Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC) Limited has received formal clearance from the National Communications Authority (NCA) to commence full commercial operations as Ghana’s wholesale 4G and 5G infrastructure provider, the company announced today.
The approval follows a series of inspections and technical validations confirming that NGIC has satisfied all conditions under its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure License.
The network is now live in selected locations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and other key areas, with a phased nationwide expansion underway. The activation marks the operational launch of Ghana’s wholesale-first model, under which NGIC builds and operates the shared radio and core network while licensed mobile network operators connect to the platform to provide retail services.
The Chief Executive Officer of NGIC, Tenu Awoonor, in a statement copied to GraphicOnline described the development as a transition from planning to delivery. “Today, Ghana moves from 5G ambition to 5G execution. The shared backbone is commercially active and positioned to scale,” he said. “This structure allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally while preserving innovation and competition at the retail layer.”
The commercial launch aligns with the government’s target of achieving 70 percent 5G population density coverage by Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary.
Awoonor noted that meeting this objective would require sustained coordination across the telecommunications ecosystem. “Achieving 70 percent coverage within the Ghana @ 70 timeframe demands coordination and long-term discipline. The shared architecture ensures investment is directed toward expanding reach rather than duplicating infrastructure.”
The Chief Operating Officer of NGIC, Nenyi George Andah, said the company’s focus has now shifted to execution. “The backbone is active. The framework is clear. The responsibility now is execution—scaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner.” He added that the separation of wholesale infrastructure from retail service delivery was a deliberate policy choice. “It enables faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment.”
Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa, Mobile Networks at Nokia, confirmed the company’s role as technology partner for the project. “Nokia is proud to partner with NGIC in Ghana as a technology partner to introduce the country’s first neutral-host (shared) 4G/5G network,” he said. “This wholesale network model, provided by NGIC, enables all mobile operators in Ghana with a smart and prudent approach to bring high-speed data to consumers, while bringing in new service models to the enterprise segment. 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.”
Andah acknowledged the contributions of multiple stakeholders in reaching this stage. “This progress reflects collaboration with the National Communications Authority, our core network partner Nokia, our anchor and connecting mobile network operators, tower and fibre infrastructure partners, and financing institutions. Delivering a shared national backbone requires coordinated effort across the value chain.”
With services now live in parts of Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, NGIC’s next phase will focus on expanding nationwide in accordance with its licence obligations and national policy objectives. The company is licensed as Ghana’s wholesale electronic communications infrastructure provider, tasked with designing, deploying, and operating the country’s shared 4G/5G network platform. “Ghana’s 5G backbone is live. The priority now is to scale responsibly and deliver nationwide impact,” Andah concluded.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh