Contrary to public opinion that MTN Ghana refused to join a consortium of firms in the rolling out of a Fifth Generation (5G) technology standard for cellular networks in Ghana, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has addressed the negative impression created in the public on why MTN was left out adding that discussions are ongoing to include the telecommunication giant to the consortium. Speaking in an interview on an Accra-based radio station on Monday, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful called it a “false alarm” given by certain individuals to turn public anger against the Nextgen Infraco-led 5G consortium and the operationalisation of the project in the country.
She said, “I don’t know who created that impression, somebody threw it out there and nobody spoke to me or any of those involved in putting this consortium together before throwing this false alarm out there it’s not true.”
According to the minister, all mobile network operators including MTN are being offered an opportunity to have equity in the consortium. She reiterated that MTN has expressed interest and talks are underway to bring them into the consortium and added that the 5G spectrum that Nextgen Infraco Limited has includes a 4G element the entity will be rolling out nationwide to provide a platform to internet service providers (ISPs) that would use the infrastructure. Answering a follow up on a possible clash between MTN and Nextgen Infraco since both entities are offering 4G and 5G services, she said that would not be a problem since both entities are competitors that can share platform.
“If their network [MTN] is congested and they need additional capacity, they can also fall on this to provide them with that capacity to extend their services to other parts of the country. That’s what is meant by digital public infrastructure so I don’t see why that should be a deal breaker for them it’s added value to them.” she intimated
The Government of Ghana in response to industry trends and demands decided on the need for a 5G internet connectivity in a bid to provide high-speed broadband internet to all residents of Ghana at affordable rates that will drive productivity and growth in the economy. The government thus gave licence to a consortium of technology firms and telecommunication industry players to build a digital public infrastructure to be shared by members of the consortium while opening it up to many more ISPs that would be interested to operate 5G internet in the country.
The first 5G sites are expected to go live by September with an 80% national coverage in the next 3 years.