With just six months left in 2022 it’s rather odd to hear that MTN is planning to swathe 25 percent of the South African population in 5G connectivity by the time we replace our calendars.
To be fair, the network operator already has over 1 000 5G sites active across the country, but still, 25 percent of the country is a hugely ambitious goal.
“We want to have 5G connectivity across almost every part of SA,” MTN South Africa’s chief executive officer, Charles Molapisi said in a statement.
“Our aim is to bring the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to more people in an efficient and cost-effective way. This means expanding our 5G coverage every day, with a strong focus on investment into main metros, peri-urban areas, and larger townships initially,” Molapisi adds.
The network operator provided some insight into its 5G network is currently filled out. In Gauteng there are reportedly 555 5G sites (nice) with 20 more coming online soon in the areas of Rustenburg and Brits. In the Western Cape, MTN plans to increase the number of 5G sites to 179 by the end of the year.
As for the Northern Cape and Free State, MTN says that it intends to add 21 additional 5G sites across both provinces – building on the existing 21 and 45 respectively in Northern Cape and Free State.
“We are moving fast to ensure our users are at the forefront of innovation and change. Thanks to its greater bandwidth and higher download speeds, 5G is a gamechanger and will continue to shake up the world of technology. MTN intends to ensure our customers experience the very best of 5G tech every step of the way,” adds Molapisi.
Another benefit of 5G that is seldom mentioned is the incredibly low latency the connectivity solution offers. With some 5G configurations able to reach latencies of less than 1ms, the connectivity standard is primed for mission critical operations and remote operation of sensitive equipment found in mines for example.
To date, MTN has installed 5G sites in the following cities. While the list below is extensive it also highlights just how much more work there is to do. That having been said, we doubt MTN South Africa would set itself a goal it couldn’t achieve.
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Cape Town
- Ekurhuleni
- eThekwini
- City of Tshwane
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Mangaung
- Buffalo City
- Polokwane
- City of Mbombela
- Rustenburg
- The Msunduzi
- Emalahleni
- King Sabata Dalindyebo
- City of Matlosana
- uMhlathuze
- Makhado
- Matjhabeng
- Newcastle
- Mogale City
- Ray Nkonyeni
- Govan Mbeki
- Mogalakwena
- Nyandeni
- Steve Tshwete
- KwaDukuza
- JB Marks
- Sol Plaatje
- Abaqulusi
- Enoch Mgijima
- Msukaligwa
- Stellenbosch
- uMngeni
- Kouga
- Makana
- Ndlambe
- Masilonyana
- Thembelihle.
