The National Communications Authority (NCA) has assigned two lots of spectrum in the 700 MHz band to Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana) for a total licence fee of US$100.9 million.
MTN Ghana emerged as the sole qualified and successful applicant for the 700 MHz band after the NCA opened and ranked the Best Price Offers submitted by qualified applicants on Friday, September 11.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 11, the NCA said the two lots represent the maximum number that can be awarded to a single applicant under its Request for Applications (RFA).
The allocation forms part of the NCA’s ongoing process to assign spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands for mobile broadband services, including 5G.
The Authority said the process for the 700 MHz band has now been concluded following MTN Ghana’s successful offer.
“The process for the 700 MHz band has been concluded, with Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), the sole qualified applicant for the band, emerging as the successful applicant. Scancom Plc applied for two lots, which is the maximum number that may be awarded to a single applicant under the RFA. The two lots yielded a total Licence Fee of US$100.9 million” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the allocation process for the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands is still ongoing.
For the 2.3 GHz band, four of the five available lots attracted applications from Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana) and GoIP Telecommunications Ltd.
The band is therefore under-subscribed, with the NCA expected to proceed to the next stage in accordance with the terms of the RFA.
Demand was higher for the 3 GHz band, where three lots were available but four applications were submitted by MTN Ghana and Telecel Ghana.
The NCA said the process for the 3 GHz band will continue in line with the applicable provisions of the RFA.
The Authority is expected to announce the final outcomes for the 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands after all remaining stages of the licensing process have been completed.
Successful applicants for those bands will also be notified separately.
