Telecel Ghana is ready to launch 5G services but is awaiting regulators to allocate the necessary spectrum, its Chief Executive, Patricia Obo-Nai, has confirmed.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Obo-Nai explained that the operator, like others in the country, is waiting to learn which frequency bands will be made available. She added that Telecel Ghana is prepared to launch services as soon as spectrum becomes accessible.
Obo-Nai emphasised that the spectrum allocation process should be transparent and competitive, allowing all telecom operators to participate on equal terms.
The announcement comes shortly after Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), Ghana’s wholesale 4G/5G infrastructure provider, began commercial operations. Mobile operators and internet service providers can now connect to NGIC’s network, which is operational in parts of Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and other key regions, with a nationwide rollout planned in phases.
The shared 5G network model was originally introduced to address coverage gaps under the traditional approach, where operators acquire spectrum via auctions and deploy their own networks. Authorities had expressed concerns that coverage would otherwise be concentrated in urban areas deemed most profitable.
NGIC, which launched in May 2024 with an exclusive 10-year license, experienced delays in network deployment. Consequently, at the end of February 2026, regulators revoked its exclusivity and announced plans to make frequency resources available through a competitive national tender, adopting a hybrid model.
Despite the shared network being operational, no Ghanaian telecom operator has yet announced a timeline for launching services using the infrastructure. Telecel Ghana’s position raises questions about the effectiveness of the shared model and the level of interest among operators. Authorities are yet to announce a timeline for the spectrum tender.
