Ghana’s 5G Launch: Pioneering Africa’s Digital Transformation
with Smart Africa Alliance
The Smart Africa Alliance has reaffirmed its commitment to
accelerating Ghana’s journey toward becoming a unified digital market by 2030.
At the forefront of this transformation is the recent launch of 5G technology,
marking a significant milestone that promises to bring high-speed, low-latency
connectivity, revolutionizing sectors from agriculture to finance.
With nearly 19 million mobile internet subscribers in Ghana,
this new phase builds on the country’s robust telecom legacy since the
liberalization of its telecommunications sector in 1992. The introduction of 5G
is expected to attract fresh investments and cultivate a thriving tech
ecosystem, setting Ghana as a benchmark for digital growth in Africa.
Speaking about the broader impact of 5G, Lacina Koné,
Director General of the Smart Africa Alliance, emphasized its potential to
deliver essential services. “Technology brings you banking without a bank,
healthcare without a hospital, and education without physical campuses. With
5G, we’re creating inclusive opportunities in underserved areas,” he stated. He
highlighted that Africa’s digital market value reached approximately $80
billion, with over $822 billion in transaction value recorded across the
continent in 2023. Koné underscored the urgency to invest in digital inclusion,
advocating for the expansion of technology to benefit Africa’s marginalized
communities.
Beyond connectivity, 5G is positioned to drive advances in
the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and smart city
initiatives, potentially bridging access gaps for rural areas. This
transformative leap is spearheaded by NextGen Infraco, a consortium comprising
Radisys, Nokia, and Tech Mahindra. According to Tony Awoonor, Senior Manager at
NextGen Infraco Ghana, the group is committed to building resilient
infrastructure that maximizes the benefits of 5G for all Ghanaians. “We’re
harnessing the expertise of our partners - pioneers in telecom - to ensure
robust infrastructure that supports 5G across Ghana,” Awoonor noted.
The initial 5G deployment will prioritize key regions,
including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, and parts of the Northern Region.
These areas will serve as pilot zones, facilitating a gradual but comprehensive
rollout.
As Ghana embarks on this ambitious digital journey, it is
poised to lead Africa in digital transformation. Through this partnership with
the Smart Africa Alliance, Ghana aims to become a model for how inclusive
digital policies and public-private collaboration can drive sustainable growth,
ultimately bridging the digital divide across the continent.
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