As Ghanaian subscribers increasingly demand high-speed connectivity and broader access to telecom services, the government’s strategic move to adopt the 5G network with an improved last-mile wireless communication framework opens a vital window of opportunity for the country’s digital future.
In November last year, Ghana officially launched its 5G initiative, taking a bold and innovative step by introducing a neutral shared infrastructure model. This involved the establishment of a specialised entity responsible for building and managing a common 5G platform that all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) can access.
This model is to reduce infrastructure duplication and operational costs. Therefore, instead of each individual MNO setting up its own 5G infrastructure, the Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) would provide a common platform where the MNOs can install their various smart antennas for accelerated signal transmission.
This model would not only accelerate nationwide coverage but also ensure that the benefits of 5G, such as ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and reliable connections, can be extended to more citizens, including those in underserved and rural areas.
The human need to communicate has always driven innovation. From the days of the Stone Age, when drums, smoke signals, and shouting were the primary tools for sending messages, to today’s era of instant and seamless mobile communication, innovation in communications keeps making life better.
What began as basic efforts to share information eventually marked the dawn of First Generation (1G) telephony in the 1980s. It was analogue voice communication over mobile networks. This was followed by the arrival of the Second Generation (2G) in the 1990s. 2G introduced digital wireless communication, which allowed text messaging (SMS) and improved voice clarity.
With each passing decade, technology advanced and became more sophisticated, ushering in 3G in the 2000s with internet access and multimedia services, and 4G in the 2010s, which brought high-speed data and video streaming capabilities.
Now, in the 2020s, we stand on the edge of the 5G era, a leap that promises ultra-fast speeds, near-zero delay in connectivity, and the ability to connect billions of devices seamlessly.
As of December 2023, Mobile Voice and Data Subscriptions stood at 33,384,009 and 23,207,628, respectively, in Ghana, according to the National Communications Authority.
With just a handset connected to a 5G network, people can interact across continents, conduct business transactions in real time, access virtual classrooms, and receive medical consultations—all in faster, smarter, and more integrated ways than ever before.
Now, let us get a bit technical to appreciate the technological advancement we have enjoyed over the decades and the better days ahead.
Let us consider the frequency spectrum as nature’s invisible platform that enables communication through sight and hearing. The spectrum has a wide range, from about 20Hz detectable by human ears to about an upper usable limit of 100 EHz.
The sunlight that marks the dawn of a new day is visible from frequencies of about 430 THz, enabling you to see. It applies to light bulbs in your rooms, the microwave ovens in your kitchens, X-ray images you receive from hospitals, and the gamma rays used in nuclear activities. All these are made possible by electromagnetic waves, classified as a spectrum of frequencies.
While the safe or non-ionising sections of the frequency spectrum help in wireless communications, the unsafe or ionising sections, like X-rays and gamma rays, can be harmful if not properly used or shielded. The non-ionising sections are considered safe.
In wireless communications, radio waves, microwaves, millimetre waves, infrared waves, visible waves (sunlight), and ultraviolet waves fall within the safe pathways humans use to communicate wirelessly, and they pose no health risks to users.
In telecommunication, frequency refers to the number of wave cycles that pass a point, while wavelength is the distance between two successive points on a wave.
There is an interesting scientific relationship between the frequency of a wave and its wavelength. Imagine a pipe with water gushing out. When the pipe’s opening is wide, the water comes out at a shorter range. However, when the pipe’s opening is narrow, the water shoots farther.
This is how frequency and wavelength operate. It explains why FM radio, which operates at lower frequencies, can transmit over long distances and manoeuvre around obstacles such as buildings, mountains, and trees, while a frequency that transmits 5G data cannot.
With a single tall antenna at a broadcast station, radio listeners can enjoy their favourite channels across wide areas because of this scientific principle.
The 5G communication operates at much higher frequencies in the millimetre wave band, carrying larger amounts of data but over shorter distances. This means, for 5G to cover more areas, it would need more antennas.
5G cannot easily manoeuvre around obstacles like mountains, tall buildings, trees, and other physical barriers. To solve this would mean introducing more base stations and lower-power transmitters with antennas to serve every corner of the country.
This is what we should expect with the introduction of 5 G. When these antennas start springing up, public concerns about the safety of such masts and antennas may rise. This would require more education for allay the fears of consumers.
All communication deployments are expected to comply with international safety standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
It is very important to note that there has not been any scientific evidence to validate the perception that emissions from non-ionising frequencies have health effects on humans.
Here in Ghana, the National Communications Authority and the Ghana Radiation Protection Institute (GRPI) have conducted various studies to confirm the safety of these devices in our locality.
What, however, needs to be assured is the structural integrity of the masts and antennas.
We expect the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency, to ensure that these structures meet the highest safety standards. This includes proper site selection, adherence to building codes, and routine inspections to prevent potential disasters such as collapses, break-offs, or wind-induced failures, especially during heavy storms.
The new evolution of network technology comes with very exciting possibilities. The government has given assurances that by June this year, there will be a full rollout.
With 5G, we will be able to make high-quality video calls with our phones without necessarily using third-party applications like WhatsApp or Snapchat. Your gaming experience will go notches higher. E-health services will be provided to you in real time with more interactive doctor-to-patient consultations. It is expected to bring advanced technology into all sectors of the economy.
Welcome to the Fifth Generation with Safe Infrastructure!
The writer is a Media, Telecommunication, and Technology Advocate.
You can reach him for further comments via Call/WhatsApp: +233 241 145 874
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