Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is set to enter Africa with a telecom venture, aiming to win mobile broadband customers in this high-growth market. Radisys Corp., a unit of Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd., will provide key network infrastructure, applications, and smartphones for Ghana-based Next-Gen InfraCo. Subsequently, Harkirit Singh, the executive director of NGIC, detailed these plans ahead of the launch announcement in Mumbai.
NGIC plans to begin operations by the end of this year. Additionally, it will provide 5G broadband services to mobile operators and internet service providers in Ghana. The company is built on the premise of delivering affordable digital services in emerging markets according to Singh.
Strategic partners in NGIC include Nokia, Tech Mahindra, and Microsoft, which has increased its focus on the telecom business following recent acquisitions. Ghana, a West African country with over 33 million people, has three main operators: MTN Ghana, Vodafone Ghana, and state-run AirtelTigo. NGIC’s strategic partners, technological prowess, and possession of Ghana’s only 5G license will help it build broadband services at scale.
NGIC has exclusive rights to offer 5G services in Ghana for a decade, with a license valid for 15 years. The company’s capital expenditure for three years is $145 million. NGIC aims to replicate the success of Ambani’s Jio Infocomm Ltd. in India. Launched in 2016, Jio revolutionized the Indian telecom market. It disrupted the market with low-cost data and free voice calls, becoming India’s biggest mobile operator with 470 million users.
Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, highlighted that NGIC will provide affordable communication services and devices. Ghana’s strategy is to replicate India’s low-cost mobile data revolution. Strategic partners, including Reliance, currently hold no equity in NGIC but may accept equity in the future.
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