The government has issued a stern final ultimatum to Next Generation Infrastructure Company (NGIC), demanding the full rollout of Ghana’s long-awaited 5G network by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Failure to meet this deadline will trigger an immediate review and potential renegotiation of the company’s operating licence—marking a critical moment in Ghana’s digital development.
This decisive warning from the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation follows NGIC’s failure to meet two previous rollout deadlines: November 2024 and June 2025. NGIC was initially awarded the mandate to deliver nationwide high-speed 5G services under a pioneering shared infrastructure model.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Minister Samuel Nartey George left no room for ambiguity about the government’s position.
“Let me declare that we have agreed with NGIC that there will be no further extensions to this rollout deadline. If the company fails to meet the Q4 deadline commitment, the ministry will immediately initiate a review and possible renegotiation of the licence term,” Mr George firmly stated.
Despite the delays, the Minister acknowledged some progress. NGIC has reportedly deployed 16 5G-ready sites and secured full regulatory approval from the National Communications Authority (NCA) for its core network infrastructure.
With the clock ticking, the government expects visible results. By the end of Q4 2025, NGIC is mandated to have at least 50 operational 5G sites in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana’s two largest cities.
“We have set a final deadline of Q4 2025, where at least 50 live 5G sites are expected in Accra and Kumasi,” Mr George reiterated. “These milestones reflect meaningful progress following earlier delays in 2024.”
The deployment of 5G is not just a technological upgrade—it is a critical pillar of Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda. As the fifth generation of wireless technology, 5G promises significantly faster internet speeds (up to 10 Gbps), ultra-low latency (vital for real-time applications), and vastly improved capacity to connect multiple devices simultaneously.
These benefits are poised to transform sectors including education, healthcare, finance, urban planning, and entertainment—serving Ghana’s population of over 34 million.
Minister George highlighted the strategic value of Ghana’s unique 5G deployment model.
“The national rollout model is a deliberate policy shift to reduce infrastructure duplication, lower data costs, and accelerate universal 5G access for all Ghanaians,” he explained.
The shared infrastructure approach seeks to avoid the inefficiencies and high costs of duplicative network builds by competing telecoms, aiming instead for affordability, efficiency, and broader coverage.
The government has pledged to work closely with NGIC to ensure a transparent, efficient, and customer-focused implementation.
As the final deadline approaches, attention now turns to NGIC to deliver on its promise and usher Ghana into a new era of high-speed digital connectivity.
Source: Myjoyonline
ALSO READ:
