The National Communications Authority (NCA) has advanced to the next stage of the process to assign spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands for mobile broadband services, including 5G.
In a press release issued on September 11, the NCA said it had opened and ranked the Best Price Offers submitted by qualified applicants at the NCA Tower on Friday, September 11.
Scancom Plc, operator of MTN Ghana, emerged as the sole qualified and successful applicant for the 700 MHz band. The company acquired two lots, the maximum number that can be awarded to a single applicant under the Request for Applications (RFA).
The two lots attracted a combined licence fee of US$109.9 million, bringing the process for the 700 MHz band to a close.
For the 2.3 GHz band, five lots were made available, with four lots applied for by Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana) and GoAI Telecommunications Ltd. The band is therefore undersubscribed, and the next stage of the process will be conducted in accordance with the RFA.
Meanwhile, three lots were available in the 3 GHz band, with four applications submitted by Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana) and Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana). Demand has therefore exceeded the available spectrum, and the next stage will proceed in accordance with the RFA.
The NCA said it will announce the final outcome for the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands after all remaining steps in the licensing process have been completed.
Successful applicants for those bands will also be notified separately.
