South African mobile communications company Vodacom Group said that it invested over ZAR 1 billion (USD 70 million) in the last financial year to enable connectivity for rural and urban communities in the Western Cape.
The mobile operator said it has expanded its network coverage and capacity by upgrading existing base station sites across the province, with 3G and 4G population coverage in the region now at 99.5% and 97.6%, respectively.
"Our network coverage has increased and our capacity has been upgraded at existing base stations sites in the Western Cape. This means that 3G/4G population coverage is now 99.5% & 97.6%, respectively. This increase in access to connectivity has the potential to transform lives, especially in previously underserved areas in which existing inequalities continue to widen,” said Carol Hall, Vodacom Western Cape Managing Executive.
The investment includes building 38 new 3G and 4G-enabled base station sites, including 16 in townships and six in rural communities, and implementing LTE capacity upgrades to over 75 percent of base stations in the province. Vodacom has also built 50 new 5G base station sites in the region.
Vodacom Western Cape has upgraded 240 base station sites with new batteries and anti-theft infrastructure and relocated mobile generators to outlying areas to fast-track restoration in the event of power failures.
The telco has stated that it will continue increasing its footprint across the province and bringing its customers exciting technologies such as Software Defined Area Network (SA-WAN) and fibre to businesses and homes.
