The National Communications Authority (NCA) confirmed on March 4 that it had issued a Notice of Proposed Licence Amendment to NGIC pursuant to Section 14 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). The proposed amendment specifically targets the 5G exclusivity clause in NGIC's Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure Licence.
The NCA said the action is in the public interest, citing objectives including promoting competition and innovation in 5G services, enhancing consumer choice and service quality, accelerating nationwide digital transformation, and ensuring optimal and efficient use of spectrum as a national resource.
Under the statutory process, the amendment takes effect 90 days from the date of the notice, unless otherwise determined after consideration of any representations NGIC may submit within that period.
The regulator also disclosed that NGIC has installed 49 5G sites across the country, 43 in the Greater Accra Region and one each in the Ashanti, Western, Northern, Bono, and Central Regions. It further noted that NGIC is in default of its licence fee instalment payments and said it is addressing the matter in accordance with applicable licence conditions and statutory provisions.
The NCA's regulatory notice came just one day after NGIC publicly announced its commercial launch on March 3, adding an immediate complication to the company's operational debut. In its own announcement, NGIC said it had received NCA confirmation that it had satisfied requirements to commence commercial wholesale 4G/5G operations, with services now live in selected areas across Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale.
Nokia, NGIC's core network technology partner, described the deployment as Ghana's first neutral-host shared 4G/5G network. Mustapha Salah, Nokia's Head of Central West and East Africa for Mobile Networks, said the wholesale model would enable operators to bring high-speed data to consumers and unlock new enterprise service models.
NGIC's rollout is tied to a government target of achieving 70% 5G population density coverage by Ghana's 70th Independence Anniversary.
The NCA said it remains committed to "transparent, fair, and predictable regulation to ensure sustainable investment, competition, and growth in Ghana's communications sector."
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