Ghana’s NGIC launches long-delayed wholesale 4G/5G network

Details: John Tanner; Category: Wireless Networks; 05 March 2026; 7527 views

Ghananian wholesale 4G and 5G operator Next Gen Infraco (NGIC) has finally commenced full commercial operations after several delays, although initial coverage is limited.

NGIC said on Tuesday its shared 4G/5G platform is now live in selected locations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and other key areas, with nationwide expansion progressing in phases.

NGIC said it went ahead with its commercial launch after receiving formal confirmation from the National Communications Authority (NCA) that it has satisfied the requirements to commence commercial wholesale 4G/5G operations under its license following inspections and technical validation processes.

NGIC CEO Tenu Awoonor said separating wholesale infrastructure from retail service delivery enables faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment. “This structure allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally while preserving innovation and competition at the retail layer.”

Awoonor also said that a wholesale model was necessary to meet the government’s objective of achieving 70% 5G population density coverage in Ghana by the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary in March 2027.

“Achieving 70% coverage within the Ghana @70 timeframe demands coordination and long-term discipline,” he said. “The shared architecture ensures investment is directed toward expanding reach rather than duplicating infrastructure.”

NGIC is a joint venture formed in May 2024 whose members include Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra and the Ghanian government, along with mobile network operators AT Ghana and Telecel. The NCA granted NGIC an exclusive ten-year license to deploy and operate a shared 5G infrastructure.

However, last month, according to news agency Ecofin, the NCA rescinded the licence’s exclusivity after NGIC repeatedly postponed its commercial launch, which was initially scheduled for June 2025.

That means telcos in Ghana are technically now able to acquire licenses and spectrum to deploy their own 5G networks independently of NGIC’s national shared network, although none have done so as yet.

Mustapha Salah, Nokia’s head of mobile networks for Central West and East Africa, added that the wholesale model enables mobile operators to bring 4G and 5G services to consumers and new 5G-based service models to the enterprise segment more easily and cost-effectively.

“With a future-ready architecture underpinned by advanced security, the new shared mobile broadband network will drive socio-economic growth and bridge the digital divide in the coming years in Ghana,” he said.