Ghana Begins 5G Spectrum Awards as MTN Secures 700 MHz and Competition Continues in 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz Bands
Ghana has reached a major stage in its 2026 mobile spectrum licensing process, with the National Communications Authority (NCA) completing the award of new 700 MHz frequencies to MTN Ghana while continuing the allocation process for spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz mid-bands.
The licensing programme covers a substantial portfolio of low-band and mid-band spectrum intended for mobile broadband services, including 5G. In total, the NCA placed 2 × 30 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum, 100 MHz in the 2.3 GHz band and 150 MHz across selected portions of the 3 GHz range into the 2026 selection and award procedure.
Scancom Plc, operating as MTN Ghana, emerged as the successful applicant for two 700 MHz lots after the NCA opened and ranked the Best Price Offers on 11 September 2026. The two licences generated a combined spectrum fee of US$100.9 million.
The other parts of the multi-band process remain in progress. Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications applied for four of the five available 2.3 GHz lots, leaving that band under-subscribed, while MTN Ghana and Telecel collectively applied for four lots in the 3 GHz band despite only three being available.
Ghana 2026 5G Spectrum Licensing Overview
| Band | Spectrum Offered | Number of Lots | Lot Size | Qualified Applicants | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 MHz | 2 × 30 MHz | 3 | 2 × 10 MHz | MTN Ghana | Concluded |
| 2.3 GHz | 100 MHz | 5 | 20 MHz | Telecel Ghana, Goal Telecommunications | Under-subscribed / process ongoing |
| 3 GHz mid-band | 150 MHz | 3 | 50 MHz | MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana | Over-subscribed / process ongoing |
MTN Ghana Wins Two 700 MHz Spectrum Lots for US$100.9 Million
The first completed part of the 2026 process concerns the 700 MHz band. MTN Ghana was the sole qualified applicant and requested two of the three available paired spectrum lots.
Under the auction conditions, an individual applicant may hold a maximum of two of the newly offered 700 MHz lots. MTN therefore obtained the maximum amount available to a single participant: 2 × 20 MHz, equivalent to 40 MHz when uplink and downlink spectrum are counted together.
| Operator | Band | Lots Won | Bandwidth Won | Total Licence Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scancom Plc / MTN Ghana | 700 MHz | 2 | 2 × 20 MHz | US$100.9 million |
The NCA's 11 September announcement confirms the amount of spectrum awarded and the total licence fee but does not identify which two of the three available 700 MHz frequency positions were assigned to MTN. Until the regulator publishes the specific block positions or the final spectrum licence, the exact frequencies within the offered 700 MHz range should therefore not be assumed.
Three 700 MHz Frequency Blocks Were Offered
The NCA structured the available 700 MHz spectrum according to the harmonised Asia-Pacific Telecommunity APT 700 MHz arrangement. The auction covered 2 × 30 MHz divided into three contiguous paired FDD lots.
| Lot | Bandwidth | Uplink | Downlink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 | 2 × 10 MHz | 703–713 MHz | 758–768 MHz |
| Lot 2 | 2 × 10 MHz | 713–723 MHz | 768–778 MHz |
| Lot 3 | 2 × 10 MHz | 723–733 MHz | 778–788 MHz |
A maximum of two lots could be awarded to one applicant. The restriction was introduced to limit concentration of newly available low-band spectrum and preserve competitive access to an important coverage layer.
Why 700 MHz Matters for Ghana's 5G and Mobile Broadband Networks
The 700 MHz band provides favourable propagation characteristics for nationwide mobile networks. Lower-frequency signals generally travel farther from individual base stations and penetrate buildings more effectively than higher-frequency mobile spectrum.
For Ghana, this makes 700 MHz particularly suitable for extending broadband coverage beyond the largest urban centres and improving connectivity across rural and less densely populated regions.
The band can also complement higher-capacity mid-band resources. An operator can use low-band spectrum to create a broad geographic coverage layer while using 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz frequencies to provide additional capacity in locations with greater traffic demand.
MTN Pays Significant Market Power Premium
MTN Ghana is currently the only operator designated by the NCA as having Significant Market Power (SMP). The 2026 licensing framework therefore applies additional competition safeguards to its participation.
