5G mobile broadband services will not have an impact on data prices – Ursula Owusu

The Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has stated that the introduction of the 5G mobile broadband services will not have an impact on data prices.

According to her, due to the fact that the service, is a shared infrastructure, it will reduce the cost for network operators.

Addressing the media on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Ursula Owusu said “We don’t expect any corresponding increase in cost of data merely because of the introduction of 5G. A different service is being provided, if you want to sign on to it, you subscribe to it. If you want to enjoy your existing service, you do it at the rate set by your network operator.

“I expect that because this is a shared infrastructure which reduces the cost for the network operators, they will transfer that into better service offerings and it may even lead to a lowering of the cost of delivering that service which will inure to the benefit of subscribers,” she stressed.

She added that “If individual Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) had to build this network themselves, this is a very capital intensive industry and it is very expensive to roll out mobile networks infrastructure and that is why government took a strategic decision to use a shared infrastructure network company to deliver this service.”

The government Ghana announced its collaboration with other industry participants on a new shared infrastructure aimed at providing affordable 5G mobile broadband services in the country.

The partners, including Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, and Tech Mahindra and two other mobile newtork operators, AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana have established the Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC).

NGIC, which has been awarded Ghana’s first 5G license, will build and operate a nationwide 4G/5G network.

Source: Myrepubliconline