Ghana’s wholesale 4G and 5G operator Next Gen Infraco (NGIC)has commenced full commercial operations, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital development agenda.

NGIC has received formal confirmation from the National Communications Authority (NCA) that it has satisfied the requirements to commence commercial wholesale 4G/5G operations under its license. Following inspections and technical validation processes, the Authority confirmed that NGIC is cleared to proceed in accordance with its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure License. With that confirmation, Ghana’s shared 4G/5G platform is now live in selected locations in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and other key areas, with nationwide expansion progressing in phases.
A Structural Shift in Ghana’s 5G Framework

Ghana adopted a wholesale-first infrastructure model designed to coordinate national deployment while maintaining competition at the retail level.

Under this framework:

    NGIC builds and operates the shared 4G/5G radio and core network infrastructure.
    Licensed Mobile Network Operators connect to the platform and provide retail services directly to consumers and businesses.

Commenting on the milestone, Tenu Awoonor, Chief Executive Officer of NGIC, said: “Today, Ghana moves from 5G ambition to 5G execution. The shared backbone is commercially active and positioned to scale.”

He added: “This structure allows infrastructure investment to be coordinated nationally while preserving innovation and competition at the retail layer.”

Speaking on the operational transition, Nenyi George Andah, Chief Operating Officer of NGIC, noted that the focus now shifts to disciplined expansion. “The backbone is active. The framework is clear. The responsibility now is execution — scaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner.”

He continued: “Separating wholesale infrastructure from retail service delivery is a strategic decision. It enables faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment.”

The commercial activation comes as Government pursues its target of achieving 70% 5G population density coverage by Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary. Awoonor stated that meeting this objective requires alignment across the ecosystem: “Achieving 70% coverage within the Ghana @70 timeframe demands coordination and long-term discipline. The shared architecture ensures investment is directed toward expanding reach rather than duplicating infrastructure.”

The NCA’s confirmation signals regulatory alignment and operational readiness. With services now live in selected parts of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, NGIC’s next phase will focus on expanding nationwide in line with licence obligations and national policy objectives.

Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa, Mobile Networks at Nokia said that: "Nokia is proud to partner with NGIC in Ghana as a technology partner to introduce the country’s first neutral-host (shared) 4G / 5G network.” He further added “This wholesale network model, provided by NGIC enables all mobile operators in Ghana with a smart and prudent approach to bring high-speed data to consumers, while bringing in new service models to the enterprise segment. With a future-ready architecture underpinned by advanced security, the new shared mobile broadband network will drive socio-economic growth and bridge the digital divide in the coming years in Ghana."

Andah in his statement acknowledged the ecosystem effort behind the milestone: “This progress reflects collaboration with the National Communications Authority, our core network parent Nokia, our anchor and connecting mobile network operators, tower and fibre infrastructure partners, and financing institutions. Delivering a shared national backbone requires coordinated effort across the value chain.”

He concluded: “Ghana’s 5G backbone is live. The priority now is to scale responsibly and deliver nationwide impact.”

Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC) Limited is Ghana’s licensed Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure provider. The company designs, deploys and operates the country’s shared 4G/5G network platform. Its wholesale-first model enables licensed mobile network operators to deliver competitive retail services over a common national backbone.

NGIC is focused on accelerating nationwide coverage and supporting Ghana’s digital development objectives toward Ghana @70.