MTN Ghana to Phase Out 2G and 3G Networks

MTN Ghana has announced that it will adopt a gradual approach in winding down its 2G and 3G networks, ensuring that subscribers are given ample time to adjust to newer technologies.

Addressing journalists at the Digital Africa Summit in Accra, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, acknowledged that a significant section of customers still depend heavily on 2G and 3G services.

He observed that while some deliberately remain on these networks to control data usage, many others continue to use handsets that are not 4G-enabled.

“Despite the widespread availability of 4G, a lot of our customers are still on 3G. For some, it is about managing their data consumption, while others are constrained by devices that cannot support 4G,” Mr Blewett explained.

He stressed that MTN’s long-term plan is to improve spectrum efficiency by eventually switching off the older networks but said the process would be carefully managed.

“We cannot simply switch off 2G and 3G without ensuring that affordable 4G devices are within reach. Doing so would risk excluding a large number of Ghanaians,” he cautioned.