Rural calls, data to become cheaper by Q1 2027 – Sam George
Ghana’s rural communities could begin enjoying cheaper calls and data services by the end of the first quarter of 2027, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George has announced. The government is reviewing the current charging arrangements on rural telephony networks to allow subscribers to use their existing voice and data bundles when […]
Ghana's rural areas could soon benefit from more affordable call and data services by the end of the first quarter of 2027, according to Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George. The government is evaluating current rural telephony pricing to enable users to utilize their existing voice and data bundles when connected to these rural sites.
This change aims to rectify the disparity where some rural areas incur higher charges compared to urban regions. The Ministry is collaborating with the National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), and mobile network operators to implement these modifications. A directive has already been issued to revisit the present setup, with the NCA liaising with telecom operators for necessary technical integration.
During a visit to rural telephony sites in the Eastern Region, the Minister emphasized that rural telephony is costly in these areas, despite the lower economic capacity compared to urban locations. He also revealed plans to upgrade rural telephony sites to at least 4G, arguing that communities should not solely rely on 2G and 3G connectivity as Ghana moves towards 5G technology.
The government has set aside approximately GH¢30 million for rural telephony under the 2026 GIFEC budget, with US$400,000 designated for urgent improvements at 20 sites. Currently, around 1,400 rural telephony sites are in operation, with an additional 300 completed sites awaiting connections to donor sites. Significant network expansion is underway, with MTN adding 800 new sites and Telecel planning to deploy about 350.
About 180 MTN sites have already been completed, with the government aiming for approximately 400 by the end of 2026 and full operationalization by the first or second quarter of 2027. Mr. George highlighted that the augmentation of cell sites, coupled with the ongoing 5G spectrum auction, should alleviate network congestion and enhance the overall quality of telecommunications services nationwide.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
