MTN Ghana has secured two lots of valuable 700 MHz spectrum in Ghana’s latest mobile broadband licensing process, paying a total licence fee of US$100.9 million.
The award is an important step in Ghana’s changing 5G landscape. The National Communications Authority says the spectrum can be used for mobile broadband services, including 5G, and MTN received the maximum number of 700 MHz lots that could be awarded to one applicant.
For customers, however, this does not mean MTN has suddenly switched on nationwide 5G service. Spectrum is one of the building blocks needed to deploy a network. MTN will still need to use its spectrum, network equipment, towers, backhaul and other infrastructure to provide commercial services to customers.
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What MTN Ghana Actually Won
Ghana’s National Communications Authority announced on September 11, 2026 that Scancom Plc, which operates as MTN Ghana, had emerged as the successful applicant for two lots of spectrum in the 700 MHz band.
Three 700 MHz lots were available. MTN applied for two, which was the maximum number that could be allocated to a single applicant under the Request for Applications.
MTN was also the sole qualified applicant for that band, allowing the NCA to conclude the 700 MHz portion of the spectrum licensing process.
| Band | Lots Available | Lots Applied For | Applicants | Status as of Sept. 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 MHz | 3 | 2 | MTN Ghana | Concluded |
| 2.3 GHz | 5 | 4 | Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications | Under-subscribed, process continuing |
| 3 GHz | 3 | 4 | MTN Ghana and Telecel Ghana | Over-subscribed, process continuing |
The important detail is that MTN’s 700 MHz award is settled, while the NCA had not yet announced the final outcome of the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz processes as of September 15.
MTN Ghana Is Paying US$100.9 Million for the Spectrum
The official NCA figure for the two 700 MHz lots is US$100.9 million.
Using Bank of Ghana mid-market exchange rates published for September 14, 2026, that amount is approximately GH₵1.16 billion, GBP 74.8 million or RMB 677 million. These conversions are approximate and will change with exchange rates.
The difference is significant enough that readers should rely on the original NCA announcement unless the regulator later issues a correction.
Why 700 MHz Spectrum Matters for 5G
Not all radio spectrum behaves the same way.
The 700 MHz band sits in what the mobile industry generally calls low-band spectrum. Lower-frequency mobile signals can travel farther and penetrate buildings more effectively than many higher-frequency bands.
That makes 700 MHz particularly useful for extending coverage across wider areas, including communities where deploying a dense network of towers would be expensive.
The GSMA has identified sub-1 GHz frequencies such as 700 MHz as particularly important for rural coverage and indoor connectivity. Higher-frequency mid-band spectrum, on the other hand, generally provides more capacity and is important for delivering high-performance 5G in areas with heavier demand.
In practical terms, MTN’s 700 MHz spectrum could become an important coverage layer rather than simply a tool for producing the highest possible speed-test number in a small part of Accra.
That distinction matters for Ghana, where extending reliable broadband beyond the largest urban centers remains as important as improving speeds in already well-connected neighborhoods.
What MTN Ghana’s 5G Spectrum Could Mean for Customers
The spectrum award creates several possibilities for MTN customers, but it is important not to promise improvements before MTN actually deploys the network.
Potential benefits include broader high-speed mobile coverage, stronger indoor connectivity and an eventual path to greater 5G availability.
Actual customer experience will depend on much more than the spectrum licence. Network congestion, tower locations, fibre and microwave backhaul, device compatibility, network configuration and the amount of spectrum deployed in a particular location will all influence performance.
A customer will also need a compatible device to use 5G where the service becomes available. Owning a phone labeled “5G” does not guarantee that every 5G frequency used in every country is supported, so buyers should continue checking device specifications before purchasing imported phones.
Readers comparing devices can review our guide to buying smartphones in Ghana.
Why Ghana’s 5G Strategy Changed in 2026
MTN’s spectrum award makes more sense when viewed against a major regulatory change earlier in 2026.
Ghana initially pursued a wholesale 5G model centered on Next Gen Infraco Limited, commonly known as NGIC. Under that framework, NGIC had exclusive rights to operate as Ghana’s sole wholesale 5G infrastructure provider.
