The government of Ghana forgoes 5G spectrum auction to promote fair competition among telecom companies

The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation in Ghana, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, announced that the government has decided not to auction the country’s 5G spectrum. This decision aims to promote fair competition among all telecommunications companies and reduce reliance on a few dominant firms. Instead of auctioning the spectrum, the government plans to partner with the private sector to build a shared neutral infrastructure for nationwide 4G and 5G networks, leveraging existing digital infrastructure assets owned by the government.

During her briefing to Parliament regarding internet disruptions caused by damage to submarine cables, the Minister emphasised the need for swift action to restore the network. She announced that the cabinet has approved the development of a neutral 4G/5G network accessible to all operators, aiming to promote fair competition and reduce reliance on a few dominant companies. The objective is to enhance industry redundancy, allowing smaller companies to provide services to citizens using the shared network.