Vodacom has committed R500m to expand its network in the Western Cape in the current year to March 2027, with a focus on upgrades and rural connectivity.
The investment will focus on “network expansion, modernisation and upgrades, energy resilience projects, and the rollout of new sites, including deep rural communities and township areas across the province”.
The spend includes R380m for upgrading its radio access network, accounting for the largest portion of the budget.
More than 50 sites in the province will be upgraded or replaced with next-generation cellular infrastructure, including enhanced hardware, software and network architecture.
South Africa’s largest mobile operator invests billions of rand locally each year, usually to build, update and maintain its network infrastructure in South Africa.
For the year to end-March 2026, Vodacom spent R11.87bn on its network in the country, and this is expected to reach R12bn in the 2027 financial year.
These upgrades will support advanced 5G capabilities, improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs, while significantly increasing network capacity and ensuring customers enjoy reliable connectivity, superior call quality and faster data speeds, said the company.
“As we continue to connect people for a better future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to enhancing the quality, reliability and reach of our network,” said Waldi Wepener, managing executive of Vodacom Western Cape. “Our ongoing investment in infrastructure upgrades is enabling more customers to unlock the transformative power of technology and participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
“Through improved connectivity, communities gain greater access to digital platforms for education, healthcare and financial services, helping to drive socioeconomic inclusion, empower individuals and create sustainable opportunities for growth in the region.
“Critically, our investment in accelerating 5G across the province will further improve network performance and enable innovative solutions that support an inclusive digital future.”
Rival MTN has announced a number of similar investments this year, including R281m for Mpumalanga, R332m for Limpopo, as well as R480m to boost connectivity in the Free State and the Northern Cape.
As part of Vodacom’s investment in the Western Cape, more than 50 sites will receive 4G capacity upgrades using the 700MHz spectrum, which travels over longer distances and penetrates buildings more effectively, “enabling broader coverage and enhanced network capacity across both urban and underserved communities”.
The region will also roll out new 5G sites in key towns across the province.
The deployment will focus on Khayelitsha, Delft, Gugulethu, Langa, Mitchells Plain and Philippi, among others, “helping to expand connectivity and improve network access in areas where demand for reliable digital services continues to grow”.
The remaining investment will go towards energy resilience and backup power as a means to keep cellphone towers and network sites up and running during load-shedding and other power disruptions. This includes the deployment of static generators and upgrading battery systems.
Business Day
Mudiwa Gavaza
www.businessday.co.za