Ghana’s wholesale 4G and 5G operator, Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), has commenced full commercial operations, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital development agenda.
Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC) has received formal confirmation from the National Communications Authority (NCA) that it has satisfied the requirements to commence commercial wholesale 4G/5G operations under its licence. Following inspections and technical validation processes, the Authority confirmed that NGIC is cleared to proceed in accordance with its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure Licence. With that confirmation, Ghana’s shared 4G/5G platform is now live in selected locations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and other key areas, with nationwide expansion progressing in phases.
A structural shift in Ghana’s 5G framework
Ghana adopted a wholesale-first infrastructure model designed to coordinate national deployment while maintaining competition at the retail level.
Under this framework:
• NGIC builds and operates the shared 4G/5G radio and core network infrastructure.
• Licensed Mobile Network Operators connect to the platform and provide retail services directly to consumers and businesses.
Tenu Awoonor, Chief Executive Officer of NGIC, said: “Today, Ghana moves from 5G ambition to 5G execution. The shared backbone is commercially active and positioned to scale.
“This structure allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally while preserving innovation and competition at the retail layer.”
Speaking on the operational transition, Nenyi George Andah, Chief Operating Officer of NGIC, noted that the focus now shifts to disciplined expansion. “The backbone is active. The framework is clear. The responsibility now is execution – scaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
“Separating wholesale infrastructure from retail service delivery is a strategic decision. It enables faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment.”
The NCA’s confirmation signals regulatory alignment and operational readiness. With services now live in selected parts of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, NGIC’s next phase will focus on expanding nationwide in line with licence obligations and national policy objectives.
Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa, Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: “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.
“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.”
SOURCE : www.intelligentcio.com
