The National Communications Authority (NCA) has implemented new reforms that require telecom operators to maintain call drop rates below 1% and ensure a minimum call connection success rate of 95%.
Additionally, telecom operators are expected to deliver average 3G download speeds exceeding 1 megabit per second (Mbps).
The directives, announced on February 15, 2026, significantly enhance the Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for mobile network operators (MNOs), replacing standards that have been in effect since 2004.
The new regulations reduce the maximum allowable Call Drop Rate (CDR) from ≤3% to less than 1%, aiming to improve call stability nationwide.
Telecom operators must achieve a Call Connection Success Rate (CCSR) of over 95%, with successful connections required in more than 90% of operational cells within any Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA).
For voice quality, the regulator has established a minimum average Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of greater than 3.0 for 2G services, setting a benchmark for call clarity.
On the data front, the revised KPI mandates an average 3G data throughput exceeding 1 Mbps, quadrupling the previous session-based threshold of 256 kbps.
Messaging services are also subject to stricter requirements, with operators now required to guarantee a minimum 98% SMS/MMS delivery success rate and delivery times not exceeding five seconds.
The NCA has also introduced expanded coverage obligations, mandating mobile operators to extend network coverage to all constituent towns within every MMDA, a departure from the previous approach where operators were encouraged but not required to expand beyond district capitals.
The regulator will intensify monitoring through field measurements and performance assessments, and operators failing to meet the new thresholds risk regulatory sanctions.
The Authority encouraged consumers experiencing poor service to lodge formal complaints.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
