Telcos Ordered to Extend Coverage to All Towns

All mobile network operators in Ghana are now mandatorily required to extend network coverage to every constituent town within each Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA), following sweeping new directives issued by the National Communications Authority (NCA).

The expanded coverage obligation forms part of a broader overhaul of Quality of Service (QoS) standards announced on February 15, 2026, which takes immediate effect. The new framework significantly tightens Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for telecom operators, replacing standards that have been in place since 2004.

Previously, operators were encouraged—but not compelled—to expand services beyond district capitals. Under the revised rules, however, coverage extension to all towns within every MMDA is now enforceable under licence conditions, marking a major regulatory shift in the country’s telecom landscape.

Beyond expanding coverage, operators must also meet stricter performance benchmarks. The maximum allowable Call Drop Rate (CDR) has been reduced from 3 percent to below 1 percent, while telcos are required to achieve a Call Connection Success Rate (CCSR) of more than 95 percent. Successful connections must be recorded in over 90 percent of operational cells within each MMDA.

Voice quality standards have also been strengthened, with a minimum average Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of above 3.0 set for 2G services to ensure clearer calls nationwide.

On data services, the NCA has substantially raised expectations. Operators must now deliver average 3G download speeds exceeding 1 megabit per second (Mbps), replacing the previous 256 kilobits per second threshold—effectively quadrupling the minimum requirement and reflecting growing consumer demand for faster mobile internet.

Messaging services are equally affected. Telecom providers must guarantee at least a 98 percent SMS/MMS delivery success rate, with delivery times not exceeding five seconds.

The regulator says it will intensify compliance monitoring through field measurements and performance assessments. Operators that fail to meet the new standards risk sanctions in line with their licence conditions and applicable laws.

The NCA also encouraged consumers experiencing persistent poor service to formally lodge complaints, stressing that the reforms reflect evolving technology, changing usage patterns, and national policy objectives aimed at improving service delivery across Ghana’s telecom sector.

Source: citinews