitive market.
Driving the news
Minister for Communication, Innovations, and Digital Technologies Sam Nartey George announced on Wednesday that Ghana will open its 5G spectrum to competitive bidding.
This ends the exclusivity currently held by Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), the nation’s sole shared neutral infrastructure provider for 4G and 5G.
Why it matters
The move signals a shift toward “democratizing” digital access. By allowing major telecom players to bid for their own spectrum, the government hopes to accelerate a nationwide rollout that has been bottlenecked by the single-licensee model.
What they’re saying
“The decision has been taken to remove the current exclusivity mandate… and offer spectrum resources to the market through a national competitive bidding process,” George stated during the National Communications Authority’s (NCA) 30th-anniversary launch.
Key distinction
The Minister clarified this isn’t a total scrap of the previous system. The move “provides multiple options for our market players” rather than canceling the existing wholesale model.
Between the lines
While NGIC was designed to lower entry barriers by providing shared infrastructure, industry giants likely pushed for direct control over their 5G destiny to ensure better service quality and competitive differentiation.
What’s next
The NCA is expected to receive formal directives within days, with the spectrum auction slated to begin in the coming weeks.
