Two months after the launch of Ghana’s first 5G wholesale network, telecommunications operators in the country have yet to lease capacity from the infrastructure to provide commercial 5G services, sparking concerns about the network’s immediate impact.
The 5G infrastructure, developed by Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC), a public-private consortium, was inaugurated on November 1, 2024, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the then-Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
The rollout was celebrated as a transformative initiative to improve digital inclusivity and accelerate national development.
However, during a recent interview on TV3 (on January 3, 2024) Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful emphasised that the government has fulfilled its mandate and placed the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of telecom operators.
“People didn’t listen when we were launching it. It’s a wholesale infrastructure, we built it. It’s now up to the telecoms company to buy capacity from it and deliver it on to their subscribers. I’ve done my part. The rest of it is left to the telcos and the NGIC. I know I’ve delivered on my mandate,” she stated.
Revolutionary yet unused initiative
The NGIC network, which received a ten-year exclusive licence to deploy 4G and 5G infrastructure, launched with plans to cover Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi by the end of 2024 and achieve nationwide coverage by 2026. The wholesale network model is designed to reduce rollout costs for operators while ensuring rural inclusion through phased expansion and government subsidies for underserved areas.
During the launch event at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on November 1, 2024, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful described the project as a “revolutionary leap forward that promises to redefine connectivity, productivity, and overall quality of life.” She encouraged citizens to hold their service providers accountable for any delays in delivering 5G coverage in the initial rollout areas by December 2024.
“If you live in the initial 5G catchment areas and still cannot access 5G by December, kindly call out your network operator, because they have to make it available to you,” she urged.
Source: Kweku Zurek ( Graphic Online)
