Ambani’s Reliance Ventures into Africa with NGIC’s 5G Broadband Initiative

Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest person in Asia, is venturing into Africa with a telecom venture aiming to attract mobile broadband customers in a fast-growing market.

Reliance Industries Ltd., controlled by Ambani, will collaborate with Radisys Corp., a subsidiary, to supply essential network infrastructure, applications, and smartphones for Next-Gen InfraCo., based in Ghana. The launch announcement for NGIC is scheduled for Monday in Mumbai.

NGIC plans to commence operations by the end of the year, offering 5G broadband services to mobile operators and internet service providers in Ghana. According to Harkirit Singh, NGIC’s executive director, the company’s objective is to create affordable digital services in emerging markets.

NGIC has secured strategic partnerships with Nokia Oyj, Tech Mahindra Ltd., and Microsoft Corp., aiming to provide broadband services at scale in Ghana. The company holds the exclusive right to offer 5G services in the country for a decade and has a capital expenditure of $145 million for three years.

Replicating Jio’s Success

This move mirrors the success of Ambani’s Jio Infocomm Ltd. in India, which disrupted the telecom market with affordable data and free voice calling services. NGIC aims to replicate this success in Ghana, offering affordable mobile broadband services to the population.

Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, lauded NGIC’s initiative, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize mobile data access in Ghana. The partnership between Reliance and NGIC is also seen as a diplomatic achievement for India, countering China’s influence in Africa.

While none of the strategic partners currently hold equity in NGIC, Singh mentioned the possibility of equity participation in the future, contingent upon the venture’s success.