5G Exclusivity at Risk if Rollout Deadlines Are Missed – Sam George Warns NGIC

The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has issued a stern ultimatum to the Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), threatening to revoke the company’s 5G exclusivity rights if it fails to meet its rollout targets by the end of 2025.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Friday, August 1, Mr. George expressed concern over the pace of the 5G rollout, emphasizing that the government will not hesitate to open up the market if NGIC does not deliver on its commitments.

“I stated in my last briefing that failure by NGIC to roll out full commercial activity by the end of quarter four this year will lead to me terminating the terms of that contract, taking away the exclusivity clause and opening up for fresh negotiations,” the Minister cautioned.

NGIC holds the exclusive license to serve as Ghana’s neutral shared infrastructure provider for both 4G and 5G services. The company was tasked with building a nationwide 5G network to accelerate digital inclusion and connectivity.

Mr. George acknowledged some progress, including the deployment of 16 5G-ready cell sites and the acquisition of full approval from the National Communications Authority (NCA) for its core network infrastructure.

However, he stressed that NGIC must scale up its operations significantly, with a target of activating 355 5G-ready cell sites by the end of the year. At least 50 of those are expected to go live in key cities like Accra and Kumasi.

The Minister’s comments reflect mounting pressure on the company amid growing public demand for faster and more reliable internet services.

“This government is committed to digital transformation, but we cannot afford delays. If NGIC fails, we will open up the space to ensure Ghanaians get the connectivity they deserve,” he declared.