Reliance expands its global reach, tapping into Africa’s digital market with NGIC, delivering affordable 5G mobile broadband services across Ghana.
Ghana-based Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC) has signed deals with Radisys Corporation, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd., to launch affordable 5G-enabled smartphones in Ghana. This collaboration aims to transform the lives of the Ghanians by reducing the digital divide and introducing digital services in education, healthcare, and digital payment.
Nokia, Microsoft, and Tech Mahindra, the Government of Ghana, Ascend Digital, K-NET, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) At Ghana and Telecel Ghana also formed a ‘shared infra’ company to provide affordable 5G services.
In a joint statement, the partners explain that NGIC has been awarded a 5G spectrum license from the Ghanaian authorities. They plan to launch 5G services across Ghana within the next six months.
NGIC collaborates with Reliance Industries to help services providers transform into digital experience providers using open platforms and solutions. This includes digital endpoints, access and core solutions, and applications, all supported by expert lifecycle services for scalable, high-performance networks.
Tech Mahindra sets up indigenous networks using Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) technology. Open RAN offers a flexible approach for building mobile networks, allowing smaller providers to enter the market without needing extensive resources to manage the entire RAN ecosystem. Tech Mahindra aims to bring cost efficiency to the Ghanaian telecom market by building a Cloud Native Core Network and OEM platforms.
NGIC’s executive director, and CEO, Ascend Digital, Harkirit Singh, told Bloomberg News that the organization plans to invest $145 million in infrastructure development in Ghana over the next three years. While Reliance has no ownership stake in NGIC, the consortium is reportedly open to granting Reliance shares if the Indian giant is willing to accept equity instead of cash as future payment.
In a statement, Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalization Ursula Owusu-Ekuful announced that the creation of a shared NGIC is critical for developing affordable, high-speed data access for the people of Ghana and helping achieve their dream of 100 percent Digital Ghana by 2030. He also mentions about NGIC’s plan to adopt India’s digital infrastructure and low-cost mobile data usage and keen to replicate it with Ghana.