The NCA removed that exclusivity condition on July 15, 2026.
The regulator said it concluded that a competitive wholesale 5G market would better promote investment, innovation, network resilience, service quality and access to advanced communications services.
NGIC did not lose its entire licence. The NCA specifically said the amendment removed the exclusivity condition while leaving the remainder of NGIC’s licence, including its spectrum assignment, intact.
The NCA then opened applications for spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands for mobile broadband services, including 5G.
That policy change is what made the current competitive spectrum process possible.
Does Ghana Already Have 5G Infrastructure?
Yes, but Ghana’s broader 5G rollout remains a work in progress.
In March 2026, the NCA said NGIC had installed 49 5G sites across the country. Forty-three were in Greater Accra, while Ashanti, Western, Northern, Bono, Central and other areas accounted for the remaining sites identified by the regulator.
The uneven distribution illustrates one of the challenges facing Ghana’s next stage of 5G development. Building a network that reaches far beyond Accra requires both coverage spectrum and continuing investment in towers, fibre, microwave backhaul and upgraded radio equipment.
The communications ministry has also said it wants older 2G and 3G infrastructure in rural districts upgraded toward 4G and 5G capability rather than focusing only on extending basic signal coverage.
What About Telecel Ghana and Other Operators?
MTN has won the 700 MHz portion of the current process, but the larger spectrum allocation is not finished.
Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications applied in the 2.3 GHz band. Five lots were available and four were requested, making that part of the process under-subscribed.
The 3 GHz band is more competitive. Three lots were available, but MTN Ghana and Telecel Ghana collectively applied for four.
The NCA therefore described the 3 GHz band as over-subscribed and said it would continue through the remaining licensing procedure before announcing the final outcome.
This is significant because MTN could ultimately emerge with additional spectrum beyond its new 700 MHz allocation, but that result should not be assumed until the NCA announces it.
When Will MTN 5G Be Available in Ghana?
There is not yet enough official information to give MTN customers a specific nationwide launch date based solely on the September 11 spectrum announcement.
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George said in early September that Ghana expected the NCA to complete the 5G spectrum assignment before the end of 2026 and begin deployment.
The NCA has separately said successful spectrum applicants will be subject to rollout obligations and timelines intended to support timely nationwide deployment.
That gives Ghana a general policy timetable, but it is not the same thing as MTN announcing a commercial launch date, coverage map, data bundle prices or list of supported devices.
What has not been announced yet:
- A confirmed nationwide MTN 5G launch date
- MTN 5G data bundle prices
- A final MTN 5G coverage map
- Specific cities that will receive MTN 5G first
- Guaranteed consumer speeds
Those details should be treated as unknown until MTN Ghana or the regulator publishes them.
Why This Could Be Bigger Than a Faster Phone Connection
5G is often marketed around smartphone download speeds, but the larger economic impact can involve much more.
Higher-capacity and lower-latency networks can support fixed wireless broadband, business connectivity, connected equipment, industrial systems, cloud applications and other services that depend on reliable data connections.
For households, one of the most interesting possibilities is increased competition between mobile broadband and traditional fixed internet services. That could matter in neighborhoods where fibre connections remain unavailable or expensive to install.
Anyone currently comparing providers can see our guide to the best internet options in Ghana.
The biggest question now is not whether MTN has obtained valuable spectrum. It has. The question is how quickly that spectrum is turned into real coverage, what consumers will pay for access and whether the network expansion reaches communities outside Ghana’s biggest cities.
Sources
- National Communications Authority: “Update on the 5G Spectrum Licensing Process” (September 11, 2026)
- National Communications Authority: “NCA Amends Wholesale 5G Licence of NGIC in the Public Interest” (July 15, 2026)
- National Communications Authority: “Request for Applications for Spectrum Licences in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz Mid Bands” (July 16, 2026)
- National Communications Authority: Pre-Application Briefing on Spectrum Licences (July 27, 2026)
- Ghana News Agency: “Ghana to begin deployment of 5G by close of 2026 – Communications Minister” (September 7, 2026)
- GSMA: Low-Band Spectrum for 5G
- Bank of Ghana: Daily Interbank FX Rates
