Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) is taking “a significant step towards correcting market imbalances” with the implementation of technology neutrality for non-dominant players.
Following the move, Vodafone Ghana and AT (formerly AirtelTigo) will be permitted pay an annual premium to re-farm their spectrum holdings in the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands for 4G usage. The NCA believes this will level the playing field in Ghana by boosting 4G service quality and encouraging investment in infrastructure.
MTN Ghana was designated a significant market power (SMP) in Ghana in June 2020, prompting the regulator to implement measures aimed at remedying the situation. These included asymmetrical interconnection rates, national roaming agreements that allowed MTN’s rivals to use its network in specific regions, and restricting MTN’s use of on-net/off-net pricing.
TeleGeography notes that MTN Ghana launched its LTE network in 2016, and now offers 99.3% population coverage – far ahead of Vodafone Ghana, which switched on an 800MHz LTE network in March 2019 and now covers the major towns and cities across Ghana. AT has not yet deployed a 4G network.
