The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has dismissed allegations that the government intentionally excluded MTN from the Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC), Ghana’s newly formed 5G network consortium, due to concerns over the network’s market dominance.
Speaking on the matter, she emphasized that all telecom operators, including MTN, are being invited to take up equity in the shared infrastructure entity, with MTN expected to join the consortium soon.
The Minister clarified that Next Gen InfraCo is structured as an inclusive, shared infrastructure company, offering equity stakes to all network operators in Ghana. This approach aims to ensure broad participation across the telecom sector, allowing all providers to benefit from the consortium’s infrastructure while contributing to a national 5G rollout.
“All network operators in the country are being offered the opportunity to take up equity in this Next-Gen InfraCo, all of them, including MTN,” she added.
The shared network model is designed to avoid high infrastructure costs for individual operators, which is expected to make 5G services more affordable and accessible across Ghana. By pooling resources, the consortium can accelerate 5G deployment, particularly in underserved areas, without relying on each operator to build its network.
The Minister noted that MTN has been offered an opportunity to participate in the consortium and that discussions are underway for the company to come on board. This inclusion aims to foster collaboration across providers rather than consolidating the 5G network under a single entity.
