5G Rollout in Ghana: Status and Prospects

Ghana stands at the cusp of the 5G revolution, albeit a bit later than some peers. As of mid-2025, a 5G network launch is imminent but not fully live.

The government opted for a unique approach: rather than auctioning spectrum directly to telecom operators, it established a neutral wholesaler, the Next Generation Infrastructure Company (NGIC), to deploy 5G and share capacity with all telcos. This model, announced in 2023, delayed the rollout timeline but aims to ensure broader coverage and affordability. In November 2024, NGIC reported readiness with an initial 16 5G-ready cell sites in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.

However, the full commercial launch was postponed from the original Dec 2024 target to January 2025, and then to June 2025 as a firm deadline set by the new Communications Minister. By April 2025, NGIC had its core network inspected by the regulator (NCA) and had promised to install 350 cell sites by June 2025 (50 of them 5G-capable) focusing on Accra and Kumasi in the first phase. In parallel, the major mobile operators – MTN Ghana, AirtelTigo (AT) Ghana, and Telecel Ghana – have been preparing their networks to utilize NGIC’s 5G capacity. All three are expected to offer retail 5G services once NGIC lights it up.

As of Q4 2024, no Ghanaian consumers had 5G service yet, and only about 28% of MTN’s ~29 million subscribers were even on 4G. This highlights a challenge: device readiness. Many Ghanaians still use 3G phones, especially on smaller networks like AT and Glo where 4G uptake is low. So while 5G infrastructure is finally rolling out in 2025, mass adoption will depend on affordable 5G smartphones and customer migration from 3G/4G.

Telco Readiness and Spectrum Allocation

Ghana’s telecom operators have had varied fortunes in preparing for 5G. MTN Ghana, the dominant player (over 60% market share), has been 5G-ready for some time – it conducted trials in 2019 and has upgraded many cell sites with 5G-capable equipment. However, a wrinkle in Ghana’s policy was that no individual operator was given 5G spectrum outright. Instead, the NCA held off auctions in favor of the shared network plan. To compensate, regulators moved to optimize current spectrum use: In April 2025, the government approved technology neutrality for MTN, allowing it to re-farm existing frequencies for 4G or 5G as needed. This means MTN can deploy 5G on some of its LTE bands in hotspots, supplementing NGIC’s wholesale network.

For Telecel Ghana – which acquired Vodafone Ghana’s operations in 2022 – the NCA has offered additional spectrum to improve its capacity. Telecel, now the second-largest operator, lagged in 4G but is racing to catch up. The extra spectrum (likely in mid-band) will help Telecel deliver better mobile broadband and eventually 5G on the NGIC infrastructure.

AT Ghana (AirtelTigo), partly state-owned after a 2021 takeover, has been the weakest in data network investment; majority of its 4.9 million users were still on 3G in 2024. AT will rely heavily on NGIC’s rollout since it likely lacks capital for independent 5G build. The regulator has encouraged AT to modernize, and the shared approach benefits it by lowering cost barriers. Regarding spectrum: Ghana has earmarked bands around 3.5 GHz for 5G. NGIC was effectively given a national license for these frequencies. It’s unclear if high mmWave bands (e.g. 26 GHz) are considered yet – probably not immediately, as initial focus is on broad coverage. The government’s choice not to auction spectrum avoided a bidding war and potential MTN monopoly of 5G spectrum given its resources, aligning with a policy to curb MTN’s dominance and ensure competition. That said, some industry watchers have criticized delays and questioned if NGIC can meet targets.

The Communications Minister, Hon. Sam George, issued a stern warning that if June 2025 deadline isn’t met, the model might be rethought (i.e. telcos might then get spectrum directly). This pressure seems to be accelerating progress. Already, NGIC boasts 16 active 5G sites and has partnerships with vendors like Huawei and Nokia for rapid deployment. The NCA is monitoring quality of service closely as the network comes online.

Infrastructure Challenges

Rolling out 5G in Ghana faces several challenges: Infrastructure investment is high – hundreds of new base stations and fiber backhaul upgrades are needed. The shared network model aims to pool resources, but NGIC itself needed financing. Reports indicate NGIC is backed by a consortium including Ghana Infrastructure Fund and some private investors; still, delays in securing equipment (supply chain issues from 2021-22) and initial organizational hiccups slowed progress.

Electricity and site prep are non-trivial: running 5G sites requires reliable power (to maintain uptime and high processing at towers). Ghana’s power instability (“dumsor”) could affect networks, so NGIC and telcos must invest in backup generators or batteries for each site, increasing rollout cost.

Coverage vs. capacity trade-off is another issue. Initial 5G will target dense urban areas (Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi) where demand for high-speed data and use cases like industrial IoT or HD streaming are concentrated. Rural coverage will lag; indeed, the plan is multi-phase with nationwide reach only by 2026. Getting 5G to villages depends on extending fiber or microwave backhaul and possibly using lower bands (if dynamic spectrum sharing with 4G).

The government has tasked the GIFEC (Universal Service Fund) to subsidize connectivity in underserved areas, including possibly 5G fixed wireless for remote schools/clinics. Another challenge is device and consumer readiness: as noted, currently only a fraction of Ghanaians own 5G-capable phones (mostly high-end imports). It may take 2-3 years for mid-range 5G phones (~$150 range) to proliferate in the market. Telcos might introduce device financing or trade-in programs to accelerate adoption once the network is live.

