Vodacom has already added 292 3G sites, as well as 472 LTE sites across South Africa, and will use the investment to further upgrade and increase 3G coverage in Gauteng.
“I’m pleased to announce that in excess of R1 billion has been earmarked for network investment in Gauteng in the current financial year,” confirmed Shane Hibbard, managing executive for Vodacom’s operations in Gauteng.
“By the end of March 2015, we will add more than 400 new 3G sites.”
The upgrade is expected to provide improved voice quality and mobile data speeds in areas including Soweto, Orange Farm, Alexandra, Thembisa, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Soshanguve in South Africa.
Vodacom is also focussing on developing its 4G services, and 600 LTE sites are due to go live in April next year, growing Gauteng’s existing LTE coverage from 25% to 38%.
“The areas we’ll be focusing on increasing LTE coverage are the business hubs and urban areas such as Pretoria, Bryanston and Rosebank as well as in the major townships,” Hibbard said.
In May this year, Vodacom reached an agreement to acquire fixed-line operator Neotel in South Africa.
