Ghana has cancelled the exclusive wholesale 5G concession previously awarded to Next Gen InfraCo (NGIC), a consortium linked to Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries through its Radisys unit and granted a full 5G license plus spectrum to Telecel Group for independent deployment.
The National Communications Authority ended NGIC’s monopoly rights, which were originally set to run until 2034, and shifted to a competitive licensing model. Telecel Group CEO Moh Damush confirmed the operator will launch commercial 5G services on its own network in December 2026. ‘We plan to launch the service in December this year on our own network,’ Damush affirmed.
The policy reversal reflects frustration with slow progress under the single wholesale-provider approach. NGIC had fallen well short of rollout targets, limiting the pace of ultra-fast broadband expansion. By opening spectrum to direct competition, the government aims to accelerate nationwide coverage, encourage greater investment and innovation, and better serve public interest in a faster digital economy.
Telecel’s independent license marks a clear break from reliance on a shared wholesale network. The move positions the operator, partly state-owned, to control its own infrastructure and compete more aggressively, while also clearing the path for other players such as MTN.
The change prioritizes speed and resilience over a centralized model that struggled to deliver results on schedule.