For MTN bids in the 700 MHz and 3 GHz bands, the NCA applies a 40% premium to the normal minimum reserve price.
| Band | Base Reserve Price per Lot | 40% SMP Premium | MTN Minimum Price per Lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 700 MHz | US$36.0 million | US$14.4 million | US$50.4 million |
| 3 GHz | US$24.0 million | US$9.6 million | US$33.6 million |
For two 700 MHz lots, MTN's combined adjusted minimum price was therefore US$100.8 million. Its final US$100.9 million licence fee was slightly above this SMP-adjusted threshold.
2.3 GHz Band Offers 100 MHz of TDD Spectrum
The second component of the licensing process covers 100 MHz between 2300 MHz and 2400 MHz.
The spectrum is configured for Time Division Duplex operation and divided into five contiguous 20 MHz lots. The arrangement corresponds with the internationally harmonised 3GPP Band 40 ecosystem.
| Lot | Frequency Range | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 | 2300–2320 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Lot 2 | 2320–2340 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Lot 3 | 2340–2360 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Lot 4 | 2360–2380 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Lot 5 | 2380–2400 MHz | 20 MHz |
No applicant may obtain more than three 2.3 GHz lots, limiting an individual holding from this process to a maximum of 60 MHz.
Telecel and Goal Telecommunications Compete for 2.3 GHz Spectrum
Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications Ltd qualified for the 2.3 GHz licensing process.
Between them, the two applicants requested four lots while five lots are available. As a result, the band is under-subscribed.
| 2.3 GHz Status | Result |
|---|---|
| Lots available | 5 |
| Lots requested | 4 |
| Qualified applicants | Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications |
| Reserve price per lot | US$10 million |
| Status | Under-subscribed; final allocation pending |
The NCA's official update does not specify how the four requested lots are divided between Telecel and Goal Telecommunications or which exact frequency positions each applicant requested.
Under the published award procedure, an under-subscribed band can move through a confirmation process at the applicable minimum reserve price. Remaining unsubscribed spectrum may subsequently be reopened to qualified applicants before any residual lot is treated as unsold.
Existing 2.6 GHz Spectrum Holders Cannot Bid for 2.3 GHz
The NCA introduced an additional eligibility restriction specifically for the 2.3 GHz band.
Companies that already hold spectrum assignments in Ghana's 2.6 GHz band, either directly or through related companies, are not eligible to obtain frequencies in the 2.3 GHz band through this process.
The rule is intended to broaden access to mid-band capacity resources rather than further concentrate similar spectrum among companies that already control 2.6 GHz frequencies.
Competition Exceeds Supply in the 3 GHz Mid-Band
The third part of Ghana's 2026 process covers 150 MHz of TDD spectrum distributed across the 3300–3400 MHz and 3600–3650 MHz ranges.
| Lot | Frequency Range | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 | 3300–3350 MHz | 50 MHz |
| Lot 2 | 3350–3400 MHz | 50 MHz |
| Lot 3 | 3600–3650 MHz | 50 MHz |
Unlike the 700 MHz and 2.3 GHz categories, the NCA did not establish a maximum number of 3 GHz lots that an individual qualified applicant may obtain.
MTN Ghana and Telecel Ghana are the qualified participants in this part of the process. Together they applied for four lots, while only three are available.
3 GHz Band Moves to Competitive Second-Round Bidding
| 3 GHz Status | Result |
|---|---|
| Lots available | 3 |
| Lots requested | 4 |
| Qualified applicants | MTN Ghana and Telecel Ghana |
| Reserve price per lot | US$24 million |
| MTN SMP-adjusted minimum per lot | US$33.6 million |
| Status | Over-subscribed; final winners pending |
Because demand exceeds supply, the RFA provides for the competing applicants to submit improved sealed Best Price Offers. Lots are then awarded according to the resulting price rankings, subject to the applicable selection rules.
The NCA has stated that the final result of this stage will be announced separately after the remaining licensing steps have been completed.
NCA May Realign 3 GHz Spectrum After the Awards
An important provision in the licensing framework allows the regulator to reorganise spectrum positions after completion of the 3 GHz award process.
