The National Communications Authority (NCA), acting in the public interest, has amended the Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure (Telecommunications) Licence issued to Next Gen Infraco Limited (NGIC) by removing the condition granting NGIC exclusive rights to operate as the sole provider of Ghana’s wholesale 5G infrastructure.
The exclusivity condition formed part of the regulatory framework established to support the development of a national wholesale 5G network. It gave NGIC the sole right to own and operate wholesale 5G infrastructure in Ghana.
As the telecommunications market has evolved, however, the Authority has concluded that the public interest is better served by a competitive wholesale 5G market that promotes investment, innovation, network resilience, service quality and wider access to advanced communications services.
The Authority’s power to amend the Licence is derived from Article 6.1.2 of NGIC’s Licence and section 14 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), which empower the Authority to amend licence conditions in the public interest.
In accordance with the law, the Authority issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment to NGIC on 2nd March, 2026 and met with the company on 18th March, 2026. NGIC exercised its right under section 14(4) of Act 775 by submitting a Statement of Objections on 1st April, 2026. The Authority subsequently afforded NGIC a further opportunity to make oral representations before the Governing Board on 28 May 2026.
After carefully considering NGIC’s written and oral representations, the Authority concluded that it was in the public interest to remove the exclusivity condition from the Licence.
The amendment relates only to that specific condition and does not affect the validity of the remainder of the Licence. NGIC therefore retains all its other rights and obligations under the Licence, including its spectrum assignment.
