Ghana’s National Communications Authority has launched a public consultation on draft Technical Specifications for Terminal Communication Equipment. The proposed framework sets out comprehensive regulatory and technical requirements for devices connecting to the country’s Electronic Communications Network, including GSM, IMT-2000, LTE, and IMT-2020 networks.
The consultation is open from February 9 to March 9, 2026, and invites feedback from licensed service providers, manufacturers, suppliers, and the general public. The draft guidelines are available through the Authority’s official publication.
Legal Basis and Regulatory Scope
The draft specifications are issued pursuant to the NCA Act 769 and the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). The objective is to establish minimum technical, safety, and interoperability standards for all terminal equipment used on public networks in Ghana.
The scope covers terminal devices operating between 450 MHz and 26 GHz, including:
- Mobile phones and smartphones
- Cellular IoT and M2M devices
- Fixed wireless terminals
- Fixed CPE such as modems, ONTs, VoIP handsets, and routers
All suppliers, dealers, operators, and even individuals importing terminal equipment must ensure compliance before devices are placed on the Ghanaian market.
Type Approval and Marking Requirements
The draft reinforces Ghana’s type approval regime. Manufacturers and importers must submit equipment for conformity assessment under NCA equipment authorization procedures.
Conformity assessment will require accredited laboratory test reports covering:
- Electrical safety and EMC compliance
- Radio performance and spectrum compliance
- SAR testing for applicable wireless devices
Approved equipment must display the NCA Type Approval marking and carry a unique identifier such as IMEI or MAC address. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that unique identifiers cannot be duplicated, altered, or removed. User manuals must also include safety warnings, installation instructions, and disposal guidance in English and any required local languages.
Technical and Environmental Compliance
The proposed framework establishes clear environmental and durability thresholds tailored to Ghana’s operating conditions. Terminal equipment must withstand:
- Operational temperatures from –10 °C to +55 °C
- Relative humidity from 5 percent to 95 percent non-condensing
- Vibration, shock, dust, and salt mist testing per IEC standards
Power supply requirements are also strictly defined. Equipment must comply with national voltage parameters, approved plug standards, and surge protection requirements. Devices supporting AC, DC, battery backup, or Power over Ethernet must implement safe switchover mechanisms without service interruption. Battery systems must meet IEC transport and safety standards and provide minimum operational autonomy thresholds depending on device category.
Security, Software, and Network Integrity
The draft introduces explicit software and firmware integrity requirements. Terminal equipment must support secure boot mechanisms, digitally signed firmware updates, rollback protection, and authenticated remote management interfaces.
Wireless devices must comply with recognized 3GPP and ETSI standards for GSM, UMTS, LTE, and 5G NR. The framework specifies minimum radio performance thresholds, frequency band alignment with Ghana’s National Frequency Allocation Table, and mandatory support for emergency services.
5G devices must support Standalone or Non-Standalone architectures and meet defined minimum data rate and latency benchmarks. LTE devices intended for voice services must support VoLTE functionality compatible with Ghanaian operators and enable automatic operator profile configuration.
Fixed Terminal and CPE Standards
The consultation extends detailed requirements to fixed terminal equipment, including PSTN interfaces, ISDN ports, Ethernet interfaces, xDSL modems, DOCSIS cable modems, and optical network terminals.
Requirements address loop current specifications, ring voltage parameters, QoS implementation, remote management protocols such as TR-069, and optical safety labeling. Environmental durability and ingress protection ratings are specified for indoor and outdoor installations, including IP requirements and UV resistance testing.
Consultation Process and Submission Requirements
Stakeholders must submit responses via email in Microsoft Word format by March 9, 2026. Each submission must include a completed response cover sheet and clearly indicate agreement or disagreement with specific sections, supported by technical justification where applicable.
All submissions will be treated as non-confidential and published by the Authority. Following review of stakeholder feedback, the NCA will finalize and gazette the Technical Specifications for Terminal Communication Equipment.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
Ghana
Certification Body: National Communications Authority (NCA)
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Manufacturer
In-Country Testing Requirement: Product Specific
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