Nokia delivers platform for 5G rollout in Ghana

Nokia has strengthened its partnership with Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) by building a 5G mobile core network

NGIC will make use of the 5G network to offer wholesale services to mobile service providers in the country, enabling them to deliver 5G services to their subscribers.

The 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) Core will provide the security, resiliency and reliability that is needed to deliver 5G services in the West African country. The agreement includes Nokia’s Cloud Mobility Manager (CMM) and Cloud Mobile Gateway (CMG), in addition to the previously announced 4G and 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) AirScale base stations, and will be managed by Nokia’s MantaRay network management system. Nokia will also provide its end-to-end service suite for the full scope of the deal.

“We chose Nokia because they are a trusted and proven partner in Africa that can deliver on our ambitions to introduce 5G services in Ghana,” remarked Harikirit Singh, executive director of NGIC Ghana. “As NGIC is a wholesale network provider to mobile operators in Ghana, Nokia’s 5G RAN and Core solution is a key part of our network evolution as it incorporates the flexibility, scalability, resilience and security that we need as the sole 5G network in the country. This will enable us to integrate more seamlessly with our clients’ networks to deliver 5G services to the people and businesses of Ghana.”

Expanding 5G

The Nokia and NGIC 5G open-access and cloud-based network will offer mobile operators in Ghana a shared, secure, environmentally sustainable and high-speed network that will enable the rapid expansion of 5G services with reduced capital expenditure. In the future, the network will enable newer capabilities, like enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communication and ultra-reliable low-latency communication.

NGIC plans to launch its wholesale 4G and 5G Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) within 2024. Additionally, to keep the shared network at the forefront of technology, Nokia and NGIC will build a flagship 4G/5G Center of Excellence in Ghana that will serve as a test bed for newer technologies and use cases, and also demonstrate Nokia’s capabilities on network sharing, Cloud RAN and Open RAN.

Michael Tseytlin, chief technology officer of NGIC Ghana, surmised, “In partnership with Nokia, we will empower our customers to fully benefit from 5G in Ghana, with plans to extend this to other regions in Africa. NGIC will utilize Nokia's technology and products to deploy network infrastructure and related services, aiming to serve both enterprise and consumer markets. This initiative will help bridge the digital divide and introduce new services in finance, healthcare and education to enable Ghana's transition to the digital economy.”