Vodacom’s 4G network exceeds 80% population coverage in South Africa

Vodacom’s 4G services now cover more than 80% of the South African population, the mobile network today announced. It claims that it’s the first African mobile network to cross this threshold.

“Vodacom now provides 80.12% 4G coverage in South Africa, with 99.78% of the population covered by 3G and 99.97% covered by 2G,” it explained in a release.

It noted that the breakthrough comes on the back of the company’s accelerated rural coverage programme, this despite spectrum constraints.

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“Some of the rural areas which now have access to 4G coverage, to name a few, include Sterkfontein in Limpopo, Brandfort in the Free State and Sundays River Valley in the Eastern Cape,” it continued.

“Ulundi in KwaZulu Natal now enjoys the same 4G signal as Vodacom subscribers who live in the heart of Johannesburg.”

The firm expects this 80.12% figure to grow further as more spectrum is made available.

“Access to [a] new, sub 1GHz spectrum will enable the more cost effective rollout of 4G, which will help Vodacom increase broadband coverage to more South Africans,” concluded Andries Delport, Vodacom’s CTO.

Feature image: Vodacom