MTN Ghana has announced plans to gradually phase out its 2G and 3G networks, but says the transition will be carefully managed to ensure customers are not left behind.
Speaking at the Digital Africa Summit in Accra, CEO Stephen Blewett said while 4G is now widely available across Ghana, many subscribers continue to rely on older-generation networks.
Some customers prefer 3G to better manage data consumption, while others use handsets that are not compatible with 4G.
“A lot of our customers are still operating on 3G. Even though 4G is widely available, some feel it uses more data, while others simply don’t own 4G-enabled devices,” Mr. Blewett explained.
He stressed that the eventual retirement of 2G and 3G networks must go hand-in-hand with efforts to expand access to affordable smartphones.
“If we push to shut down 2G and 3G without ensuring customers have affordable 4G devices, we risk leaving people behind,” he said.
MTN says it’s working with partners to scale up the availability of cost-effective devices while optimizing its spectrum use to support faster, more reliable 4G services.
The company noted that phasing out legacy networks is essential for improving service quality and preparing for future technologies such as 5G.
