Ghana Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 15 Nov 2023 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 192

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Ghana chooses a neutral shared mobile network for 5G services over a spectrum auction

Ghana’s telecom market has undergone several changes in recent years, following the privatisation of the incumbent telco Ghana Telecom and its rebranding as Vodafone Ghana. Vodafone Ghana was recently sold to Telecel Group, which committed itself to investing in mobile infrastructure. As a result, the operator has considerably extended the reach of its LTE network, and has launched LTE-A service in major urban centres.

Two of the key players merged to form AirtelTigo in 2017, though in mid-2020 the parent companies of the operator decided to exit the market. The sale and transfer of AirtelTigo to the state was completed in November 2021, and the operator was rebranded as AT in mid-2023.

In the mobile sector, MTN Ghana remains the dominant player. This was largely the result of a 2015 spectrum auction in which MTN was the only bidder. To address this dominance, the regulator has imposed a number of measures since mid-2020 aimed at reducing the company’s market share and so improve the competitive environment. One measure includes technology neutrality affecting sub-GHz spectrum, which will enable MTN and Vodafone to expand their LTE offers, and encourage AT to launch services.

Only MTN Ghana has thus far signalled a willingness to invest in 5G. This reticence is in part due to the existing potential of LTE and LTE-A networks, which can manage anticipated data traffic growth in the short term, as also to restrictions imposed by the company’s SMP status. The government in August 2023 decided against auctioning spectrum for 5G, and instead set up a company to operate a shared mobile infrastructure which will provide access to all operators.

Key developments:

Vodafone Group’s 70% stake in Vodafone Ghana sold to Telecel Group after satisfying regulatory conditions.
Lynk Global provides mobile satellite networking services to Vodafone Ghana.
Ghana and Togo sign MoU on free international mobile network roaming under the ECOWAS Roaming Regulations.
Bank of Ghana launches the GhanaPay m-money service aimed at accelerating financial inclusion in the country.
Vodafone Ghana expands reach of its LTE network, launches an LTE-A service.
Government planning to set up a network infrastructure company to provide 5G connectivity to operators on a retail basis.
Government approves the landing of two new submarine cables to service Ghana.
Regulator allows for technology neutral use of sub-GHz spectrum to stimulate LTE market development.
Report update includes the regulator’s market data to March 2023, statistical bulletin for Q1 2023, Bank of Ghana data to August 2023, telcos’ operating data to Q3 2023, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Vodafone Ghana (Ghana Telecom, OneTouch), Telecel Group, Capital Telecom, Globacom, MainOne, VoltaCom, Phase3 Telecom, Suburban Telecom, AirtelTigo (Tigo Ghana, Airtel Ghana), MTN Ghana, Expresso Telecom (Sudatel, Kasapa), Globacom (Glo Mobile), Thuraya, Network Computer Systems (NCS), InternetGhana, Africa Online, Busy Internet, Linkserve, IDN, Infinite Stream Ghana, Electricity Corporation of Ghana (ECG), Cactel Communications, O3b Networks, Internet Solutions, OneWeb.

Key statistics
Regional Africa Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

West African Common Regulatory Framework 2005
Competition framework 2006
Electronic Communications Act
Electronic Transaction Act
Universal service
Ghana Investment Fund for Telecommunications (GIFTEL)
The eCARE project
Telecom sector liberalisation
Fixed-line licence conditions

Mobile network developments

Quality of Service (QoS)
Licensing
Technology neutrality
Spectrum
Roaming
Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs)
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Network sharing
Taxation
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

Analogue networks
Digital networks
Other infrastructure developments
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

Vodafone Ghana
MTN Ghana
Tigo Ghana (Millicom Ghana, Mobitel)
AirtelTigo
Expresso
Glo Mobile
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
M2M

Mobile content and applications

M-banking
M-health

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
Broadband statistics
Public Internet Access Venues (PAVs)
Shared access centres
Mobile Telecentre To-Go

Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA)

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed wireless broadband
Powerline Communication (PLC)
Satellite broadband
O3b

Domestic backbone network infrastructure

Ghana National Public Data Network (DataNet)
FastNet
VoltaCom
Internet Solutions (IS)
Phase3 Telecom
Electronic Data Interchange

Digital economy

E-commerce
E-government, e-Ghana project
E-learning
E-health

Fixed network operators

Vodafone Ghana

Privatisation
Network infrastructure

AirtelTigo

Nationalisation 2006
Re-privatisation 2007

MTN Ghana
Capital Telecom (defunct)

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Fibre backbone infrastructure
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)