The NCA may rationalise or realign holdings across the wider 3 GHz range, including existing assignments between 3.4 GHz and 3.6 GHz, with the objective of creating more contiguous spectrum holdings for individual operators.
Any such reorganisation must be carried out in consultation with the affected licensees and cannot reduce the total amount of spectrum awarded to a company under the 2026 process.
This provision could become particularly relevant to 5G network efficiency because wider contiguous mid-band channels are generally preferable to fragmented holdings.
Combined Reserve Value of Spectrum Offered Is US$230 Million
The Request for Applications established minimum prices for all three frequency categories.
| Band | Lot Size | Number of Lots | Reserve Price per Lot | Combined Base Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 MHz | 2 × 10 MHz | 3 | US$36 million | US$108 million |
| 2.3 GHz | 20 MHz | 5 | US$10 million | US$50 million |
| 3 GHz | 50 MHz | 3 | US$24 million | US$72 million |
| Total | - | 11 lots | - | US$230 million |
The US$230 million figure represents the combined base reserve value of all spectrum initially offered and should not be interpreted as final auction revenue. The actual amount will depend on the final 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz awards as well as the Significant Market Power premium applicable to MTN.
15-Year Spectrum Licences
Every spectrum licence awarded through the 2026 process has a duration of 15 years from its effective date.
The NCA may consider renewal applications under the regulatory framework applicable when the licence approaches expiry.
The spectrum rights are technology-neutral. Successful operators may deploy radio access technologies compliant with recognised international standards, including 3GPP and ITU-R specifications, while using the frequencies to provide mobile broadband services including 5G.
70% Population Coverage Required by March 2027
The licences carry extensive rollout conditions. One of the most significant is an early nationwide population-coverage requirement.
Each licensee must provide qualifying outdoor mobile broadband coverage to at least 70% of Ghana's population by 6 March 2027, measured against the country's 2021 Population and Housing Census.
The required footprint must include the entire Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi coverage areas, all 16 regional capitals and all district capitals. Additional localities must then be included as necessary to reach the 70% national population threshold.
| Initial Coverage Requirement | Deadline |
|---|---|
| At least 70% of Ghana's population | 6 March 2027 |
| Entire Greater Accra Coverage Area | 6 March 2027 |
| Entire Greater Kumasi Coverage Area | 6 March 2027 |
| All 16 regional capitals | 6 March 2027 |
| All district capitals | 6 March 2027 |
Coverage Obligations Expand Throughout the 15-Year Licence
The NCA has also established progressive geographic milestones covering Ghana's Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
| Licence Milestone | Required Coverage |
|---|---|
| 3rd anniversary | All district capitals across every Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly |
| 5th anniversary | All constituent towns of Metropolitan Assemblies, in addition to district capitals |
| 10th anniversary | All constituent towns within Municipal Assemblies |
| 15th year | All constituent towns within Districts |
The framework therefore combines an aggressive initial national population target with a longer-term obligation to progressively extend mobile broadband deeper into Ghana's administrative areas.
Additional Rural Coverage Requirements Apply to MTN
As the operator currently designated with Significant Market Power, MTN faces additional rural and regional coverage obligations if it receives licences under the process.
By the second anniversary of the licence, the SMP licensee must provide outdoor mobile broadband coverage to at least 40% of Ghana's rural population and cover the main road and rail corridors connecting regional capitals.
The rural population requirement increases to at least 60% by the third anniversary, together with coverage of every town and village with a population of at least 5,000.
By the fifth anniversary, the SMP operator must cover at least 80% of the country's rural population. Each administrative region must also receive coverage of at least 70% of its population or the operator's national coverage percentage minus 15 percentage points, whichever is higher.
Minimum User-Experienced Speeds Increase Over Time
The licence conditions regulate not only where networks must be available but also the minimum level of mobile broadband performance experienced by users.
| Period | Minimum User-Experienced Downlink Speed |
|---|---|
| Operational launch to 3rd anniversary | 7 Mbps |
| 3rd to 7th anniversary | 25 Mbps |
| From 7th anniversary onward | 50 Mbps |
The NCA additionally identifies 100 Mbps as a desired longer-term user-experienced target, particularly in Ghana's highest-demand urban areas such as Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Koforidua and Ho.
