NCA Reviews ISP Fees and Licensing

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has engaged Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to clarify changes to the ISP licensing regime and a revised fee structure, a move aimed at modernizing the sector and promoting fairer regulatory practices.

The stakeholder engagement, held on December 17th, 2025, at the NCA Tower, comes after a comprehensive review of fees and charges which had remained static for nearly a decade. Acting Deputy Director-General in charge of Technical Operations, Mr. Salifu Suleman, explained the need for the overhaul.

“The ISP landscape has changed dramatically with new business models and a growing demand for bandwidth, cloud services, and content delivery,” Mr. Suleman stated. “The old three-tier system – Nationwide, Rural, and Hotspot – no longer accurately reflects the current operational realities.”

To address this, the NCA is introducing new categories: Regional ISP, Internet Reseller, and Internet Network Provider (IP Transit). These additions are designed to better align licensing obligations with the actual scale of each ISP’s operations.

A key change is the introduction of a 0.5 per cent Net Revenue Regulatory Fee, replacing the previous flat fee system. According to Mr. Suleman, this new approach “aligns with international best practice and ensures fairness by linking fees to operators’ commercial success.”

Mr. Kwame T. Larnor, Deputy Manager of the Engineering Division, delivered a detailed technical presentation outlining the new categories, licensing requirements, and compliance expectations. This was followed by an interactive session where ISPs raised questions about implementation timelines, license migration, and fee calculations.

The NCA also emphasized its commitment to improving internet connectivity within Ghana by promoting local peering and efficient internet exchange. Participants were briefed on a framework to encourage interconnection at facilities like the Ghana Internet Exchange (GIX) and the Accra Internet Exchange (Accra-IX), which is expected to reduce latency, lower costs, and enhance service quality.

This engagement is part of the NCA’s broader effort to increase transparency and ensure the industry is aligned with recent regulatory reforms, ultimately benefiting Ghanaian internet users.

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