Ghana 5G Spectrum Licensing: NCA Opens the Market

Ghana 5G Spectrum Licensing: NCA Ends NGIC Exclusivity and Opens the Wholesale Market

Ghana has moved its 5G rollout from a single operator, exclusive wholesale model to an open, competitive one. In two closely linked decisions, the National Communications Authority (NCA) removed Next Gen InfraCo Limited's (NGIC) exclusive right to operate the country's wholesale 5G infrastructure, and then invited eligible operators to bid for spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz mid bands.

For regulatory affairs teams, one point should be clear from the outset: both actions regulate operators and market structure, not equipment. They do not create a new device certification framework and they do not change the requirement that wireless and telecommunications equipment be type approved by the NCA before it enters the Ghanaian market. What they do change is the shape and size of the addressable market for 5G capable devices and that is where the manufacturer and importer interest lies.

The two decisions at a glance

1. NGIC's wholesale 5G exclusivity removed (effective 15 July 2026). The NCA amended NGIC's Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure (Telecommunications) Licence, deleting the single condition that made NGIC the sole permitted owner and operator of wholesale 5G infrastructure in Ghana.

2. A competitive Request for Applications (RFA) opened (published 16 July 2026). The NCA is now inviting eligible entities to apply for spectrum licences to build and operate networks for mobile broadband, including 5G, across three band groups.

Both steps point in the same direction: more operators, more infrastructure, and from a supply chain view broader and more sustained demand for equipment that supports Ghana's 5G band plan.

What changed: NGIC's wholesale exclusivity

The amendment is deliberately narrow. It removes only the exclusivity condition; the rest of NGIC's licence remains valid, and NGIC keeps all its other rights and obligations, including its existing spectrum assignment. In other words, this is an amendment to one licence condition, not the replacement of a regulatory framework, and NGIC continues to operate just no longer as the only wholesale provider.

The NCA grounded the decision in the public interest, citing Article 6.1.2 of NGIC's licence and Section 14 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), which empowers the regulator to amend licence conditions. The Authority also followed a documented due process sequence: a Notice of Proposed Amendment on 2 March 2026, a meeting with NGIC on 18 March, NGIC's Statement of Objections on 1 April, and oral representations before the NCA Governing Board on 28 May, after which the Authority concluded that removing exclusivity best served the market.

What changed: the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz Request for Applications

The RFA opens competitive access to three band groups for mobile broadband and 5G. The 3 GHz assignment is specifically the mid band segments 3300–3400 MHz and 3600–3650 MHz, not the entire 3 GHz range an important precision for anyone matching device RF profiles to the tender.

Eligible applicants include licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and 100% Ghanaian owned new entrants that meet the eligibility criteria. To limit concentration, the process applies lot caps, bars operators already holding 2.6 GHz spectrum from bidding in the 2.3 GHz band, and requires the operator designated as holding significant market power (SMP) to pay a premium on winning bids.

Band	Lots offered	Lot size	Notable conditions
700 MHz	3	2 × 10 MHz	Max 2 lots per applicant; SMP premium applies
2.3 GHz	5	20 MHz	Max 3 lots per applicant; 2.6 GHz holders barred
3 GHz mid band (3300–3400 / 3600–3650 MHz)	3	50 MHz	SMP premium applies

The NCA has set a combined minimum reserve value of approximately US$230 million across the bands, with a 40% premium applied to the SMP operator's winning bids in the 700 MHz and 3 GHz bands. The application window and licence term are noted in the timeline below (see editorial note for items still to be confirmed against the RFA text).

What Ghana 5G Spectrum Licensing Means for Manufacturers

This is the section that matters most for a compliance audience, because the headlines can be misleading if read as an equipment story.

Your direct obligation is unchanged. Neither the NGIC amendment nor the spectrum RFA alters Ghana's equipment authorisation regime. NCA Type Approval / Equipment Authorisation remains mandatory for radio and telecommunications equipment before it is imported, sold, or used in Ghana, under Section 3(n) of the NCA Act, 2008 (Act 769) and Sections 66 and 67 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). Importers and dealers still require the relevant Dealership Licence to import, sell, install or service type approved devices. Nothing in these two decisions removes, relaxes, or replaces those requirements.

Opening the market does not "de license" equipment. Assigning spectrum to more operators broadens who can deploy 5G; it does not exempt the devices used on those networks from approval. Equipment operating in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz or the 3300–3400 / 3600–3650 MHz segments must still be type approved against the applicable technical standards for Ghana.

The real impact is commercial and indirect but material. A competitive wholesale market plus new spectrum in three bands should translate into more network builds by more operators, and therefore stronger, more durable demand for infrastructure (base stations, RAN, fixed wireless access) and user devices (smartphones, CPE, routers, modules) that support Ghana's exact band plan. Manufacturers who confirm their portfolios cover these specific segments and hold current NCA approvals are best positioned as procurement accelerates.

Watch the band plan, not just the "5G" label. Because the 3 GHz assignment is confined to defined mid band segments, "5G capable" is not sufficient on its own. Devices should be verified to support the precise Ghanaian sub bands and to carry type approval scoped to them.

Certification impact summary

Dimension	Impact of these decisions	What it means for you
NCA Type Approval requirement	No change remains mandatory before import/sale/use	Existing approvals stay valid on their own terms; keep them current
Applicable equipment scope	No change to what needs approval	All radio/telecom devices still in scope
Relevant frequency bands	700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 3300–3400 / 3600–3650 MHz emphasised	Confirm device RF support and that approvals cover these segments
Dealership Licence (importers)	No change still required	Ensure your in-country importer/dealer holds a valid licence
Market opportunity	Expands more operators, more spectrum	Larger, longer addressable market for compliant 5G equipment
New obligations on manufacturers	None created by these two actions	Direct compliance pathway is unchanged

Timeline and required actions

Date	Event	Required / recommended action
2 Mar 2026	NCA issues Notice of Proposed Amendment to NGIC
15 Jul 2026	NGIC wholesale-5G exclusivity removed; competitive 5G effective	Note the market shift; expect more operator procurement
16 Jul 2026	RFA published for 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 3 GHz	Review the band plan against your product portfolio
~5–6 Aug 2026	Application deadline for the RFA	Track outcome to anticipate demand
Ongoing	NCA Type Approval / Equipment Authorisation	Confirm current approvals; file for any uncovered SKUs before demand peaks
Post-award	Winning operators begin/scale rollout	Ensure supply of type approved, band-matched equipment