The National Communications Authority (NCA) has advanced to the next stage of the process for assigning 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 (MTN Ghana) emerged as the sole qualified and successful applicant for the 700 MHz band. The company secured two lots, the maximum number that can be awarded to a single applicant under the Request for Applications (RFA). The two lots attracted a total 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 available, with four lots attracting applications from Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana) and GoaI Telecommunications Ltd. The band is therefore under-subscribed, and the next stage of the process will proceed in accordance with the RFA.
In the 3 GHz band, three lots were available, while four lots were applied for by Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana) and Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana). Demand therefore exceeds the available spectrum, and the next stage of the process will also proceed in accordance with the RFA.
The NCA said it will announce the final outcome for the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands once the remaining steps in the licensing process have been completed. Successful applicants for those bands will also be notified separately.
