Telkom 5G expansion tested
MyBroadband tested Telkom 5G performance at its headquarters in Centurion, and was amazed by the speeds we achieved.
Telkom first started rolling out 5G connectivity to its mobile customers late in 2022 and has been expanding on its availability nationwide.
It now has coverage over most of Gauteng, Cape Town, Durban, and other large cities. In 2024, Telkom also quietly slashed the prices across its 5G product line, making it more accessible.
Telkom previously explained to MyBroadband that it has taken a considered approach to its 5G deployment.
“The core of our 5G deployment strategy is to enhance network efficiency by offloading traffic from our 4G network where congestion is identified,” Telkom said.
“We actively monitor our 4G sites, and where conditions are met, including demand pressure and feasibility, we prioritise 5G rollout to improve the customer experience.”
Telkom said the penetration of 5G-enabled devices was a key consideration for the expansion of the technology. “In many areas, device penetration remains relatively low,” it stated.
“However, we are confident that as the adoption of 5G devices increases, we will reach a critical mass where 5G deployment becomes both commercially viable and operationally necessary.”
As 5G coverage is expanded, it is important to maintain a high quality of service for all customers.
MyBroadband performed a test at one of the first sites where Telkom rolled out 5G connectivity to determine if we could still achieve reasonable speeds.
The testing was conducted in proximity to Telkom headquarters in Highveld, Centurion.
A test bench of Samsung Galaxy S24 devices was used, and allowed to connect to any technology. These phones then performed tests as we drove around the headquarters.
Telkom 5G test results
We were pleasantly surprised with the results of this test, with very consistent high-speed 5G coverage. On average, 5G testing yielded download speeds of more than 205 Mbps.
In the few places where 5G was not available, Telkom fell back to 4G, offering very fast LTE-A technology, achieving an average speed of 141 Mbps.
While reliability and a consistent connection are key, we also achieved some super-fast results, with the fastest 5G test coming in at 427 Mbps.
The table below summarises the results of our tests around Telkom’s headquarters in Centurion.
| Telkom | Download Speed (Mbps) |
|---|---|
| Average 5G test | 205.51 |
| Average 4G test | 140.59 |
| Fastest 5G test | 426.90 |
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