According to the ministry, the collaboration between GVA and Canal+ to combine high-speed broadband with premium content streaming has the potential to reshape Ghana’s pay-TV and internet landscape.
Canal+ is set to introduce fixed fibre broadband services in Ghana as part of a plan to offer converged TV and connectivity packages, aligning with the Ghanaian government’s push to reduce pay-TV and household data costs.
The rollout will be led by Group Vivendi Africa (GVA), the Vivendi/Canal+ subsidiary that operates fibre-to-the-home services under the CanalBox brand. GVA has outlined plans to enter the Ghanaian market with an initial deployment in Accra and Kumasi, making Ghana one of its next expansion territories for unlimited home broadband.
Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation has expressed strong support for CanalBox’s entry, describing its proposed retail pricing as “revolutionary” and consistent with the government’s digital inclusion agenda. The ministry also indicated it will coordinate with state agencies to facilitate access to power infrastructure and poles, easing the path for rapid fibre deployment.
During discussions with the company, the minister encouraged Canal+ to extend its offering beyond broadband by bundling high-speed CanalBox internet with premium content from Canal+ and MultiChoice, creating a unified package for households. Earlier this month, Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice—the parent company of DStv and streaming platform Showmax—strengthening its footprint across Anglophone Africa.
A move into fixed broadband represents a strategic evolution for Canal+, expanding its role from a pay-TV broadcaster to a full-service provider offering both content and connectivity. The strategy mirrors the “triple-play” model popular in Europe, combining television, internet, and potentially voice services, but tailored to Ghana’s developing fibre-to-the-home market.
The initiative comes at a critical time for the pay-TV sector in Ghana. MultiChoice Ghana has faced regulatory pressure throughout the year over subscription pricing, after its attempts to increase DStv tariffs triggered threats of government intervention. Now under Canal+ ownership, the group is expected to reposition itself as a more consumer-focused and cooperative operator.
By launching a fibre-based service, Canal+ can secure its video revenues amid scrutiny of satellite TV pricing while distributing its content and on-demand platforms directly through its broadband network. This approach would also help the company combat piracy and grey-market decoders by steering viewers toward legal, high-quality streaming via Showmax and Canal+ online services.
The Ministry of Communication has requested GVA to submit a detailed proposal outlining rollout plans, pricing structures, and areas where government facilitation may be needed. While no commercial launch date or final pricing has been announced, the entry of CanalBox into Accra and Kumasi is expected to intensify competition among Ghana’s home internet providers and could accelerate the adoption of bundled broadband-and-TV offers in the market.
