Ghana’s wholesale 4G and 5G operator, Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC) Limited, has officially commenced full commercial operations, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital development agenda.
NGIC has received formal confirmation from the National Communications Authority (NCA) that it has met all the requirements to begin commercial wholesale 4G and 5G operations under its license.
Following inspections and technical validation processes, the Authority confirmed that NGIC is cleared to proceed in accordance with its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure License. With this confirmation, Ghana’s shared 4G and 5G platform is now live in selected locations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and other key areas, with nationwide expansion expected to continue in phases.
Ghana adopted a wholesale-first infrastructure model aimed at coordinating national deployment while maintaining competition at the retail level.
Under this framework, NGIC is responsible for building and operating the shared 4G and 5G radio and core network infrastructure, while licensed Mobile Network Operators connect to the platform and provide retail services directly to consumers and businesses.
Commenting on the milestone, Chief Executive Officer of NGIC, Tenu Awoonor, said Ghana has now moved from planning to actual implementation of 5G infrastructure.
“Today, Ghana moves from 5G ambition to 5G execution. The shared backbone is commercially active and positioned to scale,” he stated.
He added that the model allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally while maintaining innovation and competition at the retail level.
Speaking on the operational transition, the Chief Operating Officer of NGIC, Nenyi George Andah, noted that the company’s immediate focus will now be on disciplined nationwide expansion.
“The backbone is active. The framework is clear. The responsibility now is execution — scaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner,” he explained.
He further indicated that separating wholesale infrastructure from retail service delivery was a strategic move designed to enable faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment.
The commercial activation comes as government pursues its target of achieving 70 percent 5G population coverage by Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary.
According to Awoonor, achieving this target requires strong alignment across the entire 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,” he said.
The NCA’s confirmation signals regulatory alignment and operational readiness for the new digital infrastructure. With services already live in parts of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, NGIC’s next phase will focus on expanding coverage nationwide in line with license obligations and national policy objectives.
Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa Mobile Networks at Nokia, also highlighted the importance of the partnership with NGIC in deploying Ghana’s first neutral-host shared 4G and 5G network.
He noted that the wholesale network model enables all mobile operators in Ghana to deliver high-speed data services to consumers while opening new service opportunities for enterprise clients.
“With a future-ready architecture supported by advanced security systems, the new shared mobile broadband network will support socio-economic growth and help bridge the digital divide in Ghana in the coming years,” he stated.
Nenyi George Andah also acknowledged the collaborative efforts that made the project possible.
“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,” he said.
He emphasised that delivering a shared national backbone requires strong coordination across the entire telecommunications value chain.
“Ghana’s 5G backbone is live. The priority now is to scale responsibly and deliver nationwide impact,” he concluded.
Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC) Limited is Ghana’s licensed Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure provider responsible for designing, deploying and operating the country’s shared 4G and 5G network platform. The company’s wholesale-first model enables licensed mobile network operators to deliver competitive retail services over a common national backbone.
NGIC remains focused on accelerating nationwide digital connectivity and supporting Ghana’s broader digital transformation goals toward Ghana @70.
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