Radisys, a company controlled by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, will be expanding into Africa by providing affordable 5G network infrastructure, applications, and smartphones to Ghana-based Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC). This announcement was made on Monday and is a significant step for Ambani’s company. The subsidiary of Ambani’s Jio Platforms, Radisys, will collaborate with various entities including the Government of Ghana, Ascend Digital, K-NET, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, and mobile operators AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana to assist NGIC in building the first 5G network infrastructure across Ghana. This move will aim to provide affordable mobile internet services, similar to what Jio has done in India.
NGIC, which has secured a 5G license, plans to launch services nationwide within the next six months and will eventually expand into other African countries. This expansion is expected to benefit the people of Ghana by providing them with affordable access to 5G services and making digital services in education, healthcare, and payments more accessible. Through Radisys’ involvement, the company looks forward to helping Ascend and NGIC build a disruptive and affordable shared broadband infrastructure across Ghana, as mentioned by Radisys CEO Arun Bhikshesvaran in a statement.
The plan for NGIC this year includes offering affordable 5G smartphones through its partners to enhance the lives of people in Ghana. Additionally, the creation of NGIC as a neutral, shared platform that is accessible to all mobile network operators and tower companies will help to rapidly expand 5G services across the country. Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, expressed admiration for India’s digital infrastructure and low-cost mobile data usage and said that they are keen to replicate this in Ghana. This move is expected to bring about significant changes in the way digital services are accessed and used in the country.
Reliance Jio Infocomm, Ambani’s mobile operator in India, has been instrumental in driving India’s rapid growth in internet users by providing affordable smartphones, digital platforms, and localized content and applications. With over 470 million subscribers, Reliance Jio is the largest cellular operator in the country. Mukesh Ambani, who topped Forbes Asia’s list of India’s 100 Richest with a net worth of $92 billion, is known for his success in various industries beyond telecommunications. Reliance Industries, the parent company of Jio, has interests in oil and gas, petrochemicals, retail, and other sectors, making it one of the most influential conglomerates in India.
The expansion of Radisys into Africa through its collaboration with NGIC marks a significant milestone for Mukesh Ambani’s business empire. By providing affordable 5G network infrastructure, applications, and smartphones to Ghana, Radisys aims to bring about a digital transformation in the country and make mobile internet services more accessible to the people. This move is expected to replicate the success of Jio in India and drive economic growth and digital inclusion in Ghana. With NGIC planning to launch nationwide services within the next six months, the future looks promising for the adoption of 5G technology in the country and potentially other African nations as well.
