MTN is working on the launch of 4G services in Ghana, having won a licence in the country’s 800-MHz auction earlier this month, it revealed on Thursday.
The mobile operator said it has agreed to pay US$67.5 million (€62.5 million) for its licence and 2 x 10 MHz of 800-MHz spectrum, which it will receive from Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) once it has transferred the money.
The NCA announced a fortnight ago that MTN, via its Scancom unit, was the only winner in the 800-MHz contest, but it did not disclose the price of the licences.
There were two licences up for grabs and four bidders in the auction, but the other three were unsuccessful, the NCA said, without providing further details.
The regulator said it will make a decision "in due course" about the remaining unallocated spectrum block.
"The award of this licence will enable MTN Ghana to launch 4G/LTE services to support the increasing demand of data services and improve customers’ data usage experience," the telco said this week.
As it stands, it is able to provide 2G and 3G voice and data services to customers using 900-MHz, 1800-MHz and 2.1-GHz spectrum, but the terms of those spectrum licences mean they cannot be extended to cover LTE services.
Ghana’s 4G regulations require licensees to have a minimum 35% Ghanaian ownership within 13 months of the licence date.
MTN said it is "exploring various options" to comply with that rule.
