Vodacom Western Cape Invests R570 Million To Enhance Network Connectivity For Customers
Vodacom Western Cape Invests R570 Million To Enhance Network Connectivity For Customers. Vodacom Western Cape plans to invest R570 million this financial year into the region”s network as part of the company”s commitment to building an inclusive digital society.
Of this investment, R470 million is allocated to improve the quality, capacity and reach of the broadband network infrastructure in urban and rural areas. This network investment will continue to focus on further expansion of the 5G footprint, ongoing modernisation of the existing network infrastructure, and upgrading of base station sites with more LTE capacity throughout the province. This will provide an improved data experience for the company’s consumers and ideal connectivity for businesses with growing digital needs.
The remaining R100 million is being spent on energy projects for uninterrupted connectivity during power outages. With loadshedding continuing to be a major network challenge and a significant source of additional cost to keep the network up, the energy investment this year will include more static generators and upgrading old batteries, which builds on the previous year”s backup power upgrades and loadshedding-related power optimisation activities. The region has also doubled its mobile generator fleet to improve network reliability in the event of rolling blackouts for a longer duration.
“As we continue to connect for a better future, we remain focused on the quality, reliability and expansion of our network. Our significant investment into infrastructure upgrades is enabling customers to reap the transformative benefits of technology. This includes access to education, health and financial digital platforms that promote socio-economic empowerment in the region,” says Carol Hall, Managing Executive, Vodacom Western Cape.
In March 2022, Vodacom South Africa acquired a total of 110 MHz high-demand spectrum as part of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa”s (ICASA) auction and assignment process. Using the new spectrum, Vodacom in the Western Cape region quadrupled its 5G network reach over the last year. With 5G now available on over 200 base stations in the Western Cape, Vodacom customers in various high-demand urban areas can enjoy access to the latest mobile technology with substantial network capacity and broadband network speeds.
“We”re excited about the possibilities of 5G, especially as we are the Vodacom region with the most 5G-enabled smartphones. Expanding this next-generation technology opens opportunities to further improve our network performance and deliver innovative solutions that can build an inclusive digital future,” concludes Hall.
