MTN and Telecel Group to Compete for Ghana 5G Licenses After Government Revokes Exclusive Wholesale Deal

MTN Group Ltd. and Telecel Group are preparing to submit bids for 5G licenses in Ghana, signaling a major shift in the country's strategy for rolling out high-speed mobile connectivity. This development follows the Ghanaian government's decision to revoke the exclusive wholesale rights previously held by a state-backed provider, thereby opening the market to direct competition among established mobile network operators. The upcoming auction for the spectrum is expected to commence within the next few weeks, marking a pivotal moment for the nation's digital infrastructure development.

The policy reversal marks the end of a controversial concession previously granted to Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), a consortium that had been awarded exclusive rights to operate a wholesale 5G network until 2034. That original arrangement involved a partnership with Radisys Corp., a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd., which was tasked with providing the necessary infrastructure support. By terminating this exclusive deal, the government is moving away from a single-provider model in favor of a competitive landscape where private telcos can manage their own 5G deployments.

For MTN Ghana, the country's largest operator, and Telecel—which entered the Ghanaian market through its acquisition of Vodafone Ghana—securing 5G spectrum is essential for maintaining market relevance and meeting the burgeoning data demands of consumers. Industry experts suggest that a competitive bidding process will likely lead to more robust capital investment and a faster nationwide rollout of 5G services compared to the previous state-led infrastructure model. As the auction process begins, the focus will remain on how these telecommunications giants structure their bids to secure the future of high-speed internet in West Africa.