Communications Minister Announces Government’s Plan to Launch 5G Services by Late 2024

The government has unveiled plans to launch 5G mobile broadband services in Ghana by late 2024 through a collaborative effort with seven industry leaders.

Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, and telecommunications companies AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana have come together to form the Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC).

NGIC, which has been granted a 5G license, aims to roll out 5G services across Ghana within the next six months, with future expansion plans for other parts of Africa.

As the first entity to build a nationwide 4G/5G network, NGIC will work with telcos to introduce affordable 4G/5G-enabled fixed wireless access (FWA) customer premises equipment (CPE) and smartphones in Ghana this year.

The partnership seeks to revolutionize digital services in education, healthcare, and digital payment transactions through peer-to-peer (P2P), peer-to-merchant (P2M), and merchant-to-merchant (M2M) systems.

This initiative is expected to bridge the digital gap and promote financial inclusion.

Furthermore, the collaboration will support NGIC in deploying comprehensive network infrastructure and related services. Communications service providers (CSPs) aim to cater to both enterprise and consumer markets with enhanced digital services.

Tech Mahindra will play a pivotal role in constructing a Cloud Native Core Network powered by leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) platforms.

NGIC plans to emulate India’s successful model of affordable handsets, digital platforms, and localized content and applications to establish high-speed mobile data services across Africa, starting with Ghana.

Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, emphasized the significance of creating a shared 5G Mobile Broadband Infrastructure to deliver affordable, high-speed data access to Ghanaians and to fulfill the country’s Digital Ghana vision.

“The creation of NGIC as a neutral, shared platform, accessible to all mobile network operators and tower companies, will help to expand 5G services rapidly across the country. We are inspired by India’s digital infrastructure and low-cost mobile data usage and keen to replicate it in Ghana,” she stated.