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MTN Given Opportunity To Join 5G Deal Involving Indian Billionaire: “Discussions Are Ongoing”
Business and Economy

MTN Given Opportunity To Join 5G Deal Involving Indian Billionaire: “Discussions Are Ongoing”

by  Delali Adogla-Bessa 2 min read
  • MTN has not been excluded from Ghana's 5G plans, according to the Minister of Communication and Digitalisation
  • The Akufo-Addo government is partnering with seven companies to deliver 5G mobile internet under the Next Gen Infraco banner
  • The minister said Ghana's biggest telecommunications company would be allowed to buy shares in Next Gen Infraco

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The Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has clarified that MTN has not been marginalise in the 5G rollout plans.

Speaking on Citi FM, Owusu said MTN will eventually be involved after initial concerns that Ghana's biggest telecommunications company was not part of the deal.

MTN Given Opportunity To Join 5G Deal Involving Indian Billionaire
The Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
Source: Getty Images

She also dismissed the claims that MTN was deliberately excluded from the deal in a bid to curb its monopoly.

“All network operators in the country are being offered the opportunity to take up equity in this Next-Gen InfraCo, all of them, including MTN.”

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Asia’s richest man, Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, is part of the move to develop shared infrastructure for affordable 5G mobile broadband services in Ghana.

Ambani's Radisys Corp is part of Next-Gen InfraCo, alongside Ascend Digital, Nokia, K-NET, Tech Mahindra, AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana.

5G subscriptions are expected to reach 180 million in Africa by 2029. The positive economic outlook and innovative regulation in building out network coverage are the main drivers of 5G growth on the continent.

NDC MPs kick against new 5G deal involving Indian billionaire

YEN.com.gh reported that the Minority in Parliament has questioned the legality of the 5G deal awarded to Next Gen Infraco.

In a statement, the minority said that the lack of parliamentary approval renders the entire transaction unlawful, null and void.

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“Some of the entities in the Consortium, which are the beneficiaries of this opaque transaction, are mushroom entities owned by cronies of President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Communications, with questionable track records," said the statement.

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.

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