The recent award of Ghana’s 5G license to Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC), a government-backed shared infrastructure company, has raised eyebrows due to the notable absence of MTN, Ghana’s largest telecom provider. Launched on November 1, 2024, NGIC includes key players such as Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, AT Ghana, and Telecel Ghana, but not MTN.
The government has chosen a shared infrastructure model for the 5G rollout to reduce costs for telecom operators and extend coverage. This model allows network providers to access NGIC’s infrastructure rather than building individual networks. Although MTN is not part of NGIC, the infrastructure will be open to all operators, including MTN, which could choose to connect to the network.
MTN’s absence from the consortium could be attributed to its strategic priorities. As the leading telecom operator in Ghana, with an extensive customer base and network, MTN may have opted out to retain direct control over its infrastructure and 5G strategy. By not joining NGIC, MTN maintains operational autonomy, allowing the company to decide how it manages and rolls out its 5G services, at its own pace, without the influence of competitors within a consortium.
The decision not to join the consortium also allows MTN to continue leveraging its current 4G and fiber networks, while potentially developing its own 5G capabilities independently. Although NGIC offers a cost-effective and collaborative approach, MTN’s market position may encourage the company to prioritize a strategy that aligns more closely with its investment plans and customer needs.
While MTN is not a founding member of NGIC, the shared infrastructure is open for its use. MTN could still tap into the NGIC platform for specific regions or services while maintaining its own independent infrastructure elsewhere. This approach could provide MTN with the flexibility to balance cost savings with its desire to maintain competitive advantages.
Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, clarified that MTN’s exclusion from NGIC is not permanent. She emphasized that talks are ongoing to potentially integrate MTN into the platform, signaling the government’s intent to ensure an inclusive 5G deployment process.
