MTN Unveils Landmark 500-Cell Site Expansion to Boost Nationwide Connectivity
US$300 million 2026 rollout targets coverage gaps, rural demand surge, and service quality challenges amid rising data consumption
MTN Ghana has announced its most ambitious network expansion programme to date, unveiling plans to deploy 500 new cell sites across the country in 2026 in a bold effort to strengthen coverage, improve service quality, and meet growing digital demand.
The large-scale rollout, estimated to cost over US$300 million, represents a significant acceleration in the company’s infrastructure investment strategy and underscores its commitment to enhancing nationwide connectivity.
The expansion marks a sharp increase from previous years, when the telecom operator deployed about 50 sites in 2025 and between 25 and 30 sites in 2024 highlighting what industry observers describe as a major shift from gradual upgrades to aggressive scale deployment.
Tackling coverage gaps and population pressure
MTN Ghana says the new rollout is designed to address persistent network gaps, particularly in peri-urban and rural communities where rapid population growth and settlement expansion often referred to as “urban creep” have placed pressure on existing infrastructure.
The company currently operates more than 5,000 telecom sites nationwide, but says rising demand for data services and increased mobility patterns require a much denser and more resilient network.
Service quality concerns under spotlight
Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, noted that service quality challenges are often influenced by network conditions beyond a single user’s location.
“A customer initiating a call may be in a well-covered urban area with strong signal strength, yet the person receiving the call could be located in a region with weaker coverage,” he explained. “In such cases, the overall service experience is affected.”
He stressed that improving user experience requires system-wide investment rather than isolated upgrades in specific locations.
Responding to national concerns
Recent concerns about network performance in some parts of the country, including the Volta Region, have been raised in discussions with the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations. MTN Ghana says the 2026 expansion forms part of efforts to respond to these concerns and strengthen broadband access in underserved areas.
Long-term infrastructure commitment
The latest initiative builds on MTN Ghana’s US$1 billion investment in network infrastructure over the past five years. At the group level, MTN has also committed an additional US$1.1 billion over the next three years, reflecting sustained confidence in Ghana’s digital growth potential.
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Major leap in deployment scale
The 500-site rollout planned for 2026 represents a tenfold increase in deployment compared to recent years and is expected to significantly improve call reliability, data speeds, and overall network capacity.
Industry analysts say the scale of investment could mark a turning point for Ghana’s telecom sector, especially as demand for mobile internet, digital payments, and online services continues to surge.