Ghana Internet Exchange Point (GIX)
Accra-IXP

International infrastructure

Submarine cables
Satellite services

Data centres
Smart infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Ghana – 2023 (e)
Table 2 – Change in the number of mobile numbers ported – 2011 – 2019
Table 3 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers (million) – 2015 – 2023
Table 4 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 5 – Change in the number of mobile voice subscribers by operator (million) – 2012 – 2023
Table 6 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2023
Table 7 – Development of domestic mobile voice traffic – 2017 – 2023
Table 8 – Change in the number of LTE subscribers by operator – 2016 – 2023
Table 9 – Growth in the number of LTE subscribers – 2016 – 2023
Table 10 – Development of SMS traffic – 2015 – 2023
Table 11 – Development of mobile data traffic – 2013 – 2023
Table 12 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 13 – Growth in the number of GSM/3G mobile broadband subscribers by operator (thousand) – 2013 – 2023
Table 14 – Change in the share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2023
Table 15 – Growth in the number of Vodafone Ghana’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Table 16 – Development of MTN Ghana’s financial data (ZAR million) – 2012 – 2023
Table 17 – Development of MTN Ghana’s financial data (GHS billion) – 2018 – 2023
Table 18 – Development of MTN Ghana’s revenue by type (ZAR million) – 2013 – 2023
Table 19 – Growth in the number of MTN Ghana’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Table 20 – Development of MTN Ghana’s ARPU – 2012 – 2023
Table 21 – Change in the number of AirtelTigo’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2023
Table 22 – Change in the number of Glo Mobile’s subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Table 23 – Growth in the number of MTN Ghana’s m-money subscribers – 2016 – 2023
Table 24 – Growth in the number of m-money subscriptions and accounts (million) – 2012 – 2023
Table 25 – Growth in the number and value of m-money transactions – 2012 – 2023
Table 26 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Table 27 – Increase in the number of Vodafone Ghana’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Table 28 – development in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2019
Table 29 – Change in the number of MTN Ghana’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2020 – 2023
Table 30 – Broadband wireless access subscribers by operator – 2016 – 2023
Table 31 – Broadband wireless access market share by operator – 2016 – 2023
Table 32 – Change in the number of fixed-line subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2023
Table 33 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 34 – Decline in fixed voice traffic – 2017 – 2023
Table 35 – International bandwidth – 2012 – 2020
Table 36 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1999 – 2011
Table 37 – Historic - MTN Ghana’s ARPU – 2002 – 2011
Table 38 – Historic - Tigo Ghana mobile subscribers (regulator data) – 2013 – 2017
Table 39 – Historic - Tigo Ghana mobile subscribers (company data) – 2010 – 2017
Table 40 – Historic - Espresso Ghana mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2017
Table 41 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 2000 – 2015
Table 42 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2004 – 2011
Table 43 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1999 – 2011
Table 44 – Historic - International bandwidth – 2001 – 2011
Table 45 – Historic - Growth in the number of Vodafone Ghana’s mobile subscribers – 2008 – 2011
Table 46 – Historic - DSL subscribers – 2005 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Africa – Market Leaders global ranking
Chart 3 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 4 – Africa – Market Challengers global ranking
Chart 5 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 6 – Africa – Market Emergents global ranking
Chart 7 – Africa – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 8 – Africa – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Africa – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 - Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers (million) – 2015 – 2023
Chart 11 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 12 – Change in the number of mobile voice subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2023
Chart 13 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2023
Chart 14 – Development of domestic mobile voice traffic – 2017 – 2023
Chart 15 – Growth in the number of LTE subscribers – 2016 – 2023
Chart 16 – Development of SMS traffic – 2015 – 2023
Chart 17 – Development of mobile data traffic – 2013 – 2023
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 19 – Growth in the number of GSM/3G mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2013 – 2023
Chart 20 – Change in the share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2015 – 2023
Chart 21 – Growth in the number of Vodafone Ghana’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Chart 22 – Development of MTN Ghana’s financial data – 2012 – 2023
Chart 23 – Development of MTN Ghana’s financial data (GHS) – 2018 – 2023
Chart 24 – Development of MTN Ghana’s revenue by type – 2013 – 2023
Chart 25 – Growth in the number of MTN Ghana’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Chart 26 – Development of MTN Ghana’s ARPU – 2012 – 2023
Chart 27 – Change in the number of AirtelTigo’s mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2023
Chart 28 – Change in the number of Glo Mobile’s subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Chart 29 – Growth in the number of MTN Ghana’s m-money subscribers – 2016 – 2023
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of m-money subscriptions and accounts – 2012 – 2023
Chart 31 – Growth in the number and value of m-money transactions – 2012 – 2023
Chart 32 – Change in the number of fixed-line subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2023
Chart 33 - Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 34 - Decline in fixed voice traffic – 2017 – 2023

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Africa – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Africa – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Africa – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Overview of mobile network launch dates
Exhibit 7 – SMS as a weapon against drug counterfeiting
Exhibit 8 – 2Africa landing stations

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Ghana Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Ghana chooses a neutral shared mobile network for 5G services over a spectrum auction

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Africa Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views