Could you please provide a detailed breakdown of all currently active and leading Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Ghana? For each MNO, please include the following specific details:
- Company Ownership: (e.g., parent company, major shareholders)
- Key Technologies and Services: (e.g., 2G/GSM, 3G/UMTS, 4G/LTE, 5G, mobile money services)
- Active Frequency Bands: (e.g., 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, specified in MHz or GHz)
- Number of Active Mobile Subscribers: (most recent available data)
- Market Share: (percentage of the total mobile subscriber base, most recent available data)
- Access Point Name (APN): used for mobile internet access.
- Customer Care Contacts: (e.g., phone numbers, email addresses, website)
Please exclude any Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) from this list.
Tech Junction Answered question April 25, 2025
Mobile Network Operators in Ghana
1. MTN Ghana
Company Ownership
- Parent Company: MTN Group Limited, a South African multinational telecommunications company.
- Major Shareholders: MTN Group holds the majority stake. In 2018, MTN Ghana launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO), offering 35% of its equity to the public, with shares listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The remaining shares are primarily held by MTN Group, with minor stakes by local investors.
- Note: MTN Ghana was originally Scancom (Spacefon), acquired by Investcom Holdings, and rebranded to MTN in 2007 after MTN Group’s acquisition.
Key Technologies and Services
- 2G/GSM: Available on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, supporting voice, SMS, and basic data (GPRS, EDGE).
- 3G/UMTS: Deployed on 900 MHz (B8) and 2100 MHz (B1) bands, with upgrades to DC-HSPA+ for enhanced data speeds.
- 4G/LTE: Launched in June 2016 on 800 MHz (B20), with additional bands 2100 MHz (B1) and 2600 MHz (B7). Supports LTE-Advanced (4G+) with carrier aggregation, operating 1,226 4G LTE sites (625 LTE-A enabled as of 2019).
- 5G: No 5G deployment as of 2025. MTN Ghana has signaled willingness to invest in 5G, but the government opted for a neutral shared 5G network infrastructure instead of spectrum auctions.
- Mobile Money Services: MTN Mobile Money (MoMo), a leading mobile financial service in Ghana, offering payments, transfers, savings, and loan services. It has millions of registered users and significant transaction volumes.
- Other Services: VoLTE (minimal usage), mobile broadband, enterprise solutions, and promotional offers like data bundles and loyalty programs.
Active Frequency Bands
- 2G/GSM: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz
- 3G/UMTS: 900 MHz (B8), 2100 MHz (B1)
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (B20), 2100 MHz (B1), 2600 MHz (B7)
Number of Active Mobile Subscribers
- Subscribers: Approximately 23.9 million voice subscriptions (as of 2020, latest specific data).
- Note: Subscriber numbers may have grown since 2020, but exact recent figures are unavailable. MTN remains the market leader.
Market Share
- Percentage: 57% of the subscriber market share (as of 2020, latest specific data).
- Note: MTN Ghana maintains dominance, significantly ahead of competitors, though regulatory measures aim to reduce its market share.
Access Point Name (APN)
- APN:
internet.mtn.com.gh - Configuration: Typically requires no username or password for standard prepaid/postpaid plans.
Customer Care Contacts
- Phone Number: 100 (from MTN numbers), +233 244 300 100 (from other networks)
- Email: Not publicly listed; use website contact form.
- Website: www.mtn.com.gh
- Additional: USSD codes for support (*134# for balance, *156# for phone number).
2. Vodafone Ghana
Company Ownership
- Parent Company: Vodafone Group Plc, a British multinational telecommunications company.
- Major Shareholders: The Government of Ghana holds a 30% stake through Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, with Vodafone Group owning the majority 70% stake. Previously known as Ghana Telecom (OneTouch), it was acquired by Vodafone in 2008.
- Note: The government’s stake reflects a public-private partnership structure.
Key Technologies and Services
- 2G/GSM: Available on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, supporting voice, SMS, and basic data.
- 3G/UMTS: Deployed on 2100 MHz (B1), with upgrades to HSPA+ for improved data speeds.
- 4G/LTE: Launched in March 2019 on 800 MHz (B20). Provides 4G coverage 54% of the time (as of recent reports).
- 5G: No 5G deployment as of 2025, with focus on expanding LTE and LTE-A networks.
- Mobile Money Services: Vodafone Cash, offering mobile payments, transfers, and financial services, though less dominant than MTN’s MoMo.
- Other Services: VoLTE (1% of calls, the only MNO with non-negligible VoLTE usage), fixed broadband, enterprise solutions, and bundled data/voice packages.
Active Frequency Bands
- 2G/GSM: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz
- 3G/UMTS: 2100 MHz (B1)
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (B20)
Number of Active Mobile Subscribers
- Subscribers: Approximately 9.2 million (based on 21.97% market share of 40.8 million total subscribers in 2018, adjusted for growth).
