The National Communications Authority (NCA) has officially opened bidding for Ghana’s highly anticipated 5G spectrum auction, introducing a new regulatory framework designed to promote competition while accelerating the nationwide rollout of next-generation mobile services.
The auction covers 11 spectrum lots across the 3.5GHz and 26GHz frequency bands, with a combined reserve price of US$230million. Telecommunications giants MTN Ghana and Telecel Ghana have both confirmed their intention to participate, setting the stage for one of Africa’s most significant telecom spectrum auctions.
A key feature of the auction is a 40 per cent did premium imposed on MTN Ghana, which the NCA has classified as a holder of Significant Market Power (SMP). The measure is intended to level the playing field by increasing the effective cost of MTN’s bids, thereby giving smaller competitors a greater opportunity to secure spectrum.
Unlike conventional spectrum auctions, where all bidders compete under identical pricing conditions, Ghana’s approach seeks to address market concentration without excluding the country’s largest telecom operator from the licensing process.
The latest NCA data for the first quarter of 2026 shows that MTN Ghana commands 23.8 million internet subscriptions, representing nearly 80 per cent of the country’s mobile internet market. Telecel Ghana follows with 4.6 million subscribers, while AT Ghana serves approximately 1.3 million users. Combined, MTN and Telecel account for almost 95 per cent of Ghana’s mobile internet market.
The spectrum auction marks a significant policy shift from Ghana’s original 5G deployment strategy. In 2024, the government awarded Next Gen Infraco(NGIC)-a consortium involving Radisys, Nokia and Tech Mahindra-an exclusive 10-year licence to build and operate a shared wholesale 5G network.
Although NGIC launched commercial services in November 2024, network expansion progressed more slowly than anticipated, with mobile operators showing limited uptake of the wholesale model.By March 2026, NGIC had constructed only 49 telecommunications sites, far below its target of 1,200sites by 2027.
The slow pace of deployment prompted the government to review its strategy and open direct spectrum licensing to mobile network operators. Communications Minister Sam George said the decision was driven by the need to accelerate 5G deployment while encouraging stronger competition in the telecommunications sector.
Despite opening the market to direct spectrum licensing, the government says it remains committed to aspects of the wholesale infrastructure model, but under a more competitive framework that allows multiple operators to build and operate their own 5G networks. The government has maintained its target of achieving 70 per cent population coverage by 2027, as demand for high-speed mobile connectivity continues to grow.
According to NCA statistics, Ghana’s mobile internet subscriptions increased from 23.2 million at the end of 2023 to 29.7 million in the first quarter of 2026. Over the same period, mobile internet penetration rose from 71.6 per cent to 87.7 per cent, reflecting the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Industry observers say the outcome of the auction will determine whether Ghana can accelerate nationwide 5G deployment while fostering a more competitive telecommunications market and preventing further concentration of market power.The successful bidders are expected to begin deploying their 5G networks once the auction process is concluded.
Philbert Aimba Ayuusah