Telecommunications group Vodacom is investing more than R800-million across three South African provinces to accelerate network infrastructure and coverage expansion, enhance capacity and resilience and empower communities, particularly those in underserved and rural regions.

The Vodacom Central Region, covering the Free State and Northern Cape provinces, and Vodacom Eastern Cape are each investing more than R400-million during the current financial year.

The investment earmarked for the Free State and the Northern Cape is directed towards expanding network infrastructure, enhancing capacity and resilience, and empowering communities, with a particular focus on connecting underserved areas.

The Vodacom Central Region has invested more than R1.2-billion over three years, including R500-million in the 2024/25 financial year and R340-million in the 2022/23 financial year, to expand broadband coverage.

Of the total investment in the 2025/26 financial year, R150-million will be spent on new sites and radio infrastructure, and R210-million on fibre and microwave upgrades.

The region is accelerating its rollout of 4G and 5G sites, leveraging licensed spectrum such as 700 MHz to 3 500 MHz, to increase coverage and capacity.

In addition, R40-million will be allocated to power backup systems to ensure network availability during loadshedding and vandalism incidents.

“Our network investment will support a growing demand for superior connectivity services in the region, with data traffic up 42% and our data customer base growing by 3.63% year-on-year,” says Vodacom Central Region managing executive Evah Mthimunye.

“We are continuing to expand 4G and 5G coverage, particularly in remote communities, to enable all our customers to benefit from these services, driving our goal of building an inclusive digital society. In doing so, we have seen an increase in 5G adoption, with 66.2% year-on-year growth.”

Vodacom Central Region is also supporting local municipalities with technology-driven solutions to improve service delivery and financial sustainability.

In partnership with Sol Plaatje municipality, in the Northern Cape, Vodacom successfully implemented a smart electricity metering project, addressing challenges such as revenue losses from non-payment, inaccurate billing and illegal connections.

By March 2025, a total of 15 453 smart meters had been installed across the municipality, which includes the city of Kimberley.

“The initiative not only improves billing accuracy but has also created local economic opportunities, employing 52 electricians and 33 data capturers.”

Meanwhile, Vodacom Eastern Cape is investing more than R400-million in network infrastructure this financial year, to drive the rollout of advanced technologies, including 4G and 5G, and extend connectivity to underserved rural areas.

Of the total spend, more than R38-million is allocated to network modernisation to enable 4G and 5G technologies, with over R87-million earmarked for network capacity expansion, says Vodacom Eastern Cape managing executive Zakhele Jiyane.

More than R8-million will go towards core network upgrades to support network infrastructure needs, while transmission infrastructure investment for the 2025 financial year stands at over R51-million.

“To increase coverage in deep rural areas, connecting many communities for the first time, Vodacom Eastern Cape will be investing close to R100-million in municipalities such as Great Kei, Nyandeni, Mhlontlo, Mbizana, Matatiele, Mnquma, Ntabankulu, Ngqushwa and Umzimvubu, to mention a few,” Jiyane comments.

The region also plans to enhance existing coverage while providing new coverage for both the private and public sectors, supporting economic development in the province.

Additionally, advanced technologies, including 5G deployment, will be rolled out in the Amahlathi, Elundini, Enoch Mgijima, Engcobo, Ingquza Hill, Inxuba Yethemba, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Makana and Engcobo municipalities.

“Our network investment will support the growing demand for superior connectivity services in the Eastern Cape, enabling more communities to benefit from reliable, high-speed data and voice services.”