Ghana’s Telecoms Regulator Sells Prime 5G Airwaves to MTN for US$100.9 Million
Ghana · TELECOMS
Key Facts
- —What happened Ghana’s National Communications Authority awarded 700MHz spectrum to Scancom Plc, trading as MTN Ghana, for US$100.9 million.
- —How big The award covers two lots of 2×10MHz, the maximum allowed to a single applicant under the request-for-applications rules.
- —The catch MTN was the sole qualified applicant for the 700MHz band and paid a 40 percent premium because it holds significant market power.
- —Why it matters The 700MHz band is prime low-band spectrum for broad coverage, especially in rural areas, and is central to Ghana’s 5G rollout.
- —What comes next The 700MHz process is now concluded, while the 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands remain part of the wider 5G licensing round opened on 16 July 2026.
Ghana’s National Communications Authority has awarded 700MHz spectrum to MTN Ghana for US$100.9 million, closing the low-band portion of its 5G licensing round after MTN emerged as the sole qualified applicant.
Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) has assigned 700MHz spectrum to Scancom Plc, the company that trades as MTN Ghana, for US$100.9 million. The award covers two lots of 2×10MHz, the maximum permitted to a single applicant under the rules of the request for applications.
The award and the auction process
The NCA opened its 5G spectrum process on 16 July 2026, offering licences in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands for mobile broadband services, including fifth-generation networks. In the 700MHz band, three paired lots of 2×10MHz were made available to bidders.
MTN Ghana was the only operator to qualify and submit a successful application for that band. The authority said the process for the 700MHz band is now concluded, with MTN taking the maximum two lots allowed to a single applicant.
The US$100.9 million price reflects a 40 percent premium applied to MTN’s bids in the 700MHz and 3GHz bands. The NCA designated MTN as the only operator holding significant market power, which triggered the premium under the auction terms.
Why 700MHz matters for Ghana’s 5G push
The 700MHz band is considered prime low-band spectrum because its signals travel long distances and penetrate buildings well. That makes it especially valuable for extending coverage into rural areas, where network economics are harder.
For Ghana, the award is a practical step toward a broader 5G rollout. Low-band spectrum provides the coverage layer that complements higher-frequency bands, which deliver faster speeds over shorter distances.
The licensing framework marks a shift away from an earlier wholesale-exclusive model toward competitive licensing. The NCA’s July 2026 request for applications opened the market to multiple bidders, a change with implications for how Ghana funds and controls its digital infrastructure.
Money, market power and state revenue
The US$100.9 million payment is a direct revenue item for the Ghanaian state, not a recurring income stream. Spectrum fees of this kind are typically one-off capital payments, though licence conditions can include ongoing obligations.
MTN’s significant market power status means it pays more than a smaller rival would for the same spectrum. The 40 percent premium is a regulatory tool designed to level the playing field while still allowing the dominant operator to expand.
For MTN Ghana, the cost buys certainty in a market where data demand is growing. The company now holds low-band spectrum that can anchor its 5G coverage strategy for years.
The wider licensing round and what remains
The 700MHz award is only one part of Ghana’s 5G spectrum process. The NCA is also offering licences in the 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands, which are better suited to high-capacity urban deployments.
MTN’s 40 percent premium applies to its bids in the 3GHz band as well as the 700MHz band. That means the final cost of MTN’s full 5G spectrum package could rise further if it secures additional lots.
The conclusion of the 700MHz process leaves the remaining bands open for other qualified operators. How those bands are allocated will shape the competitive balance of Ghana’s mobile market.
Regional read-through and the South-South angle
Ghana’s move fits a wider pattern across Africa, where governments are tying 5G spectrum allocation to state revenue, market power and infrastructure control. Spectrum is increasingly treated as a strategic asset, not just a technical input.
The shift from a wholesale-exclusive model to competitive licensing echoes debates in other frontier markets about how to balance investment incentives with competition. For investors and operators, the Ghana case shows how regulators are using spectrum policy to extract value from dominant players.
This story also connects to the broader contest over digital infrastructure in the Global South, covered in our pillar on Africa: The New Scramble. Spectrum, data centres and submarine cables are now as central to geopolitical leverage as minerals and ports.
What to watch next
The immediate question is how the 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands are allocated, and whether other operators step forward. The NCA has not yet announced winners for those bands.
For MTN Ghana, the next step is deployment planning and the capital expenditure needed to put the spectrum to use. Rural coverage obligations, if any, will be a key detail for investors to monitor.
The NCA’s competitive licensing framework is still young, and its success will be measured by whether it delivers both revenue and network expansion. The 700MHz award is the first concrete test of that model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did MTN Ghana pay for the 700MHz spectrum?
MTN Ghana, through its licensed entity Scancom Plc, paid US$100.9 million for two lots of 2×10MHz in the 700MHz band.
Why did MTN pay a 40 percent premium on its spectrum bid?
The National Communications Authority designated MTN as the only operator with significant market power, which triggered a 40 percent premium on its bids in the 700MHz and 3GHz bands.
Is Ghana’s 5G spectrum process now complete?
No, only the 700MHz band process is concluded. The 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands remain part of the wider 5G licensing round that opened on 16 July 2026.
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