The National Communications Authority (NCA) has cleared three telecommunications companies to proceed to the next stage of Ghana’s competitive 5G spectrum licensing process, while disqualifying one applicant.
The qualified applicants are Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana), and Goal Telecommunications Ltd .
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the regulator said it received four applications by the 5 p.m. deadline on August 27, 2026, and assessed them through an eligibility review and technical qualification assessment under Envelope A (Technical and Qualification Submission) .
Infrava Ltd was the only applicant that failed to qualify.
“All Applicants have been duly informed of the Authority’s determination in respect of their applications, with reasons provided where applicable,” the NCA said .
What Happens Next
The three qualified companies will now proceed to Stage 3 of the selection process for spectrum licences in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands .
The NCA said the Envelope B submission — containing the financial bid — of the disqualified applicant would not be opened. The qualified applicants will separately be notified of the date, time, and venue for the opening and ranking of their Best Price Offers .
The latest development marks the completion of the qualification stage of the NCA’s Request for Applications for the spectrum licences.
A Shift from Exclusive 5G Model
This licensing process represents a significant policy shift for Ghana. Until earlier this year, Next Gen Infraco Limited (NGIC) — a consortium backed by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani — held exclusive rights to build the country’s wholesale 5G infrastructure .
The government revoked that arrangement after NGIC missed a June 2025 deadline to launch services, with Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George arguing that granting exclusive control to a single entity risked limiting competition and slowing innovation .
Following an internal review, the NCA determined that effective July 15, 2026, 5G services would be provided on a competitive basis, opening the market for multiple operators to acquire spectrum directly .
Spectrum on Offer
The NCA is offering 11 spectrum lots across three frequency bands with a combined minimum reserve value of approximately $230 million before competitive bidding begins .
These include:
· Three lots in the 700 MHz band, each carrying a reserve price of $36 million
· Five lots in the 2.3 GHz band, priced at $10 million each
· Three lots in the 3 GHz band, each with a minimum reserve price of $24 million
The 700 MHz spectrum provides wide-area coverage and stronger indoor connectivity, making it suitable for extending broadband access to rural communities, while the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands deliver the high-speed capacity required for urban and industrial applications .
Significant Market Power Premium
MTN Ghana, which has been designated as an operator with Significant Market Power (SMP), will be subject to an asymmetric premium on its bids. The NCA has set a 40% premium expressed as a percentage uplift on the aggregate Minimum Reserve Price for the lots for which MTN bids in the 700 MHz and 3 GHz bands .
This measure is designed to safeguard competition and does not alter the reserve price applicable to non-SMP applicants.
Operator Investments in 5G
The three qualified operators have all signalled significant investment commitments ahead of the spectrum assignment.
MTN Ghana has committed more than $1.1 billion over three years to expand its network and support 5G rollout, including approximately $380 million earmarked for 2026. The company is planning to construct 800 new cell sites this year — its largest annual site expansion programme in a decade — with 180 sites already operational .
Telecel Ghana, meanwhile, has launched a nationwide network modernisation programme following a $70 million investment in partnership with Huawei. The company has expanded its network sites from 5,000 to 9,000 since 2023 and aims to achieve near-universal coverage over the next three years .
Background: The Road to Competitive 5G
The NCA held a pre-application briefing on July 27, 2026, where Director General Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko emphasised the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that Ghanaians benefited from improved connectivity and enhanced digital services .
The original application deadline of August 5, 2026, was extended to August 27 to give bidders more time to prepare their submissions .
The licensing process is expected to determine which of the qualified applicants secure spectrum in the designated bands for the rollout and expansion of advanced mobile communications services in Ghana.
The NCA has not yet published a timeline for when licences will be formally awarded or when 5G networks might go live. Winning bidders will still need to meet rollout obligations spelled out in the original Request for Applications.