- Note: Recent exact figures are unavailable, but Vodafone remains the second-largest MNO.
Market Share
- Percentage: 21.97% of the subscriber market share (as of 2020, latest specific data).
- Note: Vodafone holds a strong but secondary position behind MTN.
Access Point Name (APN)
- APN:
internet.vodafone.com.gh - Configuration: Typically no username or password required.
Customer Care Contacts
- Phone Number: 100 (from Vodafone numbers), +233 202 100 100 (from other networks)
- Email: Not publicly listed; use website contact form.
- Website: www.vodafone.com.gh
3. AirtelTigo
Company Ownership
- Parent Company: Joint venture between Bharti Airtel (India) and Millicom International Cellular (Tigo).
- Major Shareholders: Bharti Airtel and Millicom hold equal stakes following the merger of Airtel Ghana and Tigo Ghana in 2017. The exact shareholding split is not publicly detailed, but both companies jointly control AirtelTigo.
- Note: The merger aimed to combine resources to compete with MTN and Vodafone.
Key Technologies and Services
- 2G/GSM: Available on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, supporting voice and SMS.
- 3G/UMTS: Deployed on 2100 MHz (B1), with an improved 3G network but no 4G deployment.
- 4G/LTE: Not available. AirtelTigo relies on enhanced 3G for data services, limiting its competitiveness.
- 5G: No 5G deployment as of 2025, with no public plans announced.
- Mobile Money Services: AirtelTigo Money, offering payments, transfers, and financial services, though it trails MTN and Vodafone in adoption.
- Other Services: Focus on affordable voice and data bundles, with good latency performance (35% of events have at least good latency).
Active Frequency Bands
- 2G/GSM: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz
- 3G/UMTS: 2100 MHz (B1)
- 4G/LTE: None
Number of Active Mobile Subscribers
- Subscribers: Approximately 8.5 million (based on 20.3% market share of 40.8 million total subscribers in 2018, adjusted for growth).
- Note: Recent exact figures are unavailable, but AirtelTigo is the third-largest MNO.
Market Share
- Percentage: 20.3% of the subscriber market share (as of 2020, latest specific data).
- Note: AirtelTigo struggles to compete with MTN and Vodafone due to the lack of 4G.
Access Point Name (APN)
- APN:
internet.tigo.com.gh - Configuration: Typically no username or password required.
Customer Care Contacts
- Phone Number: 100 (from AirtelTigo numbers), +233 270 001 100 (from other networks)
- Email: Not publicly listed; use website contact form.
- Website: www.airteltigo.com.gh
4. Glo Ghana
Company Ownership
- Parent Company: Globacom Limited, a Nigerian telecommunications company.
- Major Shareholders: Majority-owned by Conpetro, a Nigerian petrochemical firm, with Globacom as the operational entity.
- Note: Glo Ghana has faced challenges in Ghana, with limited investment and reduced operations.
Key Technologies and Services
- 2G/GSM: Available on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, supporting voice and SMS.
- 3G/UMTS: Deployed on 2100 MHz (B1), with basic data services.
- 4G/LTE: Not available, limiting data competitiveness.
- 5G: No 5G deployment as of 2025.
- Mobile Money Services: Limited or no significant mobile money service in Ghana.
- Other Services: Basic voice and data plans, with minimal market presence.
Active Frequency Bands
- 2G/GSM: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz
- 3G/UMTS: 2100 MHz (B1)
- 4G/LTE: None
Number of Active Mobile Subscribers
- Subscribers: Approximately 0.7 million (based on 1.75% market share of 40.8 million total subscribers in 2018).
- Note: Glo Ghana has a negligible presence, and subscriber numbers may be lower due to market exit rumors.
Market Share
- Percentage: 1.75% of the subscriber market share (as of 2020, latest specific data).
- Note: Glo Ghana is a minor player with declining relevance.
Access Point Name (APN)
- APN:
glo.com.gh - Configuration: Typically no username or password required.
Customer Care Contacts
- Phone Number: +233 244 200 100 (limited availability)
- Email: Not publicly listed.
- Website: www.gloworld.com/gh (may not be fully operational).
Notes
- Total Subscribers: Ghana had 40.8 million mobile subscribers as of January 2018, with a 76.9% penetration rate. Recent estimates suggest growth to around 44 million by 2023, but operator-specific breakdowns are limited.
- 5G Status: No MNO has deployed 5G in Ghana as of 2025. The government’s shared 5G infrastructure plan may delay individual deployments.
- VoLTE Usage: VoLTE is not widespread, with only Vodafone showing 1% usage. Most calls (90%+) rely on 3G or 2G via CSFB.
- Regulatory Context: The National Communications Authority (NCA) regulates the sector, imposing measures to reduce MTN’s dominance, such as technology-neutral spectrum policies.
- Sources: Information compiled from industry reports, operator websites, and regulatory data up to April 25, 2025.
Tech Junction Answered question April 25, 2025