Regulatory coordination also needed ironing out – the Ministry, NCA, and NGIC had to align on technical standards and pricing. The NCA will ensure NGIC offers fair capacity leasing to all operators. One positive is that Ghana has robust fiber along the coasts and key cities (MTN and Vodafone laid significant fiber) which can be leveraged for 5G backhaul. However, extending that inland and ensuring redundancy is an ongoing project. Security is another consideration: 5G networks have complex supply chains; Ghana will need to heed cybersecurity (the Cyber Security Authority likely will set guidelines for 5G network security to prevent breaches or misuse).

Use Cases on the Horizon: What will 5G enable in Ghana?

A lot, potentially. The government and industry have touted that 5G’s speed (up to 1 Gbps) and ultra-low latency can drive innovation in multiple sectors. In healthcare, 5G could support telemedicine and even remote surgery (in the distant future). Imagine a specialist in Accra guiding a procedure in Tamale via high-definition video – 5G’s stable, real-time connectivity makes that feasible. More immediately, telemedicine vans or clinics could use 5G to stream diagnostics or access AI tools for faster diagnoses in rural areas. In education, 5G-enabled virtual classrooms and VR educational content become possible. Schools could leverage AR/VR for immersive learning if connectivity is sufficient. A student in Cape Coast might virtually explore a science lab or historical site through VR with no lag.

Industry and manufacturing stand to benefit via IoT and automation. Ghana’s budding factories (for instance in the automotive assembly or food processing under 1D1F) could implement smart sensors on machines that send real-time data to optimize operations. Low latency means machines on a factory floor can be monitored and controlled instantaneously – edging towards Industry 4.0 practices. Agriculture may see 5G drones and sensors monitoring crops and soil in real-time, enabling precision farming (though 5G coverage would need to extend to farm areas for that). The financial sector will use 5G for enhanced mobile banking experiences and possibly edge computing for faster transactions – though 4G already suffices for most mobile money, fintech players are exploring 5G for things like biometric authentication and data-heavy analytics.

Smart cities and transport: With 5G, Ghana’s cities can deploy smart traffic lights that adjust to real-time conditions, connected CCTV for security, and eventually elements of autonomous vehicles. For example, in Accra’s notoriously congested traffic, 5G could connect traffic cameras and sensors to an AI system that dynamically manages signal timing to reduce jams. The government has spoken of these possibilities: “5G…promises to redefine connectivity, productivity, and overall quality of life,” noted former Minister Ursula Owusu, citing that IoT, AI, and smart cities are “imminent realities ready to transform our ways of living and working”.

Another key use case is Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for home broadband. Many Ghanaian homes lack fiber or reliable broadband; 5G could deliver fiber-like speeds wirelessly. MTN has already tested home 5G routers. This could uplift businesses and remote workers – a graphic designer in Kumasi could upload huge files in seconds, or a family could stream 4K videos on multiple devices. Early 5G plans indeed target such FWA services in urban areas.

Global Comparisons

Ghana’s cautious approach means it lags early African adopters like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, which rolled out 5G in 2020-2022. By end of 2024, 21 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa had live 5G networks (34 networks total), and more were testing.

Nigeria’s MTN and Mafab launched 5G in 2022 and have expanded to dozens of cities. South Africa’s Rain, Vodacom, MTN cover major metros. Even smaller economies – Togo, Botswana, Mauritius – have limited 5G. Ghana is roughly 2-3 years behind that wave, meaning we have the advantage of learning from others. The shared model is somewhat unique (most others did spectrum auctions). If Ghana meets the new June 2025 launch goal, it will quickly need to play catch-up. Ericsson projects 5G adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa will be slow but steady – perhaps 20% of connections by 2030. Ghana could accelerate to that if it executes well, given our relatively high mobile penetration and tech-savvy youth.

Outlook

By late 2025, Ghana is likely to see its first commercial 5G offerings. We expect MTN and Telecel to roll out attractive data bundles for 5G users in Accra and Kumasi, targeting high-end customers first. AT Ghana will likely piggyback, possibly offering competitive pricing to gain market share. The immediate impact will be faster mobile broadband for those with devices – e.g., students can download large files or stream lectures with less buffering, businesses can hold ultra-clear video conferences. Government will probably pilot some 5G-enabled projects (perhaps a telemedicine pilot in Korle-Bu Hospital, or a smart security system for the Jubilee House).

By 2026-2027, with NGIC’s network build hitting nationwide targets, we might see significant coverage expansion: 5G along major highways, secondary cities, and some rural hotspots especially if coupled with Universal Service Fund projects. Affordable phones will proliferate by then (Chinese OEMs releasing $100 5G handsets), so adoption could jump. The telecom industry is optimistic that 5G will open new revenue streams – crucial as voice/SMS revenue declines. One concern is cost to consumer: will 5G data be priced at a premium? The government’s shared network model’s ethos is to keep it “within reach of ordinary Ghanaians”. Owusu-Ekuful had noted that since operators don’t bear heavy capital expenditure, they should pass savings to subscribers. We might therefore see 5G data priced similarly to 4G per MB, or only slightly higher, to encourage usage.

Prospects

Ghana’s 5G journey is a bit delayed and experimental in approach, but the prospects are exciting. If challenges are managed, 5G can greatly enhance connectivity for businesses, enable tech innovations (from fintech to e-health), and even help government digitization (imagine real-time census data collection via 5G devices, etc.). The global comparison shows we’re not first out the gate, but Ghana could leapfrog if the rollout is executed efficiently. By aligning policy (recent regulatory moves like MTN’s spectrum refarming show that alignment) and focusing on meaningful use cases (not just bragging rights of speed tests), Ghana’s 5G could be a game-changer for economic sectors. In a witty local perspective, one might say Ghana’s 5G train has been “meandering like a trotro in traffic, but it’s finally about to hit the highway.” When it does, we expect a surge of creativity and productivity riding on those ultra-fast waves.