National Roaming Built into the Licence Framework
All successful spectrum licensees must design their radio, transport and core networks to support national roaming with other licensed mobile operators in Ghana.
Operators with Significant Market Power face additional wholesale requirements. An SMP operator must make national roaming available to other licensed mobile operators on non-discriminatory terms, submit a reference offer to the NCA within 90 days of the licence taking effect, and become technically and commercially ready to support roaming within six months.
Non-SMP licensees must also build roaming capability into their networks and negotiate arrangements with other operators in good faith.
Three Applicants Qualified for the Final Selection Stages
The NCA received four applications for the multi-band licensing process. After completing its eligibility and technical assessment, three applicants were cleared to proceed.
| Applicant | Qualification Result |
|---|---|
| Scancom Plc / MTN Ghana | Qualified |
| Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited / Telecel Ghana | Qualified |
| Goal Telecommunications Ltd | Qualified |
| Infrava Ltd | Not qualified |
The qualification process assessed both regulatory eligibility and the technical and financial credibility of applicants' proposed network rollout plans.
Ghana's 2026 Spectrum Licensing Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 16 July 2026 | NCA issues Request for Applications for 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz spectrum |
| 27 July 2026 | Pre-application briefing held for prospective participants |
| 27 August 2026 | Application submission period closes; four applications received |
| 9 September 2026 | MTN, Telecel and Goal Telecommunications announced as qualified applicants |
| 11 September 2026 | Best Price Offers opened and ranked |
| 11 September 2026 | 700 MHz stage concluded; MTN awarded two lots for US$100.9 million |
| After 11 September 2026 | Additional award stages continue for under-subscribed 2.3 GHz and over-subscribed 3 GHz spectrum |
Summary of Ghana's 2026 5G Spectrum Licensing Process
| Category | Result / Status |
|---|---|
| Spectrum bands | 700 MHz, 2300–2400 MHz and 3300–3400 / 3600–3650 MHz |
| Total lots offered | 11 |
| Licence duration | 15 years |
| Qualified applicants | MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications |
| 700 MHz result | MTN Ghana awarded two 2 × 10 MHz lots |
| MTN 700 MHz licence fee | US$100.9 million |
| Exact MTN 700 MHz frequency positions | Not specified in the NCA's 11 September public result |
| 2.3 GHz result | Four applications for five lots; final allocation still pending in latest official NCA update |
| 3 GHz result | Four applications for three lots; final competitive award still pending in latest official NCA update |
| Minimum national population coverage | 70% by 6 March 2027 |
| 700 MHz stage concluded | 11 September 2026 |
| Overall licensing process concluded | Not yet officially announced by the NCA as of 28 September 2026 |
Outlook for Ghana's 5G Spectrum Market
Ghana's 2026 spectrum process combines three very different mobile network resources. The 700 MHz frequencies provide a low-band coverage layer capable of supporting broad geographic reach, while the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz allocations offer considerably more bandwidth for network capacity and 5G services.
The first confirmed award gives MTN another substantial low-band resource, with the operator committing US$100.9 million for two 700 MHz lots. The next major development will be the completion of the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz allocation processes.
The final 2.3 GHz outcome will determine how the available 100 MHz is divided between Telecel Ghana and Goal Telecommunications and whether the fifth 20 MHz lot remains unassigned or is acquired during the subsequent award procedure.
In the 3 GHz band, demand already exceeds the 150 MHz available. Competition between MTN and Telecel will therefore determine how the three 50 MHz lots are distributed and how much additional spectrum revenue the process ultimately generates.
Beyond the financial results, the licence conditions make network deployment a central element of the programme. Successful companies face a 70% population-coverage requirement by March 2027, progressive obligations extending across Ghana's Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, increasing minimum broadband speeds and national-roaming requirements.
The final structure of Ghana's 2026 mobile spectrum holdings will only become clear once the NCA publishes the outstanding 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz awards and, where applicable, completes any subsequent rationalisation of mid-band frequencies.
Full spectrum allocation details for Ghana are available here: https://www.spectrum-tracker.com/Ghana