Ghana’s NCA Revokes 5G Infrastructure Exclusivity for Next Gen InfraCo, Paving Way for Competition

The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana has significantly altered the landscape of the nation’s telecommunications sector by revoking the exclusive rights previously granted to Next Gen InfraCo Limited (NGIC) as the sole wholesale 5G infrastructure provider. This pivotal regulatory amendment, effective July 15, 2026, signals a strategic shift towards fostering a more competitive market, aimed at accelerating the growth and advancement of Ghana’s digital infrastructure.

In a formal statement, the NCA articulated that the removal of NGIC’s exclusivity provision was deemed essential in the public interest. This exclusivity was initially instituted to facilitate the development of a national wholesale 5G network, vesting NGIC with the sole authority to own and operate such infrastructure. However, evolving market dynamics have necessitated a transition to a more open and competitive wholesale 5G environment.

The Authority underscored that a competitive market is projected to stimulate increased investment, cultivate innovation, bolster network resilience, enhance service quality, and broaden access to advanced communication services across Ghana. This regulatory recalibration is empowered by Article 6.1.2 of NGIC’s licence and Section 14 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), which grant the NCA the authority to amend licence conditions when serving the public interest.

The regulatory process leading to this amendment was thorough and transparent. It commenced with a Notice of Proposed Amendment issued to NGIC on March 2, 2026, followed by consultations on March 18. NGIC subsequently exercised its statutory rights by submitting a Statement of Objections on April 1, and was afforded a further opportunity for oral representations before the NCA’s Governing Board on May 28. Following careful consideration of NGIC’s submissions, the NCA concluded that removing the exclusivity condition was in the paramount public interest.

Crucially, the NCA clarified that this amendment exclusively targets the exclusivity provision, leaving the remainder of NGIC’s licence and its associated rights and obligations, including spectrum assignment, fully intact. This move is expected to invigorate competition within Ghana’s wholesale 5G market, thereby encouraging further investment and innovation, and ultimately supporting the nation’s ambitious digital transformation agenda. This development holds significant implications for investors, telecommunications operators, and legal counsel navigating the evolving regulatory framework.

… Ghana’s NCA Revokes 5G Infrastructure Exclusivity for Next Gen InfraCo, Paving Way for Competition … Naijaonpoint.