NCA Clears MTN, Telecel, Goal for 5G Spectrum Race

The National Communications Authority (NCA) in Ghana has granted approval to three telecom companies, Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana), and Goal Telecommunications Ltd, to move forward in the country's 5G spectrum licensing process. This decision comes after the NCA assessed applications for spectrum licences in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, and 3 GHz bands received before the stipulated deadline of August 27, 2026.

Out of four applications, only three met the necessary requirements, while Infrava Ltd was disqualified. The qualification involved a review of eligibility and a technical assessment of submissions under Envelope A. Now that the qualification stage is complete, these three companies will proceed to Stage 3 of the selection process, which involves opening and ranking their Best Price Offers.

The NCA will notify the successful applicants of the date, time, and venue for this stage, which is a crucial step in Ghana's efforts to allocate additional spectrum for the deployment and expansion of 5G services. The 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, and 3 GHz bands are among the spectrum being considered under the licensing exercise. Only MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana, and Goal Telecommunications Ltd remain in contention as the process advances from technical and eligibility assessment to the evaluation of financial offers.