In a recent interview by the outgoing Minister of Communications and Digitisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, it was stated that the rollout of 5G services to consumers is “up to the telcos.”
What They’re Saying
“It’s a wholesale infrastructure. We [Government] built it, and it’s now up to the telecom companies to buy capacity and deliver it to their subscribers,” she said when asked about the status of the 5G network rollout.
Flashback
The former government administration announced the launch of 5G services in November 2024, with the services set to be rolled out in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.
It was announced that MTN, AT Ghana, and Telecel would roll out the services to their customers before the end of 2024.
Next-Gen Infra Co (NGIC) was given the exclusive right to offer 5G services in Ghana for a decade, though its license is valid for 15 years. The service would be delivered through the establishment of shared neutral 4G and 5G networks.
The Ghana government will own just under 10% of NGIC, while local mobile operators and private investors will retain the remaining shares in the firm.
Fast Forward
Ghanaian Telcos have yet to roll out 5G services to subscribers and with an incoming government administration, it’s unclear what will happen to the 5G shared infrastructure deal when a new Minister of Communication is announced.
