The National Communications Authority (NCA) has cleared Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana), and Goal Telecommunications Ltd to proceed to the next stage (financial proposal stage) of the selection process for 5G spectrum licenses.
A fourth applicant, Infrava Ltd failed to qualify and has consequently been excluded from the next stage of the spectrum selection process.
The there are eleven (11) spectrum lots in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands on offer.
The development follows the completion of the qualification stage of the NCA’s Request for Applications for spectrum licenses in the three bands.
In a statement published on its website, the NCA said it received four applications by the submission deadline of 5:00 p.m. on August 27, 2026, but only three applicants successfully qualified to proceed.
The qualification assessment comprised an Eligibility Review and Technical Qualification Assessment under Envelope A, which covered the Technical and Qualification Submission.
In the next stage, the Envelope B submitted by three qualifying applicants, which contains the applicants’ Best Price Offer, would be opened, but that of Intrava Ltd will not be opened.
The NCA said all applicants have been duly informed of its determination regarding their applications, with reasons provided where applicable.
The Authority said the qualified applicants would be notified separately about the date, time and venue for the opening and ranking of their Best Price Offers.
The qualification of MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecoms marks the next step in the NCA’s process to assign 5G spectrum to individual entities, which are expected to support the continued expansion and development of advanced mobile broadband services in Ghana.
This also represents the manifestation of a new policy direction that cancels an initial policy under which 5G spectrum was awarded to one entity, NextGen Infraco (NGIC) to roll out a shared platform and exclusively offer wholesale services in that space.
Ahead of the RFA that heralded this process, NCA withdrew the exclusivity of NGIC and announced that it will auction spectrum for standalone 5G network in line with government’s vision to have at least 70% 5G nationwide coverage by March 2027, when Ghana turns 70.
As part of measures to achieve that target, NCA is already working with all the existing industry players to implement a universal national roaming arrangement, that will ensure a level playing field in the rollout of, and access to 5G network nationwide.
Meanwhile, NGIC has taken the matter to the Electronic Communication Tribunal seeking to get the NCA to reverse its decision on the cancellation of NGIC’s exclusive rights, and from going ahead with the spectrum auction.
Per the today’s announcement, the NGIC petition to the ECT does not seem to have affected the process in any way.
