MTN, Telecel prepare to battle for Ghana's 5G licences after billionaire Ambani deal ends

Ghana is preparing to open its 5G market to competition, with MTN Group and Telecel Group set to bid for new licences after the government moved to end the exclusive rights previously granted to a state-backed wholesale provider.

• Ghana is set to open its 5G market to competition, moving away from the previous exclusive licence model.
• MTN Group and Telecel Group are preparing to bid for 5G licences after the government revoked Next Gen Infraco's exclusive rights.
• The exclusive deal with Next Gen Infraco failed to meet rollout targets, with only 49 operational sites by March versus a 1,200-site goal by 2027.
• The government aims to accelerate 5G deployment, targeting 70% population coverage by March 2027 to catch up with regional leaders.

Ghana is preparing to open its 5G market to competition, with MTN Group and Telecel Group set to bid for new licences after the government moved to end the exclusive rights previously granted to a state-backed wholesale provider.

The planned auction, expected to begin within weeks, follows the government's decision to revoke the exclusive concession awarded to Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), which had partnered with Radisys Corp., a subsidiary of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries, to build Ghana's 5G infrastructure, according to Bloomberg.

Government ends exclusive model

The exclusive licence, originally scheduled to run until 2034, has come under scrutiny after NGIC struggled to meet rollout targets.

As of March, the company had deployed just 49 operational 5G sites, far below the government's target of 1,200 sites by 2027.

Communications Minister Sam George has argued that opening the market to competition will accelerate deployment and improve digital connectivity. Ghana now aims to expand 5G coverage to 70% of the population by March 2027 through a combination of wholesale and operator-led networks.

The previous administration had hoped NGIC would replicate the success of Jio Platforms, Reliance's telecom arm, which transformed India's mobile data market by dramatically lowering costs and expanding internet access.

Ghana seeks to catch regional rivals

Ghana's renewed 5G push comes as several African markets move ahead with commercial deployments.

According to GSMA Intelligence, Ghana could achieve 7% population coverage by the end of the year if commercial services launch soon. That compares with 22% in Nigeria, 38% in Kenya, and more than 60% in South Africa, highlighting how far the country trails regional leaders.

The rollout is expected to support digital services, fintech, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and enterprise connectivity as demand for faster mobile broadband continues to grow across Africa.

Competition takes centre stage

For operators, the auction represents more than access to new spectrum—it could reshape Ghana's telecom market.

MTN currently dominates the country's mobile data market, accounting for roughly 80% of subscribers, while Telecel, which acquired Vodafone Ghana, is seeking to strengthen its position.

Telecel Group CEO Moh Damush urged the government to prioritise competition over revenue generation.

"The government must ensure that the auction is not conducted on the basis of the highest bidder," he said, warning that doing so could reinforce MTN's market dominance instead of creating a more competitive telecom sector.