NCA mandates nationwide coverage as telcos ordered to reach all towns in every district

All mobile network operators in Ghana have been directed to extend network coverage to every town within each Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA) under new directives issued by the National Communications Authority.

The requirement forms part of a sweeping overhaul of Quality of Service (QoS) standards announced on February 15, 2026, with immediate effect. The revised framework tightens long-standing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and replaces telecom performance standards that have been in place since 2004.

Previously, operators were only encouraged to expand services beyond district capitals. Under the new rules, however, coverage across all towns is now mandatory and enforceable under licence conditions.

In addition to the expanded coverage obligation, telecom providers must meet stricter service benchmarks. The allowable Call Drop Rate has been reduced from 3% to below 1%, while operators must achieve a Call Connection Success Rate above 95%, with successful connections recorded in more than 90% of operational cells within each MMDA.

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

On data services, the regulator now requires average 3G download speeds exceeding 1Mbps, replacing the previous 256kbps threshold and significantly raising performance expectations.

Messaging services are also affected, with operators required to maintain at least a 98% SMS/MMS delivery success rate and ensure messages are delivered within five seconds.

The Authority says compliance will be closely monitored through field measurements and performance assessments, warning that operators who fail to meet the new standards risk sanctions in line with their licence conditions and applicable laws.

Consumers experiencing persistent poor service have been encouraged to formally lodge complaints, as the reforms aim to improve nationwide telecom reliability in line with evolving technology and user demand.