Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has confirmed that the rollout of 5G services by the Next Generation Infrastructure Company (NGIC) is expected to happen in June 2025. This announcement was made on Tuesday during an interview on The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Channel 1 TV.
Minister Sam George’s stand on the 5G rollout
Sam George emphasised that the June deadline is firm despite earlier shifts. Initially, NGIC had promised a May 2025 launch at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, then moved it to June, which the minister now insists on.
He said, “They initially told me May at MWC in Barcelona. They changed it to June. That’s the date I’m sticking with.” George also warned that while he is not keen on terminating contracts due to financial implications, “all options will be on the table,” including possible license renegotiation or restructuring if NGIC fails to meet the deadline.
NGIC holds an exclusive 10-year licence granted in 2024 to build and operate a universal 4G/5G network across Ghana. No other operator can deploy 5G without going through NGIC until 2034. The company officially launched in November 2024 and has set up 16 5G-ready cell sites. The National Communications Authority (NCA) has inspected NGIC’s core network and data centres.
Progress and challenges ahead
NGIC has promised to have 350 cell sites operational by June 2025, 50 of which will be 5G-capable. The rollout will focus mainly on Accra, 200 to 250 sites, and Kumasi, 100 to 150 sites.
However, several regulatory and technical challenges remain. These include spectrum interference issues, the approval of 1,000 test SIM cards and the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) for testing, clarity on ISP connections, and the NCA’s final network certification. These issues are interdependent and could delay the rollout if not resolved quickly.
The minister stressed that Ghana cannot be “held to ransom” by delays and that the NCA has the legal authority to amend NGIC’s license if necessary. He also downplayed the consumer demand for 5G, saying its main value lies in industrial applications such as telemedicine, mining automation, and port operations rather than faster downloads. He highlighted the need for stable infrastructure, pointing out that some operators like AT Ghana still rely on outdated 3G networks, which would not benefit from 5G deployment.
Meanwhile, MTN Ghana is willing to participate in the 5G rollout but is awaiting government direction on its involvement in the NGIC consortium. Other companies like AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana are already engaging with NGIC’s platform.
The coming weeks will be crucial as Ghana works to meet the June 2025 deadline to bring next-generation connectivity to its citizens.