Ghana to begin 5G spectrum assignment before end of 2026-Sam George

Ghana is expected to begin the assignment of additional 5G spectrum before the end of 2026 as part of government’s efforts to expand high-speed connectivity and improve the quality of mobile broadband services across the country.

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, disclosed this during the Government Accountability Series, where he outlined the government’s progress and plans for the communications and digital technology sector.

According to Mr George, the National Communications Authority (NCA) has undertaken significant reforms to Ghana’s 5G policy and is preparing to complete the spectrum assignment process before the end of the year.

He said the NCA Board, following comprehensive regulatory, economic and legal assessments, approved on July 15, 2026, the removal of the wholesale 5G exclusivity framework that had constrained competition in the high-speed mobile broadband market.

The Minister said requests for applications for spectrum in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands had been issued, paving the way for additional investment and competition in Ghana’s 5G market.

“Before the year closes, the NCA will complete the 5G spectrum assignment and begin the deployment of 5G,” Mr George stated.

He said the policy changes were aimed at creating a more competitive telecommunications environment while attracting the private capital required to expand digital infrastructure.

Mr George noted that the government could not achieve its digital transformation objectives without significant improvements in connectivity and network capacity.

He acknowledged that many Ghanaians continue to experience network congestion and coverage gaps, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities.

However, he said government was working with telecommunications operators to accelerate network expansion and upgrade existing infrastructure.

The Minister disclosed that MTN Ghana has committed more than US$1.1 billion over the next three years, including approximately US$380 million in 2026, to expand coverage, deploy new sites and support its 5G rollout.

He said MTN had planned 800 new cell sites for the year, with 180 already active and carrying traffic.

Telecel Ghana, he added, had also increased its capital investment by about 60 percent over the 2023–2026 period compared with the preceding four years.

Under its 2026 plan, Telecel is targeting 2,698 sites, of which 1,890 had already been completed and made 4G-compliant, according to the Minister.

Mr George said the expansion of 5G would complement ongoing efforts to modernise Ghana’s telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in areas where existing 2G and 3G networks are no longer adequate for the growing demand for digital services.

He explained that the increasing use of mobile money, digital banking, e-learning, telemedicine, e-commerce and other online services requires stronger and more reliable network infrastructure.

The Minister also identified fibre cuts and power disruptions as major challenges that could undermine the quality of network services, even as investment in new infrastructure increases.

He said the government was therefore pursuing a coordinated approach to network resilience, including a proposed “Dig Once” policy to protect fibre infrastructure during road construction.

Mr George said the policy would require road construction projects to make provision for dedicated fibre chambers alongside roads, reducing the risk of repeated damage to critical telecommunications infrastructure.

He further indicated that the NCA would strengthen quality-of-service guidelines and introduce measures to ensure that customers receive appropriate remediation where network operators fail to meet required service standards.

The Minister expressed confidence that the combination of regulatory reforms, increased private-sector investment and infrastructure protection measures would help Ghana build a more reliable and competitive digital economy.

He said the government remained committed to ensuring that the benefits of 5G and improved connectivity extend beyond major urban centres to communities across the country.