Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), has highlighted that the rollout of 5G technology in Ghana will drive specialised industrial applications, particularly in mining and agriculture. In an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Monday, March 9, Ing. Fianko explained that the enhanced speed and capacity of 5G will make possible services that are currently out of reach.
“For 5G, there are industry-specific use cases. We anticipate deployments tailored to the mining and agricultural sectors. Services that cannot be delivered today will become feasible thanks to the speed and high capacity 5G offers,” he stated.
He further noted that measures are being put in place to ensure nationwide access to 5G connectivity, with licensing conditions for operators designed to support widespread deployment.
According to him, telecom operators will be required to begin the rollout at the district level before expanding coverage nationwide. “What we will put in the licences is coverage areas nationwide. Typically, we begin with the districts; we require that by a certain period of time, by the third year, they have to be in every district. We expect that by the fifth year, the constituencies and communities will also be covered,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has disclosed that Cabinet has approved the removal of the exclusivity clause from the previous wholesale 5G framework. This decision paves the way for a competitive spectrum auction process designed to encourage broader participation in the rollout of 5G services.
Mr. George clarified that while the wholesale model has not been completely abandoned, the revised framework will permit operators to establish their own networks. The aim, he explained, is to ensure wider and more equitable deployment of 5G connectivity across the country.
Source: Leticia Osei
