Ghana - Mobile Infrastructure, Operators and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Ghana - Mobile Infrastructure, Operators and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Ghana has one of the most vibrant mobile markets in Africa, with competing operators including the regional heavyweights MTN Ghana, Vodafone Ghana and AirtelTigo, formed from the merger of Airtel Ghana and Tigo Ghana. Although subscriber growth has remained strong in recent years, with the exception of a dip in 2017 resulting from a redefinition of active subscribers from one of the operators, competition has resulted in lower Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and pressure on revenue. The country ranks high in BuddeComm's Telecom Maturity Index, a testament to ongoing developments in network upgrades among operators as well as efforts by the government and regulator to expand services to underserved rural areas.

There remains enormous potential in mobile broadband services, both in terms of subscriber additions and in mobile data ARPU. Mobile internet connections already account for the vast majority of all internet accesses in the country. The launch of LTE services by MTN Ghana in mid-2016 has added to the vibrancy of this sector, and although the other providers have held back from securing LTE licences, claiming that the cost is too high, the regulator has encouraged them to refarm 2G spectrum for 3G use in a bid to improve internet access in rural and remote areas.

Key developments:

Regulator to replace 2G licenses with unified access licenses in 2019, announces plan to auction LTE spectrum in June 2018; Tigo Ghana and Airtel Ghana complete merger; government re-imposes mobile phone tax; Afriwave Telecom licensed to operate as an Interconnect Clearing House for mobile calls; m-money interoperability delayed to May 2018; MTN Ghana secures one of two blocks of spectrum in the 800MHz band, expands the reach of LTE services; Vodafone Ghana launches M-PESA service, expands the reach of 3G to an additional 25 rural communities; Expresso sold to Kludjeson International; regulator informs Expresso of its intention to revoke its licence; strong increase in mobile number portings; Surfline Communications and Blu Telecoms launch LTE services; regulator's fines on MNOs for QoS issues stimulate additional investments; report update includes the regulator's market data to September 2017, telcos' operating data to Q4 2017, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

AirtelTigo (Tigo Ghana, Airtel Ghana), MTN Ghana, Vodafone Ghana (Ghana Telecom, OneTouch), Expresso Telecom (Sudatel, Kasapa), Globacom (Glo Mobile), Thuraya.