Ghana partners with Jio for 5G infrastructure

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), known for its telecom subsidiary Jio's success in India, is now focusing on Africa by collaborating with Ghana's Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) to introduce high-speed 5G internet services.

NGIC has collaborated with Radisys Corp, a subsidiary of RIL led by Mukesh Ambani, to obtain hardware and software assistance for its 5G deployment initiative in Ghana, which is a low-to-middle-income economy in western Africa.

NGIC, aiming to start operating in Ghana by the end of 2024, has yet to disclose its pricing strategy. Nonetheless, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Ghana's Minister for Communications and Digitalization, stated that it will offer cost-effective mobile broadband services and devices to the Ghanaian people, mirroring the triumph of India's inexpensive mobile data revolution.

NGIC has obtained the exclusive rights to offer 5G services in Ghana for a decade. Currently, it is challenged by three rivals: MTN Ghana, Vodafone Ghana, and the government-operated AirtelTigo.

“The creation of a shared 5G Mobile Broadband Infrastructure is critical for delivering affordable, high-speed data access to the people of Ghana and achieving our Digital Ghana vision,” Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalization of Ghana.