Telecommunications company Vodacom is investing more than R400-million over the current financial year to increase capacity and resilience and accelerate access to connectivity throughout the Free State and the Northern Cape, particularly in deep rural areas.

Vodacom Central Region spent R500-million during the 2023/24 financial year, following spend of R340-million in 2022/23 to expand broadband coverage across the region.

The collective investment of more than R1-billion over three years in the region forms part of Vodacom Group’s long-term vision to ensure the widest and most reliable network accessible to all South Africans.

“We are investing heavily in the network in the Free State and the Northern Cape in order to achieve our goal of building an inclusive digital society. "We intend to use this network roll-out and deployment to help every community we serve to be part of the Digital Era and reap the rewards of digitalisation,” says Vodacom Central Region managing executive Evah Mthimunye.

The company’s network expansion last year enabled Internet access for many communities in the region for the first time.

To improve access and build on the momentum, Vodacom aims to further expand broadband coverage and fund network improvements.

About R250-million of the investment is allocated for radio access network projects, while R150-million will fund transmission, which includes the roll-out of microwave and fibre for network capacity and upgrades in the current financial year.

“This roll-out will enable better connectivity and improved network speeds for the end-user. Vodacom Central Region’s 3G population coverage is standing at 99% and 98.2% for 4G,” he says.

Over the financial year, the region will deploy more than 30 new deep rural sites, as well as more 5G sites.

Some of the major municipal districts benefiting from this deployment include Amajuba, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Fezile Dabi, Frances Baard, Joe Gqabi, John Taolo, Mangaung Metro, Namakwa, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Pixley Ka Seme, Siyanda, Thabo Mofutsanyane and Xhariep district municipalities.

Further, to ensure customers are connected during loadshedding or power outages, Vodacom Central Region is investing over R120-million into energy projects, including the procurement of generators, and increasing base station site power standby time.